Do I need a visa or residence permit?
Visa and resident permits for non-Nordic non-EU/EEA citizensIf you are intending to stay in Sweden for less than three months, then you will need a visa if the country that issues your passport is on this list [PDF file]. If your studies in Sweden will take longer than three months, you need to acquire a residence permit before you arrive in Sweden. Permits are issued by the Swedish Migration Board. Their website has detailed advice.
You can apply for visas and permits at the Swedish embassy or consulate in your home country.
Please remember that you cannot apply for a residence permit unless you have been admitted to full time accredited university studies in Sweden. The application fee, which is not refundable, is SEK 1,000 (approximately EUR 110, USD 130).
When applying for a residence permit, you must prove to the Swedish Migration Board that you will have a guaranteed sum of money at your disposal throughout the entire period of your studies. The amount, SEK 7,300 per month for ten months of the year, is set by the Migration Board. If you wish to bring your family you must show that you have at your disposal an additional SEK 3,000 per month for your spouse and SEK 1,800 per month per child.
If you can prove to the board's satisfaction that that you will receive free lodging during the whole or part of your study period this sum will be correspondingly reduced. Students who have been awarded a scholarship through the Swedish Institute or another programme should supply proof of this. You will also need to show a valid passport and a letter of admission from the institution at which you will be studying. To be sure of obtaining your permit in time you should submit your application 6-8 weeks prior to your departure for Sweden.
Please note that residence permits are limited to the duration of the study period, or to one year, whichever is the shorter. Your permit will be renewed annually provided you receive the number of credit points required and can produce evidence of continued financial support. Renewal requests are processed by your local Swedish Migration Board office. If you have any questions please contact the Swedish embassy or consulate in your home country or country where you currently live. You can also contact the Swedish Migration Board. Also make sure you have adequate medical insurance.
Visa and residence permits for citizens from non-Nordic EU/EEA countries (and Switzerland)If you are a citizen of a non-Nordic EU/EEA country (Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom) or Switzerland, you do not require a visa if you are intending to stay in Sweden for less than three months. If your studies in Sweden will take longer than three months, you need to acquire a residence permit within three months of your arrival in Sweden. Permits are issued by the Swedish Migration Board. Their website has detailed advice.
You can apply for a residence permit at one of the Migration Board offices in Sweden. You may also apply via a Swedish embassy or consulate before travelling to Sweden. To obtain a residence permit as a student, you must show that you have been admitted to full time accredited university studies in Sweden, and provide assurances that you can support yourself. Residence permits for studies are granted for one year at a time. Also make sure you have adequate medical insurance.
Visa and residence permits for citizens of Nordic countriesCitizens from Nordic countries do not need a visa or residence permit to study in Sweden.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Working in Sweden
Who can work in Sweden?
If you are enrolled at a Swedish university or university college you can work in Sweden without a work permit. You do, however, need a residence permit. Nordic, EU and EEA students need to get a residence permit if they are staying in Sweden for longer than three months. All other nationalities need to get a residence permit before they arrive in Sweden.
For information on obtaining a residence permit, contact your nearest embassy or consulate or the Swedish Migration Board directly.
If you are enrolled at a Swedish university or university college you can work in Sweden without a work permit. You do, however, need a residence permit. Nordic, EU and EEA students need to get a residence permit if they are staying in Sweden for longer than three months. All other nationalities need to get a residence permit before they arrive in Sweden.
For information on obtaining a residence permit, contact your nearest embassy or consulate or the Swedish Migration Board directly.
Living in Sweden
Living in Sweden
Sweden is an open, multicultural society with a long tradition of welcoming students from abroad.
Currently, some 26,000 foreign students are studying in Sweden, making for a vibrant, international study environment.
Swedes have some peculiar cultural traits, but they are deeply proud of having built a society that promotes equality between the sexes, tolerance and inclusiveness.
As a student in Sweden, you will have ample opportunity to make new friends. A good part of your social life will revolve around your student union. The union can often help you with finding accommodation and other practical matters. Do make sure you are covered by adequate health insurance while in Sweden.
You will most likely need to get a residence permit or visa, maybe even before you arrive in Sweden. To get a residence permit, you need to show you have sufficient funds to pay for living expenses in Sweden. But there are ways in which you can mitigate the financial strain: Sweden allows students to work for the duration of their studies. (And there are scholarships, of course.)
Sweden is an open, multicultural society with a long tradition of welcoming students from abroad.
Currently, some 26,000 foreign students are studying in Sweden, making for a vibrant, international study environment.
