Popular Consultant
Emrul Hasan
Professional Consultant
—Hej, min kompis! Hur är läget? (Hello, my Buddy! How’s it going?)
So happy to see you again! Looks like you really are determined to explore the world! Next up our destination will be Sweden, okay?
Oh! Seems like you already know that! Very smart, huh! Okay, buddy’s just kidding.
Now, do you remember our journey to Germany? Or haven’t you taken the journey yet! In case you haven’t, I’ll recommend you to check that out. Okay, so before starting our journey, I would like to ask you a very special question. Guess what?
Here it is — When you think of Sweden, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? Let me also add something more. Why are you thinking of studying in Sweden in the first place?
Think!
Think!
Think!
You must be thinking that this BuddyBee is making you do a lot of brainstorming! But it’s fun, right?
So, what’s your answer then?
Let me help you in finding the answers.
⦁ Why study in Sweden?
⦁ It’s FREE! That’s right! If you come from the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), you don’t have to pay any tuition fees at all to study at the public universities in Sweden. And that’s indeed a great news because you can use the money you save to cover your living costs, which are, to be honest, above the European average. You should expect to spend around 700 – 1,200 EUR/month. [2]
⦁ Trust me! Sweden is one of those wonderful places where you don’t have to worry about being different or not fitting in. They embrace everybody regardless of his/her personal choices or background. Stockholm, for example, is often considered one of the most open cities in the world.
⦁ One of the most beautiful facts about the Swedes is – they will do as much as they can to provide you with the support and resources you need to achieve your academic, professional, personal, or any other goal.
⦁ Sweden is home to a number of internationally successful corporations – like Volvo, IKEA, or H&M, and also to some of the most exciting startups of recent years – like Skype or Spotify. The internationality of such employers as well as the high proficiency of English among Swedes makes it fairly easy for qualified international graduates to get a foot in the door of the Swedish job market, even when their knowledge of Swedish is limited. Sweden’s government has also put an effort into decreasing red tape for foreign nationals looking to join the local workforce. [1]
⦁ Even you will be able to earn money in Sweden alongside your studies, as there aren’t any limits on the number of hours you can work as an international student in Sweden. (Of course, if your study load permits!)
⦁ If you’re someone who is environmentally conscious, you’ll love living in Sweden for sure. Because Sweden is the best example of eco-friendliness and has been investing in the wellbeing and preservation of nature for a long time now.
⦁ Over 80% of Swedes speak English, which makes it super easy to interact with them whenever you need help or simply want to enjoy a small chit-chat. [8]
⦁ Still, I will recommend you to learn at least the basics of Swedish, the most common words, for those rare cases when you meet someone who doesn’t speak the English language.
Now that we got to know some basic scenarios of Sweden, I think my Buddy will also agree that studying in Sweden is likely to make you feel relaxed. Yes, obviously, you are gonna move to Sweden with high expectations and you will need to work hard but let me tell you something – the higher education system in Sweden is very flexible and informal.
Aren’t you already in love with Sweden! :)
Now, I think we can dig a little more about Studying in Sweden. Let’s see what are the options available for my Buddy!
⦁ What to study in Sweden?
Swedes are great with cars, great with IT, and great with the environment. So, it won’t be that hard to guess which are some of the most popular study areas in Sweden. The options for my Buddy to choose from will be —
⦁ Computer Science
⦁ Engineering
⦁ Arts
⦁ Environmental Studies
⦁ Cultural Studies [8]
⦁ Course types
Sweden is a member of the European Higher Education Area and a signatory of the Bologna Process. This means that its postgraduate programs follow a recognizable international format. Swedish Master’s degrees build upon undergraduate study in a related subject and will offer you the opportunity to acquire more advanced subject knowledge while conducting more independent work in areas of your own interest and growing expertise. [4]
⦁ Master’s programs
A Master’s in Sweden can either be a one-year or two-year degree. Usually, this will include about 75% coursework and 25% research for a thesis project.
In addition, Swedish universities have close ties to the industry, and often facilitate thesis work at companies or organizations.
