Study abroad in Uppsala

More about Sweden

More about Sweden

Until 2010, Sweden allowed both its citizens and also international students from abroad to study in schools for free. This policy changed in 2011, but the wide variety of study options available – especially Masters Degree courses –in English are continuing to make Sweden an increasingly popular study abroad destination.

Swedish universities welcome international students to study, and transfers are possible from a school in one European country to another through the Bologna System. This education agreement makes university degrees compatible all over Europe as well as on a wider international basis (see below for more details).

Language in Sweden

The official language of Sweden is Swedish; however, English studies start at a young age and television shows and movies are texted, not dubbed, so Swedes are generally very good at English. Although it is not necessary to speak the Swedish language, it is helpful to more fully integrate into Swedish society, and most schools offer language study courses.

The Bologna System

The Swedish schooling system is regulated by the Bologna declaration. The Bologna process was initiated in 1999 when the Ministers of Education from 29 European countries signed the Bologna declaration in the Italian city of Bologna. The purpose of the process is to create educational standards for academic degrees and quality assurance. This allows for easy transfers between schools in different European countries and improves the overall quality of European higher education. The study system also incorporates aspects of the American university system, simplifying comparison. University credits are measured by the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

The Bologna system, and thus the higher education system of Sweden, follows the Bachelor/Master degree study system:

Bachelor degree in Sweden

3 years (180 ECTS credits) of study toward a professional or academic bachelor degree at a university in Sweden offers students core teaching in the chosen discipline, as well as general schooling. The academic bachelor degree gives access to master's studies.

Master degree in Sweden

1 or 2 years (60 or 120 ECTS credits) of study. Masters degrees in Sweden provide specialized content whilst allowing for further development of the scientific research process at a university in Sweden.

Higher education institutions

In Sweden students can pursue a higher education at Universities or University Colleges ("högskola" in Swedish). The difference between these two schooling options is formally that Universities have a full right to award Licentiate and PhD degrees. However, the Swedish government can decide to grant this right to University Colleges within specific fields of study.

Cost of Education

Swedish higher education institutions do not charge tuition for Swedish citizens. As of 2011, international students are charged tuition for their schooling in Sweden. All students need to buy their own literature for their studies, and should budget for about 800 SEK/month for this purpose. Living costs depend on where you study (bigger cities are generally more expensive) but are usually approximately 7000 SEK (€750) including rent.

Schooling in Sweden is a unique experience with a variety of options available in English at university and other higher education levels, creating an ideal study opportunity.

>> Find Bachelor Degrees in Sweden
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