Why study in Sweden? Is the higher education in Sweden free?

In the following lines we will give you some serious reasons that will make you not only want to study in Sweden, but also to live here for the rest of your life!

The higher education in Sweden is at an extremely high level, not only compared to the universities in Europe, but worldwide. Sweden is the second most innovative country in the world. If we start listing the patents due to Swedes or their Nobel Prize winners… We will only mention that we owe to them the technology for dental implants! It is no coincidence that the country is at the forefront of the statistics of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Investments in education at all levels (from pre-school to higher education) are made, as Swedes believe that the skills and high qualifications of its citizens are a top priority for the country’s future and successful financial policy.

Many factors contribute to the quality of education, from a calm and multi-cultural international atmosphere, to innovative techniques with a focus on the latest innovations in technology and lifestyle of every modern person.

Like their Scandinavian neighbors (Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland), the Swedes are also at the forefront (number 7 for 2021) of the happiest people on earth!

1. Higher education in Sweden is among the most renowned in the world

The Swedish education system ranks 28th in the world for 2021. The factors, of course, are many, but here we should highlight the innovative thinking and problem-oriented learning, which attracts a lot of foreign students from around the world. This is important not only for Sweden but also for the other Scandinavian countries!

The higher education in Sweden can be conducted in both Swedish and English. If you choose to study in this Scandinavian country and obtain your Swedish diploma (be it a bachelor’s or a master’s degree), it will be recognized worldwide. The skills you will acquire during your stay at the University of Stockholm, Malmö, Gothenburg, Lund or any other Swedish city will be highly valued by your future employer (and it is possible to start your own company).

Of course, the programs for foreigners are entirely in English. There is no memorization of unnecessary information, as well as outdated practices that we know from school so far… The universities work with the most modern equipment on the market, and if you need something, but it is missing, it will usually be bought if you really need it.

2. Free education, scholarships and a modern base.

The education in Sweden is COMPLETELY FREE for Swedes, and thanks to the fact that Sweden is a part of the European Union, this also applies to every citizen who comes from a country, a part of the EU. In Sweden, you can study over 100 bachelor’s programs in English, and there are several times more master’s degrees! The duration of the bachelor’s degree is 3 years, and the master’s degrees are both one year and two years. Here each of us can make the best choice for themselves. Some programs also offer distance education. To satisfy your curiosity, we will say that the students outside the European Union pay between 7000-15 000 euros per year according to their chosen educational program.

In addition to the fact that the education is completely free, we also have the opportunity to receive a scholarship of around 300 euros per month. If we decide that we need more financial support, then we can use a low-interest student loan, which really makes our entire stay in Sweden problem-free. We will, of course, help you with the necessary documentation for the whole application, which unfortunately is in Swedish!

In order to achieve high results, the students at the Swedish universities have at their disposal a modern base, which is renewed every year to meet the high standard to which they aspire.

3. Innovative approach and emphasis on the real interests – different type of teaching.

The higher education in Sweden is organized in such an innovative way, will start asking yourself questions like “Why did I study things that are not interesting to me back home?!” “Why was I trying to cheat on the tests, instead of just think logically and provide my opinion?!” early on. In Sweden, the approach itself is very different from many other countries around the world, which rely on memorization and reproduction of information. Here you will be pushed to develop your critical thinking, you will be able to pick and organize most of the projects you will work on. Expect to generate a lot of ideas during your group work (you will almost never work alone, but together in a group of 4-5 people!). One of the great advantages of the group work is the ability to get help, not to try to solve the whole problem on your own from start to finish.

We know from experience that from the very beginning you will wonder why teachers treat you as equals or rather as friends. In Sweden like in the other Scandinavian countries, everyone is equal. Well, not completely equal, but almost. If you expect to address your teachers with Mr. Swenson and Mrs. Lindqvist, you have completely wrong expectations. In Sweden, the organizational structure is flat, which means that all are equal, and these formalities are completely unnecessary. Swedes prefer informal communication and after introducing themselves to you, they will expect you to address them by their first name – Sven, Goran, Cecil, Brigetta. Equally, you can expect exactly the same thing – to be called (and remembered) by your first name. What’s even better is that most of the teachers will become your good friends, and the educational process will turn into interesting discussions to find the answers of the questions you have asked or problems that no one has solved so far. Do not expect the teachers to give you the answer in advance, they will make you think, read, check, doubt, test and in this way you will come to the most correct answer for what interests you. This is where the key to developing students’ thinking in Sweden and the high results they achieve nationally and internationally.

