International Student Guide

Do I need to pay a tuition fee if I want to study at BTH?

This depends on where you are from.

Applicants from the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland:
Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) does not charge any tuition fees for students with citizenship within the EU/EEA and Switzerland. Information for British citizens regarding Brexit can be found on universityadmissions.com.

Applicants from countries outside the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
Students with citizenship in a country outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland are required to pay both application and tuition fees. To find out if you are required to pay tuition fees, please read the information on universityadmissions.com.

Read more about tuition fees, how to pay, deadlines and similar here. 

Do I need to apply for Visa and Residence permit?

Students from EU/EEA countries
As an EU citizen, you do not need a residence permit. You will need a valid passport or an identity card proving your citizenship when entering Sweden.

Students from countries outside the EU/EEA
In general, all students from non-EU/EEA countries have to apply for a residence permit if they plan to study in Sweden for a period longer than three months. Please keep in mind that the process for a residence permit for studies takes time. We advise you to start the application process as soon as you receive your admission letter from us.

Read more here. 

What steps must I take before I apply for a Visa and Residence permit?

Students who are required to pay tuition fees will have to pay for their first semester of studies before a residence permit for studies can be issued. Students do not need to send a certificate to the Swedish Migration Agency that the tuition fee has been paid as it is sent electronically from BTH.

Students need to submit an admission letter to verify that they have been admitted to full-time studies. Use the admission letter (notification of selection results) which can be printed from the account at Universityadmissions.se. BTH does not issue any other admission notice/letter.

Students admitted to a course/programme of one year or less, need to confirm that they have a comprehensive health insurance to obtain a residence permit. The admission letter (notification of selection results) confirms that the student is covered by a health insurance from the university. If the student applies through the Migration Agency web application, they can attach the admission letter as proof of health insurance.

Students will also need to show that they can support themselves during their studies.

You will find all the necessary information about how to apply for a residence on Swedish Migration Agency.

What do I need to do after being admitted?

When you are admitted to one of BTH’s programmes, you must go through a number of steps in order to keep your place. Please note that all the steps below have different deadlines that differ depending on whether you have been admitted to a programme starting in the spring or autumn. Please read your welcome letter to find out what the deadline dates are.

1. Pay the tuition fee 

Non-EU/EEA students are required to pay tuition fees. Visit the tuition fee page for more information. If BTH does not receive the payment by the deadline, you will lose your place on the programme.

2. Apply for a residence permit 

Non-EU/EEA students admitted to on-campus programmes must apply for a residence permit to study in Sweden. The tuition fee must be paid before submitting the residence permit application. Visit the Migration Agency for more information.  

3. Activate your student account 

You will be able to activate your student account as soon as you have received an e-mail from BTH with information about how to activate your student account. Find more information on Student Portal – Get started. If you have not received an e-mail regarding your student account one week before the registration period closes, please contact the IT Helpdesk. 

4. Register for the courses 

You must register for the courses to keep your place on the programme. Instructions can be found on the Student portal – Get started. You can find the registration periods here. If you cannot carry out the registration yourself, contact studentreception@bth.se. 

5. Join the Programme introduction

If you cannot participate in the programme introduction, report this by email to the programme manager. 

How do I find an accommodation?

BTH has no student accommodations and cannot make reservations for students. To find accommodation, you have to make an online application or contact the housing companies or private landlords available in Blekinge. On Karlskrona municipality’s website, you can find a list of all property owners and landlords.

We recommend that you start looking for accommodation as soon as possible. If you have not applied for housing before your arrival, you may have to stay a considerable time in a hostel before you can get a student room which can be very expensive.

When you apply for an apartment, remember to check:

• How much to pay in rent
• What is included in the rent (internet, electricity, etc.)
• If you are allowed to live together with friends or not
• If the apartment is furnished or not

Remember to read the contract carefully before signing.

If you need more support:

• Contact the Student Union at bostad@bthstudent.se
• Visit the accommodation page or contact our accommodation coordinator at accommodation@bth.se.

