Tuition Free Universities in Sweden: December 2018

Here are the best and worst schools in Sweden

A file photo of a student in a Swedish school. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT

The gap between Sweden's best and worst schools is growing, according to a new study from the National Union of Teachers in Sweden (Lärarnas Riksförbund).

The study looked at five different areas including student achievement and teacher qualifications in order to produce figures on how school performance varies between Sweden’s municipalities.
The results showed that Lomma in Sweden’s southernmost region Skåne performed best, while Finspång in southeastern county Östergötland did worst. Performance in the specific categories varied significantly.

Printable Downloads Of Study in Sweden Infomation

Study in Sweden 2009 (PDF, 4.79 MB); a brochure outlining the highlights of studying in Sweden and providing an overview of the English-language master’s degree programs offered by Swedish universities.
Contract training brochure (PDF, 344 KB); brochure with an overview of opportunities for purchasing contract training from Swedish universities.
The Changing Face of Higher Education in Sweden (PDF, 474 KB); a summary of how higher education in Sweden is organized and how it is changing.
Handbook for Postgraduate Students (external HTML link)

Where Sweden excels

Independent thinking is encouraged

Sweden has a student-centric educational system, with open, informal relations between students and teachers, where personal initiative and critical thought are prized. Teaching is often done in small groups, which encourages dialogue and collaboration, and teachers are accessible outside lecture hours. This informal atmosphere is designed to promote social as well as intellectual development.

Close cooperation between industry and academia

Many programs offer close coorperation between academia and industry, giving you a distinct advantage over your peers when entering the job market.

Standards are high...

Swedish universities are renowned for their investigative research and independent thinking, and this reputation is cemented with nationally certified degrees and rigorous quality control. Sweden has one of the most ambitious educational evaluation programs in the world, aimed at maintaining the system’s competitive edge. All education standards are assessed and maintained by the National Agency for Higher Education and by the institutions themselves.

… and they go way back

Sweden has a long and proud history of academic excellence, with outstanding universities dating back to the 15th century. Sweden is also the home of the Nobel Prize, the world’s most prestigious academic distinction.

Nimble and flexible

Swedish universities are independent authorities. This makes them nimble and flexible, able to quickly offer new courses that answer to the changing needs of students and labor markets. The result is an internationally relevant array of courses to choose from.

Strong links to research

Sweden is one of the world's most committed investors in basic research; spending in the field of research amounts to 3.83% of GDP (2006), which is the highest number of all OECD countries. What further distinguishes Sweden is the high proportion of university-based research, which makes possible a strong connection between research and education. Lecturers are encouraged to pursue research and to continuously develop their skills, while professors regularly teach - even at introductory levels.

Democratic

Student input is unusually strong in Sweden. Universities are obliged to conduct student evaluations after every course. This tends to produce results. Often, a lecturer will begin a course by saying, “The following changes have been implemented this year: ...” Students, by law, are represented on all university decision-making bodies.

High proportion of adult-students — life-long learning

The large proportion of adult students makes university environments refreshingly ageless. Everyone, regardless of age, can feel at home at a Swedish university. Many students are professionals or have left behind one career and are preparing for the next one.

High proportion of women

Sixty percent of university students are women. Egalitarian aims are rewarded: the National Agency of Higher Education annually awards a prize to the university that best promotes equality. Among teachers, men still dominate, but the proportion of female instructors and professors is growing.

Many students from abroad

Many students studying in Sweden come from abroad – approximately 20% of new students – making Sweden one of the world’s most inclusive countries for education. There are now PhD candidates from some 80 countries working towards their degrees in Sweden. Sweden’s educational policy is based on the recognition that a multicultural student body is a resource. There are services designed to make guest students feel at home.

English is spoken by all

Almost all Swedes speak fluent English. Many Swedish companies use English as their official working language. International students find that this prevalence of English makes adapting to their new surroundings all the easier.

best and worst schools in Sweden