sweden information
TRANSCRIPT
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7/31/2019 Sweden Information
1/18
DoIn
Ifyoune
explanat
NonEU/
Ifyouar
country
require
Ifyourst
beforeaBoardha
Applicati
Pleasen
fulltime
tuitionf
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studies.Board.If
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udiesinSw
rivinginSwscollected
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denwillta
eden.Permhatyoune
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cannotap
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tapplicatio
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dsumofm
,SEK7,300bringyour
permonth
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sidence
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elongerth
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7/31/2019 Sweden Information
2/18
Ifyoucanprovetotheboardssatisfactionthatthatyouwillreceivefreelodgingduringthe
wholeorpartofyourstudyperiodthissumwillbecorrespondinglyreduced.Studentswho
havebeenawardedascholarshipthroughtheSwedishInstituteoranotherprogramshould
supplyproofofthis.Youwillalsoneedtoshowavalidpassportandaletterofadmissionfrom
theinstitutionatwhichyouwillbestudying.Tobesureofobtainingyourpermitintimeyou
shouldsubmityourapplication68weekspriortoyourdepartureforSweden.
Pleasenotethatresidencepermitsarelimitedtothedurationofthestudyperiod,ortoone
year,whicheverisshorter.Yourpermitwillberenewedannually,providedyoureceivethe
numberofcreditpointsrequiredandcanproduceevidenceofcontinuedfinancialsupport.
RenewalrequestsareprocessedbyyourlocalSwedishMigrationBoardoffice.Ifyouhaveany
questionspleasecontacttheSwedishembassyorconsulateinyourhomecountryorcountry
whereyoucurrentlylive.YoucanalsocontacttheSwedishMigrationBoard.Also,makesure
youhaveadequatemedicalinsurance.
EU/EEAcountries
IfyouareacitizenofanonNordicEU/EEAcountryyouhavetherighttoresideinSweden.The
termrighttoresidemeansthatanEU/EEAcitizenispermittedtostayinSwedenformore
thanthreemonthswithoutaresidencepermit.However,youmustregisterwiththeMigration
Boardnolaterthanthreemonthsafterenteringthecountry.
Toregister,youmustencloseproofofenrolmentforacourseorprogramwhichisathigh
schoollevelattheminimum,assurancethatyouhavesufficientfundsforyourupkeep,and
proofthatyouhavecomprehensivemedicalinsurancevalidinSweden.Youcanreadmore
abouttherequirementsforregistrationattheSwedishMigrationBoardswebsite.Theyhave
collectedwhatyouneedtoknow.
PleasenotethatifyouareacitizenofSwitzerlandyoumustapplyforaresidencepermit(see
above).
Nordiccountries
CitizensfromNordiccountriesdonotneedavisaorresidencepermittostudyinSweden.
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7/31/2019 Sweden Information
3/18
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7/31/2019 Sweden Information
4/18
NonEU/EEAcitizens:staysoflessthanoneyear
Ifyouhavearesidencepermitvalidforaperiodoflessthanayear,youwillnotbeableto
obtainapersonalidentitynumber(personnummerinSwedish),andyoudonothave
automaticaccesstohealthcare.However,theSwedishuniversityoruniversitycollegetowhich
youhavebeenacceptedmayprovideyouwithhealthinsurancecoveragethrough
KammarkollegietsFASplan.Checkwithyouruniversityiftheyofferthisplan.Toreadmore,
visitKammarkollegietsinformationpage(Swedishonly),ordownloadtheFAStermsand
conditions(PDF)inEnglish.
InadditiontogovernmentalKammarkollegietinsurance,Swedenhasreciprocalagreementsfor
medicalbenefitswithanumberofcountries.Tofindoutwhetheryourcountryhassuchan
agreement,youshouldcontactthesocialinsuranceofficeinyourhomecountry.
Studentsfromcountrieswiththistypeofagreementneedonlypresenttheirpassportanda
certificatefromtheirnationalsocialinsuranceofficewhenseekingmedicalhelp.Forthe
reciprocalagreementtoapply,theneedformedicalcaremustariseduring(notpriorto)your
stayinSweden.
Studentswhoarenotcoveredbyanyoftheseagreementsmustarrangetheirowninsurance
coverage.InSweden,medicaltreatmentisveryexpensivewithoutanyformofinsurance.Either
purchaseitinyourhomecountry,orelsecheckwithyourstudentunion.Itmayhaveaspecial
agreementwithaninsurancecompany.
MedicaltreatmentinSweden
Ifyouneedtoconsultadoctor(andyouarecoveredseeabove)youcaneithermakean
appointmentwiththedoctoratthestudentunionhealthcenteratyouruniversity,orgotothe
localhealthclinic,Vrdcentralen.Theyarelistedinthebluepagesofthetelephonedirectory.
