MBA in Sweden: Top MBA Colleges in Sweden, Requirements, Fees, Scholarships

MBA is a multifaceted degree that prepares you for management and executive level jobs. You can complete your MBA within 12-24 months depending on whether you are studying full-time or part-time. There is a good demand for MBA professionals in various sectors and not only in Sweden but all around the world.

MBA in Sweden for international students has a positive return on investment which you will see in this blog. This guide will help you plan your MBA in Sweden with details regarding popular universities, eligibility criteria, Sweden MBA fees, scholarships and more. 

If you are considering applying for MBA in Sweden for international students, here are some points that will help you in making an informed decision:

• Career prospects: MBA is one of the highest paid degrees around the world which is what attracts millions of aspirants every year. You will find jobs after MBA in a number of sectors depending on your area of specialization. 

• Easy admission process: Sweden has quite an easily navigable admission process which is a major plus point for students who wish to apply on their own. Universities in Sweden accept applications through the centralized application portal which also allows you to apply to multiple institutions and manage applications at one place. 

• Minimal admissions requirements: Universities in Sweden have minimal admission requirements. You will find MBA programs in Sweden even without GMAT scores or work experience. The requirements for MBA are in line with other master's degree programs in Sweden which is generally not the case in other countries which demand a more competitive admission profile for applying to MBA programs compared to other master's degrees. 

• Excellent job opportunities: Sweden is home to several multinational companies such as IKEA, Volvo, H&M, etc. that are all looking for talented and young individuals with potential.

There are various options for pursuing an MBA in Sweden that you can choose from. Some of the most popular ones are full-time MBA, part-time MBA, international MBA and executive MBA. Let us briefly explore each of these types of MBA in Sweden for Indian students:

Full-time MBA

Full-time MBA in Sweden can be completed in 1-2 years. A number of specializations are available for full-time MBA programs. 

Executive or Part-time MBA

Executive MBA or part-time MBA is designed for working professionals with industry experience. The program duration ranges between 18 months to 24 months. Some top universities offering executive MBA programs include:

1. University of Gothenburg, School of Business, Economics and Law

2. Stockholm University, Stockholm Business School

3. Stockholm School of Economics

4. Lund University, School of Economics and Management

Suggested: Best universities for masters in Sweden!

MBA or business-related programs in Sweden are a popular choice among students and are offered by coveted universities in Sweden. Take a look at the list of universities for best MBA in Sweden:

1. Stockholm School of Economics

2. Lund University

3. Uppsala University

4. Blekinge Institute of Technology

5. Linkoping University

6. Mid Sweden University

7. University of Gavle

8. Stockholm University

9. University of Gothenburg

10. Lulea University

11. Umea University

Universities in Sweden offer various specializations to choose from. Depending on your academic background and interests, you can choose from the following popular areas for MBA in Sweden:

• Accounting and finance

• Marketing

• Human resources

• Executive

• Information technology

Applying for an MBA in Sweden requires you to manage a lot of documents, deadlines and submissions. You will have to start looking for universities around a year before the program starts and review the admission requirements, process, important dates, etc. Here is a discussion on the admission process for MBA in Sweden for international students:

1. Applications for MBA in Sweden are accepted through universityadmissions.se which is the centralized application portal for admission to Swedish universities.

2. While filling out the application through universityadmissions.se, make sure you rank the programs in order of preference if applying to several universities.

3. Complete the application and submit the necessary application fee i.e. generally 900 SEK. 

4. Prepare documents to be submitted along with the application.

5. Keep tracking the status of your application regularly and reply to offers for admission within the deadlines.

6. After you have enrolled at the institution of your choice and received the enrollment letter, you can go ahead with the application for residence permit.

There are some general eligibility criteria to be fulfilled for MBA in Sweden while universities may specify admission requirements individually. Take a look at the eligibility criteria common for admission to MBA across Sweden:

1. Bachelor’s degree

2. English language test scores

3. Work experience

4. Residence permit to study in Sweden

Discussed below are each of the requirements to study MBA in Sweden for international students:

1. Bachelor’s degree
   
   

The most basic requirement for studying Sweden MBA programs is a completed bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution which is equivalent to 180 credits of a Swedish bachelor’s degree.

