Sweden Student Visa from Bangladesh 2027

Overview

Sweden is known for high-quality, research-led universities, a strong focus on sustainability and innovation, and teaching based on independent work and group projects. Hundreds of master's programmes and a smaller number of bachelor's programmes are taught in English. Most students from Bangladesh come for a one- or two-year master's degree at universities such as KTH, Lund, Uppsala, Chalmers, Linköping or Stockholm University.

Admission and immigration are separate. You apply to most programmes through the national portal, universityadmissions.se, which charges one SEK 900 fee for up to eight choices. After you are admitted and have paid your first tuition instalment, you apply online to the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) for a residence permit for studies. For Bangladeshi applicants, the passport check, fingerprints and photo are done at the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka.

The rules changed on 11 June 2026. Students granted permits from that date may work at most 15 hours a week during semesters. Stricter study progress rules also apply: 37.5 credits in the first year and 45 credits per year after that. You must tell Migrationsverket your address within 30 days, and switching to a work permit now requires completing a programme of at least two semesters. Plan your finances assuming you cannot rely on large part-time earnings.

After graduation you can apply for a residence permit to seek employment for up to 12 months. You can then move on to a work permit if you find a job. Sweden's tuition is relatively high for non-EU students, but Swedish Institute (SI) and university scholarships can cover tuition and living costs for strong master's applicants.

What's new for 2027

• This 2027 guide is based on the rules in force in September 2026. No further changes to study permits for bachelor and master students had been officially announced for the 2027 intake. Re-check migrationsverket.se closer to applying.
• The June 2026 rules apply in full to the 2027 intake: a maximum of 15 hours of work per week during semesters, 37.5 credits in year 1 and 45 credits per year after that, and address notification within 30 days.
• The maintenance amount is set per application year. It is SEK 10,656 per month for applications made in 2026, and a new figure will apply to permit applications made in 2027. Budget for a small increase.
• New rules for family members of students apply from 1 October 2026. Anyone bringing a spouse or children in 2027 must meet the updated family requirements.
• The first admission round for autumn 2027 on universityadmissions.se opens on 16 October 2026 and closes on 15 January 2027. Fees and documents are due by 1 February 2027, and results come out on 1 April (master) and 8 April 2027 (bachelor).

Scholarships available in Sweden

Sweden's government scholarship for students outside the EU is the Swedish Institute Scholarship, and it is the one to target first because Bangladesh is on its eligibility list. Everything else is a university fee reduction, not a living allowance: the fee-waiver group pays your tuition and then requires about SEK 11,000 to 13,000 a month in living costs from your own money, so these are not fully funded places.

• SI Scholarship Global Professionals (Swedish Institute): Full tuition fees paid directly to the university each semester, a living allowance of SEK 12,000 a month, and a one-time travel allowance of SEK 15,000. Health insurance, family support, the application fee, programme changes and extensions are not covered. The 2026/27 cycle ran on the Institute's published schedule; the next cycle is expected to open and close around February 2027
• SI Pioneering Women in STEM (Swedish Institute): Full tuition fees paid directly to the university each semester plus a living allowance of SEK 12,000 a month and a one-time travel allowance of SEK 15,000. The next cycle is expected to open and close around February 2027
• KTH Scholarship (KTH Royal Institute of Technology): Full tuition fees for a one- or two-year master's, covering the first and second year as long as you pass, but no living allowance, so you still need to fund SEK 11,000 to 13,000 a month yourself. The 2027 cycle opens on 1 December 2026 and closes on 15 January 2027; results on 1 April 2027 and documents by 2 February 2027
• Chalmers scholarships (Avancez, IPOET, US Friends of Chalmers, Adlerbert) (Chalmers University of Technology): A reduction of the tuition fee for fee-paying students on bachelor's and master's programmes, valid for two years on condition that you keep passing, and covering tuition only. The Chalmers scholarship application runs alongside the programme application, with the effective deadline in mid-January 2027, since it follows the national first-round cycle
• LiU Scholarship (Linköping University): A reduction of the tuition fee for fee-paying students, awarded in the university's scholarship round. Tuition only; living costs are not covered. The 2026 scholarship round ran 26 – 30 March 2026, so the next round is expected in late March 2027
• Gothenburg Axel Adler Scholarship (University of Gothenburg): A tuition-fee waiver for fee-paying bachelor's and master's students. Tuition only; the residence permit still requires living funds of roughly SEK 11,000 to 13,000 a month. Application by 15 January 2027, with documents and tuition payment by 2 February 2027, and interviews held around 10 February 2027
• General Swedish university fee-waiver category (Individual Swedish universities, for fee-paying (non-EU/EEA) students): A tuition-fee reduction decided by each university, covering tuition only. Living costs of roughly SEK 11,000 to 13,000 a month still have to be financed and proved for the residence permit. University-specific, and most schemes run with the January national deadline, so they are applied for together with the programme
• PhD positions as paid employment (Swedish universities, such as Stockholm University): PhD positions are salaried jobs on the public-sector salary ladder. Stockholm University's ladder rises from SEK 32,900 a month at the start, to SEK 34,000 at 50% and SEK 35,000 at 80%, and the higher steps apply when the dissertation is submitted, effective from 1 October 2026. Vacancies are posted all year on university websites and through EURAXESS, with no national deadline

