Study in Sweden

Universities in Sweden

As you’d expect from a nation with an economy driven by science and technology, Sweden offers a good selection of universities. It has eight entries in the QS World University Rankings® 2018, all of which are in the top 350. The top five are:

Lund University 

Lund University is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Northern Europe, and ranks joint 78^th in the world. With a large student body of 42,000, students make up almost half the population of the city of Lund, 20% of which are from outside Sweden. The university cooperates with 600 universities in over 70 countries, both in research and in student exchange programs such as Erasmus.

KTH, Royal Institute of Technology

KTH is Sweden’s largest, oldest and most international polytechnic university and considered one of the best in Europe. Located in the capital, Stockholm, it currently ranks joint 98^th in the world, provides a third of Sweden’s research and engineering education, and has consistently ranked as one of the top 40 universities for engineering and technology subjects.

Uppsala University 

Founded in 1477, Uppsala University is the oldest university in both Sweden and all the Nordic countries. It ranks 112^th in the QS World University Rankings 2018 and has 43,591 students enrolled. The university’s long history of prestigious education makes it a member of the Coimbra Group, an association of longstanding institutions of a high international standard.

Chalmers University of Technology

Located in Gothenburg, Chalmers University of Technology is another very strong polytechnic university, ranked 133^rd in the world overall and within the top 100 for engineering and technology subjects. Over a third of students enrolled on master’s programs at Chalmers are international, which may be partly due to the fact all master’s courses are taught in English.

Stockholm University 

Stockholm University is the Swedish capital’s state university and is currently ranked joint 195^th in the world. It’s one of Scandinavia’s largest universities, educating more than 70,000 students in four faculties. Stockholm University offers many programs in English and is currently ranked within the top 100 universities in the world for arts and humanities.

Other internationally ranked universities in Sweden include the University of Gothenburg (ranked joint 283^rd), Linköping University (joint 287^th) and Umeå University (338^th). In addition, Sweden is home to a number of prestigious specialized institutions, including the medical-focused Karolinska Institute. 

Another specialist institution is the Stockholm School of Economics, which offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate business degrees and boasts a worldwide network of over 20,000 alumni.

Compare the top universities in Sweden

Student cities in Sweden

Explore some of Sweden's top cities for students...

Stockholm 

Home to nearly a quarter of Sweden’s population, Stockholm is very much the country’s beating heart. Universities in Stockholm include many of the nation’s most prestigious institutions, such as KTH Royal Institute of Technology, (ranked joint 98^th in the world), Stockholm University (ranked joint 195^th) and the Karolinska Institute (in the global top 10 for medicine). Stockholm itself is also featured in the QS Best Student Cities 2017, in joint 47^th place.

Sweden’s capital is known for its beauty, friendliness, culture and high quality of life.  As a student, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to explore Stockholm’s buzzing nightlife, bohemian shops and cafés, or perhaps just take a break from studies by relaxing in the parklands of Djurgården Island. Built on 14 islands connected by 57 bridges, Stockholm is also characterized by the fact water is never far away.

Gothenburg 

Sweden’s second-largest city, Gothenburg is something of a godsend for those who are not drawn to the quiet, historical, leafy cities in which you’ll find many of Sweden’s universities. Universities in Gothenburg include two high-ranking institutions: the Chalmers University of Technology (ranked 133^rd in the world) and the University of Gothenburg (joint 283^rd).

Gothenburg is more affordable than many other Swedish cities, and has plenty of pubs and bars. The port town is also renowned for its continental feel and its friendly locals, and has a charming historical district of its own, so you needn’t feel like you’re missing out. Gothenburg is also featured in the QS Best Student Cities index at joint 53^rd, reflecting the great student experience it offers.

Lund 

A small and student-centered city, Lund dates back to the 10th century, and is known as something of a hub for high-tech companies, as well as being famed for its excellent university. The second-oldest university in Sweden, Lund University is the country’s highest-ranking institution, at joint 78^th in the QS World University Rankings 2018. The city’s position at the southern tip of Sweden means that it also offers plenty of opportunities for travel, making it an excellent choice for students keen to explore more of Europe in between semesters.

Uppsala 

Sweden’s fourth-largest city, Uppsala is a leafy canal-lined city which boasts its very own castle. It’s home to Sweden’s oldest and third highest-ranking institution, Uppsala University (112^th in the world). Like Lund, Uppsala appeals not only for the prestige of its university, but also for its lively student community. Though small, both Uppsala and Lund have vibrant student scenes, including opportunities to find student jobs in the bars and other organizations at the heart of student life. Located towards the east of the country, about an hour’s drive north of Stockholm, Uppsala is also well placed for trips to the rest of Europe.

Umeå 

Much further up the eastern coast, Umeå is by far the most northerly of the locations mentioned here, offering a base from which lovers of the wilderness can strike out and enjoy the stark beauty of northern Sweden. If you’re feeling brave, it’s a mere 400km from the Arctic Circle. But, although it’s fairly small and remote, Umeå is no backwater. It’s known for being something of research hub, with a sizable student population, reasonable nightlife and enough culture to have earned the title of European Capital of Culture in 2014. Umeå University is ranked within the world's top 350, and the city is also home to a branch of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (ranked fourth in the world for agriculture and forestry).

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Swedish university admissions 

For Swedish university admissions, you should use the centralized University Admissions application portal, Universityadmissions.se. University is free for Swedish citizens and citizens of EU countries. However, fees have been introduced for non-EU citizens. These are set individually by each university, and you can expect to pay somewhere between SEK90,000 and 150,000 (around US$10,560-17,595) depending on your degree. Non-EU students must also pay an application fee of SEK900 (US$106) – this remains the same no matter how many courses or programs you apply for.

Student visas for Sweden

Student visa requirements for Sweden differ depending on whether or not you are from an EU nation.

EU and Swiss nationals:

• You do not need a visa.
• Unless you are from a Nordic nation, you will have to register with the Swedish Migration Board within three months of your arrival. This can be done in person, by post or online (note that the Stockholm municipality of Solna has slightly different regulations).
• You will need to prove that you have been accepted onto a course, show that you have enough funds to cover your stay and provide evidence that you have acquired health insurance in order to get your registration certificate.
• Swiss nationals will also need to get a special residence permit, for which you will need to follow a similar procedure.

If you are not from the EU/EEA: 

• You will require a residence permit in order to study in Sweden, which you can get from your local Swedish embassy. The application cost for both student residence permits and a permit to seek employment after completing your studies in Sweden is SEK1,000 (US$117).
• In order to obtain a study permit you will need to prove you have been admitted onto a course, that you have comprehensive health insurance and that you can support yourself for the duration of your course. At present, you are required to have SEK8,010 (around US$940) a month for at least 10 months for every year of your stay, in addition to your fees (the first instalment of which must be paid before you’ll receive your permit). You must have enough money for the whole period of study at the time of your initial application. The required amount is reduced if you are receiving free lodging or food, or if you have a scholarship.
• You will need to renew your permit annually.       

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