Written by Andaç Baran
25 Nov 2015
You do not expect too much things from a small country in the cold Northern zone with just 9,5 million inhabitants especially if you grew up in very populous country.
Well… You are wrong!
Thanks to the Gulf Stream, weather is more than warmer than I expect. It is not warm at all however at least there is also no frozen solid, yet. Besides climate, why is Sweden considered a great place to study?
Well, there are quite a few good reasons, some of which I have listed below:
- Nature – Clean air, a stunning coastline and long summer nights! I have not experienced those long summer nights however the only thing Swedes talk is midsummer. Thanks to The Right of Public Access, everyone has the right to enjoy Sweden’s outdoors. It allows the public to roam freely, even on private land, to camp overnight and to pick mushrooms and berries. If you are curious how I enjoy Sweden’s nature you can read the article I wrote here.
- Infrastructure – Taxes in Sweden are considered high, but you get a great deal in return! A free education system for EU Citizens, a state-subsidised healthcare system and well functioning transport networks are all results of monies paid in to the state’s pockets.
- Family oriented – When it comes to equality between the women and men, Sweden is one of the leaders, and the men have also have a right to take paternal leave for staying home and raising young children. In Sweden, Generous child benefit allowances and couples are entitled to 480 days of paid parental leave for younger school-age children, time which can be shared between both parents.
- English speaking – With 9 years of compulsory English at school, most Swedes happily converse in English. You might have to insist to speak Swedish if you want to learn the language, as Swedes very much enjoy practicing their linguistic skills!
- Economy – Sweden is ranked number one in the world in a recent measure of economic growth and development in 2014. Swedish innovations are exported worldwide and are a key to success for many Swedish companies. I am pretty sure that you are familiar with Spotify, Volvo, Electrolux, IKEA and more. These innovation culture also makes possible to find job after your graduation.
- Education – Pretty much all schools and universitites are state-funded, which means that there are no fees. This rule is only valid for EU Citizens however Sweden has also generous scholarship opportunities for students all around the world.
- Food culture – Well, if you are a guy raised in Turkey with plenty of great and delicious foods such as Yaprak Dolma or Mantı, you will be very picky about the food. Because you will think that you have already eaten all the beautiful optionsJ However, Swedes love good food also and the range of organic produce is just getting better. Besides international kitchen restaurants all around the Sweden, Drinking tap water is safe in Sweden and saves you both money and waste.
- IT friendly – Sweden is one of world leaders when it comes to access to media technology such as digital TV, computers, mobile devices and internet. 92% of Swedes have access to the internet and courses are available for all ages through the many Study Circles. For a Digital Media student like me, the country is kind of heaven for learning and practicing.
- Beautiful capital – To be honest, thanks to my family and previous scholarships, I had the chance to visit all of Europe. Barcelona, Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Amsterdam, Rome, Florence, Zurich. Etc. I have to admit that Stockholm is the number one among them. Before coming here to study, I did not have a chance to visit Sweden, however now Stockholm is the top on my list. The city, Stockholm, frequently referred to as the “Venice of the North” as it is a gem of a city built on 14 islands and renowned for its beauty and world-class attractions city swimming, there’s something here for everyone!