Who can apply

• Admission to full-time studies (at least 30 credits per semester) at a Swedish university or university college, in a programme that requires your physical presence in Sweden
• Payment of the first tuition instalment before you apply, which the university reports to Migrationsverket
• Enough money for the permit period at the maintenance rate for applications made in 2027 (SEK 10,656 per month in 2026), from savings, a sponsor, a scholarship or a student loan
• A valid passport. The permit cannot be issued for longer than your passport is valid
• Comprehensive health insurance if your studies last less than one year. Fee-paying students are usually covered through the university's state insurance (Kammarkollegiet)
• A genuine intention to study, backed by consistent documents and a clear study plan
• Meeting the English requirement (English 6) and the programme's specific entry requirements
• Applying no earlier than needed and in good time. Migrationsverket cannot grant a permit for a period when you are not studying on campus

Requirements by study level

Intermediate / A Level

Sweden has no standard foundation or A-Level route for non-EU students. Upper secondary permits are mainly for exchange students, so most Bangladeshi students apply directly to a bachelor's programme once they have HSC or A-Levels.

• Residence permits for upper secondary school are generally limited to exchange programmes, not full-time schooling for international fee-payers
• Swedish universities' preparatory (basic) years are usually taught in Swedish and are rarely an option for new international students
• Bangladeshi HSC, or A-Levels, can give general eligibility for bachelor's studies. You need a pass in Mathematics, from HSC or from SSC if HSC has no mathematics
• Students under 18 need guardian consent and arrangements for care in Sweden, and the fee is SEK 750
• If you need a foundation year, consider doing it elsewhere, for example in the UK or the Netherlands, and then applying to Swedish bachelor's or master's programmes
• The same monthly maintenance amount applies to all levels of study (SEK 10,656 in 2026, updated for 2027 applications)

Bachelor's Degree

English-taught bachelor's programmes in Sweden are fewer than master's programmes but growing. They usually last 3 years (180 credits) and are applied for through universityadmissions.se.

• Submit HSC or SSC certificates and mark sheets issued by your education board (BISE or the Technical Education Board) through universityadmissions.se
• Proof of English 6 is needed, usually IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 5.5) or an equivalent TOEFL score. Bangladeshi school English does not count
• Tuition is typically around SEK 80,000 to 150,000 per year, with higher fees for design, architecture and some engineering programmes
• For autumn 2027, bachelor results in the first round are published on 8 April 2027. Pay tuition quickly so you can apply for your permit
• You must earn 37.5 credits in year 1 and 45 credits per year after that to keep or extend your permit
• After graduating from a programme of at least two semesters, you may work without the 15-hour limit and apply to seek employment

Master's Degree

Master's programmes (1 or 2 years, 60 or 120 credits) are the main route for Bangladeshi students. Admission requires a 4-year bachelor's degree, and documents must be attested by your university.

• A 4-year Bangladeshi bachelor's (or a 3-year honours degree in some fields) is needed. A 3-year pass or non-honours bachelor's does not meet the entry requirements
• Degree certificates and transcripts must be attested (stamped and signed) by the issuing university. Notary attestation and MyGov e-apostille are not accepted
• Tuition is typically SEK 90,000 to 200,000 or more per year, depending on the university and subject
• Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals and university tuition waivers usually have deadlines in February, so apply in the January round
• IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 5.5) is standard, and some programmes require higher scores
• For autumn 2027, master results are published on 1 April 2027. Apply for your residence permit as soon as your tuition payment is confirmed

PhD / Doctorate

A PhD in Sweden is employment on the public-sector salary ladder. You apply to a vacancy, are recruited and hired by the university, and the salary is the funding, so there is no tuition and no admission round.

• PhD positions are salaried employment, not scholarships: Stockholm University's ladder starts at SEK 32,900 a month, rising to SEK 34,000 at 50% and SEK 35,000 at 80%, effective from 1 October 2026.
• The salary is gross, so Swedish income tax applies and your take-home pay is lower than the published figure, which is normal for a Swedish employment contract.
• There is no national PhD admission round: vacancies appear all year on university websites and EURAXESS, so you apply to individual positions rather than to a programme.
• Most positions require a completed master's degree (magister or licentiate) that is recognised in Sweden, and many also require work experience, so check the eligibility wording on each advertisement.
• As a student you would normally have paid the higher tuition for a degree programme; as a PhD employee you pay tuition fees at all, which is the single biggest financial change from your master's years.
• Your employer applies for the work-based residence permit, so the Swedish Institute scholarship route does not apply to you, and after graduation you can apply for a permit based on the employment you secured.

