Cost of Studying in Sweden
An international student’s primary worry when thinking of applying for studies at a foreign University is the tally of expenses. Therefore, a thorough planning must be done accompanied by right and updated information. In recent times, affordability of education has been becoming an alien concept to most prestigious Universities. In Sweden, as far as yearly tuition fees are concerned University charges begin at almost 6,00,000 INR and may go up to 10,00,000 INR.
The cost of living is also an important factor to consider. This may vary a lot depending on your personal preference and standard of living. The things that may be included as absolute essentials—the cannot-do-withouts—and which you must include in your calculations are food, accommodation and commute. The internet charges cannot be ignored, either. It is unimaginable for a student to go without the use of internet in the current times. You can then go ahead and sort things like shopping for the latest trends, drinking, tourism, and other luxury items under the not-necessary label. Unless you are willing to splurge, that is.
Tuition
In Sweden, as far as yearly tuition fees are concerned University charges begin at almost 6,00,000 INR and may go up to 10,00,000 INR. This burden is removed from the shoulders of students who are citizens of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or just about any Nordic country including Denmark, Finland and Iceland, etc. While the application fee typically falls around 6,550 INR the tuition fees may change according to the subject you decide to do your bachelors/masters in. A good idea would be check the current charges for the programme you desire to enrol in at the outset from a reliable website. However, on a basic level the average amount you might need to set aside for tuition could be about 12,50,000.
One of the downsides could be that you would have to purchase your own books and stationery—which does not come cheap—which is an added expense.
Accommodation
Accommodation costs will more often than not be affected by the city you choose to live in or find yourself in. Some popular cities are Gothenburg, Stockholm (two of the larger cities), Linkoping, Umea and Lund and Uppsala (the latter two considered to be traditional student cities). The monthly rent can be starting from 20,000 INR and can go as high as 1,82,000 INR depending upon the city, location and the number of rooms in your flat. You can check out an approximate breakup of rent costs and other expenses here.
However, these avenues are pretty expensive to invest in. It is always a better idea to get in touch with the University you are enrolling in. A lot of Universities have proper systems in place for granting accommodation to international students. Chances are you may find accommodation in the University campus itself. Dormitories or hostels are fun to live in. Washrooms, messes, laundry facilities are some things which would be used on a shared basis in such places. If rooms are not available, the University could still prove to be very helpful in giving you directions for the next best, viable option. There are better chances of you finding options with lesser rent after inquiring with your University. The pros and cons of student accommodation versus private accommodation must be understood before making a decision.
Social life in Sweden
The social life in Sweden is pretty amazing. It would do one good to know some generic but essential facts about the place and local population before making the move. Language will probably not be a big problem but it might not be easy to connect.
Scholarships
Getting scholarships can be a blessing for any student. With your education already being taken care of through your scholarship fund the load is considerably lightened. In Sweden, the government offers scholarships through Institute scholarships specially for the benefit of international students and research applicants. Other scholarships funded by organizations over the world are also available in Sweden beside University scholarships provided by specific universities.
Medical Insurance and Health Care
You should also be prepared for any exigencies or emergencies and therefore health care and insurance must be included in your budget planning.
Student Unions
Student Unions are a big deal in Sweden. They can be found at nearly every University in Sweden. Joining will open doors to a completely different social life with amazing night life and exciting opportunities to participate in co-curricular activities. Joining fees might vary differently with different Universities.
Looking at the right place and looking smart might prove to be very useful. After all, Sweden is counted as the second most costly country in the EU. It would be more prudent to understand your requirements and plan accordingly. Primary resources are best to understand the student life in any foreign country. Start connecting, or dig up alumni from your dream University.