Swedes have some peculiar cultural traits, but they are deeply proud of having built a society that promotes equality between the sexes, tolerance and inclusiveness.
As a student in Sweden, you will have ample opportunity to make new friends. A good part of your social life will revolve around your student union. The union can often help you with finding accommodation and other practical matters. Do make sure you are covered by adequate health insurance while in Sweden.
You will most likely need to get a residence permit or visa, maybe even before you arrive in Sweden. To get a residence permit, you need to show you have sufficient funds to pay for living expenses in Sweden. But there are ways in which you can mitigate the financial strain: Sweden allows students to work for the duration of their studies. (And there are scholarships, of course.)
Scholarships
Scholarships
Although in almost all cases, tuition is free, it still costs to live in Sweden. There are a number of ways you can get funding to help you afford your stay:
The Swedish Institute, a government agency, each year administers over 500 scholarships for students and researchers coming to Sweden to pursue their objectives at a Swedish university.
The number of available scholarships varies from year to year, and competition is keen. Most foreign students in Sweden finance their stay without help from scholarships.
There are several different kinds of SI scholarship available. You can find them listed by name here.
The application process for SI scholarships depends primarily on the level at which you intend to study. Application instructions are available here.
SI scholarships for students applying to English-language programmes in Sweden are for master's level studies or advanced studies/research only.
SI also administers bilateral exchange programmes with Bulgaria, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Romania and Russia. Students and researchers from these countries can apply for funding for academic pursuits in Sweden via this channel as well.
Other organisations, both Swedish and foreign, also sponsor scholarships for foreign students in Sweden
Although in almost all cases, tuition is free, it still costs to live in Sweden. There are a number of ways you can get funding to help you afford your stay:
The Swedish Institute, a government agency, each year administers over 500 scholarships for students and researchers coming to Sweden to pursue their objectives at a Swedish university.
The number of available scholarships varies from year to year, and competition is keen. Most foreign students in Sweden finance their stay without help from scholarships.
There are several different kinds of SI scholarship available. You can find them listed by name here.
The application process for SI scholarships depends primarily on the level at which you intend to study. Application instructions are available here.
SI scholarships for students applying to English-language programmes in Sweden are for master's level studies or advanced studies/research only.
SI also administers bilateral exchange programmes with Bulgaria, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Romania and Russia. Students and researchers from these countries can apply for funding for academic pursuits in Sweden via this channel as well.
Other organisations, both Swedish and foreign, also sponsor scholarships for foreign students in Sweden
Why study in Sweden?
Why study in Sweden?
There are compelling reasons why you should study in Sweden.
Innovation and creativity run deep:
Sweden is a safe and modern country in northern Europe, and it has accrued a spectacular reputation as an innovator and creative force. Sweden's famed corporate brands - like Volvo, Ikea, Ericsson, H&M and Saab - complement its cultural brands - like Bergman, Abba, Astrid Lindgren, Bjorn Borg, Strindberg, The Cardigans and Garbo.
Standards are high:
Sweden has a long and proud history of academic excellence, with outstanding universities dating back to the 15th century. Sweden is the home of the Nobel Prize, the world's most prestigious academic distinction.
Today, SwedenҀs reputation for innovation is built on close cooperation between industry and academia. Swedish universities are renowned for their investigative research and independent thinking, and this reputation is cemented with rigorous quality control and nationally certified degrees. Sweden has one of the most ambitious educational evaluation programmes in Europe, aimed at maintaining this competitive edge.
Choice:
Swedish universities offer around 450 masterҀs programmes in English, ranging from human rights law to mechanical engineering. Programmes are structured in response to student demand ր the result is a student-centric education system, with open, informal relations between students and teachers, and where personal initiative and critical thought are prized.
Foreign students are welcome:
Many students studying in Sweden come from abroad ր 8.5% of the student body, according to the OECD ր making Sweden one of the worldҀs most inclusive countries for education. But there is room for more: The number grew by over 80% over the last 4-year period. There are now PhD candidates from some 80 countries working towards their degrees in Sweden.
SwedenҀs educational policy is based on the recognition that a multicultural student body is a resource. Competition for places is keen, but students of all nationalities may apply, given the right credentials; and degree equivalency for past studies is granted on a flexible basis.
Scholarships are available:
The Swedish Institute grants hundreds of scholarships every year to help foreign students make their stay in Sweden more affordable. Currently, tuition fees for everyone are fully subsidised by the state. SwedenҀs public spending on education is the OECDҀs highest, at 4.9% of GDP. And because it costs to live in Sweden, foreign students can work while studying.
