SWEDEN

STUDY IN SWEDEN:

Why Sweden:

Why study in Sweden?

It is a big step to study abroad, and the options are almost limitless. So what makes Sweden stand out as a study destination?

Innovation and creativity run deep

Sweden is a safe and modern country in northern Europe, and it has accrued a spectacular reputation as an innovator and creative force. Sweden’s famed corporate brands — like Volvo, Ikea, Ericsson, H&M and Saab — complement its cultural brands — like Ingmar Bergman, Abba, Astrid Lindgren, Bjorn Borg, August Strindberg, The Cardigans and Greta Garbo.

Standards are high

Sweden has a long and proud history of academic excellence, with outstanding universities dating back to the 15th century. Sweden is the home of the Nobel Prize, the world’s most prestigious academic distinction.

Today, Sweden’s reputation for innovation is built on close cooperation between industry and academia. Swedish universities are renowned for their investigative research and independent thinking, and this reputation is cemented with rigorous quality control and nationally certified degrees. Sweden has one of the most ambitious educational evaluation programs in Europe, aimed at maintaining this competitive edge.

Choice

Swedish universities offer around 600 master’s degree programs in English, ranging from human rights law to mechanical engineering. Programs are structured in response to student demand — the result is a student-centric education system, with open, informal relations between students and teachers, and where personal initiative and critical thought are prized.

Foreign students are welcome

Many students studying in Sweden come from abroad — 8.5% of the student body, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) — making Sweden one of the world’s most inclusive countries for education. But there is room for more: the number grew by over 80% over the last 4-year period. There are now PhD candidates from some 80 countries working towards their degrees in Sweden.

Sweden’s educational policy is based on the recognition that a multicultural student body is a resource. Competition for places is keen, but students of all nationalities may apply, given the right credentials; and degree equivalency for past studies is granted on a flexible basis.

Scholarships are available

The Swedish Institute grants hundreds of scholarships every year to help foreign students make their stay in Sweden more affordable. Currently, tuition fees for everyone are fully subsidized by the state. Sweden’s public spending on education is the OECD’s highest, at 4.9% of GDP. And because it costs to live in Sweden, foreign students can work while studying.

English is spoken by all

Almost all Swedes speak fluent English. Many Swedish companies use English as their official working language. Foreign students find that this prevalence of English makes adapting to their new surroundings much easier.

Sweden's higher education System:

As a foreign student, different options are open to you depending on the degree level you would like to study at: undergraduate (as an exchange student or free mover); as a master’s candidate, or at the doctoral level. Application procedures are explained for each level.

Another decision is what language you would like to study in. Most likely you will study one of the 600 English-language degree programs, but if your Swedish is fluent, Swedish courses are open to you as well, giving you even greater choice.

You will need to choose a school that teaches your area of interest. Make sure your academic credentials are recognized and start applying.

Scholarships:

STINT, The Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education, has a scholarship program for foreign students at international master programs in Sweden. STINT has invited a number of foreign universities to nominate candidates to the program. Currently these universities are Tecnologico de Monterrey ITESM in Mexico, KNUST in Ghana, KAIST in South Korea, Peking University and Tsinghua University, both in China.

The Ford Foundation's International Fellowships Program (IFP) funds graduate studies for students from China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, South Africa, Egypt, Palestine, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Guatemala, Mexico and Russia.

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) funds the Linnaeus-Palme programme, part of which offers teachers andstudents in developing countries the opportunity to come to Sweden. The program is administered by Sweden's International Programme Office for Education and Training. NOTE: you can not apply directly for scholarships as a student - the program offers a framework for cooperation between a Swedish university and one in the developing world, part of which involves student exchange.
Scholarships — grouped by country/region


USA

The American Scandinavian Foundation, yearly funds scholarships for advanced studies in Scandinavia by Americans or permanent residents of the US.

The Institute of International Education yearly funds Fulbright Scholarships for studies outside of the US by American students.

Each year, SWEA North Carolina awards scholarships (generally amounting to USD 1,000 each) to support a person or an organization with ties to North Carolina in their studies or their efforts to advance/share knowledge of Swedish culture, traditions, language, or history.

The American Women's Club in Sweden annually awards a travel grant to an American woman studying in Sweden.

SASS, the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Studies, awards travel grants to Americans for study or research in Swedish literature, culture or social sciences. Priority is given to members of the SASS and, in particular, to graduate students and untenured faculty.

Every year, SASS also funds The Birgit Baldwin Fellowship in Scandinavian Studies, for SASS members researching on film or literature, earning their degrees at North American universities.

The Bicentennial Swedish-American Exchange Fund funds a travel grant for American citizens. These grants are not applicable for academic or degree programs.

