Undergraduate free studies in Sweden

Most undergraduate students come to Sweden as exchange students; their home university has an exchange agreement with a Swedish institution – either as part of an EU exchange program or through a bilateral scheme.

Opportunities for students to come to Sweden to study at an undergraduate level as free movers – students who apply on an individual basis – are limited. Careful planning, good academic credentials, personal funds and strong motivation are needed. If you are a free mover, make sure to plan ahead and set aside plenty of time to make all the necessary arrangements.

Although a growing number of undergraduate courses have been made available in English in order to make them more accessible, embarking on a full undergraduate program is not an option for most foreign students. This is because for the most part these programs require a very good command of written and spoken Swedish.

There are exceptions, however: Blekinge Institute of Technology, Dalarna University, IT University of Göteborg, Jönköping International Business School, Luleå University of Technology, Malmö University College, Mälardalen University College, Stockholm School of Economics, Umeå University, University of Borås and Växjö University offer undergraduate programs taught in English.

Most other courses at the undergraduate level offered in English are intended for exchange students. If free movers are admitted, they must meet all the normal requirements with regard to previous university studies and knowledge of English. Universities and university colleges will normally require verification in the form of an international proficiency test certificate.

Living expences in sweden

Food, transport and leisure
Though most students live on a tight budget, there are ways of making your money go further. You can use your student card for discounts and on-campus restaurants are good value. You can also cook your own food; most student accommodations have some form of kitchen facility open to residents.

In most restaurants and bars, a beer will cost you SEK 40-50 (EUR 4-5 ), a glass of wine perhaps a little more. Dinner starts at around SEK 100-150 (EUR 10-15) drinks not included. Eating out at lunchtime is cheaper; expect to pay somewhere around SEK 55-85 for a meal including a soft drink, salad and tea/coffee. An average monthly budget is set out below to give you some idea of the cost of living in Sweden.

Food: SEK 2,000. Accommodation: SEK 3,200. Local travel: SEK 500. Telephone/internet: SEK 300. Insurance, medical care and hygiene: SEK 250. Student union fee: SEK 60-70. Clothing, hobby/leisure, other: SEK 750.
Total: SEK 7,070, or about EUR 750.

Remember however, that prices can vary considerably depending on where you live. Stockholm, for example, is more expensive than smaller towns.

Living in Sweden

Sweden is an open, multicultural society with a long tradition of welcoming students from abroad.

Currently, some 28,000 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.

Study options in Sweden

Trying to understand Sweden's higher education system can seem daunting at first. Our primer should help - it contains some basic information about studying at Swedish universities that foreign students don't automatically know.

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 500 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.

Other options
You may just have finished with your studies, in which case you may be looking for a traineeship position. Or else you may be in a position to buy contract training (commissioned education) for your company or organization.

Finally, instead of pursuing an academic degree, you may be interested in advanced vocational education (AVE), which focuses more on workplace learning. There is one such program in English: Globalverkstan.

FAQ about Sweden free education

What is the difference between a university and a university college (in Sweden)?

Unless you are pursuing a doctorate, there is very little difference. See the detailed explanation here.

What kinds of degrees can I study for in Sweden?

After three years of successful full-time study, a student at a Swedish university or university colleges can receive a kandidatexamen, the nearest equivalent to an American bachelor’s degree. After one or two additional years of specialized studies, the student can receive a Degree of Master (One Year) or a Degree of Master (Two Years), the nearest equivalent to an American master’s degree. If a student opts to do advanced studies or research in a topic, they can receive a Licenciatexamen after an additional two years of full-time study or a Doktorsexamen after a minimum of four years. A Doktorsexamen is a PhD. Click this link for a downloadable picture showing the various degrees in Sweden.

I want to study medicine - dentistry - technology - science - psychology - humanities - social sciences. Which schools are best for my chosen field?

Schools specializing in these academic disciplines are listed in this section of the site.

Is it possible to study Swedish for beginners at a university or university college?

Yes, several institutions offer Swedish for beginners. In most cases, the courses are intended for exchange students.

At a few universities, courses are offered as part of a program to first teach students intensive Swedish so that they can pursue a degree at that institution in the Swedish language. In other words, Swedish is taught as a means to further study.

If you intend to study Swedish in this manner, you should be aware that in order to continue with your studies after the year of intensive Swedish language courses, you will need to take and pass the TISUS test in Swedish. If you fail this test (and people do), you will not be able to continue your studies in Sweden.

The institutions offering Swedish for beginners are listed here.

I’ve decided I want to study as an undergraduate in Sweden. What do I do now?
There are three ways of going about it, depending on your situation:
If you already speak fluent Swedish, and a have a valid high school diploma, you can apply to any Swedish university program, just like Swedish students do. You can search for university courses here. Then, check course information online to find out about specific application procedures. Usually, applications are processed centrally, via the Swedish national admissions board (VHS). Application forms are available on their website (Swedish only). The only difference between you and Swedish students is that you will have to pass the TISUS Swedish test and you are not eligible for student loans from the government. Tuition is free.