How to apply, step by step

1. Research programmes and entry requirements: Search programmes on studyinsweden.se and universityadmissions.se. Check general eligibility for Bangladeshi qualifications, English 6 and the specific entry requirements of each programme.
2. Apply on universityadmissions.se: Apply in the first admission round (mid-October to mid-January) with up to four ranked master's or eight bachelor's choices. Pay the SEK 900 application fee.
3. Submit supporting documents: Upload attested transcripts and certificates, your passport copy, English test results and any programme-specific documents by the document deadline, usually 1 February.
4. Apply for scholarships: Apply for Swedish Institute and university scholarships, which usually close in February, alongside your admission application.
5. Receive results and pay tuition: Master's results come around 1 April and bachelor's results around early April. Accept your place and pay the first tuition instalment by the university deadline.
6. Apply online for the residence permit: Complete the online application on migrationsverket.se. Upload your admission, proof of funds and passport pages, and pay SEK 1,500.
7. Passport check and biometrics in Dhaka: Book an appointment with the migration section of the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka to show your passport and give your fingerprints and photo. Migrationsverket may offer a digital passport check in its app instead, if you are eligible.
8. Wait for the decision: Migrationsverket reports that 75% of recent study permit cases are decided within about 3 months. Answer any requests for extra information quickly.
9. Collect your residence permit card: Once approved, collect your residence permit card at the embassy in Dhaka, as instructed in your decision, before you travel.
10. Travel and register in Sweden: Arrive before your programme starts, attend the university introduction, and register with the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) if your permit is for one year or more.

Document checklist

• Valid passport (Copy of the photo page uploaded online. Original shown at the embassy for the passport check and biometrics)
• Notification of selection results (admission letter) (From universityadmissions.se or the university, showing full-time studies)
• Proof of tuition fee payment (At least the first instalment. The university usually reports payment directly to Migrationsverket)
• Proof of funds for the permit period (Bank statements in your own name showing the 2027 monthly maintenance amount (SEK 10,656 in 2026) for the permit period, with a history of the account)
• Scholarship letter (If funded, the letter must state the amount per month and the duration)
• Sponsor declaration and sponsor's bank statements (If a parent or relative is funding you. Migrationsverket generally prefers funds in the student's own account)
• Health insurance certificate (Needed if your studies last less than one year. Fee-paying students are often covered by the university's Kammarkollegiet insurance)
• Online application form and fee receipt (SEK 1,500 paid by card when you submit on migrationsverket.se)
• HSC or SSC certificates and mark sheets (bachelor's) (Issued by your education board and uploaded to universityadmissions.se)
• Bachelor's degree certificate and transcript (master's) (Attested by the issuing university in Bangladesh. E-apostille is not accepted)
• English test result (IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or another accepted test, sent or uploaded as required)
• Copies of all passport pages with stamps and visas (Often requested as part of the online application)
• Study plan or motivation (Explain why you chose this programme and how it fits your plans, to support that your intention to study is genuine)
• Embassy appointment confirmation (Booked through the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka migration section for fingerprints and passport check)
• Passport-size photos (Photos are usually taken at the embassy, but bring spares)
• Guardian consent and birth certificate (Only for applicants under 18)

Costs & proof of funds

• Residence permit fee: SEK 1,500
• University application fee: SEK 900
• Maintenance requirement: SEK 10,656 per month (2026 rate)
• Tuition, bachelor's (non-EU): Approx. SEK 80,000 - 150,000 per year
• Tuition, master's (non-EU): Approx. SEK 90,000 - 200,000+ per year
• Accommodation: Approx. SEK 4,000 - 8,000 per month
• IELTS Academic test in Dhaka: Approx. BDT 25,000 - 28,000
• Flight Dhaka to Stockholm: Approx. BDT 80,000 - 150,000 one way

You must show that you can support yourself for the whole permit period. For applications made in 2026 this is at least SEK 10,656 per month, and Migrationsverket sets a new amount for applications made in 2027. Tuition must be paid separately, at least the first instalment, before you apply.

