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Study in the European North: Destination Nordic countries
Around 20% of programmes are in the area of business and economics. Other Masters programs offer specializations in fields as diverse as the social sciences, art and design, health and medicine, law, and the humanities � areas in which Swedish universities have excellent international reputations.
Student finance in Sweden
Sweden has a history of academic excellence that stretches back to the 15th century, and the country is home to the Nobel Prize, the world's most prestigious academic distinction.
But its universities don't have to rest on these laurels: contemporary factors support Sweden's reputation for quality in higher education. First, there is a commitment by the state to making sure the universities are well endowed. Of all OECD countries, Sweden invests the most funds per student in higher education: latest available figures show that total spending per student over the course of a typical Swedish university education amounts to nearly $70,000, versus an OECD average of $40,000.
The Swedish state fully funds university tuition (with the exception of a few private institutions) for all students, regardless of their provenance. This means that education is free for all those who are accepted into a program. Non-Swedes have no recourse to student loans, but various organizations, including the Swedish Institute, provide limited, competitive scholarships to cover living costs. Given the very high quality of graduate programs on offer, low tuition fees make for exceptional value for money for international students coming from overseas.
At the advanced level of study, there are also two degree options: a new degree "masterexamen", or Masters degree, for which students are eligible after two years of study at the advanced level and a "magisterexamen," which corresponds to the current graduate degree offered by Swedish universities, though it will be limited to one-year study programs. At the research level of study, students are eligible for a licentiate degree, "licentiatexamen" after two years of research and a doctorate, "doktorsexamen" after fours years of research.
The Swedish Institute maintains a website, www.studyinsweden.se, aimed at encouraging international students to study in Sweden.
