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Tuition fees and funding

With a few exceptions, all citizens of countries outside of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are required to pay application and tuition fees for education at Swedish universities at the undergraduate and master's level.

Application fee 

Students with citizenship in a country: outside the EU/ EEA, or Switzerland, will be required to pay an application fee. The application fee must be paid by the deadline indicated at the University Admissions website in order for your university application to be processed.

Students pay one application fee for each semester they submit an application for, regardless of how many courses or programmes they have applied to in that semester. For questions regarding your application fee, please visit the University Admissions website.

Tuition fee

Per the Swedish Code of Statutes, SFS 2010:543, all non-EU/EEA citizens are required to pay tuition for studies at the level of higher education, with a few exceptions.

A tuition fee is invoiced after the student has been assessed as being required to pay tuition according to the law, based on the documents provided during the admission process. The invoice is valid until the student provides documentation proving their exempt status per SFS 2010:543.

Tuition fee levels

The tuition fee levels vary depending on the course and programme. Visit our website for a summary of the tuition fee levels.

Information on tuition fees for specific courses and programmes can be found on the website of each course and programme and on the University Admissions website.

The tuition rates for degree programmes and full-time studies range from SEK 93,000 per year to 364,500 per year, depending on the field of study. 
Once you are (conditionally) admitted to studies the cost of your tuition will be stated on your Notification of Selection Results.

Tuition fee exemptions

In general, individuals who are citizens of countries outside of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are required to pay application and tuition fees. There are, however, some exceptions to this general rule.

On the University Admissions website you can find more information about who is required to pay for their studies. If you are a citizen of the United Kingdom and you are unsure if you need to pay tuition fees you can find more information about this at universityadmissions.se.

Exchange students (students attending Umeå university as part of an exchange agreement) are not required to pay tuition fees.

Refund of paid tuition

Students who wish to apply for a refund must contact Umeå University. Their application should be submitted in English and state the reason for the refund. Supporting documentation should be provided in English, preferably before the start of the semester. For further information and access to the refund form, please contact tuitionfees@umu.se.

If you have already contacted the tuitionfees team about a refund you will be sent the application form and further instructions. There is no need to contact them again unless you are asked to provide additional information.
 
Due to the heavy workload at the start of each semester we do not start the processing of refund applications until about a month into the semester. You should after this have a decision on your application by mid-November for the autumn semester and mid-April for the spring semester. If you have not had an update on your application by 15 November (autumn) and 15 April (spring) please contact the tuitionfees team. All documentation and emails sent in to tuitionfees@umu.se will be taken into consideration before a decision on the application is made. If further information is required the tuitionfees team will contact you. 

In case of refund, please note that a student who has registered for a course and has not been granted early discontinuation within three weeks from the start of the course, is no longer able to receive a refund for that course. To make an early discontinuation, you have to contact the study administrator at your department

Umeå University’s decision is based on the documentation provided by the student. If further information is required, Umeå University will contact the student. If no further information is provided despite reminders from the university, a decision is made based on the available documentation.

If the request for repayment is granted it is refunded to the same bank account that the tuition fee was paid from. Umeå University is not responsible for exchange rate changes or bank fees.

Refund of paid tuition is possible under the following circumstances:

  • If the programme or course has been cancelled by the university.
  • If the student has made an incorrect payment (e.g. a double payment).
  • If the student has a change in status (e.g. granted EU citizenship or a residence permit in Sweden for reasons other than studies). In this case the reimbursement is not retroactive.
  • If the student has other extraneous circumstances which hinder their participation in studies (e.g. if the student has been denied a residence permit by the Swedish Migration Agency)

Refund is not applicable for amounts less than 1000 SEK.

A student who has been suspended from studies due to non-payment of tuition or based on a decision from the Disciplinary Board, Administrative Court, The Higher Education Appeals Board, or Higher Education Expulsions Board, will not receive a reimbursement.

We encourage you to thoroughly read the Rules for tuition fees.

Information for new students

Payment of your tuition fee is a requirement to start your university studies. If you are required to pay tuition fees you are conditionally admitted until the payment of the first installment (first semester) is received by the university.

A payment confirmation is sent out to the student after the tuition fee has been settled (either via bank transfer and/or scholarship), no other confirmation of payment is provided by Umeå University.  

The total fee for a programme is specified when the application for studies is made at University Admissions and is also noted on the Notification of Selection Results which is published after admission. This total fee is then divided into installments for each semester, each installment needs to be paid ahead of each semester in accordance with the instructions on the invoice. See section below to current students for more information about the second installment and onwards.

