Finances - Sweden

Studies in Sweden: Free Education and State Support for Students

For European Union citizens, studying at Swedish higher education institutions is completely free of charge.

Sweden is famous not only for its innovative education system but also for its extremely favorable conditions for students. EU citizens do not have to pay tuition fees, and if you decide to work during your studies, you open the door to generous Swedish state support (CSN), which helps cover your living expenses.

State Financial Support for Working Students (CSN)

The Swedish Board of Student Finance CSN offers one of the best financial support systems in Europe. EU students can receive this support if they meet the employment requirements (become workers under EU law):

• You must work at least 10 hours per week;
• The employment must last continuously for at least 10 weeks;
• The employer must be registered in Sweden and pay an official salary;
• You must study at least at a 50% pace (full-time studies equal 100%).

CSN financial support consists of two main parts:

• Study Grant (Bidrag): Full-time students are granted 4,120 SEK (~381 EUR) per month. This amount does not need to be repaid.
• Student Loan (Lån): You can borrow up to 9,472 SEK (~877 EUR) per month. The total maximum support (grant + loan) reaches an impressive 13,592 SEK (~1,258 EUR) per month.

Loan repayment: The conditions for the Swedish student loan are extremely favorable. The interest rate is very low (in 2024, it was only 1.23%), and you will only need to start repaying the loan six months after graduating or when your support period ends.

Tip: There is no official minimum wage in Sweden, but students usually earn 120–150 SEK (~11–14 EUR) per hour. By working 10–15 hours a week and receiving CSN support, you can live very comfortably and even save money. However, pay attention to the "Fribelopp" – the income limit. If you earn too much in half a year, your CSN support may be reduced.

Housing Allowance (Bostadsbidrag)

Students up to and including 29 years of age have the opportunity to receive a housing allowance through Försäkringskassan. This allowance is designed to help cover rent costs:

• The maximum amount for young people without children is up to 1,300 SEK (~120 EUR) per month;
• The rent must be higher than 1,800 SEK/month;
• An annual income limit applies (for single individuals – up to 86,720 SEK per year).

First Steps After Arrival: How to Get Everything Sorted?

Upon arriving in Sweden, there are several important bureaucratic steps you need to complete as soon as possible:

1. Get a Personal Identity Number (Personnummer): This is the most important step! Register at the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket). For EU citizens, this process can take several weeks or even months, and you must prove that you will study for more than a year. Without a Personnummer, it will be very difficult to open a bank account or receive CSN support.
2. Open a Bank Account: Sweden is an almost cashless society. A bank account is essential for receiving your salary and CSN payments.
3. Get a "Mecenat" Student Card: This is the main student discount card in Sweden, necessary for getting cheaper transport tickets and other discounts.
4. Health Insurance: Be sure to bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from your home country. Once you get a Personnummer, you will be included in the Swedish healthcare system.

Student Life and Discounts

Although Sweden is considered an expensive country, students enjoy many discounts:

• Transport Discounts: With a "Mecenat" card, you will get significant discounts. For example, in Stockholm (SL), a monthly student ticket costs about 650 SEK (planned to be reduced to 400 SEK), which is about 39% cheaper than for adults. National trains (SJ) offer a 15% discount.
• Student "Nations" (in Lund and Uppsala): In these university cities, student life revolves around organizations called Nations. By joining them, you get access to extremely cheap food, bars, clubs, and social activities. It's the best way to save money!
• Eating at the University: Unlike in some other countries, there are no state-subsidized cafeterias in Sweden. Therefore, many students save money by cooking at home and bringing their food to the university in lunchboxes (campuses have plenty of microwaves).
• Academic Literature: You should budget about 750 SEK (~70 EUR) per month for books and materials, but many can be found in libraries or bought from older students.

Estimated Living Costs in Sweden

According to the official recommendations of "Study in Sweden", the average student budget is about 10,656 SEK (~986 EUR) per month. Of course, expenses in Stockholm or Gothenburg may be higher than in smaller cities.

How much does food cost in Swedish grocery stores?
Prices in supermarkets (e.g., ICA, Coop, Willys, Lidl) may vary. Here are some estimated prices:

• Milk (1 l) – ~16 SEK (~1.50 €)
• Bread (500 g) – ~29 SEK (~2.67 €)
• Eggs (12 pcs) – ~42 SEK (~3.87 €)
• Rice (1 kg) – ~35 SEK (~3.28 €)
• Chicken breast (1 kg) – ~119 SEK (~10.97 €)
• Cheese (1 kg) – ~117 SEK (~10.87 €)