In terms of quality of education, Sweden compares favorably with its international peers as a place to acquire quality education. The 2006 Education at a Glance report strengthen Sweden as a desirable study destination and today it continues to gain popularity. Sweden’s spending on education as a proportion of its GDP is rated among the highest in the world.
Unfortunately, Sweden has proposed charging tuition to all international students except those from EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. According to the higher education minister Lars Leijonborg, the new tuition system would be implemented on January 1st, 2010, at the latest.
Academics are concerned that proposals to introduce tuition fees for international students at Swedish universities could discourage gifted foreign students from coming to study in Sweden. Swedish universities and unions had objected to the government proposal. The proposal includes stipends for students that cannot afford to pay the tuition. How those stipends would be implemented and how it would impact students from developing countries is yet to be determined. The proposal is included in a bill to be presented in the autumn on how university-level international exchanges can be increased. The fees will be based on the costs incurred by the universities themselves. At the same time, a system of stipends will be implemented for students lacking sufficient funds to pay tuition.
Prospective students should make haste and apply before the 1st January 2010.
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