Study in Scandinavia Countries ,Tuition Fee,Top Universities,Visa Process,How to Apply

Study guide in Scandinavia

With an advanced educational system, high standard of living and charming nature, proud the Scandinavian countries are of their global reputation for education, and this is confirmed by international students themselves every year, in addition to the advanced rankings of universities in the countries of this union: Denmark , Norway , Sweden , and Finland Iceland.

Why study in Scandinavia?

There are many reasons that push you, dear student, to think seriously about studying in one of the North European countries that we mentioned, below we mention some information about the study and the educational systems in some of these countries:

Finland

is Its educational system one of the most developed in the world, and Finland is distinguished by:

• A wonderful place to live : It has been ranked the best country to live in in the world and the capital, Helsinki, is still at the forefront of the cities with a high quality of life.
• Education first : The quality of university education in Finland is known, which complements school education of international quality, as Finnish educational institutions provide the most advanced educational means to help students create and innovate.
• Wonderful weather : Finland has four complementary seasons in terms of charm and magnificence of landscapes, in line with each season.
• Advanced social level : Finnish society is characterized by a low crime rate and a high level of gender equality.

Sweden

Swedish universities and the famous scholarships there are well known, in addition to:

• Sweden is one of the best countries in Europe and in the world in terms of education : Swedish universities always occupy the best European and international rankings.
• Promising job opportunities : The Swedish job market is characterized by a lot of opportunities, especially in the field of technology and information, and this is what prompts international students to stay after graduation and work there.
• Study programs in English : The Swedish language prevails over study programs at the undergraduate level, but Sweden is considered one of the leading countries when talking about master’s programs in English and surpasses most European countries.
• Excellence in informatics, mathematics and technology programs : This approach is considered one of the government’s priorities to advance in the level of engineering, technology and informatics because of the global importance of this sector. The state is also seeking to develop new facilities in this field.
• The many scholarships : In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of scholarships offered to foreign students to attract the largest possible number of international students to study in Sweden, and large advertising campaigns have begun in this regard.

Iceland

Nicknamed “The Land of Fire and Ice ” You may not have heard enough facts to make you think of studying there, so here are some facts about this wonderful country:

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• The magic of the Northern Lights : is one Iceland of the most suitable places in the north to photograph the picturesque aurora borealis, you may be lucky to see the most wonderful scenery in your life.
• Study programs in English : Many study programs are available in English at Icelandic universities. It is worth noting that the English language is widely spoken there.
• Safety : Except for the presence of 35 active volcanoes in different parts of the country, Iceland is very safe and has a very low crime rate.
• Attracting foreign students : Universities offer year after year more advantages to attract foreign students, due to the small percentage of foreign students, as their percentage is only around 5%.

Study costs in Scandinavia

Tuition costs in Scandinavia vary depending on the country, desired study program, university, and language of study. Here is a snapshot of tuition costs in some of the countries there:

Sweden

Sweden offers nearly 800 study programs in English for the bachelor’s and master’s levels. The cost of study programs in Sweden ranges between 8000 and 15000 euros per year, in addition to the fact that the international student has to pay the application fees.

Denmark

Denmark offers nearly 600 undergraduate and master’s degree programs, and the cost of study programs ranges between 6,000 and 16,000 euros per year.

Norway

You may be surprised to find out that education in Norwegian universities is free for both local and international students, but it is important to know the high cost of living there if Norway is one of the most expensive countries in the world to live in.

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Finland

Tuition costs vary between 10,000 and 15,000 euros per year.

Academic admission requirements in Scandinavia

In order to obtain a study admission from a Scandinavian university, some general requirements must be met, in addition to the requirements of the desired study program, generally the requirements are summarized as follows:

• To study the bachelor’s level, it is necessary to complete high school studies and obtain specific grades according to the university.
• Meet the English language requirement, for example TOEFL and IELTS (or proof of your country’s language proficiency if you want to study in the country’s language).
• To register for a master’s degree, one must first possess a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university, at a rate determined by the desired university.
• To register for a doctoral degree, it is necessary to possess a master’s degree (often as a condition of registration) in a specialty close to the desired major during registration, in addition to, of course, the language requirement.

Requirements for obtaining an academic visa to the Scandinavian countries

The visa requirements for these countries are similar to those in the rest of the European Union, namely:

• A valid passport.
• Proof of obtaining university admission from a university in the desired country.
• Proof of having a bank account before traveling to cover living costs (for example, 6720 euros per year in Sweden).
• There are other requirements for each country, which can be checked at the country’s embassy in your country.

Scholarships in Scandinavia

We will talk about scholarships in some Scandinavian countries, including:

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Sweden

Many educational institutions offer scholarships in many different areas in terms of covering costs. Scholarships in Sweden are divided into general grants and university grants, we start with general grants:

• The Swedish Institute Study Scholarships : The scholarship covers the costs of study and living for 120 distinguished international students and is available to both undergraduate and master’s students. More details about this scholarship can be found here .
• Guest Scholarship for Ph.D. and Postdoctoral Studies : This scholarship offers 30 places for international students of specific nationalities to study different majors. For more information about this scholarship, please visit the official website .
• Erasmus Mundus Scholarships: As is well known to everyone, the Erasmus Scholarships program is partnered with many European international universities, including Swedish, which participate with 30 scholarships. These scholarships cover tuition fees, living costs, and travel expenses for accepted students. For more, please visit the site .
• Visby Programs : Grants offered by this program are limited to the following nationalities: Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, Georgia, and Belarus. The scholarships for this program are an introduction to those wishing to apply for graduate and post-doctoral studies. Funding provided with these grants starts from $ 9,000 annually for master’s students and reaches $ 18,000 annually. For more about this program, please visit the website .