The Student Union also invite you to join their Facebook group “Student Accommodation in Karlskrona”, where you can find accommodation possibilities.

What is expected of me when renting accommodation in Sweden?

Pay the rent on time and keep the accommodation clean.

Usually, the landlord expects the accommodation to be quiet after 10 pm on workdays and 11 pm on weekends. If it’s not stated in the contract, please contact the landlord and clarify what times are stated.

Are there any scholarships available?

Yes, there are a number of scholarships available. For instance, a BTH scholarship programme for prospective students and a BTH scholarship programme for current students. There are also scholarships administered by the Swedish Institute.

Visit our scholarship page for more information on available scholarships, key dates, how to apply, etc. 

What is the cost of living in Sweden?

Like everywhere, living costs in Sweden depend on your personal lifestyle and where you live. An estimate of what your monthly budget could look like while studying in Sweden:

• Food: 2700 SEK
• Accommodation: 4900 SEK
• Local travels: 620 SEK
• Telephone/Internet: 400 SEK
• Miscellaneous: 1964 SEK

Total: 10584 SEK

For information about the cost of living in Sweden, visit Study in Sweden at www.studyinsweden.se

Procedures for applying for personal identity and coordination numbers for international students

You must fill in the application on the Tax Agency’s website and then book an appointment at the service office for biometrics on your passport and residence permit card.

During the appointment, you must bring the printed application and the documents requested in the application.

If you want to apply at the service office and not online, you book an appointment for biometrics on the Tax Agency’s website. You then need to come to the service office in well advance before the booked biometrics time so that the application has time to process. Otherwise, the biometrics time needs to be rescheduled to another available day and time.

Book your appointment here

Application for personal identification number

Application for coordination number

Please note that the waiting time is longer than usual, between 4-18 weeks or longer, so make sure to do it at your earliest convenience.

Don’t forget to notify the agency before your departure when you have finished your studies and it’s time to leave Sweden.

What is personal identity number and do I need it?

If you are planning to study in Sweden for 12 months or more, you must notify the Swedish Tax Agency and be registered in the Swedish Population Register. Please note that you should register at the Tax Agency as soon as possible after the starting date of your residence permit. Students planning on studying for less than 12 months will not be able to apply for a Swedish personal identity number. Please read about the Coordination number below if this applies to you.

To get your Swedish personal identity number, you must fill in an application form and visit a Swedish state service centre.

You must bring your passport and letter of admission and you must have an address in Sweden before you apply. The national registration gives you access to health care in Sweden at the same cost as Swedish citizens.

When you are finished with the process and have been listed in the register, you will be given a Swedish personal identity number and be able to apply for a Swedish ID card.

The Swedish Tax Agency offer online webinars about moving to Sweden. Visit their website for more information. 

What is coordination number and do I need it?

If you will be studying in Sweden for less than 12 months and have never been listed in the Swedish Population Register, you may be eligible for a coordination number (samordningsnummer).

A coordination number is needed if you for instance have plans to work during your time in Sweden or if you want to open a Swedish bank account. Please note that some banks will only accept personal identity numbers issued to students who are here for longer than 12 months.

To apply for a coordination number, you must visit a Swedish state service centre in person and provide proof of your identity. You must also fill in the form “Coordination number – individual application” (SKV 7540). You can either fill in this form before your visit or while you are there.

For more information, visit the Swedish Tax Agency’s website.

Moving away from Sweden after your studies

What should you do when you are finished with your studies in Sweden? If you move abroad from Sweden and plan to stay away for a year or longer, you shall no longer be registered in Sweden. In such cases, you must notify the Swedish Tax Agency that you are moving abroad at least one week before departure. If you forget to submit the notification on time, you should send it as soon as possible. You will find the form SKV 7665b (Notification, Moving Abroad) for download at www.skatteverket.se. Please fill in as much information as possible, as it will ease the handling of your notification. You can watch a short film from the Swedish Tax Agency explaining how the tax system works.

