Explore the study and career landscape of Sweden

The number of students opting to study overseas is increasing by the year. These students prefer to advance their studies in a non-traditional manner at destinations abroad. In 2017, close to 3215 Indian students applied for a study permit to join courses in Sweden. In 2018, the number reached 3642. Gautam Bhattacharyya, the minister counselor and deputy head of mission, Embassy of Sweden gave his opinion on this phenomenon.

He credited Sweden’s innovation-friendly environment that drew international students to the country. Sweden's universities and companies have given many revolutionary inventions. These include:

• Computer mouse
• Bluetooth
• Pacemaker
• Ball-bearing
• Dialysis machine
• Internet applications like Spotify and Skype

The innate creativity is spiritedly exhibited by academicians and innovators of Sweden. This makes Sweden a strong nation in the fields of design, music, and fashion. No wonder students want to study abroad in Sweden, enrolling in Sweden’s universities.

The number of global companies per capita is highest in Sweden. The country stands second after Switzerland in the Global Innovation Index 2019. There's synergy in the functioning of Swedish companies, research institutes, and universities. This quality of the Swedish varsity environment prepares students to advance in technology like nowhere else.

How higher education goes in Sweden

If you are aspiring to Study in Sweden, the central application process can help you with it. It allows you to apply to up to 3 Swedish universities/courses. This can be done through a single application. It saves your time as you won’t need to prepare many applications for separate courses.

In Sweden, most of the bachelor's programs have instructions in the Swedish language. But a wide range of master's degree programs are offered in English. Because of this, Indian students seek to join courses in

• Science
• Engineering
• Life sciences
• Energy
• Computer sciences
• Aeronautics
• Automotive engineering
• Robotics
• Environmental sciences.

The applications for these courses open in mid-October every year. They stay so till the end of January of the following year. The applications can be submitted online via the university admissions website. The average fee at a Swedish University is annually SEK 50,000 to SEK 1,20,000. This, however, depends on the university and the course.

An important aspect to keep in mind is the language skill requirements for Sweden. Most of the universities don't require TOEFL/GRE. This is because the undergraduate degree is delivered in English.

How you integrate work and study

When it comes to combining work with study, a good way to do it is through an internship. Having an internship integrated to your course curriculum depends a lot on the nature of the course. The best part is that every university in Sweden has a career services office. They also have a program coordinator. The program coordinator helps you to get relevant work experience during and after completing your course.

Another wonderful aspect is about the hours of work. You can work for any number of hours parallel to the studies. This empowers students with the chance to financially support themselves as they need.  They can work as much as they want and as long as they can. They can do so till they complete their program and credits in time.

Compared to many developed nations, the cost of living in Sweden is lesser. Your personal lifestyle is the only factor that decides where you live and how your monthly budget goes. Your expenses on things like accommodation, food, phone, and local travel would generally come to around SEK 8,370.

The rewarding Swedish experience

Sweden has a strong focus on reason, rationality, and knowledge application. This is a major aspect of difference that you will most probably notice while studying in Norway. Education in Sweden is not just about crunching on the information. Your cognitive and reasoning abilities will be put into full use. You will be required to create and communicate your own perceptions on any topic at hand.

Another quality you will get to see in Sweden is its focus on sustainability. It has been named the most sustainable nation in the world. It is also keen on the preservation of the environment. This is evident from its plan to realize total renewable energy production by 2040.

Careers in Sweden

An innovative ecosystem that you get in Sweden helps you find rewarding careers. With the system of Education in Sweden, you will, in many ways, nurture the salient feature of a great career: Creativity.

In the learning system of Sweden, you also learn to combine theory and practice. You master the method of dealing with complex situations in an easy manner using logic. With internships attached to degree programs, you get the much-needed real-world experience. If you are interested in research, opt for a master’s degree.

Sweden is a country that is home to many international companies viz. Ericsson, H&M, Ikea, and Volvo. After finishing your course, you have plenty of places to get job offers from. You may even get a job offer while you are studying. You can apply for a work permit and relish the amazing work-life balance offered by the country.

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