As for the scholarships for universities, they include:

• Scholarship Chalmer’s University : To enter the application process for this scholarship, it is sufficient for the student to be enrolled in one of the master’s programs at the university. Funding ranges from three quarters of the cost to full funding for your studies and living costs. For more information about this scholarship, please click here .
• Stockholm University grant Stockholm University : University offers various funding grants international students from outside European Union. For more about the scholarships offered by this university, please visit the following website .
• University of Gothenburg Scholarships: This university offers scholarships of various funding and majors. Please see here .

These were the most prominent scholarships available for international students in Sweden, it is worth noting that there are many other scholarships available in Swedish universities, but they are limited to a specific category of countries, so it is not mentioned.

Norway

Dozens of public scholarships as well as offered by Norwegian universities are also available in Norway, and to find the appropriate scholarship, please visit the official website for study in Norway, where the country can be determined and researched accordingly.

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Denmark

As in Norway, scholarships from Danish universities can be found via the official study in Denmark website .

Finland

Scholarships for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees can be found by visiting the following website .

Student housing in Scandinavia

Rental costs in Scandinavia vary greatly by country, by location, proximity to campus and city center, as well as available services. The following table summarizes the costs of renting a room in a shared apartment in some countries (in EUR per month):

It should be noted that university student housing is not available in many universities, and if availability, it is very limited. That is, you must arrange to get a room at a certain time before you travel to ensure that you get a room. Therefore, most international students resort to rent, knowing that the cost is approximately equal between the two options.

Work for international students in Scandinavia

Certainly, working in parallel with the study is considered one of the most important issues that concern many international students, so let’s address this aspect in a Scandinavian country separately:

Finland

As a student, you are entitled to work a maximum of 25 hours per week. You can distribute these hours as you wish during the days of the week. As for the holidays, you can work as you wish. It is distinguished here that you can complete your graduation project in a company and thus you can work there under the framework of completing the project as much as the hours that suit you.

Sweden

You need a work permit and this is what the employer does on your behalf. You can work as much as you want, there are no restrictions on the number of hours you can work.

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Norway

You must obtain a permit to work and for the specified number of hours of 20 hours per week as much as you like on holidays. You can also apply for a permit to work full-time if the work is related to your studies.

Denmark

You can work 20 hours a week between September and May and 37 hours a week between June and August.

Entertainment and recreational activities

If your destination leads you to a Scandinavian country, you should visit the following regions on your holidays:

• Visit the Blue Lagoon : a series of naturally heated thermal pools near Iceland’s capital “Reykjavik”. This is not only for swimming, but some say that these swimming pools cure some skin diseases. These swimming pools are open from morning until evening.
• Aurora Borealis : One of the most popular tourist attractions in Scandinavia. The Tromso region in Norway is the best region to witness this phenomenon in its best form.
• Danish Castles Denmark : has a large and beautiful collection of ancient castles, the most famous of which is Amalienborg, which you must visit if you study in Denmark.
• The Swedish capital, Stockholm : If you visit Sweden, you must visit the capital, Stockholm, and take a sightseeing boat tour through the Royal Canal, passing through the city’s attractive landmarks.
• Danish Royal Gardens : If you feel suffocated from the busy city life and its noise, you should visit these gardens in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, which provide you with all amenities and tranquility, as these gardens are characterized by a unique design and stairs spread in many places to provide you with sufficient flexibility in mobility.

Safety in Scandinavia

The latest statistics specialized in the field of security and safe countries for travel indicate that Scandinavia is one of the safest countries in the world, with the safest countries in Europe classified as follows:

1. Norway.
2. Finland.
3. Denmark.
4. Iceland.
5. Switzerland.

As these countries are far from all areas of ethnic, sectarian and political conflicts. The Scandinavian people are also friendly and welcome to all visitors.

Medical Insurance

International students can apply for medical insurance through the health insurance offices of their universities. It is necessary to take out medical insurance as soon as possible after arriving at the university.

Difficulties studying in Scandinavia

Like other study destinations, the Scandinavian countries have some difficulties that international students face during their stay there. These difficulties may affect some and may be normal for others. Let’s get to know some of these difficulties together:

• Language : Although many Scandinavian universities provide various programs in the English language, each country of these universities has its own language and students may have difficulty communicating with local residents in stores and public places. Not all residents prefer to speak English.
• High cost of living : The foreign student may be attracted to the idea of ​​free education (or its low cost) in some Scandinavian countries, but what the student does not expect is the high cost of living there. Many cities from Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland were ranked among the first in the world to be the most expensive to live.
• Weather : Scandinavia is one of the coldest regions in Europe, and temperatures drop below zero for a long time in winter, which makes it difficult for international students to adapt to the weather.

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