Written by Joshua
30 Jun 2025
As one of my final posts with the blog, I decided to share my answers to the most common questions I get about studying in Sweden. So, for all the new students, get your glasses out and your notepads lined up, and let’s get ready to rumble 😂.
- Are the people really that cold? 🥶 – I always say that Swedish people are a reflection of the weather. What most people don’t realize is that everyone tends to be a reflection of the weather in Sweden 😅. In the winter, everyone is more closed off, and we gradually begin to start opening up the more sunlight we get. Actually, we’re almost like flowers 🌸 now that I think about it 🥹. You can read more about my experience with the Stockholm winter here.
- Do you have to speak Swedish? – This one’s easy, no. Learning Swedish should definitely be on your agenda if you’re looking for a job or want to stay in Sweden in the future, but if you just want to do a few years of study here, it really shouldn’t matter, especially if you’re living in a big city.
- Can I find a job in Sweden when I’m finished studying? 🏢– The answer to this question is largely dependent on your response to the previous one. Speaking Swedish is almost essential to getting a job in Sweden, not just because it’s a requirement for a number of the posts, but because building a network in Sweden is probably the most important component with relation to finding a job. It’s important to know that the Swedish government is calling for highly skilled workers though, so much so that they set up a branch of the Swedish Institute primarily tasked with recruiting university graduates.
- How much does it cost to live in Sweden? 💵– Cost of living, as it is anywhere, is dependent on where in a country you live. Again, just like it is anywhere else, the closer to the city you live, the higher your living costs will be. Generally, I tell people to budget between 1000 and 1500 Euros per month to live comfortably. You can learn more about what it cost me to live in Sweden here.
- How difficult was it to find housing in Sweden? 🏠 – I guess the fact that I don’t even remember much about finding housing in Sweden is a testament to how easy it was to get my accommodation. KTH had a housing guarantee for international students, which meant that I never had to worry, I only had to accept my housing offer when I received it. What I can say is that even if you don’t like your housing offer, it’s best if you take it. Even though I thought it was difficult or impossible to change your accommodation, I’ve seen multiple classmates do it once or even multiple times over the course of the year.
- Is it difficult to get a residence permit? 📇- Everybody has a different experience. The key to managing the residence permit process is proactivity. You need to get to the point where you recognize that you’re completely responsible for your affairs very soon, not just for the residence permit process, but for your entire time abroad. Nobody’s going to do it for you, and you need to learn to be accountable and responsible for yourself when you need to.
- Did you experience racism? 😲 – This is actually a big question I get from people back home. I hear a lot from older Caribbean people about coming to Europe and facing significant racism, especially when they went to school years ago. Fortunately, however, that really hasn’t been my experience. The thing is, you may not feel welcomed with open arms in Sweden, but that’s actually the case for any foreigner, regardless of their colour. What you do feel in Sweden is safe and respected, and that’s definitely not something to take for granted in Europe, even today. Read more about my experiences as a black student in Sweden here and here.
- Can I take my family with me to Sweden?👪 – Yes, you can. Honestly, I don’t have personal experience with this topic, but I know that you can move your family to Sweden, even if you’re a student. As long as you have the resources available to support yourself and your family, and you meet all the necessary requirements, it’s possible, and I’ve seen people do it.
- Is it hard to make friends? 😁- I haven’t had problems making friends in the international student community, but it may be a bit more difficult to make friends with locals. Unfortunately, you rarely speak to a Swedish person (unless they’re drunk 😅 or it’s the summer), but there are exceptions to any rule. Maybe you’ll be the lucky one 😂!
- Is studying here difficult? 🤔 – Definitely not. Sweden has an excellent education system focused on the whole student, and their success, not their grades. You can read more about the Swedish education system here.
Looking back, after spending a year in Sweden, I can say that studying in Sweden is generally not difficult 🤷🏾♂️. The resources and support for student studies and wellbeing is mature in Sweden, and I’ve never personally had anything to worry about, and I don’t think you will either. My next post will be my final one, and I can’t wait to share it with you guys 🥹.
