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Faqs
What is the difference between a university and a university college (in Sweden)?
Unless you are pursuing a doctorate, there is very little difference. See the detailed
explanation here.
Schools specializing in these academic disciplines are listed in this section of the site.
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 further study.
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 take and 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.
* 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 here. Then, check course information online to find out
about specific application procedures. Usually, applications are processed centrally, via
the Swedish national admissions board (VHS). Application forms are made available on
their website (Swedish only). The only difference between you and Swedish students is
that you will have to pass the TISUS Swedish test; and you are not eligible for student
loans from the government. Tuition is free.
* 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 first. See information here.
I've decided I want to pursue master's level studies in Sweden. What do I do now?
Use the course database to find a programme that suits your interests. Then, apply
directly to the school you are interested in using the contact information you find on its
website. There are scholarships available from SI.
You need to seek out 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.
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 seek out 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 scholarships available from SI.
How do I know if my existing high school diploma/bachelor's degree/master's degree is
valid in Sweden?
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.
With rare exceptions, all tuition fees in higher education in Sweden are subsidised by the
government. This applies to foreign as well as Swedish students. Higher education is
fully financed by the state, a system common to many European countries. You will still
have to cover living expenses and pay student union fees, though.
Yes, SI does offer summer courses in co-operation with various "folk high schools" in
Sweden. These are not beginners' 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 at the bottom of this page.
Over 500 scholarships are granted every year, though some scholarships have eligibility
restrictions. Because academic institutions make an initial selection of candidates to
recommend to SI, it is difficult for SI to gauge the size of the original pool. However, SI
receives up to 10 recommended candidates for each of the 300 or so master's
programmes, in addition to applications from doctoral students. In total, SI processes
around 2,000 applications each year.
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 via as
many institutions as you want, simultaneously, provided the programmes you want the
scholarship for are in the same general academic discipline. If you are applying for
doctoral-level studies or research, you may not apply for an SI scholarship via multiple
channels simultaneously.
Is there an age limit for applications to Swedish universities or for Swedish Institute
scholarships?
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?
As of the 2007-2008 academic year, there are two kinds of master's programmes in
Sweden leading to two different kinds of degrees, 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 of 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 translate a
Swedish degree.