Sweden — Study (English-taught bachelor's (fee-paying))

Main requirements

Per universityadmissions, three years of upper secondary school (for studies after 2018) meets the general entry requirement; in the old system, three years plus the pre-university year or an Associate's degree is accepted. Many programmes add specific requirements (e.g. maths or physics at a set level); check each programme. University records cannot replace upper secondary qualifications.

Documents

Upper secondary completion certificate and final transcripts for all years (plus pre-university or Associate's if relevant), official English or Swedish translations with the Judiciary stamp, passport copy and English proof. Also submit any university records, which may help with specific requirements.

Language

Iranian school English is not accepted. The general English requirement for bachelor's is English 6, which means IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 5.5; IELTS General is not accepted.

Costs and proof of funds

SEK 900 application fee per intake. Universities set tuition, typically SEK 80,000–320,000 a year per Study in Sweden. Per the official source, the 2026 maintenance requirement is at least SEK 10,656 per month for the whole permit period (SEK 127,872 for one year; the bank statement must be issued no more than four months before the permit start date); the permit fee is SEK 1,500. Under-18s may use guardians' accounts; otherwise funds must be in your own account and relatives do not count as sponsors.

Steps and timeline

For autumn 2027: opens 16 October 2026, deadline 15 January 2027, fee and documents by 1 February, bachelor's results on 8 April. Then pay tuition and apply online for the permit (75% decided within 3 months). Permits are for one or two years depending on the university and must be extended.

Notes for Iranian applicants

Young men who have not done military service must check exit eligibility in SAKHA before spending money; absentee conscripts cannot leave (secondary source). The SEK 900 fee and tuition cannot be paid directly from Iran; currency intermediaries are used (secondary source). Interviews and biometrics happen at the Migration Section of the Swedish Embassy in Tehran by appointment.

After arrival (work while studying, post-study stay, path to permanent residence)

For permits granted from 11 June 2026, work during studies is capped at 15 hours a week (except June–August). After completing the whole programme you can get up to 12 months to look for work and switch to a work permit; if you still hold a student permit when you first apply, the salary floor is 75% of the median (currently SEK 28,725 a month) instead of 90%; permanent residence generally after four years of work within seven.