Written by Kelsey
14 Oct 2025
As my undergraduate experience began to wind down, I was faced with the inevitable big decision – What next? With so many potential opportunities, from going straight into the workforce to taking a gap year, I ultimately decided I wanted to pursue higher education. From there, even more decisions had to be made. What would I study? Where would I go? Spoiler alert: I went to Sweden!
For some context about me, I recently graduated from the University of South Florida (USF) in the United States, with bachelor’s degrees in Sustainability Studies and Political Science. Before moving to Sweden, I lived in Florida my entire life. Still, I always had a desire to travel and expand my horizons.
My Study Abroad Experience in Iceland
Because of my interest in travel, I worked as a Student Recruiter for USF Education Abroad for 1.5 years. This was an amazing job, where I encouraged students to study abroad and helped them throughout the application process. This role opened my eyes to the wide range of possibilities and benefits of pursuing higher education in another country. Without this job, I probably never would have even thought to look into graduate programmes outside of the US.
I even went on my own study abroad with The GREEN Program in Iceland, which focused on renewable energy innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship. It was an incredible learning experience that combined lectures at Reykjavík University’s Iceland School of Energy with experiential learning. We visited geothermal and hydropower plants, worked collaboratively with diverse peers, and appreciated stunning natural landscapes like glaciers, volcanoes, and waterfalls.
Studying abroad was genuinely one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Environmental policy has global impacts that can extend far beyond a country’s borders. We should learn from countries that truly integrate sustainability into everything they do, which put Sweden on my radar.
Sweden’s Commitment to Sustainability
Like Iceland, Sweden is one of the countries leading the charge in environmental stewardship. Given the nature of my career path, I felt that it was important to study in a country where sustainability is woven into everyday life.
Sweden boasts some impressive stats, consistently ranked highly in the Environmental Performance Index, Global Innovation Index, and Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index. Hundreds of thousands of people use bikes and public transportation daily, and even these transit systems rely on renewable fuels and green electricity. Sweden is a hub for sustainability research and innovation, aiming to further reduce the country’s environmental footprint. While no country is perfect, Sweden’s ambitious climate goals and dedication to environmental protection put their universities at the top of my list.
Sweden has lived up to these expectations. Just like I read online, public transportation, biking, and walking are super common here. As someone used to driving everywhere in the US, I’m absolutely loving walkable cities and convenient trams. Even in the middle of the city, you’re never too far from a park or a protected nature reserve (naturerreservat). I love visiting them to reconnect with nature and maybe even see some wildlife, like deer and sheep. And Swedes take recycling seriously. Sweden is literally importing trash, since only around 1% of their household waste ends up in a landfill. The rest is recycled or converted into energy! So if you’re sustainability-minded, Sweden might be the right place for you!
Love at First Sight
When I was searching for Master’s programmes, I looked at countless universities- both within the U.S. and internationally. While I found a few interesting options, nothing really spoke to me until I stumbled across the Master’s Programme in Political Science: Environmental Governance and Behavior (MaPSE) at the University of Gothenburg.
If I could have created my own programme, this would have been it. I was looking for a programme that addressed environmental challenges and solutions, but through the lens of policy action. During my undergrad, I had the privilege of working with a Florida State Representative, who was also an environmental scientist with over 20 years of experience. This experience showed me how important it is to enact effective and science-based environmental policy solutions. So, when I found a programme that combined political science, environmental studies, and psychology, I was sold.
From then on, I sort of had tunnel vision. In fact, I only applied to this programme, both within Sweden and internationally. Sure, it was a risk to put all my eggs in one basket. But I only wanted to devote my time, money, and energy to a programme I was truly passionate about. Luckily, this risky strategy ended up working out for me! But Sweden’s centralized University Admissions system makes it easy to apply to more than one program. Instead of submitting four separate applications to different Swedish universities, you can do it all in one place through University Admissions.
Whatever you’re interested in studying, chances are a Swedish university offers it! I’ve heard about so many unique programmes from my peers, from opera to video game design. Others combine subjects in interesting ways, which can make them stand out as your top choice! I know for me and many of my classmates, this was the case. The MaPSE curriculum, specifically its psychology focus, was something we couldn’t find elsewhere, which ultimately drew many of us to Sweden. To find your perfect match, you can view a more comprehensive list of subject areas and programme links here.
Comparatively Low Cost
As a prospective fee-paying student, GU’s MaPSE programme costs about $19,000 USD for the full 2-year program. While this may sound like a lot, the programmes I was considering in the US were way more expensive. Tuition rates far exceeded $20,000 for a single semester! I just couldn’t justify going into debt over programmes that weren’t exactly what I wanted. Personally, my cost of living is also lower here. When I was living in St. Petersburg, Florida, my housing costs were about 3x more expensive than my current rent in Gothenburg! Plus, June and July are rent-free months for all single rooms rented through SGS Studentbostäder. Of course, this comparison will vary depending on the cost of living in your home country and city.
Thankfully, I also received the Axel Adler Scholarship for Sustainability- a full tuition scholarship for international students. This reduced the financial stress of pursuing my Master’s degree, and made me feel even more confident about moving to Sweden! There are many other scholarships available for international students, from specific universities and the Swedish Institute. You can read more on the scholarship pages on the University Admissions and Study in Sweden websites. Plus, Jazmin breaks all of this information down on her blog post about scholarships in Sweden!
The Bottom Line
While I was confident that the University of Gothenburg was the right place for me, I did have a few moments of doubt. I think it’s natural to question if you’re making the right choice by uprooting your life, leaving your family and friends, and moving to a country where you know no one and don’t speak the language. Before I knew I received the Axel Adler Scholarship, I stressed about how I would come up with the tuition money, devising fundraising schemes and plans to work all summer.
But deep down, I knew this was where I was meant to be. I had faith that everything would work out, and so far, it has! I’m absolutely loving my life here in Sweden. While life isn’t perfect, I feel lucky to study a topic I’m passionate about with incredible new friends in a beautiful city. And there’s still so much left to see! I know the next two years will be an unforgettable experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Totally worth the leap of faith!
So if you’re thinking about applying to a Swedish university, I wholeheartedly recommend that you do it! While the practical concerns might be taking over, I urge you to follow your dreams and push past your comfort zone! You won’t regret it.
