Furthering your education is never a bad idea. In today’s economy, having at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent is becoming increasingly important. Earning a degree not only gives you the relevant knowledge for a future career, it also helps you develop your analytic thinking abilities and acquire a higher academic mindset that is valuable to most jobs.
Higher education in Sweden
Applying to most institutions of higher education in Sweden is very simple as they all use the same internet-based application system. Your merits are saved in a databank, which makes the application process a breeze once all your educational information has been correctly stored.
You can apply for courses or program three times a year – in the fall (for spring classes), in the spring (for fall classes) and early in the year (for summer classes). Most programs admit new students only during the fall semester, but there are some programs that are open for spring admission as well. Programs with spring admission are usually some of those in highest demand, such as law, medicine or economics. Single courses start both fall and spring semesters as well as in the summer. The summer course selection tends to be of the smaller variety as many faculties are closed over the summer.
University and college admission in Sweden is based on your academic merits and, in some cases, work samples. Extra curricular activities are irrelevant in the application process. Admission is divided into different categories, which means you could get in to your desired educational institution either on your high school grades or your SAT:s, depending on where you have the best result.
Attending a university or college in Sweden is generally free for members of European Union, with a few exceptions. Some private institutions charge tuition fees, but these are rare and all of the major universities such as Lund University, Stockholm University and Uppsala University are completely tuition-free for EU citizens.
With education being free, attending a university or college in Sweden is a reachable goal for citizens of all social classes and does not depend on an individual’s financial situation. The costs of studying are the same for everyone. Most students receive both a government-funded grant and take on a government-funded student loan while earning their degree. In Sweden, it is rare for parents to pay for their children throughout college. You will find that a lot of Swedes are still paying off their student loans in their 40’s and 50’s, which is considered completely normal.
