Undergraduate and graduate studies at a university or university college are considered higher education. Higher education also includes higher professional education or higher secondary public secondary education. At studyinsweden.se there is a list of which educational institutions are considered universities and university colleges. The Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education has information on higher vocational education programs.

You can check if your set of courses meets the criteria of higher education by following the link.

All students have the right to apply for a scholarship, regardless of their parents' income. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis and money is issued for up to 240 weeks of academic study.

If you want to study in Sweden, then there are general requirements for applicants. To get to the bachelor's level you usually need to compile the following list of documents:

• Fill in the application form;
• Provide scanned copies of recent years of study;
• Resume;
• Cover letter;
• Two letters of recommendation;
• Certificate of English language proficiency. You can read more about the requirements at the link.
• Copy of passport.

Documents from your country of origin must be translated into English. Required documents in the original language. You can choose a university on a specialized site. Remember that applicants who are not EU / EEC citizens have to pay for filling in the application form. It is currently 900 Swedish kronor.

Sweden's student visa is called a residence permit for study. This is exactly what you need to get when you plan to study in Sweden for more than three months. For its registration it is necessary:

• Passport;
• The fact of admission to full-time study in the program or courses that require your participation in higher education;
• be able to support yourself during the time for which you apply for a residence permit;
• paid a possible tuition fee before submitting the application.

It is also allowed to issue a residence permit for study online. To do this, you need to go to the site. There you will find more detailed information on tuition fees and more.

What are the criteria for entering higher education institutions?

You must be accepted for full-time study in a program or course that requires your participation in a Swedish higher education institution. You cannot obtain a residence permit for distance learning.

You must be finally enrolled in training. If you are required to pay a tuition fee, you are not considered a final enrollment until you have paid the portion of the tuition fee that you must pay in advance. If you are going to study at a university or university college, they will notify the Swedish Migration Agency when the payment is made.

If you are going to study in Sweden as part of a study in another country, you cannot obtain a residence permit to study unless you are enrolled in a program in Sweden. Instead, you can apply for a residence permit for visitors.    

How much money do you need?

The cost of living for you as an applicant in 2021 was at least 8,568 Swedish kroner per month. For applications received by the Swedish Migration Agency on or after 1 January 2022, the living expenses requirement is at least 8,694 Swedish kroner per month.

You must prove that you have provided your financial support for the time you apply for a residence permit. This means that you have to show that you have money through bank assets, scholarships, etc., such as student finances from your country.

If you receive a scholarship or similar, you must send a recently issued document to your name with information about the monthly amount or the total amount. It should also be clear from the document at what time you will receive the money paid and how much money will be available for your living expenses.

If you can confirm that you are receiving free housing and / or meals through a higher education organizer or an international exchange organization, the monthly amount may be reduced. For applications received by the Swedish Migration Agency in 2021, the monthly amount is reduced by 1,666 Swedish kroner per month for free meals and 1,666 Swedish kroner per month for free housing. For applications received on or after 1 January 2022, the monthly amount is reduced by 1690.50 Swedish kroner per month for free meals and 1690.50 Swedish kroner per month for free housing.

 Is it possible to apply for a student visa while already in Sweden?

The first application must be submitted to the Swedish Embassy in your country. However, in some cases you may be allowed to apply in Sweden.

When you do not apply online, you need to bring a completed form to the embassy.