Education in Sweden: primary, secondary and higher education for foreign students

The high standard of living and quality of education in Sweden attracts young people from different countries to get a diploma and find work in a large international company. We will tell you how the Swedish education system works.

General information for applicants

• National language: Swedish
• Capital: Stockholm
• Currency: Swedish krona
• Area: 447,435 sq. Km
• International students: 12%
• Form of government: constitutional monarchy.

The benefits of education

• Scientific activity and the level of education in the country are at the highest level; the Nobel Committee is located here. The strongest are the areas of medicine and exact sciences.
• The language of instruction is English or Swedish, the cost of the programs is about the same
• Swedish university graduates have the right to extend their visa for one year in order to find a job
• Advanced training system - the educational process consists of group and project work, aimed at independent work and reasoning
• Sweden ranks second in the level of knowledge of the English language among the population (English Proficiency Index-2019), there are many English-language programs in the country, there will be no problems with English in everyday life
• The country is especially attractive for graduate students who can get a PhD project free of charge, they receive scholarships and salaries here. Postgraduate studies are interesting, they value creativity and innovation
• The Swedes are very responsible for the protection of the environment - waste is used to heat houses and the movement of buses, and the number of bike paths breaks all records.

Strongest areas

• Nanotechnology
• Natural Sciences
• Environmental technologies
• The medicine
• Exact sciences.

Swedish education system

• Preschool education - about 80% of children attend kindergartens, which are considered a prerequisite for a successful educational process. However, there are no preparatory programs for school in kindergarten: children are taught social skills, a lot of attention is paid to physical health. Preschool education in the country is paid, but the price does not exceed 3% of the population's income.
• School education - grades 1-9 are considered compulsory, children of citizens of the kingdom and official immigrants attend school for free. Until grade 5, children are not given grades, and the main emphasis in learning is socialization. Physical education is one of the main subjects, and the teacher can be treated as an equal and called by name.
• Grades 9-12 - high school with specialized classes. To enter graduate classes, you must pass the exams well and choose a priority direction: technical, academic, professional.
• Higher education - this can be obtained at universities and colleges offering practical specialties. Those who successfully graduate from high school enter without entrance exams and study for free. Nationals of the kingdom and immigrants from the EU are eligible for free tuition, while the rest contribute from € 7,500 to € 21,000 per year. Postgraduate students doing scientific work receive a salary of 1500 € per month.
• The process of admission to universities is one of the most difficult in Europe: applicants take SAT or SAT subject, the required level of English is at least 6.5 ( IELTS ).

Top universities in Sweden

1. Stockholm University
2. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
3. Luleå University of Technology
4. Umeå Universitet
5. Lund University
6. University of Karlstad (Karlstads universitet)
7. University of Uppsala (Uppsala universitet).

Education in Sweden for Russians - basic nuances

• To enroll in a Swedish school, you need knowledge of English + basic Swedish. Foreigners can take preparatory courses and improve their language.
• Schoolchildren graduate from school 2 years later than Russians. Due to the difference in the length of study, it is almost impossible to enroll at the age of 17 right after the Russian school. Swedish universities recommend that Russian applicants enroll in a domestic university, unlearn 2 years and then enter Swedish higher education institutions.
• Many educational institutions offer programs in English, so super knowledge of Swedish is not required.
• Required documents for admission - a certificate of knowledge of the English language of the international level and a certificate of financial viability from the university.

Expenses during training

• Public and private school = 6000 € -15000 € per year
• University = 15,000 € -40,000 € per year
• Accommodation = 240 € -400 € per month
• Meals = up to 200 € per month
• Travel card = 73 € per month
• Other = 100 € per month.

Admission to universities

1. Documents and applications for admission are submitted to the central agency University Admissions, which collects data on each applicant.
2. There are two rounds for submitting applications: a few months before the start of the school year (October-January) and the second round one month before the start of the study. Students from non-European countries are not advised to apply for the second round, as there will simply be no time left to apply for a visa and search for housing.
3. The package of documents is standard: an application form for admission, a certificate of secondary (complete) general education, including a report card, a four-year bachelor's / master's degree diploma, a transcript (not a grade book!), Confirmation of knowledge of the English language (IELTS / TOEFL ), motivation and recommendation letters, resume, copy of passport.
4. Admission results are usually published in early May. If you have enrolled in several universities, it is recommended to quickly make a choice in favor of one and warn the rest, otherwise you will be considered an unreliable student.
5. Legalization and apostille are not required upon admission; translation of education documents and notarization are enough.
6. Training programs are not widespread, some universities offer programs in exact sciences in English.