It is not possible to register for courses and participate in any lectures until the tuition fee payment for the upcoming semester is made in full.

Application for studies

New students should apply in the first admissions round. Applying in the first (international) admissions round will give you the best possible chance to be able to start your university studies, as this allows for more time towards your residence permit application process.

It is only students that do not require residence permit that should apply in the second (national) admissions round. Applying in the second (national) admissions round will mean there will not be enough time to apply for and receive the required residence permit.

You can find important dates on the University Admissions website: https://www.universityadmissions.se/en/key-dates-and-deadlines/autumn-semester-dates/

Paying the invoice

Invoices for new students that have applied for a programme are sent out within a week after the Notification of Selection Results are published. Payment must be received by Umeå University 10 June at the latest for the autumn semester and 10 December for the spring semester.

Tuition fee invoices are sent out via email, along with payment instructions. The tuition fee is to be paid via an international bank transfer (wire-transfer). Further instructions will be provided on the invoice. Before making your payment, we encourage you to thoroughly read the Rules for tuition fees

Upon payment you will be sent a payment receipt via email. Please note that it may take up to a week for an international payment to reach us.

New students that have applied for free standing courses will be invoiced after the Notification of Selection Results are published. The invoice needs to be paid by the deadline stated on the invoice. 

A new student that has not paid their tuition fee before the due-date stated on the invoice will lose their place on the programme or course that they have been invoiced for.

Application for residence permit

EU/EEA citizens have the right to work, study or live in Sweden without a residence permit. If you are from outside of EU/EEA you have to apply for a residence permit. The Swedish Migration Agency is the government agency responsible for this.

If you have any questions regarding your application for a residence permit or visa, please contact the Swedish Migration Agency.

The first instalment of the tuition fee must be paid before your application for a residence permit can be processed. Upon payment you will be sent a payment confirmation via email with further information. The Swedish Migration Agency is notified of your payment shortly thereafter.

It is very important for you to begin the visa/residence permit application process as early as possible since it usually takes some time. By reading the Swedish Migration Agency’s requirements thoroughly and submitting a complete application, with all necessary details at once, you avoid unnecessary delays in your process. Further information related to the residence permit is available on the Migration Agency's webpages.

It is each student’s responsibility to make sure that they have enough time for the visa/residence permit process to allow arrival in Umeå in time for classes. The last date to begin studies is noted on the Notification of Selection Results, available at universityadmissions.se. This date is fixed, and failure to register for classes by that date will mean losing your spot in the course/programme.  
 
How to apply for a residence permit:
Learn more about how to apply for residence permit from this film by Study in Sweden.

Please note that in Sweden, universities cannot contact the Migration Agency on students’ behalf, nor are they allowed to influence the Migration Agency’s decision or procedures. The Swedish Migration Agency is not allowed to share details of your application with universities, due to confidentiality.

 
Information for current students

Current students studying a programme will be invoiced for the full tuition fee for the upcoming semester. The tuition fee amount invoiced each semester for a programme is always the same and corresponds to full time studies, i.e 30 credits, regardless of if the student chooses to register for less than 30 credits.

It is not possible to register for courses and participate in any lectures until the tuition fee payment for the upcoming semester is made in full.

Paying the invoice

Payment for semesters two and onwards within a programme must be received by Umeå University 10 June at the latest for the autumn semester and 10 December for the spring semester. 

Tuition fee invoices are sent out via email, along with payment instructions. The tuition fee is to be paid via an international bank transfer (wire-transfer). Further instructions will be provided on the invoice. Before making your payment, we encourage you to thoroughly read the Rules for tuition fees

Upon payment you will be sent a payment receipt via email. Please note that it may take up to a week for an international payment to reach us.

If the tuition fee is not paid before the due-date stated on the invoice the process to suspend the student is initiated. A decision of suspension means that the student will not be able to participate in classes, exams and other activity that falls within the realm of education at Umeå University.

Free standing courses are invoiced separately from the semester fee. The invoice needs to be paid by the deadline stated on the invoice. In case of non-payment of invoices for freestanding courses the student will lose their place on the course that they have been invoiced for.

Swedish course

The International Office offers tuition fee-paying students and scholarship holders the chance to take part in one (1) Swedish language course during their studies, free of charge (no payment required). The offer is sent via email to students currently studying at Umeå university. The offer is given to students on their second semester and later. The course does not give any academic credit.

The Swedish language course is offered to non-EU/EEA students via an agreement between the International Office and the Department of Language Studies at Umeå University.

