Essentials To Pursue Higher Education in Sweden

Sweden is known for its beautiful landscapes, northern lights, and distinct seasons. The city also has castles, old towns, museums, and more. Apart from these great attractions, Sweden also provides high-quality and standard education to students worldwide. Most Swedish universities offer programs and courses in English. Sweden opens its doors to many career opportunities for candidates. It is perhaps one of the cleanest places in the world. The article discusses in detail the various aspects of studying in sweden.

Visa process for international students to Sweden 

Every Non- EU candidate must possess a student visa and residence permit to study in Sweden for more than three months. A Swedish university must accept the candidate to apply for the same. The requirements and the visa application for studying in Sweden are as follows:

  Requirements for Sweden study visa

• A valid passport
• Duly filled visa application form
• Recent passport-size photographs
• Study transcripts and degree certificates
• Acceptance letter
• Health Insurance documents
• Certificates to prove the candidate's financial stability
• Fee receipt

Application Process

The candidate can apply for a Sweden student visa online or by visiting the embassy or consulate general in person. 

 Online: 

To apply online, a candidate has to create an account on the official website of the Swedish migration agency. The candidate has to fill up the application form then and submit the same.

Embassy or Consulate General:

• The candidate has to leave an appointment with the embassy or consulate general before submitting the documents
• Then, the candidate should properly fill in the application form by thoroughly reading the instructions.
• Enclose the correct documents on the page before submitting the documents. 
• The next step is to submit the application form and the documents and pay the required fee.
• The last step is to attend the interview scheduled by the embassy.  

Requirements for study at a university in Sweden 

The following are the basic requirements needed to study in Sweden for different programs:

Requirements for Bachelor's Degree:

• The candidate should have completed the age of 18 in order to enroll in a Bachelor's degree in Sweden
• The candidate should have a minimum score of 60% in high school to enroll in a Swedish university
• Test scores of English proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE. The candidate should possess knowledge of the language equal to that of the upper secondary English course 6 of Sweden.
• The candidate must possess knowledge of Mathematics equivalent to that of the ones taught in the Swedish universities

  Requirements for Master's Degree:

• The candidate should have completed under graduation in an internationally recognized institution or university or a degree equal to the Swedish Kandidatexamen.

        Ph.D. entry requirements

• The candidate should possess a degree equal to the field of study
• The candidate should ensure that a copy of the thesis done in the previous degree is attached to the application form
• The candidate should be proficient in both English and the Swedish language, for he/she will have to attend workshops and seminars in the Swedish language sometimes.

How to apply for the Swedish Institute Scholarship? 

The Swedish Institute Scholarship is funded by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The Swedish institute calls for applicants aspiring to pursue a master's degree to apply for the scholarship. This call is once a year at the beginning of the autumn semester. The following are the ways to apply for the same:

• Create an account on the official website of the SI scholarship and log in to the portal using the credentials
• On the page, choose the priorities section and add the Master's program you have chosen. More choices of Master's degree can be added by clicking on "Add more choices" at the bottom of the Priorities page.
• The application form has to be properly filled out and checked by the candidate. This will include the applicant's information, academic excellence, work experience, activities, and connection to Sweden.
• The net page requires the candidate to fill in their motivation below 1000 characters.
• The candidate has to attach the required documents to the "Checklist" page
• The next step is to submit the application form before the deadlines.

Documents Required for SI Scholarship:

• An updated CV in the SI template
• Reference letters in the SI template
• Proof of work and leadership experience in the SI template
• A copy of the Passport

Top Universities and Courses in Sweden

 Apart from its striking nature, Sweden is also known for high-quality teaching and courses. Most universities in Sweden have acquired great positions in the world ranking and are much preferred by many international students. The following are some of the top-notch universities in Sweden and their ranking worldwide:

Best Courses in Sweden

Some of the best courses to pursue in Sweden are as follows:

• The technology program - International IT College of Sweden
• The Social Sciences program - International IT College of Sweden
• Advanced Design Course - Bergh’s School of Communication
• The finance program- International IT College of Sweden
• The Social Sciences program - International IT College of Sweden

How much is the IELTS score required for Sweden? 

The candidate must obtain certain scores in any English Proficiency Test to qualify to take up studies in Sweden. The following are the requirements:

IELTS Requirements:

• English 5: A candidate should acquire an overall band score of 5.5 and above band 5 for each section.
• English 6: A candidate should acquire an overall band score of 6.5 and above band 5.5 for each section.
• English 7: A candidate should acquire an overall band score of 7 and above band 6 for each section.

The candidate can also take up studies in Sweden without IELTS by fulfilling some of the following criteria:

• Candidates having a degree equal to that of the Kandidatexaman, which has English as a main subject.
• Candidates from an EEA/EU country or Switzerland with 60 ECTS credits or more can attend universities without IELTS
• Candidates from countries like the USA, New Zealand, Jamaica, Australia, and English-speaking parts of Canada with 60 ECTS credits can take up studies without IELTS

Job Opportunities for International Students

Sweden has one of the strongest job markets in the world. It has a small yet competitive economy that depends mostly on foreign sales and trade. The work culture and job exposure are also highly appreciated in Sweden. The country is also preferred by most international students for its excellent living and working conditions. Some of the high-paying industries are as follows:

• Management, Consulting & Finance
• Information Technology
• Teaching & Education
• Tourism
• Clean-Tech & Automotive Industry
• Healthcare