Stockholm University for Pakistani students · Study in Sweden guide · Checked October 2026
Stockholm University does not need to reject you. A wrong test certificate, a missing major or a late payment can do it for them.
Competition is climbing: 11,123 applicants named Stockholm University as their first choice for an international master’s in the latest round, 14% more than the year before. The seats are limited, but the rules are public, and that is your advantage. Most of what decides an application can be checked and fixed before you press submit.
This guide to Stockholm University for Pakistani students gives you everything in order: what the university is like, what you can study, who gets in, what it costs, how to win the tuition scholarship, when to apply, where to live and what happens after graduation. All of it comes from official pages. If you are still weighing up your options to study in Sweden, this is the step-by-step route for this university.
Where good applications go wrong
Not always on grades. Often on these three.
- 1The wrong English testDuolingo is not accepted, and late documents or test results are not accepted either.
- 2The wrong majorMost master’s programmes require a specific major in your bachelor’s degree.
- 3The late paymentPay after April and a residence permit in time for the semester becomes much less likely.
- The university
- What to study
- Admission
- Tuition
- Scholarship
- How to apply
- Housing and costs
- Life and career
- FAQs
Is Stockholm University Good for Pakistani Students? Rankings and Facts
Stockholm University has about 45,000 registered students (spring 2025) and is organised into four faculties. In its latest published rankings it is 4th in Sweden in QS, 3rd in the Shanghai ranking and 6th in Times Higher Education.
What makes it different
- A campus in a park
- The main Frescati campus sits north of the city centre inside the Royal National City Park, described as the world’s first National City Park.
- The city next door
- Stockholm’s centre is a short metro ride away, on the red line from the Universitetet station near campus.
- Wide English offer
- Most English teaching is at master’s level, across science, humanities, social sciences and law.
Not sure Stockholm is the right city? Compare it with other options before you commit.
What Can You Study at Stockholm University?
For most Pakistani students, the realistic route is a master’s. The university offers more than 100 master’s programmes taught in English within science, the humanities, social sciences and law, plus a smaller set of English-taught bachelor’s programmes. Teacher education programmes are taught in Swedish.
Popular areas include computer and systems sciences, media and communications, business, political science, law, language and linguistics, and natural sciences. Computer and systems sciences has its own campus in Kista, about 20 minutes by metro from the city centre. Some master’s programmes are even open to students from different academic backgrounds, which helps if your bachelor’s major does not match.
In the course catalogue, choose “for international students” to see only programmes that do not require Swedish. Always read the programme page before you rank it.
Stockholm University Admission Requirements: Master’s Applicants
What you need
- A bachelor’s degree of at least 180 ECTS credits from an accredited institution
- English equivalent to Swedish Course English 6/B, for example through an internationally recognised test (other accepted evidence is listed on universityadmissions.se)
- Records of your previous studies, sent to University Admissions
What programmes may add
- A specific major in your bachelor’s degree, which most programmes require
- Higher English scores, for example in some English programmes
- GMAT or GRE for business master’s selection
Stockholm University does not specify one universal minimum GPA for all master’s programmes. Admission requirements and selection criteria vary by programme, so read yours carefully. If applicants exceed places, they are ranked by qualifications and the highest-ranked are admitted. Duolingo is not accepted, late documents and test results are not accepted, and the university offers no preparatory English courses. Final-year students can apply for conditional admission with transcripts and a certified document confirming they will graduate before the programme starts.
The university does not publish acceptance rates. Your Notification of Selection Results is your official proof of admission, and you need it for the residence permit. For exact test scores, check the programme page and universityadmissions.se.
Stockholm University Tuition Fees for Pakistani Students: What You Pay
Tuition is free for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens. Pakistani students normally pay, though a few exemption categories exist. Fees are charged per academic year, and the price depends on your subject:
Some programmes are priced between these amounts, and a few run with other universities and cost more, so check your programme page. An academic year is normally 30 credits per semester, and tuition is paid in instalments before each semester. The application fee is SEK 900 per semester you apply for, paid to University Admissions.
Official source: Stockholm University fees.
Stockholm University Scholarship for International Students: Full Tuition Cover
- Who can win it
- Citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland who must pay tuition.
- Which round
- You must be admitted to a master’s programme in the first international admission round.