The invitation to apply is sent out in October ahead of the spring semester and in May ahead of the autumn semester. If you believe that you are eligible and have not been sent an invitation please email tuitionfees@umu.se.


To be eligible to apply for the Swedish Course for Beginners you need to:

  1. Be a citizen of a country outside of EU/EEA and Switzerland
  2. Have not taken part in any of our free Swedish courses befor
  3. Have studied at least one semester at Umeå University when the course begins
  4. Have to be an active student
  5. Have paid the tuition fee installment for your programme for the semester that the Swedish course is offered, before the due date stated on the invoice

COVID-19

Since 1 April 2022, COVID-19 is no longer classified as a threat to public health and a danger to society in Sweden.

Frequently asked questions about admission and deferment of admission

Where can I find information regarding my admission for studies?

The official letter of acceptance is the Notification of Selection Results that you can download from your account at universityadmissions.se.

I wish to decline my admission. What do I need to do? 

To decline your admission, please log on to universityadmissions.se and decline your offer. This will allow for students currently on the reserve list to be admitted.   

We welcome you to apply to Umeå University again in the future and wish you all the best.   

I wish to apply for deferment of my admission. Where can I find further information?

If you have been admitted to a course or programme, but due to valid reasons are unable to take your place the semester when the course or programme starts, you have the possibility to defer the start of your studies for a later semester.  

Valid reasons include severe health problems such as recovery after an operation, care of children under one year of age, military or civic service, student union assignments or that your employer has denied or postponed your application for leave for training. Deferment can be granted for up to 18 months.   

Please note that the university never grants a deferment if you have not paid the tuition fee.   

If you want to apply for a deferment, please fill in this form and follow the instructions carefully.

If you have any questions regarding deferment, please contact
international.admissions@adm.umu.se.   

Frequently asked questions about tuition fees

When will I receive my invoice?

New students  
In order to receive a tuition fee invoice, you must first be admitted to studies for the upcoming semester. Once a student has been admitted to studies, they usually receive their tuition fee invoice via email within 1 week after the final Notification of Selection Results has been published. If you have not received your invoice within 10 days of your final admission, please contact tuitionfees@umu.se.   
   
Current students  
Current students studying a programme will be invoiced ahead of the upcoming semester. They are invoiced for 30 credits, regardless of the number of credits the student has been conditionally admitted to or plan to register on. Invoices are sent out 30 days before the start of the semester at the latest. Free-standing courses will be invoiced separately after admission.   

Check your spam folder, sometimes the invoice ends up there.

Please also be aware that if you have changed your email address on your University Admissions account, you also need to send an email to tuitionfees@umu.se about the change of your email address. The two systems are not connected and we need to update your email address manually in our system.

If you during your studies wish to change the email address you use for contact with and invoices from Umeå University, you must:

  1. Update your email address on universityadmissions.se.
  2. Send an email to tuitionfees@umu.se with a request to change your email address.

What does the tuition fee cover?

The tuition fee covers your studies at the course or programme, during the time for which you have paid.

The tuition fee is calculated to cover costs related to lectures, lab-work, study infrastructure (computer labs, library privileges) and other study related expenses that Umeå University incurs.

As a service to tuition fee paying students, Umeå University offers accommodation assistance via the Umeå University Accomodation Service.

You are also covered by the Swedish state's insurance, FAS+ for the duration of your studies. 

Umeå University also provides one Swedish Language class, at beginner level, free of cost to all tuition fee paying students. Invitations to apply are sent out via email ahead of the upcoming semester to students that fulfill the criteria. More information on the Swedish course further down on this page.

When do I need to pay my tuition fee? What happens if I cannot pay on time?

Invoices are sent out via email, along with payment instructions and the rules for tuition fees.

A new student that has not paid their tuition fee before the due-date stated on the invoice will lose their place on the programme or course that they have been invoiced for.

If a current student has not paid the invoice before the due-date the process to suspend the student is initiated. A decision of suspension means that the student will not be able to participate in classes, exams and other activity that falls within the realm of education at Umeå University.

Please see more information further up on this page.

Can I pay the invoice in installments?

You can pay the invoice in installments and from different sources, but the total fee specified on the invoice needs to have reached our bank account before the due date. We do however prefer if the payment is done in one transaction. It is very important that the payment reference specified on the invoice is noted on the transaction when making the payment. This helps us locate and match the transaction received to the invoice, if this is missing there may be delays in processing your payment. If several payments are made towards the same invoice this payment reference should be noted on the transaction for each transfer.

