This academic year, Swedish universities started charging
tuition fees to international students. This led to a 90% decline in applications from oversea students.
The newly introduced fees range from 100.000 kronor (€11.000) till
322.000 kronor (€35.000) per annum.
The Swedish government has now recognized the gravity of the
situation and has stepped up its financial support for oversea
students. The Tuition Fee Waiver program will be allocated twice as
much money, a total of SEK60 million (€6,5 million). This fund is
designated to talented students from outside the EU who only have
to pay part of their tuition fees or nothing at all.
The Swedish Institute Study Scholarship will also grow in the
national budget from currently SEK30 million (€3,2 million) to
SEK50 million (€5,4 million). Students from developing countries
can apply for this grant that covers tuition fees (up to €35.000)
and some living costs (€735 per month).
Whether this will bring back the 117.000 applicants that decided
to apply elsewhere is rather questionable. In 2011, the Swedish
scholarship program received 7.026 applications - only 105 students
ended up receiving the money.