This article is written to bring to you, as well as shed more light, on the tuition free universities in Sweden, especially for international students.
Sweden is a country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in northern Europe.
However, the name Sweden was derived from the Svear, or Suiones, while, Stockholm has been its permanent capital since 1523.
Sweden inhabits the bigger part of the Scandinavian Peninsula, which it shares with Norway. Just like all of north-western Europe, Sweden generally has a favourable climate relative to its northerly latitude owing to moderate south-westerly gusts and the warm North Atlantic Current.
This country has a thousand year continual record, as a sovereign state, although its territorial expanse changed often, until the year1809.
However, currently it is a constitutional monarchy with a well-established parliamentary democracy that dates from 1917.
Moreover, Swedish society is ethnically and religiously very homogeneous, although recent immigration has created some social diversity.
Historically, Sweden has risen from backwardness and deprivation into a post-industrial society and has an advanced welfare state with a suitable standard of living and life expectancy that ranks among the highest in the world.
Moreover, education in Sweden is pretty affordable, from its low tuition universities down to its tuition free universities we will shortly list out for you.
Table of Contents
Four Reasons Why You Should Study in Sweden
Below are four distinct reasons why studying in Sweden is a good idea. These are merely few reasons compared to the enormous opportunities one can get or be exposed to when studying in Sweden.
Reasons to study in Sweden are:
- Internationally Renowned and Well Known Educational System.
- Prospering Student Life.
- Multilingual Environment.
- Beautiful Natural Habitat.
List of the Tuition Free Universities in Sweden
Sweden is a member of the European Union and there are national tuition rules pertaining to citizens of other EU or EEA countries, not excluding Switzerland. Except exchange students.
Nevertheless, most institute in Sweden are public institutes and tuition fees apply only to students outside the EU/EEA.
Although, this tuition fee is required from masters and PhD students, an average of 80-140 SEK per academic year.
Furthermore, it is known that the three private universities in Sweden charge an average of 12,000 to 15,000 euros per year, but for certain courses, it can be more.
The following universities mostly fall into public or state universities, making them cheap, affordable and even free for both national and international students.
Below is a list of the tuition free universities in Sweden for international students:
- Linköping University
- Linnaeus University
- Malmö University
- Jönköping University
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Mälardalen University
- Örebro University
- Luleå University of Technology
- Karlstad University
- Mid Sweden University
- Stockholm School of Economics
- Södertörn University
- University of Borås
- Halmstad University
- University of Skövde.
However, there are several other countries which offer free education to students, especially International students.
Although, there are also online colleges, medical schools and even German universities that are free of tuition or may have the lowest tuition possible.
These leaves students with a wide variety of options to choose from.
15 Tuition Free Universities in Sweden
1. Linköping University
This university popularly known as the LiU is a public university in Linköping, Sweden. However, this Linköping University was granted full university status in 1975 and is currently one of Sweden’s large academic institutions.
The University is known for Education, research and PhD training which is the mission of its four faculties namely: Arts and Sciences, Educational Sciences, Medicine and Health Sciences, and the Institute of Technology.
Nevertheless, In order to promote this work, it has 12 large departments which combines knowledge from several disciplines that often belongs to more than one faculty.
Linköping University emphasises on gaining inert knowledge and research. It has several rankings varying from national to global.
However, Linköping University has an estimate of 32,000 students and 4,000 staffs.
2. Linnaeus University
The LNU is a state, public university in Sweden. It is located in Småland, with its two campuses in Växjö and Kalmar respectively.
Linnaeus University was established in 2010 by merging with former Växjö University and Kalmar University, therefore named in honour of the Swedish botanist .
It has over 15,000 students and 2,000 staffs. It has 6 faculties and several departments, ranging from science to business.
Nevertheless, this university has notable alumni’s and its known for excellence.
3. Malmö University
Malmo University is a Swedish university located in Malmö, Sweden. It has more than 24,000 students and an estimate of 1,600 staff. Both academic and administrative.
This University is the ninth largest institute in Sweden. However, It has exchange agreements with more than 240 partner universities worldwide.
Moreover, a third of its students have an international background.
