Counseling for studies in Sweden from Bangalore.

Preloader Close

Study Abroad - Sweden

Overview

Sweden is known for its openness toward the international community – and its education system is no exception. International students from all over the world study in Sweden, where there are over 1,000 degree programs taught entirely in English. Unlike many countries, Sweden gives their international students the right to work in Sweden during their studies. If you’re interested in working in Sweden – the innovation capital of Europe – after you complete your studies, you can apply for time to search for employment even if you’re not from an EU/EEA country. Read on through this Study in Sweden guide to learn the practicalities of how to study in Sweden as well as get a glimpse into student life.

Why Study in Sweden ?

Sweden is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe, bordered by Norway and Finland. It is the third largest country in the European Union by area, with a population of about 9.5 million. So what does Sweden have to offer an international student?

High Quality, Unconventional Education

Studying in Sweden is different from studying in other countries because Swedish universities have an open climate with a strong focus on group work. The Swedish education system focuses more on your academic interests than pushing you to achieve a grade. Swedish universities work to prepare you for a successful future; the job market values ambitious, innovative, and perceptive team players, so Swedish universities attempt to instill these qualities in their students. Degree programs in Sweden offer students the opportunity to mix study and practical work, so that they have first-hand experience in their field when they graduate and enter the job market.

The education system in Sweden is student-centric. Relationships between students and teachers are relaxed and informal; as a student in Sweden, you will be expected to address your teachers by their first names. Swedish universities prize personal initiative and independent thinking; if you choose to study in Sweden, you will be expected and required to take an active role and contribute with your opinions and ideas in lectures, seminars, and group discussions. This will give you the opportunity to develop your individual strengths and cultivate you academic abilities.

In the 2010 edition of the Academic Ranking of World Universities compiled by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sweden has three universities in the top 100 and eleven in the top 500.

Almost everyone in Sweden speaks English nowadays; 89 per cent of Swedes are bilingual, so international students from English-speaking countries need not worry about not being able to communicate if they don’t speak Swedish.

Highly Innovative Country

Sweden is one of the world’s most modern countries, and the birthplace of many successful corporations. A number of successful inventions have resulted from research at Swedish universities and companies, including the computer mouse, Bluetooth, the pacemaker, the ball bearing, the dialysis machine, and internet applications such as Spotify and Skype. These recent inventions are built on a long history of excellence in academia and research in Sweden. Sweden is the home of the Nobel prize and several highly acclaimed universities dating back to the 15th century. This innate creativity has established Sweden as a strong nation within design, fashion, and music. It is one of the largest music-exporting countries in the world.

Eligibility Criteria for study in Sweden

Bachelor’s Eligibility

The requirements for a bachelor’s program in a Swedish university are pretty simple and straightforward.

1) The student must have graduated high school with 60% marks and must have completed the age of 18 before enrolling in a degree program.

2) Prove your English proficiency: The English language general requirements are studies that are equivalent to Swedish upper secondary English Course 6.

3) Students must have completed courses in mathematics equivalent to the level of math’s taught at Swedish universities; approximately ten years of mathematics study.

This just means that you need to take an internationally recognized English proficiency test like IELTS or TOEFL and make sure it meets the requirements for the branch and university you are applying to.

Masters Eligibility

Entry requirements for getting a master’s degree from a Swedish university is as follows:

1) Must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an internationally recognized university or a degree equivalent to the Swedish Kandidatexamen.

2) English proficiency: Get a good IELTS or TOEFL score.

PHD Entry Eligibility

Entry Requirements for a Ph.D. from a Swedish university is as follows:

1) The previous degree completed must be in the same field of study.

2) The applicant must also submit the thesis submitted in the previous degree along with the application.

3) Might require proficiency in both English and Swedish language since some seminars could be conducted in Swedish.

What after Study?

As an international student in Sweden, you’re allowed to work alongside your studies – there’s no official limitation for how many hours you can work. However, it’s important to keep your studies as your first priority – even when you don’t have many classroom hours, you’re expected to spend the equivalent of a 40-hour work week reading and working on assignments.

If you wish to work after you complete your higher studies, you can apply to extend your residence permit to give yourself more time to look for work. Sweden gives you at least 6 months to do this. The work permit is Schengen in nature, so you will be able to look for work anywhere within the European Union.

Many international students have shared that finding a part time job in Sweden is difficult. Some native students feel this way at times, too. This is for a few reasons, first, because most part-time jobs require you to speak Swedish. This is not the case for every job, but it’s definitely the case for most of the jobs that are there. Jobs for people who speak other languages will just take some time to find, and you have to be deliberate about it. Visit the companies that you want to work at. Put ads up and look at job ads on notice boards at your university or at public buildings in the area.

Process

General Application Documents

The general application requirement consists of a Kandidatexamen, known as a Swedish Bachelor’s degree, from an internationally recognized university.

Specific entry requirements

The specific entry requirements can consist of two sets of documents:

1) English test

2) Custom requirements from each Master’s programmes

The English certificate should be from an internationally recognized test, and you need to meet the minimum required grade. The following are the most popular English language tests:

1) TOEFL iBT

2) IELTS Academic

3) PTE Academic

4) C1 Advanced (formerly known as Cambridge English Advanced)

The custom requirements can be found on the page of your favorite Master’s degree, so don’t forget to get the proper documentation and do your research before the deadline. However, some of the usual required documents are:

1) Identification document (ID)

2) Record of completed upper secondary (high school) education (translated into English)

3) University records (translated into English)

4) Signed cover letter (only when submitting documents via regular post)

5) Change of name (only if you legally changed your name)

Facts about Sweden

According to the World Population Review, Sweden ranks tenth in the world in education. The Swedish education system is ranked among the best in the world With its emphasis on individual learning and the personal liberty to enroll children in a diverse selection of schools, many perceive Sweden as a country with a phenomenal educational