Top Universities in Sweden For international students

Sweden is one of the few nations in the world that prioritizes independent and group study above lectures. It is for this reason its higher education is regarded as among the best in the world. With a student-centric education system, there are many advantages to studying at one of the top universities in Sweden.

Here are some of the reasons that can help you decide to study at one of the top universities in Sweden:

• Easy to apply
• Experience true diversity
• Thinking creatively about issues
• Attend a world-class university with a scholarship
• Get a job after course completion

Along with the above-mentioned benefits, learning Swedish is another benefit of enrolling in one of the universities in Sweden for international students. Enrolling is quite easy at a public or private university in Sweden. Although there is a fee attached to the course, you can also find a list of universities in Sweden with free tuition for international students.

Below are some of the most famous universities for various subjects that are essential to the education system.  

Start Your Study Abroad Journey with upGrad Abroad

Top 10 Universities in Sweden

Following is a list of the top Colleges and Universities in Sweden:

Karolinska Institute

As a training ground for army doctors, the Karolinska Institute was established in 1810 as a public organization. It is situated in Sweden, with the Huddinge Campus south and the Solna Campus outside Stockholm. The school offers only degrees in the medical and health sciences. The institute provides courses in various medical and health-related specialties, such as nursing, dentistry, and optometry, to name a few.

Lund University

Lund University was established in 1666 as a public university. There are campuses in Helsingborg, Ljungbyhed, and Malmö, and the main campus is in Lund, Sweden. Engineering, Science, Law, Social Sciences, Medical, Humanities and Religion, Economics and Management, Fine and Performing Arts, and a School of Aviation make up the university’s eight main academic divisions. There are over 220 Master’s programs and 75 Bachelor’s degrees available.

Uppsala University

Uppsala University is a public university that was founded in 1477. Most of it is situated in Uppsala, Sweden, approximately 45 miles north of Stockholm. The university offers Medical and Pharmaceutical, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science and Technology courses.

Stockholm University

Stockholm University is a public university in Stockholm founded in 1878 and is one of the best universities in Sweden. The main campus of the Swedish university is located in the Royal National City Park, close to the north of Stockholm’s downtown. Studies in the Humanities, Law, Sociology, Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Earth and Environmental Studies are available through the university’s several departments and centers.

University of Gothenburg

The University of Gothenburg is a public university created in 1954, while one of its predecessor schools dates back to 1891. The university has eight main academic divisions: Science, Arts, Fine, Applied, and Performing Arts, Social Sciences, Business, Economics and Law, Education, Information Technology, and the Sahlgrenska Academy, which is devoted to health sciences.

Royal Institute of Technology

KTH, usually referred to as the Royal Institute of Technology, is a public university established in 1827. The university’s main campus, which focuses on Science, Engineering, and Technology, is situated in the heart of Stockholm. The university has ten schools, including one each for Engineering Sciences, Industrial Engineering and Management, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Communication and Information Technology, and Architecture Engineering.

Chalmers University of Technology

The Chalmers University of Technology, a well-regarded polytechnic university in Gothenburg, is ranked 133rd globally and in the top 100 institutions for Engineering and Technology-related studies. The fact that all Master’s courses at Chalmers are taught in English may contribute to the fact that more than one-third of the students enrolled in Master’s programs there are foreigners.

Umea University

Umea University is placed 335th on the list of top colleges in Sweden.

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences is an agriculture institute and one of the top ranked universities in Sweden.

Orebro University

Orebro University provides various options for those from outside Sweden who want to study or conduct research there.

University	QS World Universities Ranking 2023	Programmes	Tuition Fees (Annually)	Duration
KTH Royal Institute of Technology	89	M.Sc Vehicle Engineering	155,000 SEK	2 years
		M.Sc Computer Science	155,000 SEK	2 years
		B.Sc Information and Communication Technology	122,000 SEK	3 years
Lund University	95	M.S. Management	130,000 SEK	1-year
		M.Sc Data Analytics	120,000 SEK	1 year
		PhD Programmes	–	–
Chalmers University of Technology	125	M.S. Computer Science	160,000 SEK	2 years
		M.S. Nanotechnology	160,000 SEK	2 years
		BSc/MSc Architecture	210000SEK	2 years
Uppsala University	128	M.S. Computer Science	145,000 SEK	2 years
		M.S. Data Engineering	145,000 SEK	2 years
		Bachelor’s Programme in Game Design and Project Management	110,000 SEK	3 years
Stockholm University	153	M.Sc Applied Data Science	125,290 SEK	2 years
		M.S. Strategic Human Resource Management	112,000 SEK	2 years
		Bachelors Programmes in  International Business and Politics Business, Ethics and Sustainability Latin American Studies with specialization in Portuguese Latin American Studies with specialization in Spanish Earth Science, Distance Learning	90,000 SEK	3 years
University of Gothenburg	185	M.S. Computer Science	182,166 SEK	2 years
		M.Sc Electrical Power Engineering	182,837 SEK	2 years
		Bachelors in Music with a specialization in Classical Performance	90760 SEK	3 years
		Bachelors in Software Engineering and Management	140,696 SEK	3 years
Linköping University	320	M.Sc Aeronautical Science	126,000 SEK	2 years
		M.S. Communication Systems	126,000 SEK	2 years
		Doctoral Studies in three scientific fields: Medicine, Humanities/Social Sciences and Engineering/Natural Sciences.	–	4 years
Umea University	369	M.S. Biomedicine	193,430 SEK	2 years
		M.S. Physics	158,261 SEK	2 years
		B.Sc in Life Science	148,400 SEK	3 years

