Feature

By Kajsa Norman

Reconnect With Your Roots – Study in Sweden

Studying in Sweden is a common dream among both Swedish expats and North Americans of Swedish descent. Whether you embark on a short exchange or pursue a degree, it can be a great way to further your education while also taking the opportunity to reconnect with your roots. Here’s what you need to know about requirements, fees and deadlines.

Attending University in Sweden

University Eligibility Requirements for American and Canadian Students How to Apply

Deadlines

Swedish universities are keen to welcome applicants from abroad. Visit www.studyinsweden.se for a list of the many programs available in English at both the Bachelor and Master levels starting in the fall of 2021. You’ll also find practical information regarding accommodation, health insurance, visa requirements, and much more.

All courses and programs have general entry requirements. These can be found at the admissions website for Sweden, www.universityadmissions.se.

In order to meet the general entry requirements for Bachelor’s level studies, you must: • have successfully completed your upper secondary (high school) education (including courses in mathematics equal to the Swedish courses Mathematics 1a, 1b or 1c); and • be able to demonstrate proficiency in English. Most North American applicants meet this requirement through their high school studies.

For application to Master’s level, you must have been awarded a Bachelor’s degree (equivalent to a Swedish kandidatexamen) from an internationally recognized university.

Most courses and study programs have specific entry requirements in addition to the general requirements. For example, an economics course may require a higher level of upper secondary school mathematics. A Master’s program may require a Bachelor’s degree in a specific subject area. These specific requirements are outlined in the individual course or program descriptions which are found on the university’s website.

Canadian and American students should consult www. Universityadmissions.se which offers detailed, step-by-step information about entry requirements, application procedures, key dates, selection and admissions results, as well as fees, scholarships and residence permits. Rules differ for Swedish citizens, Swedish permanent residents, EU citizens, and citizens from the rest of the world – including the United States and Canada. Once you are clear about which category you belong to, the process is fairly straightforward.

The first admission round (closing January 15) was created specifically for international students. In this round, the entire catalogue of courses and programmes taught in English is available.

The second admission round (closing April 15) is the regular admission round for Swedish students. The entire catalogue of courses and programmes taught in Swedish

is available, but some universities also offer courses and programmes taught in English in the second round.

International students are welcome to apply to both rounds, but the admissions decision from the second round doesn’t come until July. As you cannot submit your application for a residence permit until you have been admitted to full-time university studies in Sweden and have paid your first tuition fee instalment, non-EU/EEA applicants who require a residence permit are encouraged to apply in the first round.

There is no tuition for Swedish or EU citizens. However, as an American or Canadian citizen you will pay SEK 900 (US$ 108) when you apply to study in Sweden. The application fee is the same regardless of how many programs you apply for. The tuition fee for Americans and Canadians can be as low as SEK 80,000 (US$ 9,600) per year, or as high as SEK 295,000 (US$ 35,500), depending on the university and the program of your choice. However, most Swedish universities and colleges offer scholarships to international students. For a complete list along with eligibility information, visit: https://studyinsweden.se/scholarships.

Du som talar svenska och vill läsa vid ett svenskspråkigt program har ett mycket större utbud att välja bland, särskilt på kandidatnivå.

Förutom en avslutad gymnasieutbildning måste man ha goda kunskaper i svenska, engelska och matematik. De flesta utlandssvenskar har läst engelska och matematik, men med svenskan kan det vara värre. Det räcker nämligen inte att ha svenska som modersmål för att bli behörig i svenska. – Även om man har svenska föräldrar och talar svenska hemma innebär inte det att man klarar universitetsstudier på svenska. Det handlar ju om helt andra uttryck och termer än dem man använder till vardags, säger Dan Larsson, biträdande rektor vid Hermods Distansgymnasium som bland annat erbjuder kurser i Svenska 1, 2 och 3 på distans.

För att bli behörig till en svenskspråkig universitetsutbildning krävs att man klarat gymnasiekursen Svenska 3 eller Svenska som andra språk 3. Man kan också ta ett så kallat TISUS-test (test i svenska för universitets- och högskolestudier), men det upplevs av många som ett svårare alternativ och bara ungefär hälften av dem som genomför testet blir godkända. Det finns dock hjälp att få. Global Svenska Plus (GSP) erbjuder förberedelsekurser på distans. För elever som studerar vid en IB-skola utanför Sverige erbjuder de också möjligheten att integrera IB Swedish A eller B i gymnasieexamen.

Oavsett vilken väg man väljer är det viktigt att börja planera i tid. För att kunna läsa svenska på distans behöver man nämligen ha ett godkänt betyg i svenska från årskurs 9. Det kan man skaffa sig via Sofia Distans, en kommunal grundskola inom Stockholms stad som har som uppdrag att undervisa svenska elever bosatta i utlandet. Sofia Distans följer grundskolans kursplaner och kunskapskrav för årskurs 6-9. Hos dem kan man läsa hela högstadiet på distans, men man kan också fokusera på enstaka ämnen såsom svenska för att få behörighet till svenskt gymnasium.

Kurserna vid såväl Sofia Distans som Hermods Distansgymnasium är avgiftsbelagda, men om åtminstone en förälder är svensk medborgare kan man söka om statsbidrag hos Skolverket. Detta görs via Sofia Distans eller Hermods. För mer information besök www.sofiadistans.nu, www.hermods.se eller www.globalsvenska.com.

If you are a Swedish or EU/EEA citizen, you have the right to free education in Sweden at any level. If you are a Canadian or American citizen under the age of 18, you may be able to attend Middle or High School in Sweden free of charge. However, you would need a residence permit. To apply for one, you must have been accepted to full-time studies, have valid health insurance, and be able to support yourself throughout the period for which you’re applying. Check with the school you’re interested in attending for application deadlines and eligibility prerequisites. If your parents don’t reside in Sweden, you would need to attend a boarding school, such as Sigtunaskolan www.sshl.se, live with other close relatives, or participate in a student exchange. More information can be found at www.migrationsverket.se.

Fees, Tuition and Scholarships

What If I Want to Study in Swedish? What If I Want to Attend Middle School or High School in Sweden?

Photo: Magnus Liam Karlsson/imagebank.sweden.se