What’s not to love about Sweden? It’s free, green and a haven for creative people
1. It is academically excellent
Sweden has a reputation for academic excellence and is home to some stellar universities- the Swedish higher education system has recently been very well ranked by universitas21, Times Higher Education and the Academic Ranking of World Universities as being among the world’s best.
It’s not without risk though. As a Swedish student, you will be expected to speak up in class, contribute and be in charge of what you learn. If you’re not used to this kind of learning experience, it can be a real jump up, but you cannot argue with the results. It is one of the greatest education systems in the world for a reason after all.
There is a strong focus on reason, rationality and knowledge in Sweden, perhaps best epitomized by the Nobel Prize, which is of course, a great Swedish institution.
It’s also a great supporter of international academics and is particularly supportive of language. English is commonly spoken while German, French, Norwegian, Danish, Spanish, Arabic and several more are also very well represented. The University of Lund, for example, is located in a city with an astounding 90% fluent English population, with 100s of English courses available.
2. You’ll be prepared for a global career
Sweden takes pride in its education system which places an emphasis on creativity, one of the most necessary elements of a successful career.
Swedish society is very fair and equal, and does not consider itself to have a hierarchy. In fact, everyone is encouraged to contribute ideas and opinions. While studying, you will be encouraged to think independently, critically and creatively. Your critical assessment will be developed as you’re encouraged to seek new perspectives and form your own opinions.
Many programmes in Sweden also incorporate internships, which are great ways to both build real work experience (which employers love) and a network of contacts (who can be of great importance when you are looking for a job).
Sweden is also very supportive of Masters and PhD students, in fact, there are multiple universities that will exclusively offer masters courses, such as the Chalmers University of Technology.
Sweden is also home to an incredible amount of multinational companies, including IKEA, Volvo, Ericsson, H&M and TetraPak, making Sweden an excellent place to begin a career, especially a global one, which as an international student will be of enormous value.
3. It is an equal, fair and diverse society
You may have heard Sweden being described as the most equal country in the world- it is typically among the highest ranked for gender equality, LGBTQ rights and civil rights. Sweden without doubt is among the most progressive countries in the world.
This view of society ties in quite closely with the general approach to equality in Sweden, in which everyone must play their part and agree to getting things done. During your studies, balancing ideas, needs, skills and interests is something you will get quite good at. This type of teamwork is very much appreciated in the workplace and is valuable at a variety of points in life.
4. The environment is of upmost importance
One of the greatest prides of the Swedish populace is the country’s forward-thinking relationship with the environment. Sustainability issues are of incredible value and Sweden has been named the most sustainable country in the world for its use of renewable energy- it has the highest percentage of renewable energy in the European Union.
And they have good reason to- Sweden is a phenomenally astounding country, filled with awe-inspiring forests, astounding beaches and inspirational mountainous regions. There are opportunities aplenty to ski, swim, bike and fish throughout the country’s national parks and nature reserves.
5. The list goes on
It really is impossible to list all the reasons to study in Sweden, so here are just a few to get you on your way to understanding its delights.
- The streets are clean, safe and the people are very happy
- There is an extensive public transport network
- International students can work! There is no legal limit to the number of hours you can work. After completing your studies, you extend your permit for an additional six months to look for work
- Huge investments into research
- Independence of mind
- Leaders in innovation
- Home of adopters and trendsetters
- And much more…