Related Topics on Studying Abroad
Master’s in Pharmacy	MBA in Switzerland	PhD in Switzerland for Indian Students
Masters in Spain	Best Part-time Jobs in Switzerland for Indian Students	Stay back in France after Completing Master’s
How to Pursuing MS in Switzerland for Indian Students	Best-Paying Job in Spain	Job Opportunities in Switzerland
Writing a Successful SOP for France Visa	Study Visa for Spain	MBA in Spain

Top Universities for MS in Automotive Engineering in Sweden

Sno.	University Name	Course Name	US News Subject Ranking  (2022)	Tuition Fee (2022-23)	Duration
1.	Royal Institute of Technology	M.Sc. Vehicle Engineering	#45	SEK 310,000 (total)	2 years
2.	Chalmers University of Technology	M.Sc. Mobility engineering	#92	SEK160 000 (annual)	2 years
3.	Linkoping University	M.Sc. in Aeronautical Engineering	#280	SEK 140658 (total)	2 years

Source: US News and official university websites

Top Universities for Medicine in Sweden

Sno.	University Name	Course Name	QS Subject Ranking (2022)	Tuition Fee	Duration
1.	Lund University	MS Biomedicine	#75	SEK 360 000 (total)	2 years
2.	University of Gothenburg	MS in Global Health	#99	SEK 144772 (total)	2 years
3.	Uppsala University	MS in Cell and Molecular Biology	#99	SEK 290000 (total)	2 years

Source: US News and official university websites

Top Universities for Applied Mathematics in Sweden

Sno.	University Name	Course Name	QS Subject Ranking (2022)	Tuition Fee 2022	Duration
1.	Uppsala University	MS in Applied Mathematics and Statistics	#99	SEK 290000 (total)	2 years
2.	KTH Royal Institute of Technology	MSc Applied and Computational Mathematics	#59	SEK 310000 (total)	2 years
3.	Chalmers University of Technology	MS in Mathematical Science	#129	SEK 65000 (per semester)	2 years

Source: US News and official university websites

Top Universities for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Sweden

Sno.	University Name	Course Name	QS Subject Ranking (2022)	Tuition Fee (2022-23)	Duration
1.	KTH Royal Institute of Technology	MSc Nanotechnology	#104	SEK 310000 (total)	2 years
2.	Uppsala University	MS in Chemistry	#106	SEK 290000 (total)	2 years
3.	Chalmers University of Technology	MSc Nanotechnology	#88	SEK 160000 (per year)	2 years

Source: US News, QS World Ranking and official university websites

Top Universities for Geosciences in Sweden

Sno.	University Name	Course Name	QS Subject Ranking (2022)	Tuition Fee (2022-23)	Duration
1.	Stockholm University	MS in Geological Sciences	#51-100	SEK17500 (total)	2 years
2.	Lund University	MS in Geology, Quaternary Geology	#51-100	SEK 290000 (total)	2 years
3.	Uppsala University	Master’s in Earth Science, Geology	#101-150	SEK 290000 (total)	2 years

Source: US News, QS World Ranking and official university websites

Eligibility Criteria and How to Apply to Swedish Universities

A student must fulfill general admission and program-specific entry requirements to study in Sweden. One can find detailed prerequisites for various academic programs in Sweden on university websites.

Qualifications for a Bachelor’s Degree:

The following standards must be met by all students to be admitted to top Universities in Sweden for bachelor’s:

• Successfully finished upper secondary school (high school).  The Swedish upper secondary English course is the equivalent entry requirement for bachelor’s-level courses in Sweden.
• English proficiency Test Scores (TOEFL or IELTS). 90 in TOEFL IBT or 6.5 with no band less than 6.0 in IELTS

.Criteria for a Master’s Degree. 

A candidate must fulfill the following requirements to be admitted to top Universities in Sweden for a master’s:

• Possess a Bachelor’s degree (equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen) from an institution of higher learning with an international reputation.
• English Language Proficiency score of 90 on the IBT or 6.5 with no band less than 6.0 on the IELTS is required

Qualifications for a Ph.D. Program:

Typically, to get admitted into a Ph.D. program, a candidate needs to:

• Hold a university degree with a concentration in the same subject as the chosen field of study, equating to a bachelor’s degree or higher. A master’s degree is typically necessary. Previous research had to include a degree thesis outlining the findings of an independent study
• Must have proficiency in English. Swedish proficiency is essential for some subjects where lectures and seminars are held in the native language

Academic Cycle: Intakes and Deadlines:

Sweden’s universities offer two intakes for prospective students. There may be additional intakes at some universities; however, availability must come first, and the number of seats in new intakes is quite small. Autumn is the season of intake, and spring is the second season of intake.

