UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN SWEDEN

BASIC FACTS ABOUT SWEDEN

• The third largest country in Western Europe• Capital: Stockholm• Population: 9.4 million• Language: Swedish • Constitutional monarchy, parliamentary democracy• Life expectancy: 79 years (men), 83 years (women)• Member of EU since 1995• Equality

• Preschool (80% of one to five-year-olds)• Elementary school compulsory for children aged 7-16• High school (three years) or other educational programs• University

EDUCATION SYSTEM IN SWEDEN

STRUCTURE OF UNIVERSITY STUDIES

• ECTS credits: 1.5 ECTS per week of fulltime studies (40 hours), 30 ECTS per semester

• Two semesters per academic year

STRUCTURE OF UNIVERSITY STUDIES

FIRST LEVEL:• University Diploma (2 years, 120 ECTS), Bachelor’s

degree (3 years, 180 ECTS)

SECOND LEVEL:• Degree of Master (one year, 60 ECTS), Degree of

Master (2 years, 120 ECTS)

THIRD LEVEL:• Degree of Licentiate (2 years, 120 ECTS), Degree of

Doctor (4 years, 240 ECTS)

STRUCTURE OF UNIVERSITY STUDIES

FIRST LEVEL:• Courses and programs• Exchange students and free movers• Requirements: completion of high school,

proficiency in English (and Swedish, TISUS)• Limited admission

STRUCTURE OF UNIVERSITY STUDIES

SECOND LEVEL: • About 600 Master’s degree programs in English• Requirements: Three years at first level (180

ECTS), proficiency in English (e.g. TOEFL or IELTS)

• Limited admission

STRUCTURE OF UNIVERSITY STUDIES

THIRD LEVEL:• About 19,000 research students• PhD thesis, publicly defended• Requirements: Bachelor’s degree or higher in

the same subject as intended field of study, including independent degree thesis

STRUCTURE OF UNIVERSITY STUDIES

• “University” and “University College”• Lectures and seminars• Examination• Degree thesis

LANGUAGES USED IN UNIVERSITY STUDIES

• Swedish (Norwegian, Danish)

• English

APPLICATION

• Authorized translations of diplomas • www.universityadmissions.se • Deadlines: varying, usually mid-January, mid-August• SEK 900 application fee (approx. GEL 220)• Decision rests with each academic institution• If accepted, confirm and pay the tuition fee for first year

STUDENT VISA AND RESIDENCE PERMIT

• Apply as soon as you receive acceptance letter!

• Requirements: Accepted to full-time study program, payment of tuition fees, proof that you have access to funding of SEK 7,300 (GEL 1790) per month

• Application fee: SEK 1,000 (GEL 245)

TUITION FEES

• For students who are not citizens of EU, EEA or Switzerland

• Fees differ between universities and depending on area of studies

• In general SEK 80,000-140,000 (GEL 19,625-34,350) per academic year

• PhD programs are for free

SCHOLARSHIPS

• Check availability of scholarships with each university• “The Swedish Institute Baltic Sea Region Program/Visby

Program: scholarships for master’s level studies”• “Visby Program for PhD and post-doctoral studies in

Sweden”

ACCOMMODATION

• Exchange students receive assistance

• Student dormitories

• Cost: SEK 2,000-4,500 (GEL 490-1,100) for a room

• Availability varies between universities

STUDENT LIFE

• Nations

• Student Unions

WHERE DO I FIND MORE INFORMATION?

• www.sweden.se

• www.studyinsweden.se