Study in Sweden without IELTS
Talk to Expert
Studying in Sweden is a great choice for many international students because of its excellent education system and lively culture. The good news is that you can study in Sweden without needing to take the IELTS exam. Many well-known universities, like Lund University, Uppsala University, and the University of Gothenburg, accept admission without IELTS. For example, if you have studied in English before or have taken other tests like TOEFL, you may not need to take IELTS.
This option makes it easier for students from different backgrounds to access higher education in Sweden. With many programs available in English and a focus on research and hands-on learning, Sweden is an attractive place for students from around the world.
In this article, we will look at how international students can apply to Swedish universities, meet English language requirements without IELTS.
Why Choose Sweden?
Sweden is known for its innovative teaching methods and strong emphasis on research. The country offers a wide range of programs taught in English, allowing students to immerse themselves in a multicultural setting. With approximately 86% of the population speaking English, international students can feel comfortable navigating daily life without knowing Swedish.
What is IELTS and Why is it needed?
IELTS stands for the ‘International English Language Testing System’. This is an English language proficiency test designed to help international students study, work or migrate to a country where English is a native language such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA. IELTS tests your ability to listen, read, write and speak in English and it grades your skills on a scale of 1-9. With 379 million speakers English is the third most spoken language in the world and if you wish to work or study in any of the countries where English is a native language then you must be able to demonstrate a high level of English language ability and IELTS is the most popular test.
English Language Requirements for Sweden
Thousands of international students go to Sweden to study and in the past decade, it has emerged as one of the hotspots for international students seeking higher education abroad. To study in Swedish universities you must show that you meet the English language requirements for your course or programme. For undergraduate degrees and programmes, the general entry requirement for English is studies equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. Meanwhile, for postgraduate courses, the requirement is also the equivalent of the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. However, some postgraduate courses and programmes have English 5 or English 7 requirements.
How to meet the English language requirement without IELTS?
International students applying to Swedish universities must show that they have English language requirements. The most obvious way to show it is via IELTS test. However, students from some countries do not need to give IELTS test. India is one such country, and we will further discuss the ways to meet the English language requirements without giving IELTS.
Ways to Meet English Language Requirements without IELTS
Upper Secondary Studies
You can meet the English 6 requirements with your upper secondary studies if you have the following:
- Grades in English and at least three other subjects with English as the language of instruction stated on your official upper secondary certificate
- Grades in English that are issued by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE)
- Grades in English that are issued by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) from 2008 onwards
Indian students who have an undergraduate degree in Engineering, Computer Applications, Medicine, Pharmacy, Natural Sciences or Technology, unless it is documented that the language of instruction for the programme was a language other than English, meet the English requirement.
Previous Education
Most of the master’s courses in Swedish universities are taught in English. Also, for master’s programmes, the English requirements are the equivalent of English 6. If you are applying for a postgraduate degree and you have a previous university degree whose mode of instruction was English, you may meet the English 6 requirement for that course. International students meeting English 6 requirements with previous university education are:
- International students who have a formal university transcript or degree certificate with a clear mention that the language of instruction for the programme was English. The bachelor’s degree should be equivalent to Swedish kandidatexamen.
- International students who have studied in a university that is listed as a university providing instruction in English in the edition of the International Handbook of Universities/World Higher Education Database (WHED) or the World Directory of Medical Schools that was current in the year the degree was awarded.
- International students having a degree of at least 1 year such that it is at a level above the Swedish kandidatexamen and English as the only language of instruction.
Alternative Tests:
Some universities accept other standardized tests, such as:
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
- PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English)
- Cambridge English Qualifications (CAE/CPE)
- Duolingo English Test
Top Universities in Sweden without IELTS
Here are some of the top universities where you can study without IELTS:
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology
- Lund University
- Uppsala University
- Stockholm University
- Chalmers University of Technology
These institutions offer various programs that cater to international students and provide an excellent academic experience.
Sweden is one of the most sought-after destinations for higher education among international students going to Europe for higher education. Swedish universities are among the world’s top universities and provide the best quality education in the world. Most of the master’s programmes in Sweden are taught in English, therefore it becomes necessary to show proof of proficiency in the English language. You can prove your proficiency in English either via providing English language tests like IELTS, but it is not limited to tests only.
There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. English language requirements are country-specific and vary from course to course. Most of the programmes require an English 6 for entry but some courses only need an English 5 level while some even ask for more English 7 level for entry. Therefore, it is advised to international students to go to their country-specific English requirements pages to and to course pages for detailed information on English language requirements for studying in Sweden.