Nevertheless, education at Malmö University focuses on, mostly; migration, international relations, political science, sustainability, urban studies, and new media and technology.
It often includes elements of internship and project work in close cooperation with external partners and was established in 1998.
This Institute has 5 faculties and several departments.
4. Jönköping University
The Jönköping University (JU), formerly known as the Högskolan i Jönköping, is a non-governmental Swedish university/college which is located in the city of Jönköping in Småland,, Sweden.
It was established in 1977 and is a member of the European University Association (EUA) and The Association of Swedish Higher Education, SUHF.
However, JU is one of three Swedish private institutions of higher education with the right to award doctoral degrees in specific areas such as social sciences.
Moreover, JU conducts research and offers preparatory programmes such as; undergraduate studies, graduate studies, doctoral studies and contract education.
This university has 5 faculties and several departments. It has a good number of 12,000 students and numerous staffs, including academic and administrative staffs.
5. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, also known as Swedish Agricultural University, is a university in Sweden.
With its head office located in Ultuna, however, the university has several campuses in different parts of Sweden, the other main facilities being Alnarp in Lomma Municipality, Skara, and Umeå.
Unlike other state-owned universities in Sweden, it is funded through the budget of the Ministry for Rural Affairs.
Nevertheless, the University was co-founder of the Euroleague for Life Sciences (ELLS) which was established in 2001. However, this university was established in 1977.
This Institute has a good number of 4,435 students, 1,602 academic staff and 1,459 administrative staff. It has 4 faculties, several notable alumni’s and rankings, ranging from national to global.
6. Mälardalen University
Mälardalen University, abbreviated as MDU, is a Swedish university located in Västerås and Eskilstuna, Sweden.
It has an estimate of 16,000 students and 1000 staffs, of which 91vof them are professors, 504 teachers, and 215 doctoral students.
However, Mälardalen University is the nation’s first environmentally certified college according to the international standard.
Therefore, in December 2020, the Löfven government proposed that the university should receive university status from 1 January 2022. Nevertheless, it was established in 1977.
Although, this University has six different research specialisation varying from; education, science and management. Etc.
This University has 4 faculties, divided into several departments.
7. Örebro University
The Örebro University/College is a state university located in Orebro, Sweden. It was granted the privileges of a university by the Government of Sweden in 1999 and became the 12th university in Sweden.
However, on the 30th March 2010 the university was granted the right to award medical degrees in alliance with the Örebro University Hospital, making it the 7th medical school in Sweden.
Nevertheless, the Örebro University co-hosts the Centre of Gender Excellence established by the Swedish Research Council.
Örebro University is ranked in the 401-500 band in the Times Higher Education world ranking. The university’s place is 403.
Örebro University is ranked 75th on the Times Higher Education’s list of the best young universities in the world.
This university has 3 faculties, distributed into 7 departments. It has 17,000 students and 1,100 administrative staff. However, it was established in 1977 and became a full university in 1999.
Nevertheless, it has notable alumni’s and several rankings.
8. Luleå University of Technology
The Luleå University of Technology is a public research university in Norrbotten, Sweden.
However, the university has four campuses found in the Arctic region in the cities of Luleå, Kiruna, Skellefteå, and Piteå.
Nevertheless, this institute has more than 17,000 students and about 1,500 employees both academic and administrative.
Luleå University of Technology is consistently ranked among the world’s top universities, most especially in Mining Science, Materials Science, Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, and Space Science.
The university was originally established in 1971 under the name Luleå University College and In 1997, the institution was granted full university status by the Swedish government and became renamed as Luleå University of Technology.
9. Karlstad University
This University is a state university in Karlstad, Sweden. However, it was originally established as the Karlstad campus of the University of Gothenburg in 1967.
Nevertheless, this campus became an independent university college in 1977 which was granted full university status in 1999 by the Government of Sweden.
This university has about 40 educational programmes, 30 programme extensions and 900 courses within humanities, social studies, science, technology, teaching, health care and arts.
Furthermore, it has approximately 16,000 students and 1,200 employees. It has a university press named Karlstad University Press.
Nevertheless, it has 3 faculties and several departments. It also has several notable alumni’s and numerous rankings.