English is spoken by all:
Almost all Swedes speak fluent English. Many Swedish companies use English as their official working language.
Foreign students find that this prevalence of English makes adapting to their new surroundings much easier.
There are compelling reasons why you should study in Sweden.
Innovation and creativity run deep:
Sweden is a safe and modern country in northern Europe, and it has accrued a spectacular reputation as an innovator and creative force. Sweden's famed corporate brands - like Volvo, Ikea, Ericsson, H&M and Saab - complement its cultural brands - like Bergman, Abba, Astrid Lindgren, Bjorn Borg, Strindberg, The Cardigans and Garbo.
Standards are high:
Sweden has a long and proud history of academic excellence, with outstanding universities dating back to the 15th century. Sweden is the home of the Nobel Prize, the world's most prestigious academic distinction.
Today, SwedenҀs reputation for innovation is built on close cooperation between industry and academia. Swedish universities are renowned for their investigative research and independent thinking, and this reputation is cemented with rigorous quality control and nationally certified degrees. Sweden has one of the most ambitious educational evaluation programmes in Europe, aimed at maintaining this competitive edge.
Choice:
Swedish universities offer around 450 masterҀs programmes in English, ranging from human rights law to mechanical engineering. Programmes are structured in response to student demand ր the result is a student-centric education system, with open, informal relations between students and teachers, and where personal initiative and critical thought are prized.
Foreign students are welcome:
Many students studying in Sweden come from abroad ր 8.5% of the student body, according to the OECD ր making Sweden one of the worldҀs most inclusive countries for education. But there is room for more: The number grew by over 80% over the last 4-year period. There are now PhD candidates from some 80 countries working towards their degrees in Sweden.
SwedenҀs educational policy is based on the recognition that a multicultural student body is a resource. Competition for places is keen, but students of all nationalities may apply, given the right credentials; and degree equivalency for past studies is granted on a flexible basis.
Scholarships are available:
The Swedish Institute grants hundreds of scholarships every year to help foreign students make their stay in Sweden more affordable. Currently, tuition fees for everyone are fully subsidised by the state. SwedenҀs public spending on education is the OECDҀs highest, at 4.9% of GDP. And because it costs to live in Sweden, foreign students can work while studying.
English is spoken by all:
Almost all Swedes speak fluent English. Many Swedish companies use English as their official working language.
Foreign students find that this prevalence of English makes adapting to their new surroundings much easier.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Scholarships for International Students
You will undoubtedly encounter several scholarship matching services that, for a fee, will offer to search a database of scholarships for awards that match your profile. Unfortunately, the vast majority of awards in these databases are restricted to US citizens and permanent residents. Don't waste your money on such services.
The following databases are dedicated to listing scholarships for international students in specific countries. You should also consider searching the free databases of scholarships on the www.FinAid site, since some of them include scholarships for international students. The www.FastWeb database, in particular, has good coverage of the awards available for international students.
A word of caution: If a scholarship has an application fee, don't apply. If you have to pay money to get money, it is probably a scam. For more information about scholarship scams, the unclaimed aid myth, and related topics, see the Scholarship Scams section of the FinAid site.
A Selected List of Fellowship and Other Support Opportunities for Advanced Education for US Citizens and Foreign Nationals
This NSF publication (NSF 93-147) was obtained from stis.nsf.gov as the files ns93147a.txt through ns93147f.txt. Also available is the NSF publication 94-139, Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI).
GrantSearch Australia
GrantSearch Australia offers customised keyword searches of a database containing over 1,400 grants, scholarships, fellowships and awards available in Australia. The cost is AUD45 + AUD5 postage (approximately US$40).
International Education Financial Aid
This site contains a free searchable database of 870 scholarships and awards for international students. Most are restricted to use at specific universities.
ScholarshipsCanada.com
ScholarshipsCanada.com is a large searchable database of more than 17,000 scholarships, prizes, and bursaries for students in Canada. It includes both school-administered and private awards. ScholarshipsCanada.com is published by EDge Interactive, 3470 Pharmacy Ave., Toronto, Ontario M1W 2S7, Canada, phone 416-494-3343, fax 416-494-0949.
SFU Graduate Awards Database
A small database of Canadian graduate and postdoctoral fellowships, compiled by Simon Fraser University.
