About Sweden
Sweden is an innovative Nordic country, home to global brands like Spotify, IKEA, Volvo, Ericsson and H&M. Teaching is student-centred, with group projects and close contact with teachers. The main intake is autumn (August–September), with a smaller January intake. The currency is the Swedish krona (SEK).
Why study in Sweden
- 1,200+ English-taught programs, mostly at Master's level
- No fixed limit on student work hours
- 12 months after graduation to find work
- Strong innovation, sustainability and startup culture
- Swedish Institute scholarships cover tuition and living costs for top candidates
Popular fields of study
Engineering (KTH, Chalmers), computer science and AI, sustainable energy and environmental studies, medicine and life sciences (Karolinska Institute), industrial design, and business. Other top universities include Lund and Uppsala.
Student visa, step by step
Student visa: residence permit for studies.
- Apply through universityadmissions.se (SEK 900 application fee) and get admission.
- Pay your first tuition instalment.
- Show at least SEK 10,656 a month (2026) in your own bank account. Sponsor funds are not accepted.
- Arrange comprehensive health insurance if your course is shorter than 1 year.
- Apply online to the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) and pay SEK 1,500.
- Give biometrics at VFS in India. Decisions usually take 1–3 months.
After you get your visa
- If you stay 12 months or more, register for a personal identity number (personnummer) with the Tax Agency.
- There is no fixed limit on work hours, but your studies must progress to renew your permit.
- Collect your residence permit card from the Migration Agency.
Work and staying on
- Working while you study
- There is no fixed limit on work hours, but your studies must progress to renew your permit.
- After you graduate
- 12 months to look for work The residence permit to look for work or start a business lasts 12 months, with full work rights. Apply before your student permit expires. It can't be extended.
- Settling long term
- Work permit: a job offer that meets the minimum salary threshold and Swedish employment conditions. EU Blue Card: for highly qualified, higher-paid roles. Permanent residence: generally after 4 years on a work permit, with self-support requirements.
Rules change. Please confirm the latest position with your guide.
Visa expenses
| Residence permit for studies | SEK 1,500 |
| University application fee | SEK 900 |
| Living-cost funds to show | SEK 10,656 a month |
| Job-seeking permit | about SEK 1,500 (approximate) |
Average salary
Graduates typically start at about SEK 35,000–SEK 40,000 a month (approximate), which is roughly SEK 420,000–SEK 480,000 a year.
Good to know
- Housing queues in Stockholm and Lund are long. Use your university's housing office.
- Learning Swedish helps a lot with jobs outside tech.
General information for Indian students, not immigration advice. Fees, funds and post-study rules change often; figures marked approximate are estimates. Check the official sources before you apply: