What is the difference between a university and a university college (in Sweden)?

What kinds of degrees can I study for in Sweden?

Programmes for a master’s degree in the US typically take longer to complete than the ones I’ve been looking into in Sweden. Are the degrees compatible?

Is it possible to study Swedish for beginners at a university or university college?

I’ve decided I want to study as an undergraduate in Sweden. What do I do now?

I’ve decided I want to pursue master’s level studies in Sweden. What do I do now?

I’ve decided I want to pursue a doctoral degree in Sweden. What do I do now?

I am a doctoral student and would like to do part of my research studies in Sweden. What do I do now?

How do I know if my existing high school diploma/bachelor’s degree/master’s degree is valid in Sweden?

How do I apply to the Swedish Institute?

Are there tuition fees at Swedish universities and university colleges?

Does the Swedish Institute offer Swedish courses?

What are my chances of receiving an SI scholarship?

Can I apply to several institutions simultaneously and ask each one for a scholarship? Will this jeopardise my chances?

Is there an age limit for applications to Swedish universities or for Swedish Institute scholarships?

What is the difference between a Swedish university and a Swedish university college?

Unless you are pursuing a doctorate, there is very little difference. See the detailed explanation here.

What kinds of degrees can I study for in Sweden?

After three years of successful full-time studies, a student at a Swedish university or university college can receive a kandidatexamen, the nearest equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. After one or two additional years of specialised studies, the student can receive a Degree of Master (One Year) or a Degree of Master (Two Years), the nearest equivalent to a master’s degree. If a student opts to do advanced studies or research, they can receive a licenciatexamen after an additional two years of full-time study or a doktorsexamen after a minimum of four years. A doktorsexamen is a PhD. 
Our degree infograph illustrates the various degrees in Sweden.

Programmes for a master’s degree in the US typically take longer to complete than the ones I’ve been looking into in Sweden. Are the degrees compatible?

There are two kinds of master’s degree programmes in Sweden, the Degree of Master (One Year) which is called “magisterexamen” in Swedish, and the Degree of Master (Two Years), called “masterexamen”. Swedish bachelor’s degree programmes specialise earlier than equivalent American programmes, so the same level of specialisation may be reached in a shorter amount of time.

Individual academic institutions outside Sweden set their own policy on how to translate Swedish degrees. In all cases we are aware of, Sweden’s reputation as a first-rate education destination has meant that degrees awarded in Sweden are given very generous recognition by institutions elsewhere. However, if you have plans to continue your education at a specific university, you may want to check beforehand how they assess a Swedish degree.

It is likewise difficult to predict how a degree will be valued by a specific employer. Demand for staff with international experience and perspectives is growing, but an employer’s interest will also depend on the relevance of your studies to the available job position.

Is it possible to study Swedish for beginners at a university or university college?

Yes, several institutions offer Swedish for beginners. In most cases, the courses are intended for exchange students.

At a few universities, courses are offered as part of a programme to first teach students intensive Swedish so that they can pursue a degree at that institution in the Swedish language. In other words, Swedish is taught as a means to enable further studies.

If you intend to study Swedish in this manner, you should be aware that in order to continue with your studies after the year of intensive Swedish language courses, you will need to pass the TISUS test in Swedish. If you fail this test (and people do), you will not be able to continue your studies in Sweden.

The institutions offering Swedish for beginners are listed here.

• If you already speak fluent Swedish, and a have a valid high school diploma, you can apply to any Swedish university programme, just like Swedish students do. You can search for university courses taught in Swedish at Antagning.se. Then, check the course information to find out about specific application procedures. Usually, applications are processed centrally, via Antagning.se. The only difference between you and Swedish students is that you will have to pass the TISUS Swedish test and that special rules govern student loans from the government (see CSN).
  
  
• If you do not speak any Swedish, and have a valid high school diploma, there are a few universities that will first teach you Swedish. See the section Learn Swedish.
  
  Additionally, a limited number of English-language undergraduate programs are offered by academic institutions in Sweden. These are listed in our program database. You can also contact the institutions directly for information.
  
  
• If you are already pursuing an undergraduate degree at a university outside Sweden and it has an exchange program, such as Erasmus, with an institution in Sweden, you should contact the international office at your home university. They have a list of partner institutions in Sweden that offer courses in English that you can attend.

I’ve decided I want to pursue master’s level studies in Sweden. What do I do now?

Use the programme database to find a programme that suits your interests. Then follow these application instructions.

I’ve decided I want to pursue a doctoral degree in Sweden. What do I do now?

You need to find a faculty or department at a Swedish university that has positions available for doctoral students and which is willing to sponsor your doctoral research project. Usually, this initial contact is made via your home institution, with the help of a professor or mentor. There are no scholarships available from SI for an entire doctoral degree programme. More information can be found at our Doctoral studies pages.

I am a doctoral student and would like to do part of my research studies in Sweden. What do I do now?

You need to find a faculty or department at a Swedish university willing to accept you for a period of time to take postgraduate courses or pursue independent research. Usually, this initial contact is made via your home institution, with the help of a professor or mentor. There are also a limited number of scholarships available from the Swedish Institute.

How do I know if my existing high school diploma/bachelor’s degree/master’s degree is valid in Sweden?

In general, institutions evaluate degrees on an individual basis. If the transcript is not in English, you may need to have it translated first, however. More details at Recognition of foreign degrees.

How do I apply for admission at the Swedish Institute?
 
You can’t. The Swedish Institute is not a university, nor is it affiliated with Swedish institutions of higher education. It is a government agency entrusted with the task of disseminating information about Sweden to the rest of the world. This website is a good example of its work.

Moreover, SI administers scholarships to subsidise the living expenses of a limited number of foreign students. Information about the scholarships and application instructions can be found on the scholarship pages.

Are there tuition fees at Swedish universities and university colleges?

Swedish universities and university colleges charge tuition fees for students from countries outside of the EU, EEA or Switzerland, if these students are not part of a bilateral or exchange programme. Read more at Fees and costs. For students from other countries, tuition fees for higher education in Sweden are subsidised by the government. Naturally, you will still have to cover your living expenses.

Does the Swedish Institute offer Swedish courses?

Yes, SI offers summer courses in cooperation with various “folk high schools” in Sweden. These are not beginner courses, however; you’ll need to already have studied Swedish for 100 hours or more. There are also courses for language instructors who teach Swedish abroad. More information can be found at the bottom of this page.

What are my chances of receiving an SI scholarship?

Several hundred scholarships are granted every year, though all scholarships have eligibility restrictions. In total, SI processes around 8,400 applications each year from 4,000 students (students can apply for scholarships for more than one programme).

Since the number of applicants and their merits vary from year to year, we are unable to make any general statements about the likelihood of being selected for a scholarship.

Can I apply to several institutions simultaneously and ask each one for a scholarship? Will this jeopardise my chances?

If you are applying to master’s programmes, you may apply for an SI scholarship at up to four master's programmes at any university, provided the programmes you want the scholarship for are on a list of eligible programmes. If you are applying for doctoral-level studies or research, you may not apply for an SI scholarship via multiple channels at the same time.
 
Is there an age limit for applications to Swedish universities or for Swedish Institute scholarships?

No, there are no age-based restrictions.

Photo: Peter Koubek/Örebro University