Sweden uses the ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) with Master’s degrees being worth 60 or 120 ECTS credits, depending on their length. In Sweden, 60 ECTS credit Master’s are known as Magisterexamen, while 120 ECTS credit Masters are called Masterexamen. [4]
Masters Study in Sweden - Key Details
Universities 39
Oldest University Uppsala University (1477)
International Students 30,912
Course Length 1-2 years
Typical Fees (Domestic / EU) None
Academic Year September to June
⦁ Ph.D. in Sweden
Sweden is also a popular destination for international Ph.D. students. And, as a Swedish Master’s graduate, you’ll be well placed to take advantage of some of the great research opportunities on offer at the country’s universities. How fascinating is that!
So, now that you have decided on the Subject, BuddyBee and BuddyBee’s Buddy can move forward towards the application procedures. What say! Are we ready?
Hey, hold on, hold on. I wanna confess something before moving forward. I am actually loving Sweden already :) What about you?
Okay, Buddy! It’s not the time to get emotional. We should get to the practical information now!
⦁ Practical Information
As you already know, Sweden is a friendly and welcoming country, with a large number of international students. But, as with any study abroad experience, you should allow plenty of time for your application. In Sweden, applications for Bachelor’s and Master’s programs are processed through a central application service, Universityadmissions.se. However, you can also apply directly through the university and program websites. The general application documents required are —
⦁ Identification document
⦁ Record of completed upper secondary education (translated into English)
⦁ University records (translated into English)
⦁ Proof of language proficiency
Additionally, most universities also tend to ask for —
⦁ Motivation letter
⦁ CV
⦁ Sample of academic writing
⦁ Recommendation letters from professors and employers [5]
Finally, we are gonna move towards the most crucial part. So, I’m gonna ask you to hold your patience, Buddy. We are now finally going to cross-check your position right now based on the Entry Requirements.
⦁ Entry Requirements for Swedish Universities
⦁ In order to study in Sweden, you’ll need to meet some general entry requirements in addition to the program-specific entry requirements.
⦁ The minimum entry requirement for Master’s courses in Sweden is a completed Bachelor’s degree.
⦁ If you want to study a course that is taught in English and you are not a native speaker, you may have to demonstrate your language skills through an English language test such as the Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). For courses taught in Swedish, you may have to take tests or complete a Swedish language course before starting your studies. [4]
⦁ If you are currently studying for a Bachelor’s or Master’s in your home country, you may still be able to spend time studying in Sweden through the Erasmus scheme and you can also apply for an Erasmus+ Master’s loan to study a full postgraduate degree in Sweden. [6]
Now that we are almost at the end of our tour to Sweden, it’s time for the most exciting question!
⦁ The Scholarships
I’m sure that there’s a question popping into your mind throughout this article. “Is there any scholarship available?” You have got caught my Buddy, haven’t you? Hey, BuddyBee’s just pulling your leg. So, the answer to your question will greatly determine whether or not you hear a heavy sigh or a rejoicing YES! The cost of studies is an important factor for international students and because of that, it’s truly understandable. While scholarships are available for students through the Swedish Institute, I won’t recommend putting all your eggs in one basket. Therefore having a Plan B, C, D, and even E will be integral in the selection process. In addition to checking your home country for scholarships and grants, I will highly recommend checking the options from the Universities you choose. Simply put, you’ll be amazed by the offerings they have, from partial to full scholarships. Grab them fast and put your best foot forward!
⦁ Further information
I hope BuddyBee’s answered all your queries! However, your BuddyBee’s also aware of the fact that new questions keep popping into our heads every now and then. It’s really not a problem, Buddy. In fact, it’s completely normal. So, let me recommend you something for that. My recommendation for you will be to consult with BuddyBee’s consultants for more advice and information whenever you want.
And, last but not the least, remember that, whichever country you finally choose, your BuddyBee would love to see you fulfilling your dreams. All my best wishes for your future endeavors my Buddy!
Adjö´ så länge! Vi ses snart! (Goodbye for now! See you soon!)
Popular Consultant
Afroja Joly
Professional Consultant