Study in Sweden
Sweden is one of the most educationally recognized places in the world. They continue to offer the opportunity for new beginnings and still cultivate ambition and drive within the students who choose Sweden as their country of choice. Sweden has a beautiful culture clash of different ethnicities all basking in this warm friendly and inclusive society. The country has been heralded for its high standards and non-conventional teaching methods such that they have been named to have one of the most effective education systems in the world. The country presently has about 53 higher institutions and colleges and students from the European Union do not pay any fees as education is free for them. Unfortunately, in recent times tuition has been included for students from other countries outside the EU. The Nobel Prize, which is unarguably the most reputable award in the world, originated from Sweden. With some of the world’s greatest minds, inventors, and giants in their respective fields being recognized in the country, it is not shocking why its instıtutions are well respected. Recent Swedish brands that have grown to worldwide acclaim include Spotify, Skype, and IKEA. All of which have home-based headquarters in Sweden. There is a varied scale of programs and courses with English being their medium of instruction at both bachelors and graduate levels. Why not begin your journey or continue your journey in such a serene country like Sweden, with a very high chance of reaching that future you desire. Presently, there is an increasing amount of international students pursuing degrees in Sweden, and with an acceptance rate for foreign students at above average, Sweden has rightfully become a viable study option for many understudies today.About Sweden
Sweden is a very fascinating country that literally embodies the Scandinavian dream, with a population of fewer than 10 million people. Sweden is the third-largest country in the European Union based on its territory at a hefty 450,295 km sq.
It is still officially a kingdom although the royal family has somewhat symbolic power in the state. With a Viking history that they are now famous for, Sweden is also responsible for many innovative inventions and even a very sustainable lifestyle.
Located in Northern Europe, Sweden is bordered by Norway to the north and Finland to the east, the country is also connected to Denmark to the southwest by a bridge-tunnel across a super narrow strip of water. Sweden is divided into three distinct regions that are stacked upon each other vertically – Götaland, Svealand, and Norrland.
Of its roughly 10 million people population, about 2.3 million of them all have a foreign background meaning that a quarter of Swedes have ancestry from other places in the world. With a low population density, the majority of its people are located in the southernmost urban areas of Sweden.
Swedish people have maintained a stance of neutrality in foreign affairs and have been at peace for over 200 years, however, they joined the EU in 1995 but also refused to adopt the European euro currency and declined NATO membership. But they maintain a strong trade and foreign policy agreement with the union, making them one of the pillars of the unions economy.
Because of its proximity to the arctic circle, they experience really long dark winters, as such some public spaces have been fitted with phototherapy lights to mimic sunlight and combat the effects of not seeing the sun for long periods.
Nowadays Sweden is renowned for its Nordic social welfare system, Swedish citizens enjoy universal healthcare and university education entirely free of charge at the point of use. The currency of exchange in Sweden is the ‘Swedish krona’ (kr, SEK).
The capital of Sweden is Stockholm, a city built on twelve islands and over fifty bridges leading it to be given the nickname ‘the Venice of the north’.
Swedish is the official language of Sweden but the country officially protects 5 other minority languages namely; Finnish (spoken by the Finnish minority in Sweden), Meänkali, Sámi (the language of the Sámi people), Romani and Yiddish (a Jewish language originating in Germany). One noteworthy fact is that almost 90% of the people in Sweden speak English.
About Sweden Economy
From a world perspective, Sweden has become one of the most inventive countries in the world and have been dubbed the most digital-based economy. Swedish people took upon modern technology at its early stages, added with the nation’s contemporary societal outlook which has created a breeding ground for fresh thinking and novel ideologies.
The government of Sweden imbues a greater portion of its GDP into R and D, two times more than any European country. Decades of innovative-thinking have brought a myriad of groundbreaking inventions like the pacemaker, the ultrasound, the 3-point seatbelt, the adjustable spanner and the binomial naming system that is now used in biology and science and many others.
Sweden’s GDP is on the top list of the other European nations, with a very low inflation rate, and a system of banking in the country is ranked among the most significant. Today, they have a broad and very affluent economy. The world bank has named Sweden one of the easiest countries to do business with, in the world.
An important element of the Swedish economy is in its transparent and open viewpoint to business and trade. Sweden has continued to be an export-driven country and still retains a surplus in trade which sees the exportation rate of goods and services far higher than the rate of importation.
Sweden is also very notorious for having one of the highest tax rates in the world, which would normally be considered not pleasant in many other countries, the current tax rate is 51.4% of the total GDP and the country uses a progressive income tax rating system, citizens pay up to 31% in income tax and employers have to pay almost 25% in social fees. But Swedes are not in any way disturbed about this, they understand why this is so as they receive free education and healthcare since 27% of taxes are invested in these areas. Police and the military only get 5% while 42% of the taxes go to social security.
Why Study in Sweden
Creative Thinking
Education System
Friendly and Peaceful
Sweden provides a very amiable, including and liberal atmosphere. The language of instruction is English, getting rid of any barrier in communication and exchange. Swedish people, government and general lifestyle are very much against any form of discrimination as regards foreigners.
Sweden is very environmentally friendly and extremely peaceful. There is increasing attention on environmental issues and maintainable growth, evidently representing their polarizing stance as being a green country that is committed to better the world.
Career Advancement
Taking into consideration that the team at RocApply has compiled a set of reasons why many students across the globe choose Sweden and on of them is that the country provides the opportunity for career advancement that is relevant anywhere in the world. There are special programs and activities that are geared towards students individual interests or their specific career path.
Students find life after school quite seamless because of the preparation they have received in Sweden.
Scholarships in Sweden
Academic fees are very much free for students from the EU/EEA area and Swiss citizens, this includes all educational or application costs incurred by the student for the duration of their study, however, students from countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland are expected to pay the tuition and application costs to study in Sweden.
For EU/EEA and Swiss students, they introduced a semester registration fee which cost about 300 SEK and is now mandatory for all students.
Scholarship opportunities are available for in the form of student loans, however, these loans are granted to individuals coming into the country for other purposes asides studying.
There are also school-specific scholarships and tuition waivers presented to students from non-EEA/EU nations, for example, the Linköping International Scholarships, Karolinska Institutet Global Masters Scholarship, Chalmers IPOET scholarships and host of others.
Graduate students completing a research-based degree are also eligible for university tuition and even graduate research assistantships to help cover their study costs.
Sweden Student Visa
Citizens from other countries outside these areas have to check with their local embassies to determine if they require a visa for study periods of three months or less.
Some countries need a visa to come into Sweden and some others do not need a visa, as they can come into the country for 91 days. This option is very viable for short term courses or exchange programs. However, for a study period of more than three months, there is a need for a student residence permit prior to arriving in Sweden.