Sweden is one of the top destinations for international students for a reason: it is a country that values education and diversity, with numerous colleges and universities that are recognized for their excellence in the field of study you wish to pursue. As an international student in Sweden, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from some of the best professors in your field and make lifelong friends with students from all over the world. But as an international student, you might be wondering whether you’re allowed to work while you complete your studies in Sweden. The answer is yes!
If you’re looking for a part-time job during your studies in Sweden, the good news is that you have the right to work while you study. Though there is no official limit to the amount of hours that you can work during your studies, it’s important to keep in mind that you’ll be expected to spend approximately forty hours per week attending lectures, reading, studying, and working on assignments. As a result, it’s best to plan on keeping your job around 10-15 hours per week.
You should also be prepared to apply for jobs early—it’s not uncommon for employers to begin hiring as far as six months before they need employees. Consider doing an internship during your time abroad: interning at a Swedish company will allow you to gain valuable experience while earning money and improving your language skills!
Finally, remember that Swedish companies are more likely than American ones to hire international students who are fluent in their native language; if you’re planning on applying for a job outside of the university, it would be good idea to find a Swedish tutor and start practicing now!
How to Find a Job in Sweden as an International Student
If you’re looking for work while studying abroad, you don’t have to look any further than Sweden.
Sweden’s economy is growing at a rate of 2.6% per year, and there are more than 200,000 international students from over 120 countries studying in the country. In addition to the excellent job market and affordable living costs, Sweden also has its own language, which gives a huge advantage for international students.
Working in Sweden as an international student means that you can have the best of both worlds. You can live and study in a world-class education system, which ranks among the top ten universities in the world for its quality and innovation, and you can also experience life in a country where people are happy to speak English with you.
There are no restrictions on working hours or pay: your employer can ask you to work full time or part time, depending on what they think is best for their business. If they prefer full-time work, they may require that you do so each week; if they prefer part-time work, there are no restrictions on how many hours per week you must be employed.
Jobs are available across all sectors of industry: accounting; engineering and technology; information technology support; journalism/media studies; broadcast/film production and design.
Candidates who hold educational qualifications from outside Sweden will not be discriminated against when applying for jobs—it’s not necessary to have completed a degree at one of the country’s universities before being considered for employment.
Why should an international student work in Sweden?
- Workers union are extremely powerful in Sweden. For them, the safety and health of employees is of utmost importance.
- Anti-discrimination legislation in Sweden makes sure that each individual in Sweden is treated with equal respect regardless of gender, religion, age and sexual orientation.
- Students can bring their closest family members (for example, spouse) as they too get a residence permit to work in Sweden
- Jobs in Sweden for international students give many comprehensive social benefits like cost of healthcare for a child, 18 months parental leave and sick leave benefits.
Sweden work permit: How to apply, costs, documents required
After completing their study in Sweden, students from the European Economic Area (EEA) and European Union (EU) can directly apply to work in Sweden.
Students from non-EU/EEA countries need to apply for a Sweden work permit
Many international students have shared that finding a part time job in Sweden is difficult. Some native students feel this way at times, too. This is for a few reasons, first, because most part-time jobs require you to speak Swedish. This is not the case for every job, but it’s definitely the case for most of the jobs that are there. Jobs for people who speak other languages will just take some time to find, and you have to be deliberate about it. Visit the companies that you want to work at. Put ads up and look at job ads on notice boards at your university or at public buildings in the area.
Another place that you can look is on campus at your university. They may have jobs that are set aside for those who are paying tuition to go there, and all of them are on campus or through campus programs. These positions are not very common, and they will differ depending on what university you are going to. Work programs on campus can also give you opportunities that you wouldn’t get in other jobs, so if you can find them, seek them out first. You may even be granted a working position as a part of the exchange program that you are in, if you are coming into the country as an exchange student.
Even though it may be difficult to find a job, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. There are a number of search engines that you can use in order to find part time jobs in Sweden, and many of these sites will offer you jobs from all over the country. Here’s a quick list of job hunting resources that you can utilize while searching for a part-time position.
Arbetsförmedlingen – This is the largest agency in the country, and helps thousands of Swedes and migrants to get jobs every single year. Even though most of its services are for Swedish speakers, you can find jobs that aren’t on occasion. Some jobs may even require English as part of the requirements, so make sure that you take a look.
Academic Work – This Swedish agency was developed especially to help students, both those who are studying abroad and those who are native to Sweden. It even includes jobs that do not require you to speak Swedish. This agency has an easy to use format and can help you find the job that you are looking for.
The Local – The Local is an online newspaper that prides itself in offering Swedish news to the masses in an easy-to-read, English format. Even if you aren’t looking for a job, keep an eye on this website; they give up-to-date information and news that you may want to know while living in Sweden. They, like most newspapers, have a job ads section that you can check out. It is kept up-to-date as well.
EURES – EURES is a job portal that offers jobs all throughout Europe, not only Sweden. But you can still find a number of Swedish jobs on there that you can apply for, even on a part time basis. Make sure to keep an eye out for where the job is located, especially because it includes jobs from all around the continent.
You can also look for jobs at a grocery store, or the local mall. You can find these by looking online or going in person to ask if they are hiring. These jobs may be part time, and they will likely be entry level positions, but they are a good way to pay your expenses while you are studying.
You can also look for jobs at a grocery store, or the local mall. You can find these by looking online or going in person to ask if they are hiring. These jobs may be part time, and they will likely be entry level positions, but they are a good way to pay your expenses while you are studying.
So, if you are looking for a job so that you can work while you are studying, those are some of the places that you can look. There may also be resources local to the area around your university; your university can give you more information on that if it is applicable for your situation. It may take you awhile to find a job that works for you, especially if you live in a more populated area of the country. You may want to start your job search a couple of months before you start your education. This is why it’s especially important for you to have money saved and/or