Financing

Students with citizenship in a country outside the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland will be required to pay a tuition fee and an application fee (more information on www.universityadmissions.se).

Living in Sweden is, however, quite expensive. One of the conditions for being granted a residence permit for studies by the Swedish Migration Board (Migrationsverket) is that you must have enough money to cover your whole stay in Sweden. The minimum sum required by the Swedish Migration Board at present is SEK 7,300 per month, approx EUR 700 or USD 800 (January 2007), for at least 10 months of the year if you plan to study for a full year. However, we recommend you to have a somewhat larger amount of money available during your study period at Uppsala. Students from EU, Switzerland, and Scandinavian countries do not have to prove that they have SEK 7,300 a month at their disposal, but have to sign a document stating that they can support themselves in Sweden. Overseas students or students from outside the EU community may not always be required to prove their financial status but must be prepared to do so if requested by the Swedish Embassy, Consulate or the Swedish Migration Board when applying for a residence permit.

A Feasible Budget
Below you find an example of a feasible budget for 10 months in Swedish crowns (SEK). Please note that you will have to cover some extra expenses (Student Union and the Student Nation fees, text books, etc) during the first months every semester. Even if clothes are expensive in Sweden it is recommended that you buy winter clothes here because it might be hard to know what to get beforehand. You will need winter clothes from October to March.

The cost of food is considered to be fairly high. Here is a list of some food products and a few other items.

Transferring money
The easiest way of transferring money from home is to open a bank account in Sweden and ask the person who sends you the money to deposit it directly into this account. Personal cheques from abroad are not cashed at Swedish banks. A bank-to-bank cheque drawn on a Swedish bank is the best type of cheque.

Travelers cheques are useful especially to cover unexpected expenses. Using a bank or credit card is often a practical way of getting money.

Cash & Credit Cards
Cash-mashines/ATM:s are called Bankomat and you can withdraw money from your bank at home if you have VISA or MasterCard. You can pay with VISA or MasterCard in most stores and restaurants.

Some Additional Advice

• Bring your admission letter and also relevant university transcripts, syllabi, lists of course literature, etc. if you have already pursued university studies.
  
  
• In Sweden you use one first name and one last name (family name). Therefore, choose before your arrival in Sweden which names you will use. If necessary, decide which one of your last names will be used when you are to be listed alphabetically.
  
  
• Go to your dentist for a thorough check-up before leaving for Sweden.
  
  
• If you are dependent on a particular medicine your doctor should contact the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) for advice about medicines available in Sweden and regulations for the importing of medicines. If you need to bring personal medication, plan to hand carry it to Sweden, since medicines cannot be sent to Sweden.
  
  
• You will also get a number of questions about your country while in Sweden. It is therefore advisable to bring some brief literature on your country and prepare some facts about it.

For more information about finances in Sweden, including instructions on how to open a Swedish bank accout, please visit: The Swedish Bankers' Association.