A 2025 Guide to Studying Abroad in Sweden

Adventure awaits: studying abroad in the Nordic country of Sweden! What an exciting journey lies ahead.

With beautiful cities like Stockholm and Gothenburg, and a balanced way of life, foreign students flock to Sweden every year to experience it, making unforgettable memories along the way.

There are several things you will need to do to prepare for your educational experience in Sweden.

One of the most fundamental parts of your preparation is making sure you get the appropriate permissions to live and study in Sweden.

In this guide, we're going to talk about what you need to do to study abroad in Sweden.

🇺🇸 Please note: the information found in this guide is specifically for US citizens who want to study abroad in Sweden. If you are from another country, the information and processes may differ.

How to study abroad in Sweden

To study abroad in Sweden, you will need to:

• Enroll in a Swedish university/educational institution.
• Apply for Swedish residency.

While it's as simple as that, there are a lot of steps (and qualifications) that go into the process.

Though the exact process may vary, the general steps to studying abroad in Sweden are as follows:

• Find a program/course in Sweden.
• Make sure you meet the admission requirements (this could be language requirements, GPA, coursework, etc. It depends on the school).
• Make sure you meet Swedish residence requirements. We will talk more about what these are later in this guide.
• Apply for university/school admission.
• Apply for Swedish residence.

Let's take a deeper look at some of these steps so you can get a better understanding of what is needed.

How to find a program in Sweden

There are several ways that students can find an educational program in Sweden that works for them and aligns with their goals.

Oftentimes, those who study abroad in Sweden are already university students in their home country. If this is the case, you can set up a meeting with your university's study abroad department.

They will be able to tell you about any programs they have available in Sweden.

This can be an invaluable resource as universities often have existing partnerships and relationships with schools abroad, which can help to streamline the entire process.

If you aren't a current university student, or are looking for something else, there are a couple of other options.

You can find third-party companies/organizations that facilitate study abroad experiences, as well as apply for courses independently.

Always be diligent when working with programs and companies. Do your research and read reviews. Additionally, if you are applying for a university in Sweden independently, make sure you understand all of the admission requirements.

Swedish residence requirements

To study abroad in Sweden, you will need to apply for Swedish residence.

Applying for residence happens in a series of steps and there are requirements that you will need to meet in order to qualify.

To qualify, you must:

• Have a valid passport.
• Have valid medical travel insurance that covers you in Sweden.
• Be able to financially sustain yourself while in Sweden.
• Pay the necessary application fees.

Additionally, you will need to show documentation relating to your university enrollment. This could be an acceptance letter or invitation (for Doctoral students, for example). What you need to show may vary, so always get actionable information directly from the Swedish Embassy or a trusted partner.

How to apply for Swedish residence

We have written an entire guide about how to apply for Swedish residence, as it's an involved (though relatively straightforward) process.

For detailed information, we highly recommend that you check out our dedicated article.

As an overview, the process is typically as follows:

• Begin collecting the necessary documents for your residence application. These are the required documents that we listed above.
• Fill out your application.
• Wait for an answer!

Tips for studying abroad in Sweden

Mentally prepare for the daylight (or lack thereof). Due to Sweden's Northern location, daylight hours are extremely long in the Summer and at some points non-existent in the winter. This can be a big adjustment for those used to a more balanced difference between light and dark.

Debit and credit cards are widely used. Sweden is an incredibly modern country, and you should have no problem using your card(s) there. In fact, some establishments do not even accept cash these days.

Take a ticket. In many places in Sweden, you will need to take a ticket before you line up for something (like you do at the DMV/MVD in the States). The tickets work on a number system.

Rely on public transportation. Sweden is known for its fantastic, easy-to-use public transportation, like local trains and buses.

Practice being on time. Different countries have different etiquette around "what is on time" and "what isn't." In Sweden, you should always arrive at the scheduled time for meetings (not early and not late).

Pay attention to bike lanes. Cycling is extremely popular in Sweden, and there are dedicated lanes for these two-wheeled travelers. Make sure you always look both ways before crossing a bike lane and never stand in one.