Studying abroad today is not only prestigious, but also very far-sighted. After all, with a European university diploma , finding a job in a specialty is much easier. And not only abroad, but also with us. However, not all universities in Europe are equally good, and in addition, not all countries welcome students from other countries with hospitality. Let's look at the best universities in Sweden, because this country is famous for its high quality education, as well as a record number of scholarship programs for foreigners.
Swedish kingdom
If you read this, it means that you are interested in Sweden, at least at the level of the country where you would like to study. And if so, you will have to live here for a while. Therefore, it is worth at least a little to learn about her.
The Kingdom of Sweden is located on the Scandinavian peninsula and is washed by the Baltic Sea, bordering Finland and Norway.
As for the monetary unit, the Swedish krona is used here, and not the euro, as in France, Germany, Finland or the Netherlands.
They speak Swedish in this country, and they really appreciate it. However, most citizens speak English well, so knowing it will not disappear. But if you plan not only to study, but also to earn extra money in parallel or even dream of staying here after graduation, you will have to get to know the language of local residents.
It is also worth bearing in mind that life here is very expensive, as with our money. Therefore, in addition to paying for studies, you will need to have money for health insurance, food, housing and other small expenses.
Fortunately, Swedish law encourages the employment of students from other countries. And if you feel that you can combine studies and work, and also have the financial ability to pay for at least the first year, you can already choose which Swedish university you would like to study at. Fortunately, foreigners are welcome in this country, and especially for them, English-language training programs have been developed in almost every university.
Education system features
Before choosing an educational institution, it is worth learning a little about the educational system of the country itself.
We skip the kindergarten, in which, like with us, the kids are from 1 year to 6.
Then the children go to school, where they have to study until 16 years - 9 classes. This part of Sweden's education is compulsory for all its citizens.
At 16, school graduates can either go to work or study at the gymnasium for up to 20 years. Visiting these establishments is optional. However, if you want to go to college or just want to have a normal job in the future, and not work hard at McDonaldâs for a penny, donât neglect the gymnasium.
It is worth noting that even if you are in a fit of youthful maximalism, you did not study at this institution, but immediately found a job - the Swedish legislation provides for the possibility of visiting their counterparts even in adulthood. These are the so-called higher public schools, where you can get a certificate of completed secondary education.
So, graduating from a gymnasium or its analogue, you can go to university. Please note that in Sweden this can be done in 20 years. So if you are planning to study at one of the universities of this state with your school certificate, you will have to "walk" a couple of years until you reach twenty. This has its own advantage - there will be time to work or learn Swedish. And if there is time and desire - to join the army or finish any vocational school.
Higher education in Sweden is represented by 3 stages:
- undergraduate studies;
- magistracy;
- doctoral studies.
At the first stage, you will have to study for 3 years, you can, of course, 2. But in this case you will only receive a diploma of higher education, which will look beautiful in a frame on the wall, but it is of little use for employment in Sweden or another European country. Where do you, apparently, and want to go to work, spending so much time, effort, and most importantly, finance to get an education.
After undergraduate studies, you can continue your studies at the magistracy (another 2 years). Foreigners can enter here, immediately receiving a bachelorâs diploma in their homeland.
To become a doctor (do not forget that this is an academic degree, often not related to the profession of a doctor) - after graduating from a magistracy, you will have to chase textbooks for another 4 years. The good news is that you can also do this if you already have a masterâs degree from another country.
It takes 9 years to complete all levels of Swedish higher education, and taking into account 12 years of study at school and gymnasium, it turns out that only by the age of 30 a resident of Sweden finishes his studies if he did not take breaks.
At the same time, not everyone becomes a doctor, since in order to gain knowledge and the opportunity to find a good job, it is often enough to finish a bachelor's or master's degree.
Pros and cons of studying
If you are determined to study here, it is worth considering the advantages and disadvantages of this educational system.
The first thing you need to know is that studies at universities for foreigners (except EU countries) are paid. And this is from 7.5 to 20 thousand euros per year, excluding accommodation, meals, medical insurance and other household expenses.
However, unlike other European countries, in Sweden there are a lot of scholarship programs for foreigners, with almost every self-respecting university. In addition, there are special programs in this country that issue training grants for the most promising foreigners - these are VISBY and SISS. First aid is the opportunity to study at universities in Sweden for Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, as well as citizens of Moldova and Georgia. The second is aimed at Kazakhs, Armenians, Kyrgyz, Turkmens and Azerbaijanis.