VrdcentralenwillchargeyouaboutSEK150200foraconsultation.
ItmightbeagoodideatohaveathoroughcheckupatyourdentistbeforeleavingforSweden.
Shouldyoustillneedtoconsultadentisthere,gotoyournearestpublicdentalclinic,
Folktandvrden.Forurgentdentaltreatment,seetheemergencydentalclinic,jourhavande
tandlkare.DoctorsspeakgoodEnglish.Yourstudentunionmaybeabletoassistyouifyou
wouldliketoconsultadoctorthatspeaksanotherforeignlanguage.
Vaccinations
TherearenovaccinationrequirementsforanyinternationaltravelerenteringSweden.
However,someuniversitiesmayrequireamedicalcertificateaspartoftheapplicationtotheirprograms.
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7/31/2019 Sweden Information
5/18
Acco
Forman
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7/31/2019 Sweden Information
6/18
Inadditiontocontactingyourstudentunion,youcanalsotrycontactingstudenthousing
providersdirectly.Associationsandcompaniesthatprovidestudenthousinghavesetupa
websiteforlocatinglocalhousingproviders.
Tosignaleaseforstudentaccommodation,youmustbeabletoprovethatyouarealready
studyingorthatyouhavebeenadmittedtoanacademicinstitution.Whenyouwanttomoveoutyoumustgiveatleastonemonth'swrittennotice.Otherrulesmayalsoapply.
Youcanrentaflatintheprivatemarket.Thoughusuallymoreexpensive,itisaviableoption
forsomestudents.Itisnotuncommonforstudentstoshareabiggerflatwithseveralrooms.
Youmayalsobeabletorentasingleroomprivately.Othersourcesofinformationarelocal
newspapersandmessageboardsatyouruniversity.
Whetherprovidedbystudentunionsorbythirdparties,accommodationcateringexpressly
forstudentsisoftenthepreferredoption,however.Studentflatsorroomstendtobeless
expensivethanprivatealternatives;theygiveyouachancetomeetfellowstudentsand
participateinsocialactivities,andtheyareoftenclosetolecturehalls,librariesandotherfacilities.
Dependingonavailability,youcanchoosetolivebyyourselforinasharedstudentflatwhere
youwillhaveyourownroombutshareabathroom/toilet.Flatscanbefurnishedor
unfurnished.
Studentdormitories
Manystudentsprefertoliveinastudentdormitory.Thiscanbeanenjoyableexperienceasit
givesstudentsfromaroundtheworldanopportunitytogettoknoweachotherandmake
friends.
Butitcanalsobedemanding.Studentslivinginthesamecorridormayhaveverydifferent
culturalbackgrounds,differenthabitsandideasabouthowtodothings.Mostdormitorieshave
1015singleroomsineachcorridor.Akitchenissharedby415students.Femaleandmale
studentsliveinthesamecorridor.Oftenthereisalsoacommunaltelevisionroom.
Asingleroommustnotbeoccupiedbymorethanonepersonarulewhichisstrictlyenforced.
Studentsareresponsibleforcleaningtheirownroomsandthecommunalkitchen.Although
roomsareletwithbasicfurniture,therearenoblankets,pillows,sheets,towelsorlightbulbs.
Someutensilsmaybeavailableinthecommunalkitchenbutyouwillusuallyhavetobringyourownplates,cutlery,potsandpans,etc.Somestudentunionsrentthese.Moststudenthousing
areashavelaunderettes.Thereisabookinglistandasmallfeeispayablefortheuseofa
washingmachine.Rentforaccommodationmustbepaidinadvance.
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HowmuchdoIhavetopay?Belowaresomeexamplesoftheaveragemonthlyrateforstudentaccommodation(Pricesin
SEKat2011levels.1Euro=approx.SEK10).Pleasenote:duetotheshortageofstudent
housingintheolderuniversitytowns/cities(Uppsala,Lund,StockholmandGteborg)pricesin
theprivatemarketarelikelytobehigherthere.
Foruniversitieslocatedinsmallertowns,accommodationpricesrangefromSEK2,000toSEK
3,500foraroom.
Foruniversitieslocatedinmediumsizedtowns,accommodationpricesrangefromSEK2,300to
SEK4,300foraroom.
Foruniversitieslocatedincities,accommodationpricesrangefromSEK2,500toSEK4,500fora
room.
Tofindoutthepreciseavailabilityandpricesforstudentaccommodation,contactthestudent
unionatyouruniversity.
