08 - Sweden - Financial support for students

Students who have been accepted by a university, university college or other post-secondary education and fulfil certain basic criteria have a right to student aid if they study at least half time. Student aid consists of two parts, a grant and a repayable loan. A student can choose to apply only for the grant. Under certain conditions a student may also be entitled to student aid outside of Sweden. Under certain circumstances the student may be eligible to a supplementary loan and a loan. For students with children there is a possibility to receive extra child allowance. From 1 July 2006 the upper age limit for study support is 54 years. The National Board of Student Aid (Centrala studiestödsnämnden, CSN) is responsible for the allocation and repayment of financial support for studies.

The Government has recently appointed a study-social commission (Studiesociala kommittén U2007:13). The commission was given the task of i.a. considering and proposing measures concerning the financial and social situation of students. The measures should aim at enabling students to support themselves and live a secure life during their studies. The commission should be completed by 31 March 2009.

Level of support and eligibility

The level of study assistance in 2006 was SEK 1841 per week and the grant was SEK 623. Normally support is granted for a maximum of 240 weeks (12 terms). Students with children may receive a differentiated supplementary grant of about SEK 800 for two children. Students aged 25 or above may receive a supplementary loan of about SEK 1500 per month. The supplementary loan is intended for those who earlier have had income from employment and aims to facilitate transition between work and studies.

Study assistance for studies at university and university colleges abroad may be granted to Swedish citizens and certain foreign citizens who may be entitled to study assistance through their EU citizenship or through the EEA agreement.

The main principle is that study outcomes from earlier studies should be assessed for every new application for study allowances. A certain income is allowed without a reduction of the study allowance.

Repayment

Repayment of the study loan starts at the earliest in January six months after a student has graduated. The repayment period for the loan is normally 25 years or up to the year of the borrower's 60th birthday. The system is based on annuity loans, which means that the annual repayment increases by 2 per cent each year, as long as interest rates are unchanged. There is a ‘safety clause’ whereby the amount to be paid each year can be reduced, depending on the borrower’s solvency. In such cases the repayment amount is related to the borrower's income during the year in question. Any debt remaining when the borrower turns 68, or if the debtor is deceased, will be written off.

Institutions:

Centrala studiestödsnämnden (The National Board of Student Aid)
Norra Tjärngatan 2, S-852 37 SUNDSVALL, Sweden
Tel.:+46-60-18 60 00
Website:  http://www.csn.se

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