And now again to the downsides, scholarships and grants are different. Some cover only academic expenses (tuition fees), that is, for accommodation, meals and other pleasures will have to fork out of your pocket. However, this often applies to scholarships from universities in Sweden, while grants from VISBY and SISS also cover additional costs.
In addition, monthly doctoral students are entitled to assistance in the amount of 1.5 thousand euros, which is a fee for their scientific activities.
And again to the minuses. It is not profitable for foreigners to study for a bachelor's degree in Sweden, since at this academic stage there are no scholarships or grants. And to pay for study and living in this country at the expense of part-time jobs will be very difficult, unless, of course, you already have a job in some company, and getting a diploma is just a formality.
And now again to the pluses. Many universities in Sweden have the opportunity to study remotely, even while in another country. Lectures and seminars in this form take place online, which is very convenient. However, if you receive education in this way, you do not have a student visa, which means you wonât be able to earn money specifically in this country.
But do not despair, because our handyman with knowledge of classical literature and history, as well as fluency in at least two European languages, is pleased with all the hotels and resorts in the world. So if you are sure that you will find the strength to study after an 8-12-hour shift on legs in one of the Maldives, you can apply for a distance education in Sweden. Fortunately, it costs less than full-time, and an identical diploma will be obtained.
And the last: when weighing all the pros and cons of getting higher education in Sweden, remember that in this country we are focused on forming specialists in their field - people who are not easy to know, namely know how to do something. And this means that here you have to study for real. On the other hand, if you endure all these difficulties, then finding a job will not be so difficult. Moreover, the Swedes, like most developed European countries, are interested in highly qualified foreign specialists and are ready to provide them with grants and employment after graduation. However, for this you need to be very, very good in your field, and to be able to show yourself from the very best side.
How to proceed?
After reading the previous paragraph, you might think that studying at the universities of Sweden for our compatriots is something beyond their capabilities. This is actually not the case. Studying in this country will not be easy, but not much more difficult than in any of our universities, but the level of technical facilities and manuals there is definitely higher. So if you want to learn, and most importantly, are ready for this, you can. Moreover, you can do with our diplomas right away at any stage. And if this is a master's or doctoral program, it may even be possible to become a scholarship holder or receive a grant.
What documents are needed
The application and other papers can be submitted via the Internet by registering on the official website of the chosen university. As a rule, applicants are required to provide.
- A diploma or certificate with an insert with grades (this is important because the so-called "certificate contest" takes place in Sweden).
- Recommendations from the previous place of study.
- A letter about how good you are and what grace will descend to the university that has hosted you.
- International passport.
- Screen of your account on the university website.
- Certificate confirming your knowledge of English, and better, Swedish. For English it is TOEFL or IELTS, for Swedish it is TISUS or SLTAR.
- And, of course, a receipt on the payment of a mandatory fee for the processing and reception of your data. As a rule, the amount is several tens of euros.
Perhaps itâs worth clarifying that all of the above documents are copies certified by a notary. In addition to them, at any university you will be asked to send something else.
Most often this is some kind of essay, examples of your scientific research in your chosen field or evidence of your numerous extra-curricular activities that should convince the strict Swedish commission that you are an extremely versatile person.
Best of all, if these are not just recommendations, but some certificates or diplomas that indicate that you have any real successes. This is important because in addition to your package of documents, hundreds or even thousands of other applicants from around the world will be considered. And you should look like a delicious strawberry muffin against their background. Although a similar situation is characteristic of any university in the world - natural selection in action.
In addition to submitting a package of documents for entry into a selected Swedish university, it is worth starting to look for a scholarship program and apply there as well. Usually all the data is available on official sites - so go for it.
All your applications will be examined in the most thorough manner and you will be notified of the decision, whatever it may be. If you have been accepted, get ready to submit a new package of documents, this time for applying for a student visa, but that's another story.
University of Lund (Sweden)
So, let's start considering universities where you can go to study. First of all, it is Lund University (Lund University).
In Sweden, it is considered not only one of the oldest, but also prestigious. Enrollment here is based on school / university grades from a certificate / diploma.
There are English-language programs for foreigners, as well as the opportunity to learn a semester, or even a year in exchange, the presence of distance / distance learning.