If you do not speak any Swedish, and have a valid high school diploma, there are a few universities that will first teach you Swedish first. See information here.

Additionally, a limited number of English-language undergraduate programs are offered by academic institutions in Sweden. These are listed here. Contact the institutions directly for information.


If you are already pursuing an undergraduate degree at a university outside Sweden and it has an exchange program with an institution in Sweden, such as Erasmus, you should contact the international office at your home university. They have a list of partner institutions in Sweden that offer courses in English that you can attend.

I’ve decided I want to pursue master’s level studies in Sweden. What do I do now?

Use the course database to find a program that suits your interests. Then, apply directly to the school you are interested in using the contact information you find on its website. There are scholarships available from SI.

I’ve decided I want to pursue a doctoral degree in Sweden. What do I do now?

You need to find a faculty or department at a Swedish university that has positions available for doctoral students and which is willing to sponsor your doctoral research project. Usually, this initial contact is made via your home institution, with the help of a professor or mentor. There are no scholarships available from SI for an entire doctoral degree program.

I am a doctoral student and would like to do part of my research studies in Sweden. What do I do now?

You need to find a faculty or department at a Swedish university willing to accept you for a period of time to take postgraduate courses or pursue independent research. Usually, this initial contact is made via your home institution, with the help of a professor or mentor. There are scholarships available from SI.

How do I know if my existing high school diploma/bachelors’ degree/master’s degree is valid in Sweden?

In general, institutions evaluate degrees on an individual basis. If the transcript is not in English, you may need to have it translated first, however. Fuller details here.

How do I apply to the Swedish Institute?

You can’t. The Swedish Institute is not a university, nor is it affiliated with Swedish institutions of higher education. It is a government agency entrusted with the task of disseminating information about Sweden to the rest of the world. This website is a good example of its work.

Separately, SI administers scholarships to subsidize the living expenses of a limited number of foreign students. Information about the scholarships and application instructions can be found on the scholarship pages.

Are there tuition fees at Swedish universities and university colleges?

With rare exceptions, all tuition fees in higher education in Sweden are subsidized by the government. This applies to foreign as well as Swedish students. Higher education is fully financed by the state, a system common to many European countries. You will still have to cover living expenses and pay student union fees, though.

Does the Swedish Institute offer Swedish courses?

Yes, SI does offer summer courses in co-operation with various “folk high schools” in Sweden. These are not beginners’ courses, however; you’ll need to already have studied Swedish for 100 hours or more. There are also courses for language instructors who teach Swedish abroad. More information at the bottom of this page.

What are my chances of receiving an SI scholarship?

Over 500 scholarships are granted every year, though some scholarships have eligibility restrictions. Because academic institutions make an initial selection of candidates to recommend to SI, it is difficult for SI to gauge the size of the original pool. However, SI receives up to 10 recommended candidates for each of the 500 or so master’s degree programs, in addition to applications from doctoral students. In total, SI processes around 2,000 applications each year.

Can I apply to several institutions simultaneously and ask each one for a scholarship? Will this jeopardize my chances?

If you are applying to master’s programs, you may apply for an SI scholarship via as many institutions as you want, simultaneously, provided the programs you want the scholarship for are in the same general academic discipline. If you are applying for doctoral-level studies or research, you may not apply for an SI scholarship via multiple channels simultaneously.

Is there an age limit for applications to Swedish universities or for Swedish Institute scholarships?

No, there are no age-based restrictions.

Programs for a master’s degree in the US typically take longer to complete than the ones I’ve been looking into in Sweden. Are the degrees compatible?

As of the 2007-2008 academic year, there are two kinds of master’s degree programs in Sweden leading to two different kinds of degrees, the Degree of Master (One Year) which is called “magisterexamen” in Swedish, and the Degree of Master (Two Years), called “masterexamen”. Swedish bachelor’s degree programmes specialize earlier than equivalent American programs, so the same level of specialization may be reached in a shorter amount of time.

Individual academic institutions outside Sweden set their own policy on how to translate Swedish degrees. In all cases we are aware of, Sweden's reputation as a first-rate education destination has meant that degrees awarded in Sweden are given very generous recognition by institutions elsewhere. However, if you have plans to continue your education at a specific university, you may want to check beforehand how they translate a Swedish degree.

It is likewise difficult to predict how a degree will be valued by a specific employer. Demand for staff with international experience and perspectives is growing, but an employer’s interest will also depend on the relevance of your studies to the available job position.

100% free education given by Sweden government

Why study in Sweden?
There are compelling reasons why you should study in Sweden. 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 500 master’s 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.