• Funds can come from your own bank savings, a scholarship, a student loan from your home country, a sponsor, or income from employment, and you can combine sources
• Money in your own account is the strongest evidence. Show a history of the account, not a sudden large deposit you cannot explain
• At the 2026 rate, a 12-month permit needs about SEK 127,872 (SEK 10,656 x 12). Migrationsverket calculates the amount based on the months of your permit and updates the monthly rate for 2027, so check the figure when you apply
• If your university provides free housing or food, the monthly amount can be reduced by SEK 4,736 (housing) or SEK 2,960 (food)
• Accompanying family raise the amount (2026 rates: SEK 4,440 per month for a spouse or partner and SEK 2,664 per month for each child), and new family rules apply from 1 October 2026
• Scholarships count only if the letter states the amount and period. Partial tuition waivers do not count as maintenance

Visa interview

There is no routine visa interview for Swedish study permits. Migrationsverket decides based on your online application. The embassy appointment in Dhaka is for your passport check and biometrics, though Migrationsverket can ask for extra information or, rarely, an interview if something is unclear.

• Make sure your online application, bank statements and admission details tell one consistent story
• Be ready to explain the source of your funds, especially large recent deposits
• Bring your original passport and appointment confirmation to the embassy
• Respond quickly and fully to any requests for extra documents from Migrationsverket
• Know your programme, university, start date and why you chose Sweden
• Be honest about gaps in your studies or previous visa refusals

Work rights

If your permit was granted on or after 11 June 2026, you may work up to 15 hours per week during semesters and without limits in June, July and August. Work that is part of your education, such as internships, research or student representation, is exempt. Students with earlier permits keep the old unlimited rules until they apply for an extension. Remember that you must also meet the new credit requirements.

After completing a programme of at least two semesters, you can apply for a residence permit to seek employment or start a business. It lasts up to 12 months, and you must apply before your study permit expires, show maintenance funds and hold health insurance if needed. If you find a job, you can apply for a work permit from inside Sweden.

Tips & common mistakes

• Apply in the January first round. The April second round usually leaves too little time for the residence permit
• Get your transcripts attested by your own university's registrar or exams office. Notary stamps and e-apostille are rejected
• Keep funds in your own bank account for several months before applying, with clear records of where the money came from
• Apply for the permit immediately after paying tuition, since processing can take up to 3 months
• Join student housing queues as early as possible. Some cities have long waits
• Do not plan on part-time work to cover your costs. The 15-hour limit applies during semesters
• Check the Swedish Institute scholarship eligibility list and deadlines, which usually fall in February
• Make sure your name and date of birth are identical on your passport, certificates and universityadmissions.se account
• Submitting documents attested by a notary or another college instead of the issuing university
• Applying for the residence permit too late, or before tuition payment is confirmed
• Showing funds in a parent's account without a clear sponsor declaration, or unexplained large deposits
• Applying with a 3-year non-honours bachelor's degree, which does not meet master's entry requirements
• Missing the 1 February document deadline, which leads to your application not being assessed
• Assuming unlimited part-time work, which is no longer allowed under the June 2026 rules
• Not telling Migrationsverket your address within 30 days of arrival

Frequently asked questions

Where do I give biometrics as a Bangladeshi student?

At the migration section of the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka (Gulshan 2). Book an appointment through the embassy, and follow the instructions in your Migrationsverket application. You do not need to travel to New Delhi.

How much money do I need to show for 2027?

Migrationsverket sets the monthly amount for each application year. For applications made in 2026 it is SEK 10,656 per month, and a new figure applies to applications made in 2027. You also need proof that you have paid your first tuition instalment.

How long does the permit take?

Migrationsverket reports that about 75% of recent study permit cases are decided within 3 months. Apply as soon as tuition is paid, usually in April or May for an August start.

Can I work while studying in Sweden?

Yes, but if your permit is granted from 11 June 2026, you are limited to 15 hours per week during semesters. You can work unlimited hours in June, July and August.

Can I stay after graduation?

Yes. After a programme of at least two semesters, you can apply for a residence permit to seek employment or start a business for up to 12 months, before your study permit expires.

Is IELTS required?

Yes, in practice. English from Bangladeshi upper secondary school does not meet the Swedish English 6 requirement. Most students use IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 5.5, or an equivalent TOEFL score.

Can I bring my spouse or children?

Family members can apply to join you, but you must show extra maintenance (2026 rates: SEK 4,440 per month for a spouse and SEK 2,664 per child). New family rules apply from 1 October 2026, so check the current requirements.

Are there scholarships for Bangladeshi students?

Yes. The Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals and many university tuition waivers are open to eligible countries. Check each year's list and deadlines, which usually fall in February.

Official resources

• Migrationsverket - Residence permit for studies at higher education
• Migrationsverket - New rules for study permits (June 2026)
• Migrationsverket - Permit to seek employment after studies
• University Admissions in Sweden - Bangladesh master's instructions
• Study in Sweden - Official guide
• Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka