Studying medicine in Sweden

At which universities is it possible to study medicine in Sweden?

The medical universities in Sweden are renowned and their good education is recognised worldwide. Most universities offer courses in Swedish, but there are also some universities that offer programmes in English. We can help you get an overview!

Lund University

The renowned University of Lund is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Scandinavia. It offers a six-year Studying medicine in English which begins in spring and autumn. The principle of PBL (problem-based learning) is often used for the theoretical part of the programme. Reference is made to patient cases and there are numerous group exercises. In addition to Lund, the programme also takes place in Helsingborg and Malmö from time to time.

Uppsala University

Twice a year, medical studies begin in Swedish at Uppsala University. However, a large part of the course literature is in English and in In some cases, entire courses are taught in English held. Teaching is based on problem-, case- and team-based work. It is considered to be very competency-based, which means that it promotes the specific skills of individual students.

Uppsala is one of Sweden's oldest cities and therefore has a long history as a centre of education and culture. It is not without reason that it is one of Sweden's most beautiful cities. The well-preserved medieval buildings, including the impressive Uppsala Cathedral, exude a charm all of their own.

Örebro University School of Medical Sciences

Örebro University is recognised as one of the best young universities in the world. The medical degree programme there is offered twice a year for 65 students each time. Some of the lectures are held in Swedish, partly in English held. There is a particularly strong focus on the practical training of students, which takes place in health centres and hospitals in the Örebro region.

In addition to lectures, student life is a natural part of studying at Örebro University. Numerous student organisations regularly offer sports events or social events. This means you can quickly make friends with your fellow students.

Karolinska Institute Stockholm

The Karolinska Institute is one of the world's leading medical universities. The university's teaching model is interactive, which creates close contact between teachers and students. 160 places are available each year for the medical degree programme. Lectures are held in Swedish.

Stockholm is one of the safest capitals in the world, one of the most innovative cities in Europe and one of the world centres for advances in healthcare.

University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Academy

The University of Gothenburg offers the medical degree programme in Swedish twice a year. The teaching aims to promote students' personal responsibility for acquiring knowledge and reflective and critical thinking. Over the course of twelve semesters, lectures, laboratory work, group exercises and internships provide excellent preparation for the medical profession.

Gothenburg, Sweden's second largest city, is a centre for education, knowledge and development. There is a wide range of culture, sports and nature experiences. Numerous student associations will be happy to help you make friends quickly.

Umea University

The medical programme at the prestigious Umea University begins in the autumn of each year. The modern, newly developed six-year programme is taught in Swedish. A large emphasis is placed on practice-integrated learning (Vil). During your rotations in hospitals, you will always work with supervisors and well-trained medical staff.

The city of Umea is one of the most popular student cities in Sweden due to its high quality of life and many leisure activities. Located in the north, the small town is only 400 kilometres from the Arctic Circle and is surrounded by unique flora and fauna.

What are the requirements for studying medicine in Sweden?

To successfully apply to study medicine in Sweden, you need a general higher education entrance qualification, i.e. your Abitur.

Your grades in natural sciences such as biology, physics and chemistry should not be lower than grade 2. Your High-school average makes up two thirds of the application. The other third is determined by the "Högskoleprovet" study aptitude test. The test assesses your skills in areas such as mathematical problem solving, quantitative comparisons, analysing tables and Swedish and English word and reading comprehension.

If you already have professional experience in a medical profession or internships in a healthcare facility, this can be an advantage for your application.

As the majority of universities offer medical studies in Swedish, you must have good to very good Swedish language skills and be able to prove this with a certificate. If you don't have this yet, but are interested in learning the language, there are numerous institutions and programmes that can support you.

Good English language skills are also important for many Swedish universities. Your IELTS score should be at least 6.5 and no lower than 5.5. For the TOEFL certificate, a score of 90 is required (including 20 in the written part).

How is the medical degree programme structured in Sweden?

The Duration of medical studies which is also known as the "Läkarprogrammet" in Sweden, lasts twelve semesters. The content is similar to the German degree programme. It is divided into three phases.

Over the first four semesters, you will acquire theoretical knowledge about how the human body is structured and how it functions. This part of the degree programme focuses in particular on cell biology, histology, physiology, pharmacology and anatomy. You will also learn to work from a scientific approach. Right at the beginning of the programme, you will have contact with patients and receive training in patient care. As the programme progresses, the scope of the practical placements increases. The theoretical part of the programme consists of lectures, laboratory work, group and simulation exercises and training in clinical skills.

The second part of the training programme deals with diseases, their development, cause and spread. You will learn about various clinical pictures in different medical fields. These include, for example, gynaecology, surgery, skin diseases, neurology and psychiatry. At the same time, you will learn how to recognise and treat these clinical pictures in the clinic.

In the final part of the programme, you will perfect your medical skills and deepen your knowledge of scientific working methods. In the 10th semester you will carry out a final project.

The Swedish medical degree is recognised in Germany and other EU countries.

How much does it cost to study medicine in Sweden?

The Costs for studying medicine are low in Sweden compared to other EU countries, as Swedish universities do not charge tuition fees to their students. The only tuition costs are the registration fee for the Swedish selection test. The amount is around 4,566 INR (50 euros).

The cost of living in Sweden can be somewhat higher than in Germany. Rental prices vary greatly between the individual cities. In large cities such as Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmö, they tend to be somewhat higher and range from around 54,784 INR to 63,914 INR (600 to 700 euros). In smaller cities, however, you can also find rooms in shared flats for around 27,392 INR (300 euros) per month. You should budget around 22,818 INR (250 euros) per month for food. There are also expenses for leisure activities, transport and study materials. In total, you can expect regular costs of between 73,023 INR and 1,36,941 INR (800 and 1,500 euros) per month.

There are numerous Scholarships for studying medicine abroad that can help you with the financing.

Country and people: Exciting facts about Sweden

1. How generous! More than 1 per cent of Sweden's total gross domestic product is spent on donations abroad.
2. Mamma Mia! Sweden has a diverse musical landscape that has been internationally recognised for decades. Some of the best-known artists include Roxette, ABBA, Avicii and Ghost.
3. Almost the half of Sweden is covered with forests. The beautiful dense forests, which are interrupted by large lakes with small islands, are spread across the entire country and create an unrivalled landscape.
4. Scandinavian innovation: The pacemaker was invented in Sweden. The famous cardiologist Dr Ake Senning successfully used the first model on his patient Arne Larsson in 1958 with the support of engineer Rune Elmquist.

What do you need to consider when applying to study medicine in Sweden?

In addition to your certified university certificate, you will need the "Högskoleprovet" aptitude test to apply to a Swedish medical university. This takes place twice a year in different locations in Sweden, usually in October and April each year. You can also register to take part as a non-Swedish citizen. We will be happy to explain what else you need to know!

The application for the degree programme usually takes place via the website of the respective university. Here are the different Application deadlines to note.

Are you ready to realise your dream of studying medicine in Sweden? Contact us today and start your journey with futureMBBS. We look forward to accompanying you on your journey and working with you to realise your dream of a career in medicine.