Studying in Sweden
- language_certification Blocks your application
English 6 — a NATIONAL language requirement, unusual in Europe
Unlike Spain, Poland and Switzerland, Sweden sets the language bar at country level. The general entry requirement is English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6, applied uniformly through the central admissions system.
- When
- with_application
www.universityadmissions.se · 2026-08-17 · Universityadmissions.se (UHR)
studies equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6/English Level 2
- fee_status Blocks your application
Application fee SEK 900 — unpaid means unprocessed
A country-level fee through the central admissions system. The application is NOT processed unless the fee is paid by the deadline; late payment reclassifies it as a late application, processed only at each university's discretion if places remain.
- Costs
- SEK 900
- When
- before_application
- Exempt
- AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK
www.universityadmissions.se · 2026-08-17 · Universityadmissions.se (UHR)
You must pay an application fee of 900 SEK (Swedish kronor) by the deadline indicated in order for your application to be processed.
- fee_status Blocks your application
First tuition instalment must be PAID BEFORE the residence permit is granted
⚠ THE MOST IMPORTANT SEQUENCING RULE IN SWEDEN, and it runs opposite to most countries. All offers are preliminary until the first instalment is paid, and the Migration Agency will NOT approve a permit until the university notifies it that payment arrived. A student waiting for the permit before paying will never get either.
- When
- after_offer
- Exempt
- AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK
www.universityadmissions.se · 2026-08-17 · Universityadmissions.se (UHR) / universities / Migrationsverket
In Sweden, all offers of admission are considered preliminary until the student has paid the first instalment of their tuition fee. Applications for a residence permit will not be approved until the Swedish Migration Agency receives notification from your university that it's been paid. — Migrations
- visaMandatory
Residence permit for higher education studies (over three months)
Sweden issues a residence permit rather than a study visa. As a general rule you must be OUTSIDE Sweden when applying. The permit can never exceed the passport's validity. 75% of recent cases were decided within two months.
- Takes
- 60d
- Costs
- SEK 1,500
- When
- after_offer
- Exempt
- AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK
www.migrationsverket.se · 2026-08-17 · Migrationsverket
As a general rule, you must be outside Sweden when you apply for a residence permit.
- financial_proofMandatory
Maintenance — SEK 10,656 per month, keyed to the APPLICATION year
⚠ The figure depends on the year you APPLY, not the year you study: SEK 10,656 per month if you applied in 2026, SEK 10,584 if you applied in 2025. It must cover the entire period applied for.
- Costs
- SEK 10,656
- When
- with_application
- Exempt
- AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK
www.migrationsverket.se · 2026-08-17 · Migrationsverket
The maintenance requirement is at least SEK 10,656 per month, if you applied in 2026 at least SEK 10,584 per month, if you applied in 2025.
- healthMandatory
Health insurance — required ONLY for studies shorter than one year
Conditional, not universal. Insurance is required where the studies last LESS than a year. At one year or more the student registers in Sweden's population register instead and gains public healthcare access. No minimum coverage amount is published.
- When
- with_application
- Exempt
- AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK
www.migrationsverket.se · 2026-08-17 · Migrationsverket
The insurance must be valid for the entire time you will be in Sweden and cover costs for emergency and other medical care, hospitalisation, and emergency dental care.
- fee_statusMandatory
Who pays — DOCTORAL STUDY IS FREE, bachelor and master are not
Tuition is not free for non-EU/EEA/Swiss students at bachelor and master level. But doctoral students are exempt from tuition entirely, as are registered exchange students, holders of a permanent Swedish permit, and holders of a temporary permit granted for reasons OTHER than study.
- When
- before_application
- Exempt
- AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK
www.universityadmissions.se · 2026-08-17 · Universityadmissions.se (UHR)
individuals who are citizens of countries that are not part of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA, includes Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or Switzerland are required to pay application and tuition fees.
- otherMandatory
Full-time study required; distance learning cannot ground a permit
The permit requires final admission to FULL-TIME studies, and a residence permit can never be granted for distance learning. 30 credits per semester counts as full time.
- When
- with_application
- Exempt
- AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK
www.migrationsverket.se · 2026-08-17 · Migrationsverket
You must be finally admitted to full-time studies in Sweden. You cannot be granted a residence permit for distance learning as a form of study.