Sweden

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From Uppsala University

What is the Swedish student experience like?

In Sweden, students are expected to take responsibility for their own learning, supported by guidance from teaching staff. The focus is often on the process and application of knowledge rather than solely on memorising facts. The academic environment is informal and interactive, with an emphasis on discussion and group work. For many programmes, there are fewer scheduled classroom hours than you may be used to. Instead students are asked to study independently or in smaller groups, organising their own learning. This also means that you will spend a large amount of time reading and studying on your own outside the classroom. To support this, there are plenty of free study spaces available on campus and in university libraries.

The grading system also varies from other countries, and even within the university itself, as there is no single grading scale applied across all programmes. To learn more, please check out this blog post from our student ambassador Sofía.

Work hard - but not too much!

Work-life balance is a key value in Sweden. On average, employees in Sweden work around 1,441 hours per year - approximately 18% less than the OECD average. Additionally, Swedish employees are entitled to a minimum of 25 holiday days per year. Meanwhile, Sweden's productivity compares favourably with other EU countries. Additionally, Swedish society emphasises providing individuals with the tools to manage their time effectively, ensuring room for both work or studies and personal time. As a student in Sweden, you will notice this balance first hand. For example, classes are never scheduled on weekends and are rarely held during evenings. This balance also influences the dynamic between teachers and students. Hierarchies are minimal, and teachers more often treat students as peers, valuing their input and fostering a collaborative learning environment.

In general, the Swedish classroom environment is quite informal. Students address their professors by their first names, and are encouraged to engage in discussions and express their points of view. As a student, you should feel confident taking part in classroom activities and voicing your thoughts, ideas and opinions. There are no strictly right or wrong answers, as long as your ideas are supported by well-reasoned arguments.

That said, while the atmosphere is informal, the academic environment is rigorous. Expectations are high, and studying in Sweden should not be seen as easier than studying in other countries. Students are expected to engage in significant independent reading and arrive well-prepared for lectures and seminars.

Do you think studies in Sweden would suit you?

To summarise, the Swedish learning environment encourages students to ask questions, take responsibility for managing their own studies and schedules, and feel comfortable approaching teachers with questions or engaging in discussions. If this sounds like the right fit for you, and you believe you have what it takes to thrive as a student at Uppsala University, we look forward to welcoming you next autumn!

Questions?

If you have any further questions about Uppsala, Sweden or this year's application process, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at study@uu.se.

For Sweden if you are not an EU Citizen you may need to take a Gap Year.

This is taken directly from the Uppsala University Website and the links should be live.

There are important things to keep in mind, as well as special instructions, for International and European Baccalaureate students.

Content

If you've completed your IB/EB Diploma programme at the time of application

If you've already completed your IB/EB Diploma programme, and are a citizen of an EU/EEA country, you're welcome to apply to the First or Second admissions round. Follow the instructions for documenting your eligibility in this section.

If you've completed your IB/EB Diploma programme but are a citizen of a country outside the EU/EEA, we recommend that you only apply to the First admissions round. The Second admissions round has much later deadlines and applicants won't receive their admissions decision until July. This time frame makes it nearly impossible for non-EU/EEA students to apply for and receive a residence permit in time for studies in August.

Find out more about the residence permit

If you haven't yet completed your IB/EB Diploma programme

First admissions round applications

If you haven't yet completed your IB/EB Diploma programme, do not apply to the First admissions round. University Admissions will not be able to evaluate your application in time for admissions decisions in April, as we need to have your completed IB/EB transcript and diploma in order to do so.

Second admissions round applications

If you haven't yet completed your IB/EB Diploma programme but are in your last year at the time of application, we recommend you apply to the second admissions round only if you're a citizen of an EU/EEA country. Non-EU/EEA citizens are not encouraged to apply to the second round.

Follow the instructions for IB and EB applicants

There are additional instructions for IB and EB applicants. Find out more about meeting the English requirement and what documents you need to submit.

Application instructions for IB

Application instructions for EB

Last updated: 09 April 2024

wondering where you're going to live?

Thousands of new students move to Uppsala to begin their studies each year, and the demand for rented housing in Uppsala is therefore high. Finding somewhere to live can be hard, so you should start your research early and read up on your choices. Fee-paying students at Uppsala University are guaranteed housing, while non-fee-paying students are responsible for arranging their own accommodation.

Most students live in what is known as a student corridor, a traditional Swedish student accommodation form. In a student corridor, you have your own private bedroom but share kitchen and, in some cases, other facilities like toilet and shower with 3-12 other tenants. There are also apartments for students, but these are more difficult to secure as a new student, and typically the rent will be higher than for a room in a corridor.

Fee-paying students

If you are a fee-paying student, that is, a citizen of a country outside the European Union, European Economic Area or Switzerland, you can benefit from our housing guarantee. This means that as long as you apply for and accept your offer on time, the Uppsala University's Housing Office will provide you with a student corridor room or studio apartment. Please note that you will be responsible for paying rent.

Find out more →

Non-fee-paying students

If you are a non-fee paying student (from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland) then you are responsible for arranging your own accommodation while studying at Uppsala University. This can be a very competitive process. The demand for housing is always greatest during August and September, so start your search for a place to live early and invest some time, effort, and careful planning into it.

Find out more →

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