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Student Life in Sweden

Jul 30, 2024

Wondering what it's like to study abroad in Sweden? Leaving your country to study abroad is about more than just the classroom! You'll meet Swedish students, other international students from all around the world and explore your new study abroad location. Here are a few highlights about what makes student life in Sweden unique.

Student Unions and Nations in Sweden

Student unions are present at every university in Sweden. You don't have to join, but if you do you'll get access to what is usually the focus of social life at Swedish unis. They'll help you meet new people through night life events, sporting clubs, and arts and theater activities.

Students at older universities in Sweden join student unions called ''nationer'' or ''nations'' in English. Historically, students would join the student nation that was named after the region in Sweden that they came from. Nowadays, students join whichever student nation they like, and usually select the one that best matches their interests. Some nations will be more focused on night life, while others will be focused on sports or the arts, or other hobbies.

Want to learn more about what it's like to study in Sweden? Find out from international students themselves at the link below.

Student Nightlife in Sweden

Many universities have pubs and clubs on and nearby the campus. In bigger towns and cities students can choose from an array of bars and clubs. The legal drinking age in Sweden is 18, though occasional bars and clubs may only admit people over 20 or 23 years of age.

Going out on the weekend is popular in Sweden, so some of the more popular establishments might have long lines outside of the door. Some nightclubs in Sweden charge an entrance fee, usually ranging from 50-150 SEK or approximately 5-15 EUR.

Sports and Outdoor Activities

Fitness and enjoying the outdoors are both popular pastimes in Sweden. Your university will likely have a sports and fitness center and may have intramural teams for sports like football, handball, hockey or bandy. With nearly 100,000 lakes and a lot of coastline, you'll never be too far from water in Sweden and can also enjoy boating and other watersports.

If you enjoy hiking, Sweden has 29 national parks as well as ample green-space in and around cities for shorter hikes. Residing in Sweden, you'll also get to benefit from ''allemansrätten'' which is essentially a law that allows you to hike and camp anywhere in Sweden provided you follow a few rules like cleaning up after yourself, and not camping within sight of houses

Are you considering applying to study in Sweden? Learn more about the Swedish Way.

Study in Sweden Student Ambassadors

Digital Ambassadors are the core of Study in Sweden's student blog. You can read their stories here:

For even more content on studying in Sweden, check out Study in Sweden on Instagram and YouTube.

Learn more about studying in Sweden:

Overview

Sweden is known for its openness toward the international community – and its education system is no exception.

Online Fairs

Join Study in Sweden's free Online Fairs to learn more about the educational opportunities in Sweden and explore the diverse programs that the country offers.

Entry Requirements

In order to study in Sweden, you'll need to meet general entry requirements in addition to program-specific entry requirements.

Tuition Fees & Study Costs

How expensive is it to study in Sweden? Yearly higher education costs in Sweden vary depending on the university and program.

Student Visas

If you're considering studying in Sweden, you'll be relieved to know that Sweden has a clear easy-to-follow process to apply for studies.

Student Stories

Read about the experiences that other international students like you have had during their studies abroad in Sweden.

Application Process

Applying to universities in Sweden is a lot simpler than other countries thanks to a centralized application system.

Swedish Universities

Swedish universities offer degree programs according to the European standard. Browse a full list of higher education institutes in Sweden.

Swedish Culture

Depending on the country you grew up in, you may or may not be surprised by the differences you encounter while studying in Sweden. So what is it like to study in Sweden on a cultural level?

Learn Swedish

Swedish is a northern Germanic language and is closely related to Norwegian and Danish. If you do want to learn Swedish, most Universities offer language courses for international students.

Student Jobs

Sweden grants international students the right to work while they study. And if you're from an EU/EEA country, you automatically have the right to stay and work after your studies.

Scholarships

There are many opportunities for international students studying in Sweden to receive scholarships, both from universities, and from other governmental and private organizations.

The content of this study guide has been developed in partnership with Study in Sweden.

About Study in Sweden


Studyinsweden.se is a comprehensive, official resource on studying in Sweden for prospective and current international students. Studyinsweden.se is built and maintained by the Swedish Institute, a public agency tasked with promoting Sweden abroad. 

Keystone Team

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The Keystone Team is comprised of experienced educators and advisors dedicated to providing valuable resources and advice to students all over the world.