We can all attest to the fact that getting a university education is quite expensive and the cost of higher education continues to rise yearly. But, there is always a way for university students to earn money or get financial aid. If you are a Swedish university student in need of financial assistance and you are wondering if there is a way to get money upfront for going to school, then this is an article you should read. Also, if you are an international student bearing the same concerns, then this article would prove useful. Do University Students Get Paid In Sweden?
How University Students are paid in Sweden
First off, there is nothing like free money. You cannot receive money just because you are a university student. Think of university education as an employment contract. What is being implied is that you cannot expect to receive financial aid and decide to play hooky all semester. You must show that you are actively attending school because you are being paid to study. Now, this money can come in the form of:
- Study allowance
- Financial aids
- Grants
- Scholarships
University students in Sweden can get financial aid which comes in varied formats and depends on different factors like your age, your major, your term, whether you have a physical disability and etcetera. But one consistent fact is that you must apply for them through the Swedish Board of Student Finance (CSN).
Expenses and Allowances
Now, here is the interesting thing. In Sweden, tuition is free. Yes, it is free across all levels of education and it is funded by taxpayers’ money. On top of that, Swedish students receive a small grant or study allowance that is about 120-160 United States dollars per month. This is honestly not a lot for a university student. So, in this scenario, what a student would be worried about could be feeding, accommodation, and other living expenses, right? Well, another option could be to borrow money or take loans from the bank and pay it off later with minimum interest.
Now let us look at this grant in a deeper view. If you are a Swedish student, there is no need to apply for the study allowance. This allowance is around 125 United States dollars per month. There is also a higher grant available. This is usually open to university students that are up to 25 years and if you meet certain requirements, you can still benefit from this even though you are under 25 years. This higher grant is about 1,832 SEK which is around 182 United States dollars. You could also take out a loan of 900 SEK which is around 90 dollars if you are a full-time student.
Remember, there are a couple of factors that could make one student’s financial aid different from another. Full-time students receive an education entry grant of 2,261 SEK (225 United States dollars) per week for 50 weeks. If you are studying 75 percent of what makes up full-time, then you are entitled to 1,690 SEK (168 United States dollars) for 50 weeks. Studying at 50 percent full-time would give you 1320 SEK (132 United States dollars) for 100 weeks. It does not end there. University students in Sweden are also entitled to student discounts, the most important being medical discounts.
If you are a student in say, the U.S or Germany and you want to pursue a university education in Sweden, you are probably wondering if any of these wonderful grants and discounts also apply to you as an international student. Now, let us see if international students also get a piece of the pie or not.
Can International Students in Sweden Also Get Financial Aid?
Do not worry, you are also certain to get some pie too. You too will be receiving some financial aid to make life more comfortable during your stay in Sweden. But first, to be entitled to this as a foreign student, you must meet the requirements to be eligible for Swedish financial aid. These requirements also depend on your citizenship. This aspect is divided into 2 categories which are:
- EU/EEA or Swiss citizens
- Citizens of countries outside EU/EEA or Switzerland.
For EU/EEA or Swiss citizens you can be considered a qualified candidate by:
- By living or working in Sweden or,
- By having a permanently living in Sweden or,
- If you have family members that permanently reside in Sweden.
If you are British, you no longer fall under this umbrella due to the Brexit situation.
For citizens of countries outside EU/EEA or Switzerland, you can be entitled to the right to Swedish student finance from CSN in numerous ways like:
- One route is if you permanently reside in Sweden.
- If you have familial relations that work in Sweden.
Also, special cases like:
· If you are a refugee or have a refugee family member or,
· If you have offspring with a Swedish
If you have a lasting connection with Sweden. This could mean:
- Being married or living with an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen.
- Being under the age of 20 when you came to Sweden.
Other Ways to Get Financial Aid as An International Student in Sweden.
Sounds complicated right? Another option would be to apply for scholarships. Here are some of the main mediums in which you could get your scholarship:
· The Swedish institute
· Universities in Sweden
· The Erasmus Mundus Scholarship
Another quick way to get funding as an international student would be to take on flexible student jobs. There might be some processes here like getting an identity number but if asked, universities can also aid students in getting jobs.
Conclusion
And there you have it. University students do get paid. One piece of advice is to do your personalized research and see what works best for you, especially as an international student. Log onto the CSN website and make inquiries. One thing for sure is that Sweden is a very generous nation that prioritizes education.