Can I extend my payment deadline?

New students
The tuition fee needs to be paid before the due-date stated on the invoice. Exceptions are not made on the last date to pay the invoice. A new student that has not paid their tuition fee on time will lose their place on the programme or course that they have been invoiced for.

Current students
If the tuition fee is not paid before the due-date stated on the invoice the process to suspend the student is initiated. A decision of suspension means that the student will not be able to participate in classes, exams and other activity that falls within the realm of education at Umeå University. Once payment is received the process to repeal the suspension is initiated.

I have paid my invoice. Why have I not received a confirmation email?

Once you have paid your invoice and we have received your payment, you will receive a payment confirmation via email. Usually, it takes some time before the payment process is completed, so please be patient. If you haven't received a confirmation within two weeks after you made the payment, you are welcome to contact us. If you do contact us, please attach the swift copy of your payment.   

I believe that I am exempt from tuition fees. What should I do? 

If you have reason to believe that you may be exempt from tuition fees, we recommend you do the following:  

  1. Review the information on this website to check whether you fulfill the requirements for an exemption:  https://www.universityadmissions.se/en/fees-scholarships-residence-permit/who-is-required-to-pay-fees/ 

  2. Upload supporting documents to universityadmissions.se. Which documents to upload will depend on your situation. If you have citizenship in an EU or EEA country, or Switzerland, you will need to upload a copy of your passport. If you have been granted temporary Swedish residency for reasons other than studies, you will need to upload a copy (all pages) of your decision from the Swedish Migration Agency.  

  3. Once you have uploaded your documents, send an email to tuitionfees@umu.se. The tuitionfees team will then review your documents and get back to you. 

How do I apply for a refund of paid tuition fee?

Students who wish to apply for a refund must contact Umeå University. Their application should be submitted in English and state the reason for the refund. Supporting documentation should be provided in English, preferably before the start of the semester. For further information and access to the refund form, please contact tuitionfees@umu.se. Further information can also be found earlier on this page.

When will I get a decision on my refund application?

Due to the heavy workload at the start of each semester we do not start the processing of refund applications until about a month into the semester. You should after this have a decision on your application by mid-November for the autumn semester and mid-April for the spring semester. If you have not had an update on your application by 15 November (autumn) and 15 April (spring) please contact the tuitionfees team. All documentation and emails sent in to tuitionfees@umu.se will be taken into consideration before a decision on the application is made. If further information is required the tuitionfees team will contact you.

I paid for a course and was not able to finish the studies. Can I study the course again next semester without paying extra?

Yes, you may re-register for the course, if it is offered, without paying any extra tuition. Please contact the department of your studies for more information.

Frequently asked questions about scholarships

Does Umeå University offer scholarships or financial support?

Umeå University offers scholarships to talented and high-achieving students. Most scholarships are offered in the form of tuition-waivers and selected candidates receive a full or partial waiver of the tuition fee.   
Information about the application process and available scholarships can be found on our scholarship website.
 
Umeå University does not offer any other forms of financial support. We recommend that you look for external funding if needed. For information about other types of scholarship opportunities, please visit the Study in Sweden website: https://studyinsweden.se/scholarships 
Scholarships may also be available from the Swedish Institute: https://si.se/en/apply/scholarships 
 

When can I apply for a scholarship?

A personal invitation will be sent out via email to all eligible students at the beginning of February. You can find more information on our scholarship website.
 

What does the scholarship cover?

In general the scholarship covers full or part of the tuition fee. Further information about the different scholarships offered via Umeå university and what they cover can be found on our scholarship website.
 

I have received a scholarship from Umeå University. Can I defer my scholarship?

Unfortunately, our scholarships cannot be deferred. If you choose not to proceed with your studies this upcoming semester, we ask that you email tuitionfees@umu.se to confirm withdrawal from the scholarship. This will allow for students currently on the scholarship reserve list to be contacted.   
Should you choose to attend Umeå University in the future, you are welcome to apply for our scholarships again.  

Other frequently asked questions

How do I apply for a residence permit?

Please find information about residence permits earlier on this page. Useful information on requirements, how to apply and much more is available at the Swedish Migration Agency’s website. If you have any questions regarding the application for a residence permit or visa, please contact the Swedish Migration Agency directly.

Where can I find a document showing I am covered by the student insurance FAS+?

We no longer send out any insurance certificates since tuition fee paying students are automatically covered by the student insurance FAS+. The Migration Agency don't need this type of document when you apply for a residence permit for studies. 


Latest update: 2023-12-12