Top 10 Universities to Study in Sweden for Pakistani Students (2025–2026)

Thinking to study in Sweden? Here are the top 10 universities most suitable for Pakistani students based on rankings, tuition, English programs, and scholarship opportunities.

 1. Lund University – Lund

• Website: lu.se

• QS Ranking: #72

• Top Fields: Engineering, Medicine, Economics, Law

• Tuition: ~SEK 120,000–140,000/year

• Scholarships: Lund University Global Scholarship

• Language: Many Master’s in English; Bachelors mostly in Swedish

 2. KTH Royal Institute of Technology – Stockholm

• Website: kth.se

• QS Ranking: #78

• Top Fields: Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, ICT

• Tuition: ~SEK 155,000/year

• Scholarships: KTH Scholarships for non-EU students

• Language: Master’s in English

 3. Uppsala University – Uppsala

• Website: uu.se

• QS Ranking: #93

• Top Fields: Natural Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences

• Tuition: ~SEK 100,000–140,000/year

• Scholarships: Uppsala University Global Scholarship

• Language: Multiple Master’s in English

 4. Stockholm University – Stockholm

• Website: su.se

• QS Ranking: #147

• Top Fields: Environmental Science, Economics, Politics

• Tuition: ~SEK 90,000–140,000/year

• Scholarships: Stockholm University Scholarship Scheme

• Language: Many Master’s in English

 5. Chalmers University of Technology – Gothenburg

• Website: chalmers.se

• QS Ranking: #165

• Top Fields: Engineering, Architecture, ICT

• Tuition: ~SEK 140,000/year

• Scholarships: IPOET, Volvo Scholarships

• Language: Master’s in English

 6. University of Gothenburg – Gothenburg

• Website: gu.se

• QS Ranking: #202

• Top Fields: Social Sciences, Medicine, Business

• Tuition: ~SEK 90,000–130,000/year

• Scholarships: Axel Adler Scholarship

• Language: Master’s in English

 7. Karolinska Institutet – Stockholm

• Website: ki.se

• Global Rank: #49 (THE)

• Top Fields: Medicine, Public Health, Biomedicine

• Tuition: ~SEK 180,000–200,000/year

• Scholarships: Karolinska Global Master’s Scholarship

• Language: Master’s in English

 8. Linköping University – Linköping

• Website: liu.se

• QS Ranking: #310

• Top Fields: Engineering, IT, Sustainability

• Tuition: ~SEK 110,000/year

• Scholarships: LiU International Scholarships (25–50%)

• Language: Many Master’s in English

 9. Umeå University – Umeå

• Website: umu.se

• QS Ranking: #401

• Top Fields: Public Health, IT, Art/Design

• Tuition: ~SEK 90,000–140,000/year

• Scholarships: Full/partial tuition waivers available

• Language: Master’s in English

 10. Jönköping University – Jönköping

• Website: ju.se

• Global Rank: ~#601 THE

• Top Fields: Business, Entrepreneurship, Supply Chain

• Tuition: ~SEK 120,000/year

• Scholarships: Up to 30% tuition waiver

• Language: Several English-taught Master’s

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Scholarships in Sweden for Pakistani Students – Fully Funded & Tuition-Free Options 2025

Sweden offers several generous scholarships for Pakistani students who wish to study at top universities. These include fully funded scholarships, partial tuition waivers, and specific awards from both the Swedish government and individual institutions. Below are the top 10 scholarships in Sweden worth applying for in 2025:

1. Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals (SISGP)

• Type: Fully funded (tuition + monthly stipend + travel grant)

• Level: Master’s

• Eligibility: Pakistani students with leadership background and 3,000+ hours of work experience

• Best for: Students seeking to study in Sweden for free

2. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees

• Type: Full tuition + living stipend

• Eligibility: For Pakistani applicants in joint programs involving Swedish universities

• Deadline: Varies by program

• Note: Fields like Sustainability, Forestry, ICT are popular

3. Lund University Global Scholarship

• Type: 25% to 100% tuition waiver

• Level: Bachelor’s and Master’s

• Highly suitable for: High academic achievers from Pakistan

4. KTH Royal Institute Tuition Fee Waiver

• Type: Full tuition waiver

• Level: Master’s (Engineering, ICT, etc.)

