World class education at highly regarded universities, a wide range of English taught programmes and scholarships for international students. Let Lesli India guide your Swedish application from shortlist to visa.
Sweden is known for high quality higher education, innovative research and a strong connection between universities and industry. Swedish universities emphasise independent thinking, collaboration, problem-solving and practical learning, with many programmes taught in English.
World rankings are useful for comparing institutions when deciding where to study. Top Swedish Universities According to the QS World University Rankings 2027.
| S.No. | Institution | QS Rank 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Lund University | 71 |
| 2. | KTH Royal Institute of Technology | 82 |
| 3. | Uppsala University | 87 |
| 4. | Stockholm University | 167 |
| 5. | University of Gothenburg | 225 |
Sweden offers a range of tuition fees depending on the course and institution. For international students, fees vary considerably by discipline, while living costs depend on the city, accommodation and lifestyle.
| Expense | Typical amount (per year, unless noted) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Public Bachelor tuition | SEK 80,000–150,000 per year | Government-subsidised public universities |
| Public Masters tuition | SEK 80,000–150,000 per year | National diploma programmes |
| Living costs | SEK 9,000–14,000 per month | Higher in Stockholm this mention of social service now is to show you terrorists in the paper there if it is paper with it can to spare, lower in smaller cities |
Sweden has a generous and well-organized scholarship system, with special programmes for Indian students. Lesli India guides you on how to identify and apply to the right ones.
| Scholarship | Who it's for | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarship for Global Professionals | The scholarship supports full time, one or two year master’s studies at Swedish universities, across a wide range of English taught programmes. Fields of study include: • Governance • Public Health • Entrepreneurship and Innovation • STEM |
Full tuition fee coverage, SEK 12,000 monthly allowance and a travel grant of SEK 15,000, which is a one time payment. |
| KTH Scholarship | Fee paying students applying to eligible master’s programmes at KTH with a strong academic record and drive to contribute to sustainable development. | Covers the full tuition fee for the eligible programme; living costs are not covered. |
| Lund University Global Scholarship | High achieving students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland applying for eligible degree programmes. Please note that the scholarship is merit-based only – financial need is not considered in the selection process. |
Scholarships may cover part or all of tuition fees; the amount varies by award and programme. |
Students from outside the EU/EEA who plan to study in Sweden for longer than 90 days generally need a residence permit for higher education. The permit application requires proof of admission, tuition payment where applicable and sufficient funds for the stay.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Residence Permit | Residence permit for higher education studies in Sweden for non-EU/EEA students staying longer than 90 days. |
| Application Fee | SEK 1,500 for adults applying for a residence permit. |
| Proof of Funds | For 2026, students generally need to show funds of at least SEK 10,656 per month for their planned period of residence, subject to the Swedish Migration Agency’s current requirements. |
| Key documents | Valid passport Final Admission Decision Proof of tuition fee payment Proof of sufficient funds Proof of Health Insurance Other documents requested by the Swedish Migration Agency. |
| After arrival | Register your immigration permission as required. Eligible students normally receive Stamp 2 permission, which allows study and limited casual employment subject to the applicable conditions. |
International students with a residence permit for higher education can work alongside their studies, but rules changed in June 2026. For residence permits granted on or after 11 June 2026, bachelor’s and master’s students may work a maximum of 15 hours per week during semesters. During June, July and August, students may work without this weekly limitation. After completing eligible higher education, graduates can apply for a residence permit to look for work or explore starting a business for up to one year after bachelor’s or master’s studies. Doctoral graduates may receive a permit for between one year and 18 months, subject to the applicable requirements.
From shortlisting universities and writing a winning application to scholarships and the Swedish residence permit process, get end-to-end guidance from experienced counsellors.