2. English language test scores
   
   

Proof of English language proficiency is a mandatory component of your application to study MBA in Sweden as international students. A score equivalent to English 6 is recommended for admission. IELTS and TOEFL are among the most commonly accepted English language test scores at MBA colleges in Sweden. Take a look at the minimum requirements:

• IELTS score of 6.5, with no band below 5.5.

• TOEFL-iBT score of 90, with minimum writing score of 20.

3. Work experience
   
   

MBA being a competitive program requires applicants to have some prior work experience for better understanding. Though not compulsory, work experience is quite important for the best MBA in Sweden. Minimum work experience of 2-3 years is recommended for admission.

4. Residence permit to study in Sweden
   
   

If you are an international student applying for programs longer than 90 days in Sweden, you will have to apply for a residence permit to study in Sweden. You will only be able to apply for a residence permit for Sweden after receiving a letter of admission to study MBA in Sweden.

Applying for an MBA in Sweden requires extensive paperwork to support your application. A list of general documents you will need to apply for MBA in Sweden for Indian students has been provided below:

• Academic transcripts from undergraduate degree

• Official transcript with English translation, if required

• Proof of English language proficiency

• Updated CV

• Work experience

• Letters of recommendation

• Personal statement

• Financial documents

• Copy of passport

Yes, it is possible to do an MBA without GMAT in Sweden. In fact, it is one of the major advantages of doing MBA in Sweden that most top universities usually do not ask for GMAT scores. This also means admissions are completely dependent on your previous academic records, English language skills and work experience. 

Having known that it is possible to pursue MBA in Sweden without GMAT, the next question that comes to your mind is can I do an MBA without work experience. Let's see the answer to this question:

The good news is yes! There are universities in Sweden that allow you to apply for an MBA in Sweden without prior work experience. Though prior work experience gives you a competitive advantage, it is not impossible to pursue MBA without work experience. Take a look at the universities that you should consider while applying for an MBA without work experience:

• Mid Sweden University

• University of Gavle

• Stockholm School of Economics

Suggested: How to pursue MBA abroad without work experience?

MBA is an expensive degree but an investment worth it. While studying in Sweden, you will pay tuition fees, rent of accommodation, food, travel and personal expenses.

• Sweden MBA fees range between 200,000-360,000 SEK per year.

• MBA in Sweden for Indian students costs around 16,00,000-30,00,000 INR per year.

• You will need 8,568 SEK per month for living in Sweden as international students i.e. around 69,400 INR per month for Indian students.

• The rent of accommodation takes up the major share of your expenses while living in Sweden which is around 3,500 SEK - 4,500 SEK per month followed by food, travel, utilities and miscellaneous expenses.

Now that we have learned about Sweden MBA fees, let us discuss what are your scholarship options. There are several scholarships awarded by top universities in Sweden to international students that cover a significant part of an MBA in Sweden cost.

Take a look at the top scholarships for MBA in Sweden for international students:

• Karlstad University Global Scholarship Program

• Mid Sweden University Tuition Fee Scholarships

• Lund University Global Scholarship Program

• University of Gothenburg Study Scholarship

• Uppsala IPK Scholarships

• Umea University Scholarship for International Students

• Linkoping International Scholarship 

• Blekinge Institute of Technology Scholarship Programme

• Stockholm University Scholarship Scheme

• University of Gavle International Scholarship Program in Sweden

• Stockholm School of Economics MBA Funding for International Students in Sweden

You can expect to be hired for executive and management related jobs in Sweden with an average salary of 61,100 SEK per year. Stockholm, Goteborg and Malmo are among the highest paying cities in Sweden. Graduates with a MBA in Sweden are welcomed by companies like:

• Deloitte Sweden

• IKEA

• Volvo

• ABB

• Citigroup

• RBS

• Carnegie

The popular job titles and salary expectation after Sweden MBA programs are discussed in the table below:

An MBA in Sweden is definitely an investment that will pay off soon enough. Sweden is still growing as a study abroad destination which is why there are ample opportunities for students. If you are applying to other countries like the UK, USA or Canada, you will face stiff competition and might not make the cut or have to settle for less. By studying in Sweden, you will find rewarding options with a good academic profile that will eventually lead to well-paid jobs.