6 Best Scandinavian Universities for International Students

Scandinavian universities tend to be on the top of people’s lists for many reasons. Between Scandinavia consistently ranking high in quality of life rankings and the universities themselves tending to be prestigious and internationally accredited, it’s not hard to see why.

Keep reading to find some of the best Scandinavian universities in the education market today.

The University of Copenhagen

-Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

-Ranking: #7 (Europe), #30 (Worldwide)

Those looking to study in Denmark will probably have already heard of this university. Located in Copenhagen, the heart of Denmark, the University of Copenhagen is perhaps one of the largest (and oldest) institutions founded in Denmark. Together, the six faculties offer students over 200 programs, ranging from health and medical sciences to humanities, law, social sciences and even theology.

The University aims to prepare students for a broad range of jobs in the private and public sectors. For this reason, education at the University covers specific skills and scientific methods as well as other more theoretical skills that will enable graduates to improve their qualifications. Teaching and research are closely integrated in order to achieve this, first and foremost by according them equal importance in the daily work of the academic and scientific staff and whenever possible basing the teaching on research.

Lund University

-Location: Lund, Sweden

-Ranking: #29 (Europe), #87 (Worldwide)

Those looking to study in Sweden but don’t know where to begin should definitely look up Lund University-a world-class university which aims not to only enrich and educate their students but also understand, explain and improve the phenomenon of both our world and the human condition.

The University is ranked as one of the top 100 in the world. On top of tackling complex problems and global challenges and work to ensure that knowledge and innovations benefit society, they also provide education and research in engineering, science, law, social sciences, economics and management, medicine, humanities, theology, fine art, music and drama.

The University of Oslo

-Location: Oslo, Norway

-Ranking: #20 (Europe). #61 (Worldwide)

This should catch the eyes of not only those intending to study in Norway but also those intending to study business.

One of the oldest institutions in this list having been found in 1811, the University of Oslo is one of, if not the oldest and first universities in Norway. This top business school not only has a top quality business program but also affords renowned research into the fields of science, chemistry and medicine.

The university mostly specializes in master’s degrees, where students learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars and final projects. They are also familiarized with not only the latest business opportunities to discover technologies which will benefit them in the market, but are also hooked up with potential internships and study abroad from Canada.

Or if you would rather, you could stay in Norway as alumni and do some research work at the university-the program is internationally renowned and has given many contributions in the fields of science, chemistry and medicine.

Read more: 4 Overlooked French Universities

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology

-Location: Trondheim, Norway

-Ranking: #35 (Europe), #101 (Worldwide)

I can see those intending to study engineering and technology perk up at the name, but don’t let it fool you-the Norwegian University of Science and Technology may specialize in STEM subjects but they also have excellent programs for business, economics, and management.

In particular, they tend to focus more on the research aspect of it all-analyzing the data and numbers to find out the latest business trends, concoct strategies to get in optimal profits and overcome obstacles and challenges that a business or businesses may be facing. On top of this, they also have connections with many other universities and businesses, ensuring that their students will have plenty of opportunities for internships by the time they graduate.

It also helps that the tuition fees are subsidized so no need to whip out your wallet for these guys, although keep in mind that a good chunk of their courses are taught in Norwegian so you might be a bit out of luck if you’re not from Norway. Despite this, though, I still believe that this is definitely one of the top contenders for the best business school in Norway, if not the best university in Norway in general.

Chalmers University of Technology

-Location: Gothenburg, Sweden

-Ranking: #59 (Europe), #121 (Worldwide)

Those who want to study in a STEM-related field should also pay attention to the Chalmers University of Technology. The institution conducts research and education in technology and natural sciences at a high international level. With scientific excellence as a basis, Chalmers promotes knowledge and technical solutions for a sustainable world. Through global commitment and entrepreneurship, we foster an innovative spirit in close collaboration with a wider society. Chalmers was founded in 1829 and has the same motto today as it did then: Avancez–forward.

Chalmers offers a comprehensive technological and scientific education, from bachelor’s level to master’s and doctoral degrees. When you study at Chalmers, you learn to think independently, and to use engineering methods to tackle future challenges. They encourage your creativity, and believe in the importance of free thinking, letting you test your own ideas for real. To facilitate openness and cooperation between students and teachers, they pursue a truly informal atmosphere, with a non-hierarchical structure.