• Seats: ~30 awards/year

5. Chalmers IPOET & Adlerbert Scholarships

• Type: 75% tuition reduction (IPOET) or full tuition (Adlerbert)

• Eligibility: Non-EU students including Pakistanis applying to Master’s programs

• Fields: Engineering, Architecture, Technology

6. Uppsala University Global Scholarships

• Type: Full tuition fee coverage

• Eligibility: High-performing students from countries like Pakistan

• Fields: All Master’s programs

7. Karolinska Institutet Global Master’s Scholarships

• Type: Tuition fee waiver

• Focus: Health, Medicine, Biomedicine

• Note: Extremely competitive – only ~10 scholarships annually

8. Stockholm University Scholarship Scheme

• Type: 100% tuition coverage (does not cover living costs)

• Eligibility: Non-EU Master’s students

9. Malmö University Master’s Scholarship (MUMS)

• Type: Full tuition fee waiver

• Eligibility: Talented students with strong academic background

• Popular Fields: Interaction Design, Global Politics

10. Linköping University (LiU) International Scholarship

• Type: 25% or 50% tuition waiver

• Priority: Given to students who select LiU as first choice

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Academic Eligibility to Study in Sweden for Pakistani Students

Here’s what Pakistani students need in terms of academic qualifications to apply for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD programs in Sweden:

 For Bachelor’s in Sweden

To apply for a Bachelor’s degree in Sweden, Pakistani students must have:

• Intermediate/HSSC (12 years of education) — Pre-Engineering, Pre-Medical, ICS, or FA.

• Your HSSC must be attested by IBCC.

• Minimum Marks: Although there is no official cut-off, students with 60% or above (First Division) have better chances.

• Mathematics is required if you passed after 2009 (especially for science/engineering fields).

 For Master’s in Sweden

To be eligible for a Master’s program:

• You must have 16 years of education.

  • Either a 4-year Bachelor’s degree (BS, BSc Hons, BBA, etc.)

• Degrees must be attested by HEC.

• Minimum academic requirement: Again, no fixed CGPA, but above 2.5 CGPA or 60% marks is generally safer for admission.

 For PhD in Sweden

To apply for a PhD program:

• You need a Master’s degree (18 years of education) in a relevant field.

• Must have a strong research background or thesis experience.

• No specific GPA cutoff, but high academic performance and research proposal are important.

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Language Requirements for Studying in Sweden

To apply for English-taught programs in Sweden, Pakistani students must prove their English proficiency. The standard requirement is equivalent to Swedish English 6 level (upper-intermediate).

Accepted English tests include:

IELTS Academic

• Overall Score: 6.5

• Minimum per band: 5.5

 TOEFL iBT

• Total Score: 90

• Minimum in Writing: 20

 PTE Academic

• Typically accepted with a minimum overall score of 62.

Part-Time Job Opportunities While You Study in Sweden

International students, including Pakistanis, are allowed to work part-time while studying in Sweden. There’s no official limit on working hours for those with a valid residence permit. However, since full-time studies require around 40 hours per week, it’s recommended to limit part-time work to 10–20 hours weekly to maintain academic performance.

Common Part-Time Jobs for Pakistani Students in Sweden

• Restaurants & Cafés: Waiting tables, delivery, kitchen staff (English often sufficient in multicultural cities).

• Retail & Sales: Jobs in tourist areas or international shops (some may require basic Swedish).

• Cleaning Services: Office, hotel, or home cleaning — flexible hours and low language requirements.

• Campus Jobs: Student ambassador roles, library assistants, tutoring, or digital content creators.

• Tutoring: Online or in-person tutoring for school kids or first-year university students (English or subject-specific).

• Delivery & Logistics: Food delivery (Foodora, Uber Eats) or warehouse packaging jobs — usually flexible.

• Internships: Some students land part-time internships in their study field (e.g., IT, engineering, design).

Pay & Tax Information

• Wages: Average hourly pay is between SEK 120–150. Working ~20 hours/week can earn you around SEK 10,000–12,000/month before taxes.

• Tax: If annual income is below SEK 20,431 (2025), you may qualify for tax exemption. Otherwise, income is taxed at ~30%, with possible refunds for low-income students.

How to Find Jobs

• University Career Services: Campus job boards and student support centers often list openings.

• Networking: Connect with classmates and attend university job fairs and events.

• Job Portals:

  • Platsbanken – Public employment service

  • Academic Work, Indeed.se, LinkedIn, Glassdoor

• Facebook & WhatsApp Groups: Look for groups like “Jobs in Sweden” or “Pakistani Students in Sweden.”