The American Swedish Institute offers two scholarships: The Lilly Lorénzen Scholarship, open to Minnesota residents who plan to carry out scholarly and/or creative studies in Sweden; and the Malmberg Scholarship, to support a year of study or research in Sweden by a US resident who is enrolled in a degree-granting program at an accredited college or university, or who is a qualified scholar engaged in study or research.

South America

ICETEX administers scholarships for Colombian students who want to study abroad, including a few select programs in Sweden.

Europe/Russia

The law firm Mannheimer Swartling awards a scholarship each year to a German or a Russian law student wishing to study law in Sweden. The scholarship is open to anyone who has completed at least half of their studies for a law degree in their home country, or who has recently graduated in law and wishes to complement with a Swedish Master’s degree.

Living in Sweden:

Currently, some 30,000 foreign students are studying in Sweden, making for a vibrant, international study environment. Swedes have some peculiar cultural traits, but they are deeply proud of having built a society that promotes equality between the sexes, tolerance and inclusiveness.

As a student in Sweden, you will have ample opportunity to make new friends. A good part of your social life will revolve around your student union. The union can often help you with finding accommodation and other practical matters. Do make sure you are covered by adequate health insurance while in Sweden.

You will probably need to get a residence permit or visa, maybe even before you arrive in Sweden. To get a residence permit, you need to show you have sufficient funds to pay for living expenses in Sweden. But there are ways in which you can mitigate the financial strain: Sweden allows students to work for the duration of their studies.

Learn Swedish:
About 65,000 people outside Sweden take classes to learn the Swedish language. It’s not too late to pick up on that trend even after you arrive in Sweden.
Swedish as a foreign language is studied by many more people than the population of Sweden might suggest – there are around 65,000 active learners enrolled in courses outside Sweden at any one time.

If you would like to study Swedish in Sweden, a number of options are open to you, depending on your situation. A number of study associations across the country offer Swedish courses at all levels. You may be eligible for university courses in Swedish, either full time or part time.

Various distance learning resources are available. Swedish is also taught at some 200 universities worldwide.

Once you’ve achieved certain levels of proficiency, you can prove it with recognized tests.

UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES IN SWEDEN:

 Chalmers University of Technology

 Göteborgs Universitet

 Högskolan på Gotland

 Halmstad University

 Jönköping International Business School

 Jönköping University

 Karolinska Institute

 Kristianstad University

 Kungl Tekniska Högskolan

 Linkoping University

 Lulea University

 Lund Institute of Technology

 Lund University

 Mälardalens Högskola

 Mid Sweden University

 Stockholm School of Economics

 Stockholm University

 Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

 Umeå University

 University College of Örebro

 University College of Gävle/Sandviken

 University College of Kalmar

 University of Boras

 University of Falun/Borlänge

 University of Karlskrona/Ronneby

 University of Karlstad

 University of Kristianstad

 University of Skövde

 Uppsala Universitet

 Växjö University

If you want more information about Programs and Sweden please visit www.studyinsweden.se

Doctoral studies:
Research in Sweden has an international approach, and exchange is seen as an integral part of the system. About 20% of all research students have a non-Swedish background. Research students from other countries are primarily represented in the fields of medicine, the natural sciences and technology.
Swedish research is wide-ranging and well respected internationally. Swedish researchers are especially prominent in the fields of natural science, medicine and technology.
Most publicly funded research is carried out at universities. Foreign students enrolled as PhD students at their home universities can register for postgraduate courses and seminars in Sweden for a limited period, provided there is an exchange agreement or some other link between the Swedish institution and its foreign counterpart.
Some 19,000 people are enrolled as research students in Sweden. Around 3,800 were granted doctoral or licentiate degrees in 2006. The average PhD student is enrolled in his or her late twenties or early thirties.
Application Requirements:
General requirements
Before you apply, you should have completed a course of study leading to a degree or diploma equivalent to 180 ECTS (three years of full-time undergraduate study). In most cases a bachelor’s degree will be regarded as fulfilling this requirement.
Language requirements
For English-language programs, you should also have documented evidence of proficiency in English such as TOEFL or IELTS test results.
English proficiency tests and examples of minimum scores:
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Scores 500-550 (paper-based test), 173-213 (computer-based test), 61-79 (internet-based test)
• International English Language Testing Service (IELTS). Score 5.0-6.0 (no band lower than 4.5-5.0)
• Cambridge ESOL examination. (Grades A or B)
• Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB). Score 85-90 points
Being a native speaker of English can also fulfill this requirement, provided you can prove a high level of proficiency in English, usually through studies at the upper-secondary (high school) or university level.
Admission requirements for PhD.
To be admitted to a postgraduate research position, a student must hold a university degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree or higher, with a major in the same subject as the intended field of study. The major must have included a degree thesis presenting the results of independent research.
Scholarships
The Swedish Institute, a government agency, administers over 500 scholarships each year for students and researchers coming to Sweden to pursue their objectives at a Swedish university. Use the guide below in order to find out if any of the Swedish Institute scholarships are available for citizens of your country and your intended level of study.
Types of Scholarships in Sweden