Q: Is it hard to get into KTH Sweden?
Q: Is Sweden expensive for Indian students?
Sweden is generally very expensive to live. The cost of living in Sweden is very high in comparison to other European countries. Below we have given the average cost of living in Sweden.
Particulars | Expenses |
|---|---|
Accommodation | 345 – 670 EUR/month |
Food | 440 EUR/month |
Utilities (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 76 EUR/month |
Internet | 28 EUR/month |
Swedish Restaurant | 11 - 23 EUR |
3-Course Meal | 47 - 76 EUR |
Drink in a Bar | 9 EUR |
Books and other study materials | 80 EUR/month |
Social activities and entertainment | 70 – 100 EUR/month |
Health insurance | start at 30 EUR/month |
Public transportation fares | 77 EUR/month |
Bicycle for transport | 110 EUR |
Q: How can I get a study visa for Sweden?
Study visa for Sweden has been broadly divided into two different types of visas a person can apply for when planning to go to Sweden. A person intending to travel to Sweden for recreational purposes would apply for a Schengen Visa. This is essentially a visa that is valid for three months. Since all visa applications are sent to Sweden, the student visa is processed in about 90 days. However, it might take longer and you are advised to start the process as soon as possible.
Q: What are the top 5 universities of Sweden?
Sweden has some of the best universities in the world. Here we have listed top 5 universities in Sweden as per the QS world university rankings for 2024.
University | QS World University Rankings 2024 |
|---|---|
KTH Royal Institute of Technology | #73 |
Lund University | #85 |
Uppsala University | #105 |
Stockholm University | #118 |
Chalmers University of Technology | #129 |
Q: How many universities are in Sweden?
In total, there are just 39 universities in the whole of Sweden. Here we have listed all the 39 universities in Sweden.
Universities in Sweden | |
|---|---|
Blekinge Institute of Technology | Chalmers University of Technology |
Dalarna University | Halmstad University |
Johannelund School of Theology | Jonkoping University |
Karlstad University | Karolinska Institute |
Konstfack, University of Arts, Crafts and Design | Kristianstad University |
KTH Royal Institute of Technology | Linkoping University |
Linnaeus University | Lulea University of Technology |
Lund University | Malardalen University |
Malmo University | Marie Cederschiold University |
Mid Sweden University | The Newman Institute |
Orebro University | Royal College of Music |
Royal Institute of Art | Sodertorn University of Stockholm |
Sophiahemmet University | Stockholm School of Economics |
Stockholm University | Stockholm University of the Arts |
Swedish Defence University | Swedish Red Cross University |
The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences | Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences |
Umea University | University of Boras |
University College Stockholm | University of Gavle |
University of Gothenburg | University of Skovde |
University West | Uppsala University |
Q: What is the cost of study visa in Sweden?
Sweden Study Visa fee for Residence Permit for Study purposes for Sweden is SEK 1,500 at the current exchange rate. Students are required to make an online payment for the same by using a Visa or a MasterCard. (Both Credit and Bank/Debit Cards are acceptable).
Q: How can I get PR in Sweden after studying?
Getting Permanent Residency (PR) in Sweden is a bit complicated. Completing graduation in Sweden generally do not lead to PR. However, student permit for PhD generally lead to permanent residency. After completing graduation international students need to continuously seek for employment.
Q: What is the ranking of Linkoping University in Sweden?
Linkoping University ranking is among the top 10 universities in Sweden. According to Linkoping University QS ranking¸ the university ranks at 7th position in the country.
Raushan Kumar is a skilled writer and a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. He oversees various aspects of studying abroad, including educational opportunities, entrance exams, colleges, latest new... Read Full Bio
Priyakant Sharma brings over 14 years of diverse experience in operations management, team leadership, and devising sales/merchandising strategies for multi-unit retail chains across Europe and India. Transitioning ... Read Full Bio
Statement of Purpose
Letter of Recommendation
Student Visa Application
Admission Essay Writing
Student Curriculum Vitae
For international students, getting admission into KTH Royal Institute of Technology is moderately difficult. KTH Royal Institute of Technology has an acceptance rate of 32% for Masters programs and merely 7% for bachelor's program. This figure indicates that on an average, only 32 out of 100 applicants get admitted into KTH for pursuing a postgraduate course, whereas only 7 secure an admission in the undergraduate course. Currently, international students comprise 30% of the total student population (13,500) of KTH. Aspirants interested in studying at KTH, need to have a minimum academic score of above 60% and an IELTS score of 6.5.