This is exactly the type of work we at Danbul Study use – don’t expect to give you everything! There will be a lot of puzzles for you during the preparation we carry out with each student. This is how we will prepare you for the reality that awaits you a year later in Sweden.

4. Strong business connections and up-to-date issues.

Like their neighbors in Denmark, Swedish companies are closely connected to the universities, which means that you will almost always work on a real problem of a smaller or larger Swedish company to get them out of the difficult situation in which they are in the moment. You guess right that all this creates great preconditions for professional realization while you are still studying. Do you think there is an employer who wouldn’t hire a 18-20 year old student who has just solved their problem, amounting to hundreds of thousands of Swedish kronor?

To draw a parallel with the education in other countries, you may have been forced to learn outdated information and operate with old devices while you were in school. This is almost impossible to happen in Sweden. As we have already said, your desire to produce results will most probably be on another level if Volvo’s CTO or H&M’s HR manager enters your class to present the latest case they encountered a month ago. You will have the opportunity to shine with a sharp mind and unusual thinking. Never underestimate the heart of a champion!

5. Entrepreneurship – how the education stimulates the development of own businesses at university.

The way the education is organized, the connections with the business sphere, the group work and the unique technological base, which is provided in the hands of the students, very often lead to new ventures and entrepreneural projects. Whether this happens after graduation or during the education depends on each individual student (or group of students) and the particular sphere. The student business incubators and the university centers play an important role, encouraging students to try idea after idea until they finally break through! Sweden is one of the most stimulating countries in the world for entrepreneurs, offering a range of opportunities from financial aid to consultation with professionals, discounts and all sorts of incentives that help the young entrepreneurs to succeed.

6. Student internship

No matter what you study, part of the higher education in Sweden includes a student internship lasting 3 to 9 months. Usually the search of a company where to spend the internship depends entirely on the student. This means that you should have a very good idea of ​​exactly what you want to do and how you see yourself after graduation. The internship is the ideal opportunity to work for one of those companies or organizations (in Sweden or abroad) that you have sympathized with since your childhood. Now is the time to show Volvo that you have been planning to solve their problems for years! You do not have to worry to call them and send them your well-prepared cover letter and portfolio! If you are involved in design or programming – go for Skype, Spotify, IKEA or the company you always wanted to call! Remember, your time and work during your internship will be unpaid, but there are many companies that will want to pay you. Make no mistake if you manage to impress them, you have kickstarted your career and all your dreams can easily come true!

7. Individual solutions and opportunity for development

In Sweden, similar to its western neighbors Denmark, the spotlight is on you! Usually at the beginning, middle and end of each semester there are specially organized meetings between teachers and students. They aim to set the right goals according to the specific interests of the students. Here the students have the opportunity to assess the processes they have gone through and give their recommendations for those ahead. You and the teachers are one team and they do not want to waste your time with material that will not be useful to you. That’s why it’s important for you to share your preferences and remind them regularly! If you are interested in basketball and have a great desire to work in this field, it makes no sense to learn how weddings, concerts and festivals are organized or vice versa! Just remind the teacher and they will adapt the lectures, so you can make the most of them!

8. Balance between theory and practice.

Do not think that the higher education in Sweden has anything to do with what you saw in your country. The main factor here is the balance between theory and practice, because you can’t master something 100% before you try it yourself. The Swedes, as smart people, have long seen this fact and that is why the emphasis on practice is so important in their entire educational system. Expect to take part in organized visits to Swedish and foreign companies that are closely related to your field of study. Don’t miss the opportunity and participate when you are invited to visit other universities, be it in Denmark, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands or elsewhere. Visits by guest lecturers from other universities as well as entrepreneurs from the industry are someting common. What more can you want than the experience of someone who runs their own company in the same field where you will be seeking realization very soon?! All of the above will create a number of internship and connection opportunities, which can open doors to you for a lifetime.