There are more that 500 scholarships offered every year in Sweden that can be categorized as Government as well as Private Scholarships. The Swedish Government has excellent Scholarship policies for the Disabled and the Underprivileged. Sports or Athletic Scholarships are also widely prevalent in this country. However, you will come across a few prominent scholarship foundations in Sweden, which provide academic and financial scholarships to foreign as well as native students.

Eligibility Criteria for Scholarships in Sweden

To avail any Educational Scholarship in Sweden for Graduate or Post-Graduate Programs one has to have a reasonably good academic record. You should have an excellent Curriculum Vita that contains some kind of job experience or evidence of participation in extracurricular activities, and then you will certainly not face many issues regarding the sanctioning of your Scholarships in Sweden. Sometimes you might have to appear for entrance exams or attend interviews to qualify for the same.

Prominent Scholarship Foundations of Sweden

The common aim of all the major scholarship foundations of Sweden is to help graduates of developing countries inculcate special talents and competencies so they can aid in the progress of their respective nations. On top of all this, Sweden itself gets a major creamy portion of all the intellectuals and scholars from different parts of the world that can help with the development of the nation. You can avail Sweden's most prestigious scholarships from the Erasmus Mundus Project Scholarships, Swedish Institute Scholarships Program, Bilateral Scholarship Program of Sweden, and the Non-Swedish Institute scholarship programs.

Living in Sweden:

Sweden is an open, multicultural society with a long tradition of welcoming international students.
Currently, some 30,000 foreign students are studying in Sweden, making for a vibrant, international study environment.
As a student in Sweden, you will have ample opportunity to make new friends. A good part of your social life will revolve around your student union. The union can often help you with finding accommodation and other practical matters. Do make sure you are covered by adequate health insurance while in Sweden.
Accommodation

The situation with regard to accommodation for students is problematic in many parts of the country, sometimes very much so. There are simply not enough rooms and flats to go round. Fortunately, there are still towns and cities where conditions are better and where all or most students do get accommodation in time.

If you are not guaranteed accommodation as part of your exchange program or through some other agreement, it is vital that you approach your local student union as soon as possible. Remember that the situation will vary according to where you choose to study. Some universities or university colleges have more rooms than others.

At some schools, the student union will guarantee you accommodation if you apply in time; others have special queues for newly arrived students. A good tip is to check for special offers for foreign students with the international desk at your educational institute.

Visa Procedure:


Visa Requirments
• Student must be able to show that they have been granted university/college admission in Sweden
• Student must study full-time
• Student must be able to show that they have enough money to support themselves throughout the planned study period. Proof that they can support themselves must be provided, e g in the form of some kind of documentation certifying their own or their sponsor's bank assets, a letter of guarantee from their sponsor, or documentation certifying that they have received either a scholarship or student benefit from their country of origin/domicile. They are required to show that they will have SEK 6,300/month at their disposal for 10 months/year. If they can show that you will be receiving free board and lodging, for instance, this sum is reduced
• Student must fully intend to leave Sweden on completion of your studies

Visa Application

Students apply at a Swedish embassy or consulate in their country of origin or their country of domicile. The embassy or consulate sends their application to the Migration Board in Sweden, which takes permit decisions. Student will be notified of the decision by the embassy or consulate to which they have applied.

To be sure of obtaining the permit in time, student should present their application 6 to 8 weeks prior to their departure for Sweden.

Visa Validity

If the study period is a year or less, student will be granted a residence permit for the duration of your studies. If the study period is longer than a year student will be granted a permit for one year at a time.

To obtain an extension of the residence permit, student must be able to show that they have performed adequately in their studies. Student must also be able to show that they have regularly received money for their upkeep during the time they have spent in Sweden, by producing a bank certificate, a statement of accounts or the like. In addition, they must be able to show that they have been accepted for further studies and that their upkeep remains assured.

Work while studying

Student may work and they do not need a work permit to do that during their stay in Sweden as a student or a Master's degree student.

The Schengen Agreement

The rules in the Schengen Agreement on travel within the Schengen zone now apply in Sweden as well. One result is that people with Swedish residence permits can travel freely throughout the zone for a period of three months without first applying for a visa. All travelers must have a valid passport and be able to prove their identities.

The countries that have signed the Schengen Agreement are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.


Thank you,