Universities in Sweden

Sweden has two main types of higher education institutions: universities (universitet) and university colleges (högskola). Both award bachelor's and master's degrees. The difference lies in research training: a university can in general award doctoral degrees, while a university college needs permission to do so.

According to Universityadmissions.se, 39 Swedish universities offer courses and programmes taught in English. The quality of higher education is evaluated by the Swedish Higher Education Authority (Universitetskanslersämbetet, UKÄ). The official information portal for international students is Study in Sweden, run by the Swedish Institute.

How Swedish universities work

Studies are organised in three cycles, as elsewhere in Europe:

• Bachelor's level (first cycle): usually three years and 180 ECTS credits; Study in Sweden lists over 100 bachelor's programmes taught entirely in English
• Master's level (second cycle): one-year (60 ECTS) or two-year (120 ECTS) programmes, both ending with a thesis; over 1,000 programmes are on offer
• Professional qualifications in fields such as engineering, health care, law and education, which most often take five years of full-time study
• Doctoral level (third cycle): admission is handled by each university, and doctoral places are usually paid positions

A normal full-time workload is 30 credits per semester, or 60 per academic year, and Swedish credits are compatible with ECTS. The autumn semester runs from the end of August to mid-January and the spring semester from January to the end of June. A typical feature of Swedish teaching is that students often take one course at a time for several weeks, with an exam at the end, before the next course starts.

Almost any subject can be studied in English, with some exceptions: programmes leading to work as a clinical doctor, nurse, dentist, vet or teacher are taught in Swedish.

Admission for international students

Applications for bachelor's and master's programmes go through the central portal Universityadmissions.se. One application can include up to eight bachelor's programmes or up to four master's programmes. Most English-taught programmes start in the autumn, so the deadline is usually in mid-January; the few programmes that start in the spring have a deadline in mid-August.

For bachelor's studies you need upper secondary education that gives access to higher education in your country. For master's studies you need a bachelor's degree equivalent to the Swedish kandidatexamen from an internationally recognised university. The general English requirement at both levels is equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6; individual programmes may add specific requirements.

Students who stay longer than three months need a residence permit for studies, applied for before travelling. You can apply once you have been admitted to full-time studies and have paid the first tuition instalment. New rules apply from 11 June 2026: students with a study permit may work up to 15 hours a week during the semester (with no limit in June, July and August), and to extend the permit they must show 37.5 credits completed in the first year and 45 credits a year from the second year on.

Costs and funding

Citizens of countries outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland generally pay an application fee and tuition fees. The application fee is SEK 900, however many programmes you include. According to Study in Sweden, tuition averages around SEK 160,000 per academic year and generally ranges from about SEK 80,000 to SEK 320,000:

• Social sciences and humanities: around SEK 80,000-135,000 per year
• Technical and natural sciences: SEK 140,000-185,000 per year
• Architecture and design: SEK 210,000-320,000 per year

Study in Sweden estimates living costs at around SEK 10,656 per month, with accommodation as the largest item. The Swedish Institute and the universities themselves offer scholarships to international students.

Examples of Swedish universities

Uppsala Universitet was founded in 1477 and has over 50,000 students. Lund University, founded in 1666, has about 46,000 students on sites in Lund, Helsingborg, Malmö and Ljungbyhed. Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm has focused on medical education and research since 1810, and its Nobel Assembly has selected the winners of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine since 1901. Chalmers Tekniska Högskola in Göteborg (Gothenburg), founded in 1829, has been a private university owned by a foundation since 1994 and teaches on the Johanneberg and Lindholmen campuses. Linköping University has 46,200 students on campuses in Linköping, Norrköping and Stockholm.

Other universities on SpainExchange include Göteborgs Universitet, the University of Borås, the University of Gävle and Dalarna University.

How to choose

• Language: check that the whole programme is taught in English; regulated professions such as medicine, nursing and teaching require Swedish
• Level and length: compare one-year and two-year master's programmes, and check whether a professional degree is what you need at home
• Subject and fees: tuition depends on the field, so compare the fee on each programme page
• Location: large university cities such as Uppsala, Lund, Göteborg and Stockholm, or smaller campuses such as Gävle, Borås and Borlänge
• Timing: leave enough time between the admission result, the first tuition payment and the residence permit decision

Frequently asked questions

Can I study at a Swedish university in English?

Yes. Study in Sweden lists over 100 bachelor's and over 1,000 master's programmes taught entirely in English. Programmes for doctors, nurses, dentists, vets and teachers are taught in Swedish.

Is university free in Sweden?

For citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, there are no tuition fees. Other students generally pay a SEK 900 application fee and tuition of about SEK 80,000 to SEK 320,000 per academic year, depending on the programme.

How do I apply to a Swedish university?

Through Universityadmissions.se, with up to eight bachelor's or four master's programmes in one application. For programmes starting in the autumn, the deadline is usually in mid-January.

Can I work while studying in Sweden?

Since 11 June 2026, students with a residence permit for studies may work up to 15 hours a week during the semester, with no limit in June, July and August.