- How it is decided
- Academic merit. Ranking Stockholm University first on universityadmissions.se gives you priority.
- What happens next
- Eligible students get an application form by email after results are published.
An award is not automatic, and it never covers living costs. Plan your budget as if you will pay tuition, then treat the scholarship as a bonus.
Other routes exist: the Stockholm Trio Scholarship (two joint programmes), arbitration scholarships (International Commercial Arbitration Law) and Swedish Institute scholarships for selected countries. Each has its own rules, so see our guide to scholarships in Sweden for Pakistani students.
How to Apply to Stockholm University: Autumn 2027 Timeline
- Applications open on universityadmissions.se (first round, recommended for international students).
- Application deadline, midnight CET.
- Application fee and supporting documents due.
- Master’s results (bachelor’s: 8 April).
- Pay your first tuition instalment, then apply for the residence permit.
- Autumn semester starts.
Pay early (latest available guidance, autumn 2026). For the autumn 2026 intake, the formal tuition deadline was 15 May, but the university warned that paying after April makes a permit in time for the semester much less likely, because processing can take up to five months. This is not a confirmed 2027 deadline, so check the 2027 payment dates once they are published.
Official source: SU important dates.
Stockholm University Housing and Living Costs: Plan Early
- Not guaranteed
- Housing is applied for separately, and there is no guarantee an offer will match your preferences.
- One offer
- You receive a single offer, and booking can take two to three months or longer.
- Priority
- Master’s students with a Stockholm University or SI scholarship get priority.
For autumn 2026, the housing application ran from 18 May to 1 June, and applications after that did not get priority. Check the 2027 window as soon as it is announced. Two different monthly figures matter for your budget:
Student Life and Life After Graduation
On campus and in the city
Teaching is in English on international programmes, and Swedish language courses are available to international students, so you can learn the local language at your own pace. The student union organises events on campus and across Stockholm, which makes it easier to meet people in your first weeks. Because the city centre is a short metro ride away, you get a capital city’s culture and job market without leaving campus life behind.
Work, permits and your next step
- While you study
- If your permit is granted on or after 11 June 2026, you may work a maximum of 15 hours per week during the semester. June to August is not capped, and work that is part of your education or at your university is not counted.
- Keeping your permit
- The same new rules raise the study-progress requirement, so passing your credits matters for extensions.
- After graduation
- Finish a programme of at least two semesters and you can apply for a permit of up to 12 months to look for work or explore a business. Apply before your student permit expires.
Never plan your finances around part-time income. Treat any job as extra, not as your funding.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stockholm University
Is Stockholm University free for Pakistani students?
Normally no. Tuition is free for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens, with a few exemption categories. Fees are SEK 90,000 or 140,000 per academic year depending on subject.
Is IELTS required for Stockholm University?
You need English equivalent to Swedish Course English 6/B. An internationally recognised test is the usual proof, and other accepted evidence is listed on universityadmissions.se. Duolingo is not accepted, and some programmes require higher scores, so check yours.
Is there a minimum GPA?
Stockholm University does not specify one universal minimum GPA for all master’s programmes. Admission requirements and selection criteria vary by programme, applicants are ranked on their qualifications, and most programmes require a specific major in your bachelor’s degree.
Can I get a scholarship at Stockholm University?
Yes. The Stockholm University Scholarship Scheme covers full tuition for one master’s programme for eligible non-EU students admitted in the first round. Selection is based on academic merit.
Can I work while studying in Sweden?
Yes, within limits. Bachelor’s and master’s students whose permit is granted on or after 11 June 2026 may work a maximum of 15 hours per week during the semester, with exceptions for June to August and for work that is part of your education. Check migrationsverket.se for the current rules.
Can I stay and work in Sweden after my degree?
You can apply for a residence permit of up to 12 months to look for work or start a business, if you complete a programme of at least two semesters. Check migrationsverket.se for the current rules.
Final Thoughts: Choose the Programme First, Then Plan the Money
Stockholm University rewards applicants who prepare: a programme that matches your degree, an accepted English test, an early application and tuition payment, and a plan for housing. Apply in the first round and check every figure on the official page.
If you want a second opinion on your profile before you pay the SEK 900 application fee, talk to professional study abroad consultants for Sweden, or message us on WhatsApp.
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