About Sweden
Officially called the Kingdom of Sweden, Sweden is a Scandinavian country located in Northern Europe. The country is bordered by Norway to the west and north, Finland to the east and is separated from Denmark in the southwest by three stretches of water; the Öresund, the Skagerrak and the Kattegat straits. It is the third largest country in the European Union by area and is 1572 kilometers long. It has a population of about 9.5 million.
Sweden is one of the world’s most modern countries and the birthplace of many successful corporations that have expanded worldwide. It is also the home of the Nobel Prize along with many universities that have thrived since the 15th century. Due to constant development of the country's core strengths, Sweden has developed to be a strong and one of the leading nations in areas such as design, music, fashion and technology. Sweden is actually the leading exporter of music in the whole world. A number of successful inventions have resulted from research at Swedish universities and companies. Such inventions include:
✓ Computer mouse
✓ Bluetooth
✓ Pacemaker
✓ Ball bearing
✓ Dialysis machine
✓ Spotify
✓ Skype
The North of Sweden is known by the nickname "land of the midnight sun" as in summer moths, the sun never sets. Even in some cities such as the capital city, Stockholm, summer nights last an average of 4 hours and does not get dark beyond twilight. In the seasons of fall and spring, the northern lights are seen and they fill up the night sky.
Sweden is one of the least populated countries in Europe. Most people used to live in the countryside, but as the country became industrialized in the 1900s, many moved to the cities of Malmö, Göteborg, and Stockholm.
Education is top-notch in Sweden, offering world-class degrees in various fields. There are 14 public universities and many private institutions in Sweden. Learning places more emphasis on practicals rather than learning theory, and application of knowledge in real-world contexts. Students are taught how to develop creativity and innovative thinking to find solutions to problems, which gives them the ability to think outside the box and this makes them ready for employment upon graduation. Sweden has three universities in the top 100 and eleven in the top 500 globally .Top-ranked universities in Sweden include:
✓ Karolinska Institute
✓ Lund University
✓ Uppsala University
✓ Stockholm School of Economics
✓ Stockholm University
Why Study in Sweden?
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Affordable Tuition
International students from the EEA, the EU and the Nordic countries can attend Swedish universities tuition-free. For those outside these countries, tuition fees range from USD$8,000 to USD$15,000/year
Easy Communication
Almost everyone in Sweden speaks English nowadays and 89 per cent of Swedes are bilingual, so international students from English-speaking countries need not worry about not being able to communicate if they don’t speak Swedish
Programs Taught In English
Sweden regularly ranks as one of the top countries in the world for non-native speakers of English. Courses are taught in English, so you won’t have to worry about problems arising from a lack of knowledge of the Swedish language. In fact, the Swedish people you meet outside the university are comfortable speaking English as well.
Schengen Country
Sweden is one of the countries that signed the Schengen agreement which allows passport holders of member states to travel and stay for up to 90 days in countries within the area.
Scholarships & Grants Available
The Swedish government funds two scholarship programs. Students can apply for scholarships based on their financial situation, nationality and merit. These 2 funds are:
✓ Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals.
✓ The Visby Program Scholarships
Other Master’s Scholarships, Grants, and Fellowships for International Students are:
✓ Karolinska Institutet Global Master’s Scholarships.
✓ Mid Sweden University Tuition Fee Scholarships.
✓ Mälardalen University Scholarship Program.
✓ Fully-Funded Rotary Peace Fellowships.
Work While You Study
Students are to work up to 40 hours a week while studying in Sweden. Part-time jobs are available and there are consultancies that help to find jobs. This allows students to fund their expenses while finishing up their studies.
Quality Of Life
As Sweden places a lot of emphasis on cleanliness and sustainability, you’ll enjoy fresh air and beautiful, well-preserved landscape when you study abroad in Sweden.
Work opportunities
After graduation, students can apply for an extension of their residence permits to seek employment even examine the possibilities of starting their own businesses for up to six months after the completion of their study program.
Permanent Residency
If you are a citizen of a country outside of the EU and have lived continuously in Sweden for five years, you may be granted long-term resident status in Sweden.