Sweden

⇑Universities

The Swedish system has two main types of higher education institutions. According to the European Eurydice network (2024 data), there are:

• 18 universities (universitet) – they can award degrees at all levels, including doctorates,
• 12 university colleges (högskolor) – mainly bachelor's and master's programmes, although some can now also award doctorates in selected fields,
• 5 arts institutions (konstnärliga högskolor) – fine arts, design, performing arts,
• 14 independent education providers (enskilda utbildningsanordnare) – funded by state grants or run by foundations.

Most institutions are public. The Study in Sweden portal lists 39 universities that together offer more than 1,000 bachelor's and master's programmes in English.

Universities in Sweden – profiles

⇑Study system

Studies are measured in credits called högskolepoäng (hp) – one year of full-time study is 60 hp, or about 40 weeks. The degrees are:

• kandidatexamen (bachelor's) – 180 hp, i.e. 3 years,
• magisterexamen – 60 hp, one year after a bachelor's degree,
• masterexamen – 120 hp, 2 years after a bachelor's degree,
• Doctorate – 4 years.

There are also professional degrees (yrkesexamen) that lead to a specific profession – for some professions in Sweden you need exactly this kind of degree.

Most programmes start in the autumn (August/September), some also in the spring.

Sweden – bachelor's programmes
Sweden – integrated (single-cycle) programmes
Sweden – master's programmes
Sweden – doctoral programmes

⇑Admission

Admission is central and fully online. You apply for programmes taught in English through universityadmissions.se and for programmes taught in Swedish through antagning.se.

Deadlines for the 2027 autumn semester (example: Karolinska Institutet):

• international round – applications from 16 October 2026 to 15 January 2027, documents by 1 February 2027. If you need a residence permit, apply in this round – it leaves enough time to pay the tuition fee and apply for the permit,
• national round – applications from 15 March to 15 April 2027. EU/EEA citizens can apply in it too, so if you are one of them you get a second chance. Note: most international master's programmes are no longer open in this round.

For a bachelor's programme you need a completed upper secondary education, English at the level of the Swedish course English 6 and mathematics equivalent to the course Matematik 1. Many programmes have additional subject requirements.

You upload your secondary school leaving certificate and transcripts in the original language, together with an official translation into Swedish or English – universityadmissions.se lists what is needed for each country. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens also upload proof of citizenship – that way you don't pay the application fee.

⇑Entrance exams

In Sweden there are usually no entrance exams. If you meet the requirements, you compete for a place with the other applicants – usually on the basis of your secondary school grades.

The exceptions are arts programmes and some specialised programmes, where institutions may ask for a portfolio, sample work or an interview. Swedish applicants can also use the result of the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test (högskoleprovet), but it is held in Swedish. The programme description gives the details.

⇑Language

Programmes taught in English require the level of the Swedish course English 6. You can prove it, for example, with:

• English from your upper secondary school – universityadmissions.se lists, country by country, which school results are accepted,
• IELTS – an overall score of at least 6.5, with no section below 5.5,
• TOEFL – for tests taken from 21 January 2026, an overall score of 4.5 (on a scale of 1–6), with no section below 4; for older tests, 90 points, including at least 20 in the writing section.

Some master's programmes require English 5, others the higher English 7.

For programmes taught in Swedish, Swedish language skills are part of the general entry requirements – you can check exactly what is accepted on antagning.se. Swedish will also help you in everyday life and when looking for a job, even if you study in English.

⇑Residence and formalities

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens have a right of residence (uppehållsrätt) in Sweden as students – you don't need a visa or a residence permit.

If your studies will last at least a year, you register in the population register with the Swedish Tax Agency, Skatteverket. Once registered, you get a Swedish personal identity number, the personnummer – you will need it at the bank, at the doctor's and for work. To register you need:

• an identity document,
• proof of your studies – a certificate of registration or your admission decision,
• information showing that you can support yourself during your studies.

You also have to go in person to a government service office (servicekontor) to verify your identity – book the visit in advance. If you study for less than 12 months (e.g. two semesters, 60 hp), Skatteverket will ask what you plan to do after your studies.

Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland need a residence permit for higher education studies from the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket). You apply online (or on paper at a Swedish embassy or consulate) once you have been admitted to full-time studies and have paid your first tuition fee – only then are you considered finally admitted. The fee is SEK 1,500 for adults. You must show that you can support yourself for the whole permit period: at least SEK 10,656 a month if you apply in 2026. If your studies last less than a year, you also need comprehensive health insurance covering emergency and other medical care, hospitalisation and emergency dental care. If your permit is for a year or more, you register with Skatteverket in the same way as described above.

Health insurance: if you are from the EU/EEA or Switzerland, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

⇑Tuition fees

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens pay neither tuition fees nor an application fee in Sweden – you only need to prove your citizenship. This applies to bachelor's and master's programmes, including those taught in English.

Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland pay:

• an application fee of SEK 900,
• tuition fees of SEK 80,000 to 295,000 a year – on average around SEK 129,000, depending on the institution and the programme.

In Sweden a doctorate is usually a paid position – doctoral students are employed by the university and receive a salary, and recruitment works differently from ordinary programmes.

⇑Accommodation and living costs

Sweden is expensive but predictable. A good reference point is the amount the Swedish Migration Agency requires from students from outside the EU/EEA: at least SEK 10,656 a month (2026). Study in Sweden breaks down the previous threshold of SEK 10,584 like this:

• accommodation – SEK 4,900,
• food – SEK 2,770,
• local transport – SEK 550,
• phone and internet – SEK 400,
• other expenses – SEK 1,964.

Rent is usually SEK 3,000–7,000 a month, depending on the city and the location.

Start your search for accommodation with your university – some guarantee housing to international students, and most help you find a room in a student residence (korridorsrum) or with a local student housing company. To get a contract directly from such a company, you usually have to join a housing queue (bostadskö). Watch out for scammers: being asked for money before you have seen the flat is a warning sign.

⇑Scholarships

Most Swedish scholarships are for students from outside the EU/EEA who pay tuition fees – universities award them mainly to cover part of the fee. Swedish Institute (SI) scholarships are only for citizens of the countries listed on the institute's website.

Other options:

• Erasmus+ – a semester or a year in Sweden as part of an exchange with your home university,
• Swedish student finance from CSN (grants and loans) – EU citizens can get it if they have worker status: working at least 10 hours a week for at least 10 weeks, and continuing to work at that level during their studies. Other routes are professional studies linked to earlier work in Sweden, permanent right of residence (after 5 years of legal residence) or being a family member of an EU worker,
• a paid doctorate – doctoral students are employed by the university.

⇑Working while studying

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens can work in Sweden without any permit, also while studying. With a personnummer it is easier to sort out your contract, bank account and tax.

Students from outside the EU/EEA at bachelor's or master's level whose residence permit was granted on or after 11 June 2026 may work up to 15 hours a week. You may work more if the work is part of your programme (e.g. an internship), involves student representation, administration or research at your university, or takes place in June, July or August. Note: this is a new rule, and Migrationsverket lists further exceptions – check the current rules with Migrationsverket or your university before you take a job.

It is easier to find a casual job if you speak at least some Swedish. Start with your university's careers service; you can also find vacancies at the Swedish Public Employment Service, Arbetsförmedlingen.

Sweden – why work there?
How to find a job abroad?

⇑Useful links

• Study in Europe – Sweden – the official country profile on the European Commission's portal,
• Study in Sweden – the official portal for international students: institutions, programmes, costs, housing,
• universityadmissions.se – admission to programmes taught in English,
• antagning.se – admission to programmes taught in Swedish,
• studera.nu – programme search and information about Swedish higher education,
• Migrationsverket – residence permit for higher education – residence permits for students from outside the EU/EEA,
• Skatteverket – population registration and personnummer,
• CSN – Swedish student finance,
• ENIC-NARIC – recognition of qualifications in Europe,
• Eurodesk – free information on studying, traineeships and volunteering in Europe.