Afewtipsregardingaccommodation
Thesituationwithregardtoaccommodationforstudentsisproblematicinmanypartsofthe
country,sometimesverymuchso.Therearesimplynotenoughroomsandflatstogoround.
Fortunately,therearestilltownsandcitieswhereconditionsarebetterandwhereallormost
studentsdogetaccommodationintime.
Ifyouarenotguaranteedaccommodationaspartofyourexchangeprogramorthroughsome
otheragreement,itisvitalthatyouapproachyourlocalstudentunionassoonaspossible.
Rememberthatthesituationwillvaryaccordingtowhereyouchoosetostudy.Some
universitiesoruniversitycollegeshavemoreroomsthanothers.
Atsomeschools,thestudentunionwillguaranteeyouaccommodationifyouapplyintime;
othershavespecialqueuesfornewlyarrivedstudents.Agoodtipistocheckforspecialoffers
forforeignstudentswiththeinternationaldeskatyoureducationalinstitute.
Food,transportandleisure
Thoughmoststudentsliveonatightbudget,therearewaysofmakingyourmoneygofurther.
Youcanuseyourstudentcardfordiscountsandoncampusrestaurantsaregoodvalue.You
canalsocookyourownfood;moststudentaccommodationshavesomeformofkitchenfacility
opentoresidents.
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7/31/2019 Sweden Information
8/18
Inmost
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7/31/2019 Sweden Information
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7/31/2019 Sweden Information
11/18
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7/31/2019 Sweden Information
12/18
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7/31/2019 Sweden Information
13/18
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andconductmostothererrandsattheseoutlets,manyofwhichstayopenlateintheevening
andonweekends.
Therearealsotraditionalpostofficesofferingthefullrangeofservices.Theyareusuallyopen
between9.30a.m.and6.00p.m.andmayhaveextendedopeninghoursonceortwiceaweek.
Yellowpostboxesarefornationalandinternationallettersandblueforregionalletters.
Civilregistration
Ifyourstudyprogramislongerthanayear,youcanregisterwiththecivilregistration
authoritiesatyourlocaltaxoffice,Skatteverket.Youwillthenbegivenatendigitnational
registrationnumber,orpersonalidentitynumber(personnummer),basedonyourdateofbirth
plusfourextradigits.Forexample,ifyouwerebornonMay25,1986,itmightlooklikethis:
8605251045.
Toapply,bringyourpassport,aletterofacceptancefromyoureducationalinstitution,
documentsfromtheSwedishimmigrationauthoritiesand,ifyouaremarried,yourmarriage
certificate.Onregistration,youwillbeentitledtomedicalbenefitsthroughtheSwedishNationalHealthInsuranceSystem.Whenseeingadoctor,forinstance,youwillbeaskedfor
yourpersonalidentitynumber(seeMedicalinsuranceandmedicaltreatmentbelow).
Ifyourresidencepermitisvalidforlessthan12months,Skatteverketmayissueacoordination
number,whichhoweverdoesnotentitleyoutotheabovemedicalcoverage.
WhenyourstayinSwedencomestoanend,youshouldnotifySkatteverketwiththehelpof
thisform.Onereasonfordoingthismightbetoreclaimanyincometaxyou'vepaidwhile
workinginSweden.
Currency
TheSwedishkrona(pluralkronor),isdenotedbytheinternationalcurrencysymbolSEK.One
kronacontains100re.Banknotesareavailableindenominationsof20,50,100,500and
1,000kronor,coinsin1,5and10kronor.Allmajorbankandcreditcardsarewidelyaccepted
throughoutSweden.(1Euro=approx.SEK10).
Drugsandmedications
Prescriptionscanbefilledatlocalpharmaciescalled"apotek".Theseareopenduringnormal
shoppinghours.24hourserviceisusuallyavailableonlyinthemajorcities.Ifyoutake
medication,itisagoodideatomakesurethatyouhaveanadequatesupplybeforeleavingfor
Sweden.
Overthecountermedicinesmayadditionallybeavailableatsupermarketsorgasstations.
EmergenciesandSOScalls
Incaseofemergency,dial112tocontactthepolice,firebrigadeormedicalservices.Emergency
callsmadefrompayphonesarefreeofcharge.
IDcards
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Anidentitycard,oranIDcard(legitimation),isacardonwhichthebearer'sphotoandpersonal
numberareregistered.HavinganIDcardwillhelpinanycontactyoumayhavewithSwedish
authorities.Itwillalsomakeiteasierforyoutoopenabankaccount.ToobtainaSwedishID
cardyoumustberegisteredasaresident(seecivilregistration,above).
IDcardsareissuedbytheSwedishTaxAgency(Skatteverket).DetailedinformationabouthowtoapplyforanIDcardisavailableinthispdfbrochureissuedbytheSwedishTaxAgency.The
applicationfeeisSEK400.