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Monthly living expenses for Pakistani students in Sweden :

• Rent (student dorm/shared room): SEK 1500–5,000

• Private studio in major cities (e.g., Stockholm): SEK 3,000–10,000

• Groceries and food (home-cooked): SEK 1,500–3,000

• Eating out (occasional meals): SEK 50–200 per meal

• Public transport (with student discount): SEK 200–600

• Second-hand bicycle (one-time purchase): SEK 800

• Mobile + Internet package: SEK 100–400

• Study materials and printing: SEK 300/month

• Gym membership (student rate): SEK 150/month

• Personal expenses (clothing, entertainment, etc.): SEK 800–2,000

 Total estimated monthly cost: around SEK 7,000–12,000
(You must show at least SEK 10,584/month for visa/residence permit purposes)

Post-Study Work Opportunities (for Pakistani Students)

• Job-Seeker Visa: After graduation, you can apply for a 12-month residence permit to search for a job or start a business.

• Eligibility: Must have completed at least 2 semesters (1-year) of higher education in Sweden.

• Requirements:

  • Proof of program completion (degree/certificate)

  • Proof of funds (~SEK 10,584 per month)

•  No need to leave Sweden — apply before your student permit expires.

 Work Permit Pathway

• Once you get a job (related to your degree and meeting salary/skill level criteria), you can apply for a work permit from inside Sweden.

• You can work full-time during the job-seeker period.

 High-Demand Fields for Pakistani Graduates

• IT & Software – Companies like Spotify, Ericsson, Klarna, King

• Engineering – Mechanical, Electrical, Civil (Volvo, ABB, Scania)

• Biotech & Pharma – Karolinska Institute, AstraZeneca

• Finance & Business – Fintech, consulting, international firms

• Gaming & Design – Dice, King, Massive Entertainment

• Clean-tech & Renewable Energy – Fast-growing sustainability sector

 Permanent Residency (PR) in Sweden

•  Need 4 years of work permit (continuous, in last 7 years)

• Student time doesn’t fully count toward PR (exception: PhD studies)

• PhD students can apply for PR after completing 4 years of doctoral studies

•  Must show financial stability and clean conduct (no crimes)

•  No language/civic test currently required for PR

Path to Swedish Citizenship

•  After 5 years of permanent residence, you can apply for citizenship

• Dual citizenship allowed – you can keep your Pakistani passport

•  Must have clean record, tax history, and lived continuously in Sweden

Most Popular Courses & Fields in Sweden (for International Students)

Information Technology (CS, AI, Data Science)

• Most in-demand field among international (and Pakistani) students.

• Popular programs: Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Data Science.

• Top universities: KTH, Lund, Linköping.

• Job Market: Excellent – 92% employment in tech/IT.

• Starting Salary: ~SEK 450k–550k/year (~SEK 37k/month).

Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, etc.)

• Covers fields like Mechatronics, Embedded Systems, Renewable Energy, Industrial Engineering.

• Attracts students due to Sweden’s strong industrial and automotive sectors (e.g. Volvo, Scania).

• Job Market: Strong  ~90% employment rate.

• Starting Salary: Mechanical ~SEK 400k–500k; Civil ~SEK 380k–480k.

Business & Management

• Programs in Finance, Marketing, International Business, Supply Chain.

• Top schools: Stockholm School of Economics, Lund, Uppsala.

• Job Market: Moderate (better with tech pairing or work experience).

• Starting Salary: ~SEK 400k–500k (Financial Analyst), ~SEK 350k–450k (Marketing).

Telecommunications & ICT

• Specializations in 5G, wireless communications, network engineering.

• Leading institutes: KTH, Chalmers.

• Job Market: Good – aligned with Ericsson and IoT growth.

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

• Includes Public Health, Molecular Biology, Biotech, Drug Discovery.

• Top institutes: Karolinska, Uppsala, Gothenburg.

• Job Market: Mixed – good for PhD/research; limited industry roles.

• Starting Salary: ~SEK 350k–450k (Biotech); PhD stipend ~SEK 300k/year.

Renewable Energy & Sustainability

• Programs in Wind/Solar Power, Sustainable Energy, Environmental Engineering.

• Job Market: Growing – both public and private roles.

• Employers: Vattenfall, municipal projects, consultancies.

UX Design, Game Design & Interactive Media

• Fields include Game Dev, Human-Computer Interaction, Media Management.

• Companies like Mojang, DICE, and King hire graduates.

• Job Market: Niche but available.

• Starting Salary: ~SEK 350k–450k.