But this university does not provide scholarships and hostels. So if you want to study here, you will have to fight for a grant from VISBY or another international foundation.
As for the faculties of Lund University in Sweden, they are as follows:
- Humanitarian.
- Theological
- Medical.
- Natural Sciences.
- Right.
- Social sciencies.
- Economics and management.
- Engineering.
- Academy of Art.
Uppsala University
Another state university, whose level is recognized as one of the highest in the world, is Uppsala University. By the way, in his homeland he is considered almost the best.
Like the previous one, Uppsala University (Sweden) actively hosts foreigners - they make up 22% of all students here.
However, enrollment here is already taking place not only on the basis of grades from the school (previous university), but also taking into account entrance exams.
Own scholarships are not here either, and we will have to find housing ourselves. According to the official data of the university itself - a month of residence (excluding expenses for study) will cost from 600 to 1200 dollars.
At the same time, it is possible to study remotely or to develop an individual training program.
The faculties here are as follows:
- Art and humanities.
- Engineering and technology.
- Life sciences and medicine.
- Natural Sciences.
- Social sciences and management.
- Physics.
- Chemistry.
University of Gothenburg
Another university that is cordially prepared to accept English-speaking foreigners within its walls is the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. It is worth mentioning that the city in which it is located is the second largest in its own country, so there is no reason to dream of cheap housing. But there are more opportunities to find a good part-time job or job after graduation.
Admission here is based on ratings. English-language programs have been developed for foreigners, but only for master's programs.
But this university provides housing and also gives scholarships to particularly outstanding students. As in past cases, here you can study remotely.
There are such faculties in the following areas:
- Art.
- Social Sciences.
- Business, economics and law.
- Pedagogy.
- The science.
- IT.
- Medical Academy.
- School of Fine Arts Valand.
Chalmers University of Technology
Like the previous one, this university is located in Gothenburg. However, unlike most Swedish universities, it is not public, but private. Despite this, scholarships are allocated in it and there is an exchange program. However, the university does not provide housing, and in addition, there is no distance learning. And this is understandable, because Chalmers University is considered the best research university in Sweden and one of the best in Europe. But scientific experiments, as you know, cannot be delivered in absentia.
In many respects, he owes his achievements to âfresh bloodâ - that is, foreign students, on whom he is aimed. Therefore, 90% of his students came from other countries.
This university is aimed at educating the scientific elite, therefore, it specializes in technical subjects, natural sciences and architecture.
Its structure includes such faculties:
- Nanotechnology.
- Ecology.
- Informatics. Industrial Design.
- Management.
- Architecture.
Stockholm University
Although this university is located in the capital, it does not provide scholarships or housing to foreign students. But then the admission here is only on the basis of grades in a diploma or certificate.
Among the faculties of this university are:
- Art and humanities.
- Language and culture.
- Medicine and health.
- Science and technology.
- Engineering.
- Business and social sciences.
There are 2 observatories at this university (Stockholm and Saltshebaden), a center for marine research, a center for interdisciplinary environmental studies, and 5 laboratories (marine, glaciological, for studying the marine fauna, ethology, and botany).
A pleasant feature for the Russians may be the fact that in the XIX century. Sofia Kovalevskaya was a professor of mathematics.
Carolina University (Institute)
Last but not least, Carolina University in Sweden. He is known not only for the high quality of knowledge and skills of graduates, but also for the fact that his Committee appoints Nobel Prize winners in the field of physiology and medicine. So you can imagine their level. In addition, this hospital includes 2 hospitals (in Soln and Hudding), where they not only treat patients, but also do research in the field of medicine.
Please note that most medical programs are taught in Swedish, so you must know it when you enter here.
It is worth noting that this university is a medical university in Sweden, but it is called the "institute" (Karolinska Institutet). Although it is allowed to refer to it as a "university", since it is essentially it, preparing bachelors, masters and doctors.
It consists of 22 faculties, each of which explores a separate medical field, from cell and molecular biology to pharmacology and gynecology. So there is a lot of practice here. So if you dare to enter this university and intend to get all of its degrees, forget about life as such for the next 9 years.
In conclusion, I want to add that, like us, people also live in Sweden, and they are different. And on average, they are not smarter and not dumber than you and me. Therefore, anyone who does this here will be able to study in that country. The main problem is financing, because the level of our salaries and Swedish is very different. And this is perhaps the fattest minus, often overriding absolutely all the pros.