St怀d & Stipendier AB (SOS AB)
SOS is a Swedish-based scholarship and grant search service, serving primarily European students who wish to study abroad. They also serve American students who want to study in Europe or in the Pacific region (Australia, NZ, Far East). They also do grant searches for institutions and associations with international activities. They have a staff of seven people working in Sweden and four in Riga, Latvia. They compile their own database, which lists 17,000 addresses, and they also have access to several other databases of Scandinavian origin (Billeso & Baltzer), European origin (European Foundation Centre and Maecenata) and American origin (Foundation Center, Scholarship Finder). They have been in business since 1992. Their fees, if the printout is sent by email, are
US$45 for undergraduate or graduate students and for ill or disabled persons looking for financial support,
US$75 for students aiming for a PhD or postdoctoral studies or research. (Smaller personal projects.)
US$95 for institutions, non-profit-organisations and other associations. (Larger projects.) Add US$5 for currency-charges. (This extra-charge will be dropped as soon as they have a simple and secure international digital payment-system working.) They also sell "Stora Fondboken" for US$58 for Macintosh or PC systems with information on 3,000 grants worldwide. It is also available as a CD-ROM for US$285 per year plus VAT. They are working on an online search service for their web page. For more information, call +46-670-614310 or +46-8-836113, fax +46-670-614330, write to St怀d & Stipendier AB (SOS AB), Transtigen 7, S-833 35 STRրMSUND, Sweden, or send email to grants@algonet.se.
You will undoubtedly encounter several scholarship matching services that, for a fee, will offer to search a database of scholarships for awards that match your profile. Unfortunately, the vast majority of awards in these databases are restricted to US citizens and permanent residents. Don't waste your money on such services.
The following databases are dedicated to listing scholarships for international students in specific countries. You should also consider searching the free databases of scholarships on the www.FinAid site, since some of them include scholarships for international students. The www.FastWeb database, in particular, has good coverage of the awards available for international students.
A word of caution: If a scholarship has an application fee, don't apply. If you have to pay money to get money, it is probably a scam. For more information about scholarship scams, the unclaimed aid myth, and related topics, see the Scholarship Scams section of the FinAid site.
A Selected List of Fellowship and Other Support Opportunities for Advanced Education for US Citizens and Foreign Nationals
This NSF publication (NSF 93-147) was obtained from stis.nsf.gov as the files ns93147a.txt through ns93147f.txt. Also available is the NSF publication 94-139, Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI).
GrantSearch Australia
GrantSearch Australia offers customised keyword searches of a database containing over 1,400 grants, scholarships, fellowships and awards available in Australia. The cost is AUD45 + AUD5 postage (approximately US$40).
International Education Financial Aid
This site contains a free searchable database of 870 scholarships and awards for international students. Most are restricted to use at specific universities.
ScholarshipsCanada.com
ScholarshipsCanada.com is a large searchable database of more than 17,000 scholarships, prizes, and bursaries for students in Canada. It includes both school-administered and private awards. ScholarshipsCanada.com is published by EDge Interactive, 3470 Pharmacy Ave., Toronto, Ontario M1W 2S7, Canada, phone 416-494-3343, fax 416-494-0949.
SFU Graduate Awards Database
A small database of Canadian graduate and postdoctoral fellowships, compiled by Simon Fraser University.
St怀d & Stipendier AB (SOS AB)
SOS is a Swedish-based scholarship and grant search service, serving primarily European students who wish to study abroad. They also serve American students who want to study in Europe or in the Pacific region (Australia, NZ, Far East). They also do grant searches for institutions and associations with international activities. They have a staff of seven people working in Sweden and four in Riga, Latvia. They compile their own database, which lists 17,000 addresses, and they also have access to several other databases of Scandinavian origin (Billeso & Baltzer), European origin (European Foundation Centre and Maecenata) and American origin (Foundation Center, Scholarship Finder). They have been in business since 1992. Their fees, if the printout is sent by email, are
US$45 for undergraduate or graduate students and for ill or disabled persons looking for financial support,
US$75 for students aiming for a PhD or postdoctoral studies or research. (Smaller personal projects.)
US$95 for institutions, non-profit-organisations and other associations. (Larger projects.) Add US$5 for currency-charges. (This extra-charge will be dropped as soon as they have a simple and secure international digital payment-system working.) They also sell "Stora Fondboken" for US$58 for Macintosh or PC systems with information on 3,000 grants worldwide. It is also available as a CD-ROM for US$285 per year plus VAT. They are working on an online search service for their web page. For more information, call +46-670-614310 or +46-8-836113, fax +46-670-614330, write to St怀d & Stipendier AB (SOS AB), Transtigen 7, S-833 35 STRրMSUND, Sweden, or send email to grants@algonet.se.
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