Read more: 5 Stellar European Universities for 2023

Aarhus University

-Location: Aarhus, Denmark

-Ranking: #22 (Europe), #71 (Worldwide)

Established in 1928, Aarhus University is Denmark’s largest research-based university. It has a reputation for academic excellence and consistently ranks within the top 100 universities worldwide.

Located in Scandinavia, Aarhus University (AU) has grown to be a world-leading research institution with a modern, dynamic and highly international study environment. It has a reputation for academic excellence and consistently ranks within the top 100 universities worldwide, most recently ranking 71st in the 2021 Shanghai Rankings. Furthermore, researchers at AU have been awarded a Nobel Prize on two occasions.

Furthermore, the teaching style at AU is relaxed and discussion-based. This is to develop critical thinking skills and encourage open debate, often within an interdisciplinary environment. Student involvement is a vital part of teaching here, and our professors really value student contributions. The relationship between student and professor is quite informal, and many professors will ask you to call them by their first name to reflect on this.

We believe that a degree from Aarhus University gives you a great starting-point for a future international career, be it in research, industry or in the public sector. In terms of international accreditation, Aarhus University’s School of Business and Social Sciences (Aarhus BSS) is accredited by AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS for the school’s core business activities – which means that Aarhus BSS is a Triple Crown accredited business school.

Things to Know Before Studying in Scandinavia

Before you head on off to start your education abroad, there are some things you should know beforehand.

Costs of living in Scandinavia

Keep in mind that:

1. 1 Euro = 11 Swdish kroner
2. 1 Euro = 7.5 Danish kroner
3. 1 Euro = 10.5 Norweigan kroner

• Tuition fees: Bachelors and Masters tend to be free for EU residents. PhDs are usually free regardless of residence. Scholarships can be received via the Swedish government, individual universities or programs sponsored by other countries. Average costs of degrees are usually:
  • 7,500 to 10,000 EUR a year for Social Science and Humanities
  • 11,500 to 14,000 EUR a year for Engineering, IT and Natural Sciences
  • 18,000 to 22,000 EUR a year for Architecture and Design
• Rent: This depends on the country. Costs usually vary depending on the city. Average cost of a one-bedroom apartment would usually be around:
  • Swden: 825 EUR a month (inside city) or 630 EUR a month (outside city)
  • Denmark: 1,010 EUR a month (inside city) or 735 EUR a month (outside city)
  • Norwamy: 1,010 EUR a month (inside city) or 820 EUR a month (outside city)
• Food: Price of this will fluctuate HEAVILY depending on where you buy your groceries from and how often you eat outside. The rough estimates are:
  • Sweden: 10 EU for a meal (inexpensive restaurant), 150-250 EUR for monthly expenses on groceries
  • Denmark: 18 EU for a meal (inexpensive restaurant), 200-270 EUR for monthly expenses on groceries
  • Norway: 20 EU for a meal (inexpensive restaurant), 230-300 EUR for monthly expenses on groceries

Other essentials such as clothes, transportation and hobby expenses vary on both the country and city.

Student life in Scandinavia

Scandinavian people are generally more reserved than their European counterparts-probably the most reserved of them all. This isn’t like Spain or Italy where you’ll make a lot of friends just by existing, but if you keep at it and be patient the people will warm up to you. In terms of entertainment, each country provides plenty in that lot-museums, cinemas, gyms, restaurants, clubs, you name it. The people may be a bit stiff but if you put your back to it there won’t be a dull moment in your time there.

International students in Scandinavia

International students will fit right in Scandinavian countries-especially if they come from other countries in the EU. Students visiting from Anglo-American countries such as Canada or New Zealand will also be met with acceptance. They’ll be courteous and acceptive of you in general, but Arab students might want to tread carefully-the refugee crisis left a bad taste in most of Europes mouth.

Conclusion

And there you have it-a neat brief list of some of the best universities you can find in Scandinavia. If you’d like to do more research on the matter, be sure to check out UniApp.