How Much Does It Cost to Study in Sweden? Tuition Fees and Housing

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

In Sweden the price of a degree depends almost entirely on your citizenship. For citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, bachelor's programmes are free. Everyone else pays a fee that each university sets for each programme, and the differences between programmes are large.

Who studies for free

By law, tuition fees are charged only to citizens of countries outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland. You also pay nothing if you are not a citizen of those countries but hold:

a permanent Swedish residence permit;
a temporary Swedish residence permit granted for a reason other than studies, for example work or family;
a right of residence in Sweden as a family member of an EU or EEA citizen;
long-term resident status.

Being married to a Swede is not enough on its own: what counts is the residence permit you hold. The rules have more cases than this list, so check the official page below if you live in Sweden already.

What non-EU students pay

Every public university sets a fee for each programme, and it is published with the programme on universityadmissions.se. In our catalogue a typical fee at a public university is €12,608 a year. The cheapest programmes, mostly in social sciences and business, cost about €5,728 a year. Arts programmes such as film, theatre and fine art are far more expensive and can reach €56,286.

Fees are paid in instalments, usually one per semester, and the first must be paid before you can get a residence permit. Some universities charge slightly more for later years than for the first.

Universities set the amounts in Swedish kronor (SEK). We convert them into euros, so the euro figure moves with the exchange rate.

Private universities

Sweden has a few private institutions with state funding, such as Chalmers University of Technology, Jönköping University and the Stockholm School of Economics. They work like public ones on fees: free for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, and paid for everyone else. In our catalogue their fee for non-EU students is typically €14,409 a year.

Other costs

Application fee. Applicants from outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland pay SEK 900 (about €80) for each semester they apply for. Without it the application is not processed.
Residence permit. The Swedish Migration Agency charges SEK 1,500 (about €135) for an adult's application, and does not refund it if the permit is refused.
Student union. Membership at public universities has been voluntary since 2010. Jönköping University is an exception: there, membership of the student union is compulsory.

Money for the residence permit

Non-EU students must show that they can support themselves for the whole period of the permit. For applications made in 2026, the Swedish Migration Agency requires at least SEK 10,656 a month (about €960). The amount is reviewed every year, so check it again in the year you apply. It is lower if the university gives you free housing or food.

If your studies last a year or more, you are registered in Sweden and get access to public health care. For shorter stays you need comprehensive health insurance; see our guide to health insurance for students in Europe.

Housing

Housing is the largest monthly cost, and in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Lund and Uppsala it is also hard to find. Student housing is let by student housing companies and foundations, often through a queue, so join early. Some universities help fee-paying students: Lund University, for example, guarantees one housing offer to students who pay their tuition and apply for housing on time. Ask your university what it offers.

As a guide to prices, the University of Gothenburg estimates SEK 4,000 to 7,500 a month (about €360 to €675) for a room in student housing, and SEK 6,000 to 10,000 for a small flat. Its full monthly budget for a student is about SEK 10,500 to 17,500. Smaller university towns are usually cheaper than the big cities. See also how to find student housing in Europe.

How to keep costs down

Check whether you are exempt from fees before anything else. A residence permit for work or family can change the price of your degree to zero.
Compare fees between universities. The same subject can cost very different amounts in different places.
Apply for scholarships early. The Swedish Institute's scholarships are for master's students only, but most universities have scholarships of their own. Ask each university about them, and about their deadlines.
Join the housing queues as soon as you can, and consider a smaller city.

Where to look next

Official sources

Who is required to pay fees?: University Admissions in Sweden
Maintenance requirement for students: Swedish Migration Agency
Living costs: University of Gothenburg

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.