Therearealsonationalstudentcardswhichgivediscountsondomestictravelbyair,trainand
bus.Moredetailedinformationondiscountofferswillbesentalongwiththesecards,which
youwillreceiveaboutonemonthafteryoujoinastudentunion.
Localtransportation
Publictransportbuses,commutertrains,tramsand(inStockholm)theundergroundis
availablealmosteverywhereinSwedenandprovidesaconvenient,fastwaytoget
around.Passesareusuallyvalidforunlimitedtravelonthelocalnetworksuchastheunderground(Tbana),localbusesandcommutertrains.Amonthlypassforpublictransport
costsSEK690inStockholmandoftenlessinsmallercities.
Miscellaneousafewpracticalthingstokeepinmind
Alcohol,Systembolagetisthegovernmentownedwineandliqueurstore.Itisgenerallyopen
MondaythroughFridaybetween10.00a.m.and6.00p.mandonSaturdaysbetween10.00am
and2.00pm.Somestoresstayopenlonger.
TheagelimitforbuyingwineandspiritsinSystembolagetis20.Ifyouareunder25,please
bringyourpassportoranotheridentificationcardwhenbuying.Ifyoucan'tshowproofthat
youareover20yearsoldyouwillbedeniedthepurchase.Tomakeapurchaseforsomeonewhoisprohibitedtomakeitthemselvesisforbiddenandsubjecttopenalty.Inbarsand
restaurantsthelegaldrinkingageis18.
Allemansrtten,ortherightofcommonaccess,giveseverybodytherighttouseprivateaswell
aspubliclandandwaterwaysforcertainactivitiessuchashiking,joggingorboatingprovided
thatnodamageiscausedtotheland.Youmustalsoshowconsiderationtootherpeopleand
animalsandrespectthewishesofprivatelandowners.
Thismeansthatyoucannotwalkorsailtooclosetohousesandprivategardens.Itisalsoa
goodideatoaskthelandownerifyouplanonpitchingatentformorethanashortperiodof
time.
Datesareoftenwrittenintheorder:year,month,day.E.g.October12,2011iswritten2011
1012(orjust111012).
Driving.Sweden,likemostEuropeancountries,hasrighthandtraffic.Thelegaldrivingageis18
andyouareexpectedtohaveyourdriver'slicensewithyouwhendriving.Aforeigndrivers
licenseisvalidforamaximumofoneyearstartingthedateyouregisteratthelocaltaxoffice.
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AfteroneyearyouneedtoobtainaSwedishdrivinglicense.Thelawsondrinkinganddriving
areverystrictandsuchbehaviorisnotsociallyaccepted.
DruglawsareverystrictinSweden.Foreigncitizensinpossessionofanytypeofillegaldrug
maybearrestedandexpelledfromthecountry.Whataresometimesreferredtoassoftdrugs,
forexamplemarijuanaandhashish,areillegalinSweden.
ElectricityisstandardEuropean220voltsand50cycles(Hz).
Timezone.SwedenhasCentralEuropeanTime(CET),GMT+1.Daylightsavingtime(GMT+2)
appliesfromthelastSundayinMarchuntilthelastSundayinOctober.Clocktimeiswritten
accordingtotheEuropeansystem,e.g.1p.m.iswritten13.00.
Tipping(inrestaurantsandtaxis)Servicechargeisincludedintheprice.Butitisnormal
practicetoleaveasmalltip(around10%)ifyoufeelyouhavebeentreatedwell.
Openinghours
Shoppinghoursaregenerallybetween9a.m.and6p.m.onweekdays.Shopsclosebetween1p.m.and4p.m.onSaturdays.Inlargertowns,departmentstoresremainopenuntil810p.m.
andsomearealsoopenonSundaysbetween12noonand4p.m.Shopsgenerallycloseearlyon
thedaybeforeapublicholiday.
Telecommunications
MostinternationalstudentsinSwedenchoosetouseSkypeandmobiletelephoneswithpay
asyougoSIMcardsfromcompaniessuchasTelia,Tele2,Telenor(inSwedishonly),3(in
Swedishonly)andHalebop(inSwedishonly),thatcanbeeasilytoppeduponlineorat
newsstands.IfyoudontwanttobuyamobilephoneinSwedenitisoftenpossibletousea
phonefromyourhomecountrywithaSwedishSIMcard.Makesurethatthephoneisnot
lockedtoyourpreviousoperator.Anotheroptionistosubscribetoanmobilephonecontract,
butthisisrareforstudentsandusuallyrequiresaSwedishpersonnummer(seeCivilregistration
above).