Finances & insurance

Once your application has been accepted, you will need to start thinking about how to prepare for your period of studying in Sweden. This page provides information about tuition fees, the type of insurance you will require while in Sweden and where to find information about living costs.

Paying your tuition fee – newly admitted students

Under the regulations decided by the Swedish Migration Agency, students who are required to pay tuition fees – typically students from outside the EU/EEA – must pay the first instalment of their tuition fee, which covers their first semester, before arriving at Södertörn University.

When and how to pay:

An invoice for the first instalment of your tuition fee will be available in Student Ladok (our study documentation system) within a few days of admission.
For most programmes, the payment deadline is 1 June. Specific payment details and the exact deadline will be on the invoice.
We strongly recommend that you pay as early as possible, so you have sufficient time for the residence permit application process.
Failure to pay by the deadline means that your offer of admission will be withdrawn.
Once the tuition fee for the first semester is registered, Södertörn University will notify the Swedish Migration Agency that you have paid, and you can apply for your residence permit.

If you would like to make the payment for the whole year (two semesters) or the whole programme, please contact your department or academic school and a new invoice will be issued.

Refunds

Södertörn University only refunds a tuition fee if a refund is applied for. Decisions are made by the director of Student Support Services. A refund is always sent to the account from which the tuition fees were paid.

The refund application process varies, depending on when you apply. Please read the detailed instructions below.

Full refunds can only be provided if you apply before starting your course or programme, or within its first three weeks.

Refund application before or within three (3) weeks of starting programme/ courses

The full tuition fee will be refunded if you submit a refund application before or within three weeks of starting the programme or course.
Applicants need to submit the refund application form (see below) by email to registrator@sh.se.

Refund application form before or within three weeks of starting programme/courses

If you have been admitted to a programme, the application deadline for the full tuition fee refund in the autumn semester 2025 is 22 September 2025.

If you paid using a Swedish bank account, you must submit a form called “Refund of tuition fee to a Swedish bank account”, with information about the account number and account holder (see below)

Refund of tuition fee to the Swedish bank account

Other supporting documents, such as a decision letter from the Swedish Migration Agency, are not required.

Refund application between four (4) and ten (10) weeks after starting programme/ courses

Once you have studied your programme/course for three weeks, you may be able to apply to have half the tuition fee refunded. However, if you are studying freestanding courses up to 15 higher education credits, no refund is available.

A refund can only be granted due to a rejected application for a residence permit or other barriers to studying that are outside your control.
The application should be sent within ten weeks of starting your programme/course.
Email the refund application form (see below) and proof of your reasons to registrator@sh.se.

Refund application form after three weeks of starting programme/courses

If you have been admitted to a programme, the application deadline for the half tuition fee refund in the autumn semester 2025 is 10 November 2025.

If you paid using a Swedish bank account, you must submit a form called “Refund of tuition fee to a Swedish bank account”, with information about the account number and account holder (see below)

Refund of tuition fee to the Swedish bank account

The university will not provide refunds once you have completed ten weeks of the programme/course.

Incomplete applications must be completed within three weeks of this being requested by Södertörn University. If not, the application will be rejected as incomplete.

Financial essentials for international students in Sweden

The official currency of Sweden is the Swedish krona (SEK). Sweden is becoming a cashless society and most transactions – including minor purchases – are done with debit cards, credit cards or mobile devices. Consequently, many shops and restaurants no longer accept cash payments. In addition to card payments, Swish is a popular mobile payment app in Sweden. To use Swish, you must have both a Swedish bank account and a Swedish personal identity number. For detailed information about Swish, please check your bank’s website.

All major international credit cards are generally accepted in Sweden and can also be used at selected cash machines (ATMs). Students are strongly advised not to bring personal cheques, as Swedish banks do not process them.

We also recommended that you do not carry large amounts of cash, as neither tuition fees nor rent can be paid with cash.

For more information about living costs in Stockholm, please visit the page Living costs and scholarships.

Insurance

Exchange students and fee-paying students are covered by a student insurance policy via Kammarkollegiet (Sweden’s Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency). This insurance provides coverage for the following:

disability and death benefits
medical and dental care
home transport
personal property coverage
third party liability
legal expenses

Freemover students from countries in the EU/EEA are not covered by Kammarkollegiet’s student insurance when they are not on campus and must purchase their own home insurance cover.

All European students must bring their European Health Insurance Card.

All students at Södertörn University are covered by insurance during working hours at the university and when commuting to and from it. You will need additional insurance cover during your free time.

Home insurance is compulsory. As a tenant, you are responsible for your accommodation and any damage caused to it, even if the damage is caused by a guest. You are responsible for compensation, whether the damage is the result of carelessness, an accident or a deliberate act.

Read more about the insurance policy here:

Fee-paying students External link, opens in new window.

Exchange students External link, opens in new window.

Other students

You are not covered by any insurance when you are not on campus, so please ensure that you have your own insurance!

Sidinformation

Page last updated: 2026-03-30