Cost of Studying in Sweden & 12-Month Job Seeker Residence Permit After Graduation

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA students

Students who are citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland generally pay application and tuition fees, subject to the exemptions listed by University Admissions. Tuition varies by university, subject, degree and programme length. Engineering, architecture, business and specialised programmes can have very different fee levels.

KTH provides one example: its published fee information states that most two-year programmes with both years spent at KTH have a total tuition fee of SEK 385,000, but the fee varies by programme. The University Admissions application fee is SEK 900 for applicants who are required to pay. These are KTH examples, not a national average or a quote for every Swedish university.

Sweden’s 2026 maintenance requirement

The Swedish Migration Agency states that applicants who applied in 2026 must show at least SEK 10,656 per month to support themselves. The amount is used in residence-permit assessments; it should not be treated as a guaranteed real-world budget for every city or lifestyle.

The authority also publishes reductions where an applicant can document free food or free housing through the higher-education institution or an organisation working with international exchange. For 2026 applications, the published reductions are SEK 2,960 per month for free food and SEK 4,736 per month for free housing. Family members increase the maintenance amount.

The authority updates the maintenance amount. A student applying in a later calendar year must use the amount that applies to the actual application date, not automatically reuse the 2026 figure.

Living expenses in Stockholm and other Swedish cities

Stockholm is often a higher-cost option for accommodation, but the total budget depends on housing availability, commute, food habits and whether the student lives in a student corridor, shared apartment or private rental. Other university cities can also have tight student housing markets. A city-level estimate should be built from current accommodation options rather than a generic national figure.

The two numbers answer different questions: one is an immigration financial requirement; the other is a personal cost estimate.

Student residence permit: key requirements before travel

For higher-education studies, the Swedish Migration Agency requires a valid passport and final admission to full-time studies. University-level full-time study is generally 30 credits per semester. Applicants must pay any tuition fee before applying; the university informs the Migration Agency when the fee has been paid. Applicants must also show that they can support themselves financially and provide comprehensive health insurance where required for studies lasting less than one year.

A student should not assume that an admission notification alone is enough. The residence-permit application depends on final admission, tuition payment where applicable, valid documentation and sufficient maintenance funds.

The 12-month job-seeking residence permit after graduation

After completing a higher-education programme in Sweden, an eligible graduate may apply for a residence permit to look for work or explore the possibility of starting a business. The Migration Agency states that a bachelor’s or master’s graduate can be granted a permit for up to one year. Doctoral graduates may be granted between one year and 18 months.

The permit is an opportunity to remain in Sweden while searching for employment or exploring a business idea. It is not a job offer, work permit guarantee, permanent residence route or automatic transition to a work-based permit.

Who can apply?

• You must have completed the entire higher-education programme to which you were admitted, with passing grades in all courses.
• You must apply for the job-seeking permit before your current residence permit for studies expires.
• You must be able to support yourself financially for the requested period.
• You must have comprehensive health insurance for the period if the applicable rules require it.
• You must hold a valid passport and provide the required supporting documents.

The Migration Agency’s guidance says higher vocational education programmes do not count as the completed higher-education programme for this particular permit. Students who have not yet received all final passing grades should pay close attention to the timing instructions and apply before their current permit expires where the authority permits an application to be supplemented later.

How to apply before your student permit expires

1. Check the expiry date of your current study residence permit and work backwards from it.
2. Confirm that the entire programme is completed and collect official evidence of completed studies and passing grades.
3. Prepare proof of maintenance funds for the full requested period. The 2026 amount is SEK 10,656 per month; use the current amount for the actual application year.
4. Arrange comprehensive health insurance if required.
5. Prepare a valid passport and the other documents listed by the Migration Agency.
6. Submit the online application before the current study permit expires and pay the adult application fee.
7. Keep copies of the application, payment receipt and all supporting documents; monitor messages from the Migration Agency.

What happens after the job-seeking permit?

If you receive a suitable job offer, you may be able to apply for a work permit under the rules in force at that time. The employer, employment terms, salary, insurance and other conditions matter. If you plan to start a business, separate requirements apply. Do not assume that a job-seeking permit automatically converts into a work permit or permanent residence.

Students should treat post-study employment as a separate planning stage. Research the Swedish labour market, build Swedish-language ability where relevant, develop industry connections and target roles that match the qualification and experience. A degree alone does not guarantee employment.

Common financial and immigration mistakes

• Using the maintenance requirement as the only estimate of actual living costs.
• Assuming the 2026 SEK amount will remain unchanged for later applications.
• Forgetting that tuition must be paid before a study residence-permit application is considered final.
• Underestimating the accommodation deposit and initial setup costs.
• Waiting until after the study permit expires to apply for the job-seeking permit.
• Assuming any course or vocational programme qualifies for the post-study job-seeking permit.
• Assuming the 12-month permit guarantees a job, work permit or permanent residence.