Is it true that Swedish universities are free?

Question

Someone said that Swedish universities are free for everybody. Is that true? If that's the case, then why doesn't everybody in the world go to Sweden for college?

Answer 1

There are some courses taught in English, but you would need exceptional grades to have a shot at getting into those, they are obviously overwhelmed with applications, and most of them are postgraduate degrees.

So, you still have to learn Swedish, and be accepted to the course you apply for.  There are limited places available to foreigners on most normal courses.

Be aware that "Learn Swedish" in this context requires a rather higher level than street fluency.  I've lived in Sweden over 10 years, and speak it fluently.  I was street fluent after a year or so (I could shop, talk to my neighbours, handle a parent teacher meeting etc.) but I wouldn't have got past the first question on the Uni entrance test at that point. I just recently worked through some practise test with my daughter who took it herself in April.  The level of language required is quite formal and academic, and I got a pretty good passing grade (this was just the language comprehension section, there are self-tests online you can use for practise), but only because I had a dictionary on my lap, and I don't expect I'd be allowed to take one with me to the real thing.

You can work in Sweden as a student.

If you're serious, you can find out everything you need to know here: http://www.studyinsweden.se (and maybe you wil find interesting things here: https://www.studera.nu/studera/241.html - Studera.nu is where you can take the practise entrance tests too.)

Answer 2

no

Answer 3

There are a lot of countries where, even if you're foreign, if you can speak the local language and you meet their admission standards, you can go to uni in that country for free. The Czech Republic, Iceland, Sweden, Finland, I know for sure, and I believe Greece, Bulgaria, and the Ukraine. But you'd want to do your research before you jump:

- Make sure the country's bachelors degrees are accepted as bachelors degrees in the US. For example, those from many Bulgarian unis are not. Greece has some issues as well.

- Know that US government financial aid won't follow you overseas. So all those extra expenses won't be covered or free, and you'll be expected to have that funding lined up when you apply.

- You'll need to be fluent in the local language. Which you can absolutely do, if you set your mind to it.

- You'll need to meet their admissions requirements which, for most European countries, mean you need more than a normal US high school diploma. You actually need either an IB instead of a regular high school diploma; or at least 3 AP exams, scored 3 or 4 (depends on the uni), plus excellent SAT scores; or one year of college in the US completed before you apply. This is because the by the time most European students reach uni, they've had one extra year of school than you have in the US. They start a year earlier. Know that this isn't universal - it's the case for most European unis, not all of them, so check their admissions pages.

These things aren't insurmountable, but it does mean that you've got some hoops to jump through.

Just as an aside, there are some colleges in the US that if you can get in - and that's kind of a big "if" - it's free:

- Olin College

- The Cooper Union

- College of the Ozarks (you work off your tuition there)

- The Curtis Institute

- The Yale School of Music

Of course, CU only offers art, architecture and engineering. Olin is only engineering. Curtis and Yale are both music. College of the Ozarks offers the broadest selection in terms of majors.

There are other schools that are free - the military academies, for example. West Point, Annapolis, US Air Force Academy, all free. And there, they even pay for your books.

The other option is to go any school that has a ROTC program, and apply for an ROTC scholarship. Then the military will pay for your studies - so long as you major in specific things, and join the military afterwards.

ETA: In most European countries, if you have a student visa you can work up to X hours per week, and do internships, etc. Usually the number of hours is 20. But check the visa requirements for Sweden, specifically.

Answer 4

college is free mainly in north europe;countries like denmark, finland and sweden and maybe norway.

most of the foreigners are from europe and come by erasmus-money program and stay 3-8 months. during that time they show their gratitude to scandinavians by not speaking anything else than english, drinking beer, partying in student appartments and messing around. some of them wont even participate in school lessons.

i would gladly welcome serious students from usa, instead of huligans from central europe so put your appplications to here my friend. its all free, and appartment costs after goverment suports about 70 euros a month. this is a dreamland for americans who are used to pay of university studying a price of 5 year old ferrari testarossa! (wich i think is nuts, studying aint that useful nowdays anymore)

Answer 5

its true but  its not that easy . but soon it will  be stopped thou

Answer 6

I think in Sweden university education is completely free as it is in most European countries. at least mostly free. we certainly don't have to pay anything like what American students have to.As for everyone going there.... well how to you fancy learning say theoretical physics through a language you dont speak.

Answer 7

because it would mean learning swedish for a start, and also i have never heard of any of the universities from sweden, but have heard of some from other european countires and America.

Perhaps they are just not as well respected as others so it would be harder to gwt a job and stuff?

And wouldnt the costs of flying and living in a completeley new country be expensive?

Answer 8

Yes education in Sweden is free however one must still pay for living expenses, housing, books, insurance etc which is approximately US$1,200 per month. Now if you multiply that figure by 12, it will cost you US$14,400 per year to study in Sweden.

Why doesn't everyone in the world go to Sweden and study, well for starters not everyone can speak and nor does everyone have the desire to learn the Swedish langauge which will be needed since only certain classes are taught in English.

Secondly, the level of high-education in Sweden far behind countries such as the United Kingdom, United States and Canada, furthermore the degrees which people obtain from Swedish universities are not very well recognized outside of Sweden nor are they held in high regard by other universities should you wish to transfer to them.

Finaly by paying that little bit more per year in say the U.K., U.S. or Canada a person can open up so many more doors for themselves in the world and in the country which they have chosen to study - not everyone's dream is study and then live in Sweden.

Mine was the United States and granted I paid a little bit more for tuition at a good school (CU) and even more for my graduate tuition (DU-law) but my life once I graduate will be much better than if I had chosen the cheaper option and studied in Sweden as far as pay, careers and opportunites are concerned.