Sweden

Basic Information about Sweden

Sweden is a European country located on the east side of the Scandinavian Peninsula in North Europe. The population is nine million inhabitants, of which almost two million live in and around the capital, Stockholm. For a sparsely populated country in the far north of Europe, Sweden has done remarkably well in establishing and maintaining an outstanding reputation abroad, based on many and varied commercial, technological, cultural and political achievements. Despite its natural riches, Sweden is a country built on people. Today, knowledge is Sweden's prime asset, with education kept in the public domain and developed to a standard that ranks consistently among the highest in OECD statistics.

The Higher Education System

In Sweden there are 14 public universities and 21 public university colleges as well as a number of independent institutions of higher education. The Swedish higher education institutions have a degree structure that conforms to the Bologna Process; a Europe-wide standardization drive for higher education. There are three levels of higher education, each with minimum requirements for entry: a first level (Undergraduate studies), second level (Master's studies) and third level (Licentiate and PhD degrees).

The PhD programs are fully funded but require certain prerequisites. A requirement for studies at the third level is possession of a second-level degree — a Degree of Master (Two Years) or a Degree of Master (One Year) — or the completion of four years of full-time studies — three at the first level and at least one year at the second level. Comparable international degrees are also admissible, and specialized knowledge may suffice as well.

Tuition fees and living costs

Tuition fees apply only to bachelor’s and master’s programs and courses, while PhD programs are fully funded.

Universities set their own fees, and these vary between approximately SGD 15,000-27,000 per academic year for most subjects. However, programs in the fields of medicine and art have notably higher fees. The fee for the www.universityadmissions.se application to Swedish universities and colleges for fee paying students has been set to SEK 900, approximately SGD 171.

As for the living costs, students will need approximately SGD 1,385 per month for ten months of the year. This is a requirement for acquiring a residence permit.

Check www.studyinsweden.se for up-to-date information.

Scholarships

Scholarships and fee waivers are sometimes available through the universities of which some are funded by industry. Check with the university you intend to study at. Some programs may also have specific scholarships connected only to the program or the subject area.

Other organizations, both Swedish and foreign, also sponsor scholarships for foreign students in Sweden.

The Ford Foundation's International Fellowships Program (IFP) funds graduate studies.