Sweden: Graduate Level Country Guide

Studying in Sweden at graduate level, our guide finds, is all about innovation, accessibility and world-class universities.

When you think of Sweden, the deep-rooted principles of innovation and creativity should come to mind as readily as ABBA, IKEA and Stieg Larsson’s novels.

With talent, technology and tolerance woven into the very fabric of Swedish culture, is it any wonder that some of the brightest students from around the world are looking to Sweden both for an education and for a cutting-edge business training ground?

Top-ranked education meets global industry

Sweden has long prided itself on cultivating innovative and perceptive team players. Its universities maintain a strong focus on group work, encouraging students to discover and develop their true strengths and talents. Many programs also offer close cooperation between academia and industry, giving students a distinct advantage when entering the job market.

Swedish universities provide gateways to careers in a number of industry sectors. IT, telecommunications, mining, automotive, forest products and banking are just some of the sectors in which Sweden boasts a progressive leadership role. Sweden is an “early adopter” of technologies both in business and at home, and because of this many Swedish service companies are thriving.

How has a country as small as Sweden managed to use innovation and entrepreneurship to establish world-renowned symbols of excellence, such as the Nobel Prize? How can a country of just over 9 million people boast the 4th most competitive economy in the world, according to the World Economic Forum 2009-2010 competitiveness index? Well, much of it can be attributed to Sweden’s academic excellence. The latest QS World University Rankings featured eight Swedish universities in the world top 500.

Accessible university education, in English

There are currently about 36,000 foreign students studying in Sweden, constituting around 10% of the total student body. The wide choice of English-language courses – aimed at both Swedes and non-Swedes – is an obvious attraction. Many Swedish companies also use English as their official working language. 

International students find that this prevalence of English makes adapting to their new surroundings all the easier – and also makes it easier to find internships and job opportunities.

Sweden has also adopted more liberal labor migration laws, making it much easier to move there to work and to stay in Sweden once studies are completed. Students who are employed when their student permit expires can easily obtain a work permit.

More than 500 graduate programs

In line with the Bologna Process - which is driving conformity in European higher education – Swedish universities have switched to a new degree structure, with both one-year and two-year master’s programs. Sweden has also adopted the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, which standardizes credits and grading

Programs are structured in response to student demand - the result is a student-centric education system, where personal initiative and critical thought are prized. Students apply and analyze the skills taught through discussions at lectures and seminars, degree theses, case studies and group work. This requires taking an active role and contributing with opinions and ideas at lectures, seminars and in group discussions.

Studies in Sweden take place in a slightly different format than in other countries. Instead of studying several courses at once throughout an entire semester or year, students generally study just one course at a time, for a shorter period of several weeks. The Swedish semester is therefore made up of a series of shorter courses, each followed directly by an examination. The spring term of the final year of the master’s program is usually spent writing a thesis.

Tuition, scholarships, applications

The international student fees are set by each university, and will typically range between 70 000 - 170 000 SEK or EUR 7 000-17 000 per academic year. Members of the EU, EEA and Switzerland, as well as exchange students are exempt from these fees, since they are treated in the same way as Swedish students.

The Swedish government has also set up two scholarship programs for non-EU/EEA international students, both of which are funded for 30 million SEK or EUR 3 million each. The first program will be aimed at countries with which Sweden already has established long-term development cooperation. The second will be geared towards all students outside the EU/EAA, and will increase to 60 million SEK or EUR 6 million in 2012.

There is a central application service for using one application to apply to up to four different master’s programs, at different universities around Sweden. The fee is 900 SEK. Since the visa process for non EU-EEA members can take up to several months, do apply in good time.

Meet grad schools from around the world

Join a QS World Grad School Tour event in a city near you, for your chance to meet representatives of leading universities from around the world. You'll also have the chance to attend admissions seminars, pick up a free copy of the QS Top Grad School Guide, and be eligible to apply for exclusive graduate scholarships.