Living costs and scholarships

Studying abroad is an investment, in terms of both time and money. The information below provides a general idea of what you can expect your living costs to be, as well as details about available scholarships and how to apply for Södertörn University’s tuition fee waiver.

Living costs

The cost of living in Stockholm is largely influenced by individual lifestyle choices and personal spending habits. Detailed information about average student budgets and the minimum financial requirements necessary to obtain a residence permit for studies in Sweden is available below.

To meet basic living expenses, students in Stockholm are advised to budget a minimum of SEK 12,000 per month. Accommodation is typically the largest share of monthly expenditure. Rental costs vary significantly depending on factors such as location, size, and type of housing. Generally, accommodation and living expenses tend to be slightly lower closer to the campus in Flemingsberg and Huddinge when compared to central Stockholm.

A typical monthly student budget could be the following:

Food: SEK 2,700
Accommodation: SEK 6,000
Local travel: SEK 650
Phone/internet: SEK 300
Study material: SEK 800
Hobby/leisure, miscellaneous: around SEK 1,550

The Swedish Migration Agency demands proof of guaranteed maintenance for the period for which you want a residence permit. This means you must show that you have money available as your own bank assets, a grant or similar, such as a study grant from your home country. The Swedish Migration Agency’s maintenance requirement is at least SEK 10,656 per month, if you apply for a residence permit for studies in 2026. Visit the Swedish Migration Agency webpag External link, opens in new window.e for more details about financial requirements.

Citizens of EU/EEA and Nordic counties can live and study in Sweden without a residence permit or visa. However, we recommend that you have sufficient funds for living costs. If you stay in Sweden for more than twelve months, you should register with the Swedish Tax Agency and apply for a Swedish personal identity number (personnummer in Swedish).

Visit the Migration Agency’s website for more information. External link, opens in new window.

You may also be interested in reading the Study in Sweden page External link, opens in new window.for a better idea of how to plan a budget. You can also read blogs by other international students who share their experiences about finance and expenses in Sweden.

Scholarships

A range of scholarships are available to international students who are required to pay tuition fees.

Scholarships are awarded by Swedish government agencies as well as international foundations and organisations. Södertörn University also offers a tuition fee waiver for Master's programmes. Listed below are a few of the scholarship opportunities available, but depending on your degree level and citizenship, different options may apply.

Swedish Institute Scholarships

The Swedish Institute, a government agency, offers scholarships each year for international students and researchers coming to Sweden. Many of the scholarships cover not only tuition fees, but also living expenses and travel costs to Sweden.

Only students with citizenship in specific countries are eligible for an SI scholarship.

Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals (SISGP) External link, opens in new window.

Swedish Institute Scholarship Pioneering Women in STEM External link, opens in new window.

Södertörn University tuition fee waiver

Södertörn University offers a scholarship scheme aimed at particularly qualified students from countries outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland. Those who are eligible are fee-paying students who have submitted an application via University Admissions with a Master’s programme at Södertörn University as their first choice. The scholarship covers 90% of the tuition fees for one or two-year Master’s programmes at Södertörn University.

The tuition fee waiver is for students from countries outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland. The Swedish government distributes funding to higher education institutions, which in turn award scholarships to individual students. The tuition fee waiver is intended for programme studies at Master's level at Södertörn University.

Who is eligible?

Students who have applied via UniversityAdmissions.se External link, opens in new window. for a one or two-year Master's programme with Södertörn University ranked as their first choice, may apply for a tuition fee waiver. These are only intended for students who are required to pay tuition fees according to the information on the University Admissions External link, opens in new window.. The grant awarded through the waiver covers 90% of the tuition fees. Students must cover 10% of their tuition fees and their own living costs.

A tuition fee waiver cannot be granted to a student who:

Already has a degree from a Swedish higher education institution.
Is currently enrolled in a study programme at a Swedish higher education institution.

The complete "Terms and conditions for tuition fee waivers" is available below.

Applications

The application period for scholarships for the academic year 2026/2027 is now closed. The application period for scholarships for the academic year 2027/2028 will open in autumn 2026.

Award notification

Applicants will be notified of the result of their tuition fee waiver application in April.

Terms and conditions for tuition fee waivers:

Regulatory basis

The establishment of a scholarship (tuition fee waiver) for public-sector higher education institutions is governed by the Ordinance on scholarships for students required to pay tuition fees (SFS 2010:718) External link..

Application and selection

Applications for tuition fee waivers are made according to the instructions on the university website.
A tuition fee waiver may only be granted by the university upon written application and only if the application is complete and arrives before the stated deadline.
Applicants are ranked by the university’s selection committee on the basis of the submitted documents as well as their transcript of records.

General conditions for tuition fee waivers

A tuition fee waiver is awarded on condition that Södertörn University has available funding and that the applicant is considered eligible for the waiver, after careful evaluation of their merits by the university’s selection committee.
A tuition fee waiver may relate to all or part of the tuition fees and may be granted provided that the recipient is obliged to pay fees.
If the student is no longer obliged to pay tuition fees, then the student must immediately inform the university administration (international@sh.se) of this.
A tuition fee waiver may only be awarded to a student in full-time studies and who participates in studies on-site (not part-time or distance studies).
Only students who apply for a one or two-year Master’s programme at Södertörn University as their first ranked choice can receive a tuition fee waiver.

Requirements for continued tuition fee waiver

For the tuition fee waiver to continue for a second year, the student must meet the entry requirements for the subsequent semester. A new application for a tuition fee waiver must be submitted if there is a late continuation of year 2 studies.

Withdrawal of a tuition fee waiver

The tuition fee waiver will be withdrawn if the student is expelled or has submitted incorrect information pertaining to the waiver. It may be withdrawn if the student is suspended and/or subject to other disciplinary measures.
The tuition fee waiver will be withdrawn and the student may be required to make repayments if the student does not fulfil the requirements of these rules and regulations.

Decision

Decisions on the award of a tuition fee waiver are issued in April.
For the decision to be valid, the applicant must accept the tuition fee waiver within two weeks of being notified.
No appeal may be made to decisions regarding tuition fee waivers.

Scholarships offered by organisations in other countries

Many associations, foundations and other organisations offer scholarships or travel grants for studies in Sweden. Study in Sweden External link, opens in new window. has compiled a list that includes sources of funding for students from a variety of countries, as well as country-specific scholarships.

Visit StudyinSweden.se for more information about scholarships and studying in Sweden or explore scholarship opportunities in your home country for additional opportunities.

Sidinformation

Page last updated: 2026-03-17

Living costs and scholarships

Living costs

Scholarships

Swedish Institute Scholarships

Södertörn University tuition fee waiver

Södertörn University tuition fee waiver

Scholarships offered by organisations in other countries

Sidinformation

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