9. Opportunity for a student job

Over 95% of international students in Sweden work! Unlike other countries, where you will have to work a lot more, the Swedes have calculated that 10 working hours a week is enough for the student to cope financially, completely on their own. If you find a legal student job, your life will take a radically different shape. It should be noted that this is possible due to the discounts for students. The Swedish scholarship and the student loan are the other main factors that will allow you to invest your time in your education and reach your full potential. There are many students, who start working in their sphere at the end of their first year in Sweden. To cope with the competition when finding a job in the beginning, it is a good idea to know at least a little Swedish! Ask us about the opportunities you have if you want to be ahead of the other foreign students in your city!

10. Employment in the sphere

Like other Scandinavian countries, the work environment in Sweden is invigorating and stimulating. You can forget that your employer will not pay you or will delay your salary. This is almost impossible to happen in Sweden! Of course, it is highly recommended that you have one of the unions/syndicate just in case, which will quickly clear up any misunderstandings if you somehow manage to find yourself in a tricky situation.

In Sweden, the work environment is calm, without tension, and your relationship with the manager is frank and friendly. It is extremely similar to what you will find at the university. It depends on the particular field, but your outfit rarely will be strictly formal. The emphasis here is more on the convenience and productivity, at the expense of the rest. Expect a constant dialogue with both your colleagues and bosses, who will be interested in the opinion and ideas you have. Again, like at the university, here you are also expected to make mistakes (not fatal, of course), but to correct the mistakes you have made in a timely manner! Employees usually quickly receive individual responsibilities and serious tasks, which stimulates the productivity and development in the specific field! The offices are often arranged so that employees can constantly communicate with others on the team. In general, everything you not only learned but also applied during your university education will fit almost perfectly into your work environment, as this is the whole idea – to be ready for the real world before you graduate!

We can’t skip the FIKA. FIKA is the time for coffee, pastries, cakes, all kinds of sweets and delicacies. An integral part of every Swede’s daily life. There’s no way you can’t love the FIKA after your first contact with it. In fact, this is a small time when you turn your back on your work and get closer to your colleagues. In many companies, talking about your job is banned during FIKA. In these 10-15 minutes you break away from what you are doing and enjoy FULLY your break. Truly unique!

11. Balance between work and free time

You probably know the feeling of “let’s finish this” after your official working hours in your home country. Sometimes this is done directly as part of your duties, and somewhere it is not even paid extra. Well, such extra work in Sweden comes at a good price for every employee. Usually, however, once your work day ends, that’s when your personal life begins. This is how it should be! That’s right – “Bye. We continue tomorrow.” The high salary you will receive for what you do will give you the opportunity to spend the rest of the time with your friends and family, which is no less important than everything else! In fact, doing work outside your working hours is a sign to Swedes that you may not be able to plan well for everything you need to do! Your diploma for higher education in Sweden will give you the necessary training to become a real specialist that Sweden needs!

12. Sweden is one of the safest countries in the world!

According to a study by the Institute for Economics and Peace in Sydney for 2021, Sweden ranks 15th in the world.

13. For many years now, Sweden has been at the forefront of the fight against corruption worldwide!

For 2021 Sweden shares 3rd place with Singapore, Finland and Switzerland for incorruptibility.  Don’t you even think about doing something stupid. Apologize, pay your fine and behave yourself! 

14. Volunteering

The Swedes are very similar to their Scandinavian neighbors. The volunteering really takes up a lot of their lives. This is the perfect opportunity not only to make connections and friendships with the locals, but also to go to a festival or concert for free! It is important to have the desire and find this company / activity that you really like. You can see more about the opportunities as a volunteer in Sweden.

15. Strong sense of mutual trust.

Imagine – you don’t feel well, you are getting sick. All you have to do is call your employer to let them know. You do not need to give explanations or apologies in Sweden. No one will ask you what’s wrong, ask for notes or any evidence that you’re really not feeling well. “OK. Get well soon! We are waiting for you when you are healthy!” Unique!

16. Last but not least – the healthcare.

Yes, it is completely free, but only at first glance. Like the higher education in Sweden, the health insurance in Sweden is funded by the high taxes that each citizen pays on a monthly basis. However, when we think about it, each of us at some point in his life will need not only to seek medical attention from their GP, but also to visit a hospital for various reasons. The feeling of peace of mind that the doctors will do absolutely everything necessary for your best health, without worrying in any way about the final amount, is truly unique. It is important to mention that when you visit your personal doctor, you will have an administrative fee (about 100 SEK), which aims at diminishing the unnecessarily overload of the health system.