A person in a white shirt, dark trousers and a woolly hat is writing on a blackboard, turned away from the camera.
What do you think? Photo: Aline Lessner/imagebank.sweden.se

Higher education

Studying in Sweden comes with critical thinking, freedom and responsibility.

Sweden is ranked among the world leaders in higher education. And despite its relatively small population of around 10.5 million, it’s home to some of the world’s best universities.

There are around 50 universities and university colleges in Sweden. Most are state-run, but some are independent institutions of higher education, like Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Jönköping University and Stockholm School of Economics. Some of the oldest universities are Lund and Uppsala.

Swedish universities regularly place highly in global rankings like the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities.

The Ministry of Education and Research outlines the governing policies. And the Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) evaluates the quality of higher education and research in Sweden.

Study in English

Sweden offers over 1,000 degree programmes in English:

  • more than 100 bachelor’s programmes
  • more than 900 master’s programmes

More details at studyinsweden.se!

Freedom with responsibility

The teaching model applied at Swedish universities and university colleges is based on the motto ‘freedom with responsibility’. A large part of the learning process takes place outside of the classroom, with students mainly pursuing their studies on their own or in groups.

Group work is key. It encourages students to learn from others and solve complex issues as a team. Working together in diverse teams allows students to develop decision-making, time management, and interpersonal skills. By simulating the real dynamics of an international work place, students foster skills that will benefit their future global career, where teamwork across cultures is the norm.

Students in Sweden are expected to take full responsibility for their own learning. To figure things out for themselves. To look beyond their textbooks for answers.

Meet Manu – Brazilian biomedicine student at Skövde University

Critical thinking

The teaching style at Swedish universities and university colleges promotes critical thinking. Students are expected to question what they learn. Or to question beliefs that are often taken for granted. Debating and arguing with peers and lecturers is accepted and welcomed.

And challenging the status quo is not limited to theory or coursework. Student opinions are asked for and listened to in all aspects of university life. They have a right to influence everything related to their education. This could be in terms of the content and structure of their degree programme, or their study environment.

A big building with a glass facade lies beyond a big grassy area with people sitting and walking.

Umeå University campus. Photo: Jonatan Stålhös/imagebank.sweden.se

A woman wearing a veil sitting on a sofa reading something on a table in front of her.

As a student in Sweden you're expected to learn a lot outside of the classroom. Photo: Emelie Asplund/imagebank.sweden.se

A park-like area with buildings in various shapes.

Lindholmen Science Park in Gothenburg. Photo: Sofia Sabel/imagebank.sweden.se

A woman sitting in front of a computer, her head turned away, and a man standing up next to her, showing something with his hands.

Umeå Institute of Design is ranked as one of the top industrial design education institutions in the world. Photo: Jonatan Stålhös/imagebank.sweden.se

A number of students sitting in a white, bowl-shaped space that looks like it's suspended in mid-air.

Group discussions and teamwork are encouraged at Swedish universities. Here, Uppsala University. Photo: Magnus Liam Karlsson/imagebank.sweden.se

A big building with a glass facade lies beyond a big grassy area with people sitting and walking.

Umeå University campus. Photo: Jonatan Stålhös/imagebank.sweden.se

A woman wearing a veil sitting on a sofa reading something on a table in front of her.

As a student in Sweden you're expected to learn a lot outside of the classroom. Photo: Emelie Asplund/imagebank.sweden.se

A park-like area with buildings in various shapes.

Lindholmen Science Park in Gothenburg. Photo: Sofia Sabel/imagebank.sweden.se

A woman sitting in front of a computer, her head turned away, and a man standing up next to her, showing something with his hands.

Umeå Institute of Design is ranked as one of the top industrial design education institutions in the world. Photo: Jonatan Stålhös/imagebank.sweden.se

A number of students sitting in a white, bowl-shaped space that looks like it's suspended in mid-air.

Group discussions and teamwork are encouraged at Swedish universities. Here, Uppsala University. Photo: Magnus Liam Karlsson/imagebank.sweden.se

A big building with a glass facade lies beyond a big grassy area with people sitting and walking.

Umeå University campus. Photo: Jonatan Stålhös/imagebank.sweden.se

A woman wearing a veil sitting on a sofa reading something on a table in front of her.

As a student in Sweden you're expected to learn a lot outside of the classroom. Photo: Emelie Asplund/imagebank.sweden.se

A park-like area with buildings in various shapes.

Lindholmen Science Park in Gothenburg. Photo: Sofia Sabel/imagebank.sweden.se

A woman sitting in front of a computer, her head turned away, and a man standing up next to her, showing something with his hands.

Umeå Institute of Design is ranked as one of the top industrial design education institutions in the world. Photo: Jonatan Stålhös/imagebank.sweden.se

A number of students sitting in a white, bowl-shaped space that looks like it's suspended in mid-air.

Group discussions and teamwork are encouraged at Swedish universities. Here, Uppsala University. Photo: Magnus Liam Karlsson/imagebank.sweden.se

Equality in focus

Sweden is recognised as one of the most equal countries in the world. It comes as no surprise that equal access is a core component of the higher education system. Students of all backgrounds are welcome, regardless of gender, religion, home country or socioeconomic background. There is no upper age limit at Swedish universities or universities colleges, resulting in a lifelong opportunity for higher education.

Swedish society in general is informal and non-hierarchical, and students speak to and are treated by lecturers as equals. Everyone is on a first name basis – no titles required.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements at universities in Sweden vary, but all universities demand that students have successfully completed their upper secondary (high school) education, regardless of nationality. You can read more about requirements at different levels on universityadmissions.se.

Financing

Higher education in Sweden is financed largely by tax revenue. Tuition fees are fully subsidised for students from Sweden, the EU/EEA area and Switzerland. Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland pay tuition fees, but scholarship programmes that cover tuition and living costs are available for a number of non-EU countries.

Scholarships

To enable students who can’t pay tuition fees to study in Sweden, the Swedish government has allocated resources for two scholarship programmes.

The first programme is aimed at highly qualified students from development countries and is designed to cover living costs and tuition fees. These grants are awarded through the Swedish Institute.

The second programme is aimed at highly qualified students from outside the EU/EEA area, barring Switzerland. Grants in this programme are intended to cover tuition fees and are awarded through the Swedish Council for Higher Education to universities and university colleges that already extend grants to students.

Learning Swedish

Everyone speaks English

Sweden regularly ranks as one of the top countries in the world for non-native speakers of English. It’s easy for students to get around without Swedish. Students are able to use English everywhere, from the classroom to the city centre.

Having said that, learning a bit of Swedish will help students get a deeper understading of the country – and it might add some fun.

Study in Sweden

For more information on studying in Sweden, please visit studyinsweden.se.