 

Autumn Intake:

Most international students favor this intake. The amount of seats far exceeds the intake for the spring. Students can choose whatever course they like because most universities’ courses are open for this intake. However, the competition is quite fierce, and they will be up against quite a few pupils with stellar academic records.

Spring Intake:

Most people who were not admitted in the Autumn intake seek admission in the Spring intake, which is the secondary intake. The Spring intake is less competitive because there are fewer places available. As a result, if a course is offered during this intake, the chances of being admitted are far higher than in the Autumn intake.

Window	Duration
Autumn Window	Mid Oct to  Mid January
Spring Window	Early June to Mid August

How to apply: 

Following are the requirements for applying to universities in Sweden for international students:

• Certificates and diplomas of completed degrees
• Transcript of completed courses and grades
• IELTS/TOEFL
• Specific university requirements

Cost of Attendance

A student won’t be required to pay an attendance fee if they are a citizen of the EU, EEA, Switzerland, or if they have been given permanent status in Sweden.

The cost of higher education in Sweden varies by university and program for other international students. Attendance costs in Sweden range from about SEK 80,000 per year to about SEK 295,000.

Pre-Arrival Cost

The original residence permit and the extension have an application fee of 1000 SEK. The following papers must be submitted with an initial application for a student residency permit:

• Current passport
• Proof of funds
• For the duration of a student’s stay, a minimum of 7300 SEK each month is needed.

Cost of Living

The cost of living is the second item to take into account after tuition costs, which provides us with a complete picture of the financial arrangements that need to be made. In Sweden, the average monthly cost of living is between 8,000 SEK and 10,000 SEK.

Start Your Study Abroad Journey with upGrad Abroad

Scholarship for Universities in Sweden

Sweden offers scholarship options to international students. There are several scholarships offered for master’s programs. To learn more, see the information below:

Sno.	Scholarship details	Duration	Eligibility	Award Size	Program
1.	Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals	Full one-year or two years Autumn Semester program	At least 3000 hours of work experience. Must apply for program eligible for the scholarship. Must have leadership experience.	Full tuition fee, Living expenses up to SEK 10000 (monthly), one-time travel SEK 10000-15000	Master’s Degree
2.	BTH Scholarships	Complete duration of program	Basis of academic excellence	Partial reduction in tuition fee, almost 50%	Masters Degree/Single Course
3.	Chalmers IPOET Scholarships for International Students	4 semesters or 2 years	1st year Master’s program applicants.	75% reduction of fee Excellence in first year my grant 85% of tuition fee reduction	Masters Degree
4.	The Karolinska Institutet Global Master’s Scholarships	Not disclosed	Must have applied to one of the global programs of the university	Covers full or partial tuition fee	Masters Degree
5.	KTH Scholarships	First and Second year	Students with conditional eligibility. On the basis of academic excellence.	Full tuition fee	Masters Degree

Visa process: 

For applying to some of the top universities in Sweden, please check the following requirements:

• Proof of residency permit application
• The University acceptance letter
• Medical insurance coverage
• Bank statement for financial proof

Post Study Work Permit (PSWP): 

The applicant for a course lasting more than three months may apply for a residence permit. If a student decides they would like to work or start a business after finishing their studies, they may extend their permit for up to six months to do so. This is an excellent opportunity for students to excel in an international country.

Nobel Prize winners and internationally renowned universities are common in Sweden. Nearly 60 bachelor’s degrees and more than 900 master’s degree programs are offered by top universities in Sweden, giving students a choice of some of the best. Numerous colleges and universities still provide free education to those who meet the requirements. It is a popular location for international students because of its cutting-edge and distinctive educational policies.

Top Recruiters at Swedish Universities

The following are the top recruiters at Swedish Universities:

• Amazon
• Volvo
• H&M
• Morgan Stanley
• Jaguar

Career Prospects in Sweden

Sweden offers some of the best benefits for professionals, including high-quality education, inexpensive healthcare, and generous vacation time. It has excellent living conditions and a social welfare paradise. The nation offers some of the most exceptional and lucrative professional prospects, despite having the highest tax rates in the world.

Profession	Average Salary
Doctor	168,000 SEK
Judge	141,000 SEK
Lawyer	114,000 SEK
Bank Manager	109,000 SEK
Chief Executive Officer	101,000 SEK
Chief Financial Officer	94,000 SEK
Orthodontist	90,600 SEK
College Professor	80,600 SEK

Also Read:
Study in France from India via Bridge Programmes	Study MBBS in Switzerland	Career in Data Science for Mechanical Engineers
Study Medicine in France	Cost of MS in Switzerland	National University of Singapore Fees
Writing a Successful SOP for France Visa	Best Flying Schools in the World	Highest Paying Computer Science Specializations
Study Medicine in Spain	Data Science for Mechanical Engineering Student	General Management in MBA