Architecture & Urban Planning

• Programs at KTH, Chalmers, Lund.

• Job Market: Decent – better with Swedish language.

• Starting Salary: ~SEK 30k/month (registration/licensing needed).

Health Professions (Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing)

• Limited to those with prior training; taught in Swedish.

• Some come for Global/Public Health (Karolinska).

• Licensing and Swedish fluency required to practice.

Pakistani Students’ Preferences:

• Mostly choose Engineering and IT (due to strong job prospects and prior backgrounds).

• Business also popular – especially with work experience.

• Fewer students go into pure sciences or humanities due to lower funding and unclear job paths.

Top In-Demand Fields in Sweden (2025 & Beyond):

• IT, Data Science, Cybersecurity, AI

• Engineering (especially green/EV-related)

• Healthcare & Life Sciences

• Education & Construction (with local language)

Sample Entry-Level Salaries by Field (Gross Annual):

• Software Developer: SEK 450k

• Data Scientist/AI Engineer: SEK 500k–600k

• Mechanical Engineer: SEK 450k

• Electrical Engineer: SEK 420k–520k

• Civil Engineer: SEK 400k–480k

• Business/Finance Analyst: SEK 400k–500k

• Marketing: SEK 350k–450k

• UX Designer: SEK 360k–440k

• Biotech Researcher: SEK 360k–450k

• School Teacher: SEK 330k–400k (requires Swedish)

Career Growth by Field in Sweden

Information Technology & Software Development

• Roles: Software Developer, DevOps Engineer, AI Specialist, IT Consultant.

• Starting Salary: ~SEK 35k–40k/month (≈ SEK 450k/year).

• Growth: Can reach 50k+/month in 4–5 years.

• Career Path: Junior Developer → Senior Dev → Tech Lead → Architect/Product Manager.

• Language: English widely used in the tech sector. Swedish helps but not essential.

• Extra: Sweden’s flat hierarchy + startup culture = good for tech entrepreneurs.

Data Science & Artificial Intelligence

• Roles: Data Scientist, ML Engineer, AI Researcher.

• Starting Salary: ~SEK 40k/month (often higher than other IT roles).

• Growth: High – due to talent shortage.

• Sectors Hiring: Fintech, e-commerce (e.g. Spotify, Klarna), logistics, healthcare.

• Career Path: Data Analyst → Data Scientist → Lead Data Scientist → Head of AI.

Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil)

• Roles: Product Developer, Design Engineer, Project Engineer.

• Starting Salary: ~SEK 30k–35k/month.

• Growth: Mid-career salaries ~SEK 45k–55k.

• Key Employers: Volvo, Scania, ABB, Skanska.

• Extra: Swedish may be needed in civil/infrastructure roles; technical roles often in English.

Telecom & Embedded Systems

• Roles: Telecom Engineer, Embedded Systems Developer, IoT Specialist.

• Starting Salary: ~SEK 35k/month.

• Growth: Up to 50k+ with experience.

• Key Employers: Ericsson, Nokia, Volvo, startups in IoT/autonomous systems.

Finance & Banking

• Roles: Financial Analyst, Accountant, Controller, Auditor.

• Starting Salary: ~SEK 32k/month.

• Growth: Good, especially with local certifications (e.g. Auktoriserad Revisor).

• Tip: MBA grads can enter trainee programs at companies like H&M, Volvo, Electrolux.

• Language: English okay in MNCs; Swedish needed for many client-facing roles.

Healthcare & Nursing

• Roles: Nurse, Doctor, Public Health Researcher.

• Starting Salary:

  • Nurse: ~SEK 28k–30k/month.

  • Doctor: ~SEK 45k–55k/month (can go up to 70k+ with specialization).

• Note: Swedish language and licensing required for clinical roles.

• Alternatives: Masters in Public Health → NGO/Research work in English.

Academia & Research

• Roles: PhD Researcher, Postdoc, University Lecturer, R&D Scientist.

• Salaries:

  • PhD: ~SEK 27k/month (paid position).

  • Postdoc: ~SEK 32k–35k/month.

• Career Path: PhD → Postdoc → Researcher or move to industry R&D.

• Tip: Many PhDs move to companies in fields like biotech or computer science.

Entrepreneurship

• Opportunities: Start your own business during/after studies using the job-seeker visa.

• Support: Incubators like Sting, Chalmers Ventures, and Lund Venture Lab.

• Benefit: Can self-sponsor for work permit → PR.