If you move to another Nordic country (Denmark, Finland, Iceland or Norway), the regulations of that country determine whether you are entered into its population register. You must notify the authorities in the other Nordic country of your move there, and inform the Swedish Tax Agency that you are leaving Sweden. You will be removed from the population register in Sweden once the other Nordic country has decided to register you in its population register.

When do you cease being registered in Sweden? When you move to another country you cease being registered in Sweden as of the day you move away, as long as you have reported your move no later than on that day. If the notification is received by the Swedish Tax Agency later than that day, you cease to be registered in Sweden as of the day that the Agency received your notification.

What should you do if you return to Sweden after being de-registered? If you move back to Sweden for further studies, work or other reasons you should again notify the Swedish Tax Agency. You should then use your personal identification number that you received the first time you registered in Sweden. You can find more information on their website www.skatteverket.se.

Improved control of identities for national registration and coordination numbers

In June 2024, improvements concerning the control of identities through biometrics equipment, such as machine document review of the ID document an application carries for identification, were implemented.

The identity check involves photographing the customer’s face and scanning the ID document. After that, a machine compares the picture taken and the ID. There are also controls to make sure that the document is genuine. These identity checks will apply to those moving to Sweden or those in need of a coordination number. All identity checks are carried out at service offices.

Before the visit, you should submit an application. Applicants with a valid Bank-ID or electric identification linked to eIDAS can use the e-service called “Moving to Sweden” to submit their applications. This is done on skatteverket.se. If you do not have a Bank-ID, there is current work being done to allow you to fill in the application digitally before visiting a service centre. To avoid ques, applicants must make an appointment to visit a service centre. These appointments are booked on skatteverket.se.

Please note that there are only 58 service centres in Sweden that can conduct these biometric equipment checks. The closest to BTH is Karlskrona.

Book an appointment, submit your application and read more on skatteverket.se.

Do I need to get a insurance?

All students at BTH are insured through a personal injury insurance when you are at the Universities premises and when travelling to and from BTH. You are insured if you are on an internship or at a workplace approved by the University. However, it is crucial to make sure that you have additional medical insurance coverage in case of an emergency or if you fall ill during an off-campus activity. Read more on Kammarkollegiets website.

Visit the Insurance page on our website to get more information regarding what type of insurance you need.

Do you have meal plans?

No, we do not have meal plans at BTH. Students can choose to cook for themselves or visit the on-campus cafeteria or restaurant whenever they like and pay individually for each meal. There are microwaves and fridges located on campus that you can use if you want to bring pre-cooked food. Read more about our different dining options here and here.

What important documents must I bring to Sweden?

• European insurance card (for European students)
• Your VISA/Master card or Travel card
• Your original academic documents (diploma and transcripts) if required (for example if you are conditionally admitted)

How do I open a bank account in Sweden?

Only students with a Swedish personal identity number (see guide further up in this FAQ) are able to open a Swedish bank account. The Student Union can provide more information on how to open a bank account. You can also contact them at economy@bthstudent.se if you run into problems, but we recommend that you read closely on the website first. More contact information and opening hours may be found on the Student Union website.

Students staying at BTH for less than 12 months will not have the possibility to open a Swedish bank account. These students must have a VISA/Mastercard/Travel Card from their home countries and/or have the possibility to use internet transaction services through their home bank accounts in order to make payments in Sweden. It is also possible to send and receive a money order through the Western Union Bank offices. We strongly recommend that you make all necessary bank arrangements from your home bank before you move to Sweden.

Keep in mind the transaction and conversion fees added in frequent international transactions. Students in this situation may be required to handle their expenses in cash. However, card payment is much more common in Sweden, and not all businesses accept cash payments. The Forex office allows international customers to open a limited savings account. They also provide a service for the payment of bills using cash but take an administrative fee for doing so.

What are the career possibilities after studies?

Many of our alumni are currently working in successful industries such as Ericsson, Volvo and SAAB. At BTH, we aim to work closely with industries to provide you as a student with the best possibilities for the future. You can read student testimonials here.

There are also possibilities to continue within academia and apply for a PhD after graduation. You can read more about this and watch our PhD interviews here.

What can I do to improve my possibilities to be successful in the Swedish labour market?

There are many possibilities for you if you want to stay and work in Sweden after graduation. There is currently a lack of competent engineers and IT professionals in Sweden, so you are much needed!

To improve your chances of getting a job after graduation, we recommend that you start preparing for the future as soon as you begin your studies here at BTH. For instance, you should focus on being committed, attending all lectures even when it is not mandatory, and taking every chance to network with industries. Throughout the year, BTH invites industries to campus to help the students meet and connect with potential future employers.

Other things that we recommend that you focus on are time management and having good routines. Further, we recommend that you start thinking about different thesis subjects during your first semester as this might be your gateway into professional life. Many industries look for students who are interested in writing their thesis together with them. Visit industries websites that are relevant to you, such as Volvo and Ericsson, and look for thesis openings. Why not take the chance to ask the industry representatives about this when they come to campus? Keep an eye out for these events to improve your chances and don’t forget to network.

Where can I learn more about BTH’s Academic calendar?

In Sweden, there are two terms each year. The first term, referred to as the Autumn term, begins in August or September and lasts until early January.

There is no official Christmas break. However, there will be no classes during the Christmas week. Please note that you still may be expected to work, for example with written assignments.

The second term is called the Spring term and begins in mid-January and lasts until early June. Followed by the second term is the summer break which lasts until the next Autumn term begins.

Each term is divided into two study periods. The exact dates can be found here. 

Are there any student support functions available at BTH?

We have a number of support functions where the staff will support you during your studies. If you feel ill or have trouble keeping up with your studies and need a little extra study support, you are welcome to contact:

• General study counselling 
• Academic Skills Centre
• Conversational support
• Studying with Disabilities 

What grading system is used?

At BTH, one of the following scales is to be employed: G, Ux, U (G = Pass, Ux = Insufficient, supplementation required, U = Fail) or A, B, C, D, E, FX, F (A = Excellent, B = Very good, C = Good, D = Satisfactory, E = Sufficient, FX = Insufficient, supplementation required, F = Fail).

What do credits mean?

Sweden has a system of credits (in Swedish: högskolepoäng) used for academic studies. A normal 40-week academic year corresponds to 60 credits. The system is compatible with ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer System).

Which airport is nearest to the university and what are the recommended ways to travel from the airport to the campus?

The nearest larger airport is in Copenhagen. If you travel to Copenhagen Airport, there are direct trains to Karlskrona (sometimes this route includes one change in Malmö). If you want to be sure you get on a direct train, pick one with Karlskrona as the final destination. The train station is located at the airport, you just have to follow the signs and train platform displays.

You do not need to book tickets in advance as these trains do not require you to reserve a seat. You can simply buy a ticket from one of the ticket machines at the airport and then step on the train. However, seats located in coach 11 are bookable and we therefore advise you not to sit in this coach. It is not possible for you to reserve a specific seat as this is done via an app and cannot be done using the ticket machines. If you are unsure, ask the staff onboard the train.

The ticket machines are located in the arrivals hall. Look for the signs saying ”Track 1. This track is Sweden-bound”.  You can use the ones that say ”Skånetrafiken” or ”Tickets to Sweden”. To use this you must have a VISA, Mastercard or similar. Usually, cash will not be accepted. Therefore, we recommend you have a credit/debit card ready before you come to Sweden. If you are unsure, ask the staff at the airport.

When you buy a ticket, you will be asked to pick your final destination which is Karlskrona. You might also be asked to select if you want to travel to Sweden from Denmark via the bridge or ferry. Please pick the bridge as this is the only way to travel directly to Karlskrona.

It is possible to buy tickets using apps. However, this requires you to have internet access during the whole journey. If you are unsure, we recommend you use one of the ticket machines.