10. Mid Sweden University
The Mid Sweden University is a Swedish state university found in the region around the geographical centre of Sweden.
It has two campuses in the cities of Östersund and . However, the university closed a third campus in Härnösand in the summer of 2016.
This University was established in 1993, it has 3 faculties with 8 departments. Nevertheless, it has an estimate of 12,500 students 1000 staffs.
However, the university has honorary doctorates, notable alumni’s and several rankings.
Finally, this institution is well known for a wide range of web-based distance education.
It is a good pick among the list of tuition free universities in Sweden for international students.
11. Stockholm School of Economics
The Stockholm School of Economics is a private business school located in district city of Vasastaden in the central part of Stockholm, Sweden.
This University also known as SSE, offers BSc, MSc and MBA programs alongside PhD- and Executive education programs.
However, this institute offers 9 distinct programmes, varying from Arts, Science, Business and more.
Nevertheless, this university has notable alumni’s and several rankings. It also has numerous partner universities.
This institute admits a good number of foreign students and it’s one on our list of the free tuition universities for international students.
Although it’s a young university, it has a good number of 1,800 students and 300 administrative staff. It was established in 1909.
12. Södertörn University
Södertörn University is a public university/college located in Flemingsberg in Huddinge Municipality, and its larger area, called Södertörn, in Stockholm County, Sweden.
However, in 2013, it had about 13,000 students. Its campus area in Flemingsberg hosts the main campus of SH.
This campus has several departments of the Karolinska Institute, the School of Technology and health of the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH).
This university is unique, it is the only higher educational institution in Sweden that teaches and researches philosophical schools such as German idealism, existentialism, deconstruction as well as . Etc.
Moreover, this institute has 12,600 students and numerous staffs. This school was established in 1996.
It has 4 departments, notable alumni’s and several rankings.
13. University of Borås
The University of Borås (UB), previously known as Högskolan i Borås, is a Swedish university in the city of Borås.
It was founded in 1977 and has an estimate of 17,000 students and 760 staff.
However, the Swedish School of Library and Information Science, notwithstanding the Swedish School of Textiles which is also part of the university.
Furthermore, it has 4 faculties and several departments. This Institute offers the following courses; Library and Information Science, Business and Informatics, Fashion and Textile Studies, Behavioural and Education Sciences, Engineering and Health Sciences, Police Work. Etc.
The University of Borås is also a member of the European University Association, EUA, which represents and supports higher education institutions in 46 countries.
Nevertheless, it has notable alumni’s and numerous rankings.
14. Halmstad University
The Halmstad University is a public university in Halmstad, Sweden. It was established in 1983.
Halmstad University is a higher education institution offering bachelor’s and master’s programmes in various fields of studies.
However, in addition, it conducts Ph.D. programmes in three fields of research, namely; Information Technology, Innovation Science & Health and Lifestyle.
Nevertheless, it has an estimate of 11,500 students, 211 administrative staff and 365 academic staff. It has 4 faculties and several departments.
15. University of Skövde
This University of Skövde is a state university in Skövde, Sweden.
It was granted university status in 1983 and is currently an academic institution with general and specialised educational programmes. These programmes include; Business, Health, Biomedicine and Computer game design.
Nevertheless, research, education, and PhD training at this university is divided into four schools, namely; Bioscience, Business, Health and Education, Engineering Science, and Informatics.
However, the university has approximately 9,000 students, 524 administrative staff and 310 academic staff.
This Institute has 5 faculties, 8 departments, several research centres, notable alumni’s and several rankings.
However, it is an awesome university and a good choice for international students.
Tuition Free Universities in Sweden Conclusion
Lastly, you can apply for any of the above universities by clicking on the link attached to the university name, this will take you directly to the school site for more information about the school and how to apply.
However, you can also apply for the university of your choice through University Admissions, this will guide you on how to go about any application to any Swedish university for both graduate and undergraduate study.
Nevertheless, you can see also; 22 Full Ride Scholarships for Adults, and even, the updated list of the best countries to study abroad.
Nonetheless, if you’re still curious and have questions, do well to engage us in the comment section. Remember, your satisfaction is our priority.