Meet 30 000 young Swedes

Saco Student Fair is the place to be if you wish to reach out those who are about to to make their choice of ecucation, in Sweden and abroad. 

Dates and venues for 2025

Saco Student Fair in Stockholm 
26th & 27th of November

Saco Student Fair in Malmö
3rd of December

Exhibitors

Exhibitors are both Swedish and international universities and colleges, polytechnic educations, employers and organizations, agents as well as  the organizer Saco with its professional associations who provide information about academic careers.

Recruiting in Sweden – is it worth the effort?

Absolutely! Swedish students are very keen to take on the adventure of studying in a foreign country. As many as 50% of Swedish high school graduates take one or a few years off before commencing their university studies. During that time, studies and travels abroad are popular activities.

In total, circa 114 000 students are completing their final year of high school in 2024/25, which means that about 25% of these visit our fairs. When looking at the regions close enough to our fairs the share of students participating rises to more than a third.

Roughly 22 000 Swedes studied abroad with CSN financial aid in 2023/24 – a number which has still not quite reached the level before covid. 

Where do they go?

The 10 most popular recipients in 2023/24

(number of students per country who are receiving CSN)

1. USA, 3 030
2. UK, 1 926 
3. Spain, 1 452
4. France, 1 198
5. Netherlands, 1 113
6. Italy, 1 100
7. Denmark, 1 031
8. Latvia, 995
9. Poland, 912
10. Germany, 864

Financial aid

Swedish students have the right to apply for financial aid for studies in another country. A condition is that the overseas education has been recognised by the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education (UHR).

Find out about the requirements for recognition here

The amount of the financial aid/loan is the same for studying abroad as in Sweden. The repayment terms are also the same as for studying in Sweden. However additional finance is available for tuition fees, insurance and travel expenses, etc.

One condition for financial aid from the Swedish Board for Study Support (CSN) for studies outside the EEA and Switzerland is that the course lasts for a minimum of 3 months, full time. Within the EEA and Switzerland the minimum length is 15 weeks.

Language studies
To be qualified for study the courses have to be on a post secondary level if the person is below 20. 

Swedes have excellent knowledge of foreign languages

Another reason for the large number of Swedes choosing to study abroad is their knowledge of foreign languages. Having a mother tongue that is not spoken anywhere else in the world, Swedes are encouraged to learn foreign languages early. Language studies give the applicants for university studies extra credits for all educational fields. It is also worth mentioning that the results from studies carried out with focusing on younger people's attitudes show that a very high percentage of young people in Sweden today plan to or want to spend a period of time abroad. Many want to study at university level and there is also an interest for shorter vocational courses and for work experience.
Find out more about the Swedish study system at The Swedish National Agency for Higher Education's website, www.uhr.se.

Useful links

• Swedish Council for Higher Education, www.uhr.se
• CSN, www.csn.se
• Visit Sweden: www.visitsweden.com

The Saco fair is a starting point for the choice of education

For many young people the process of choosing a higher education begins at Saco Student Fair. They discover the wide range of possibilities available and are inspired by both education providers, educational organizations and future employers. Our lectures, exhibitors and study guidance counsellors provide everything they need to make a smart and conscious choice of education. The impressions from the fairs are very important for their choices.

How we reach the visitors

We invite all high schools through their study guidance counsellors, who manage the reservations and coordinate the visit. In total Saco has contact with about 700 high schools across Sweden.

Popular lectures 

Our lecture program, irl and online, is an important part of the fairs. We organize more than hundred short lectures every day on all sorts of subjects. Some are organized by Saco itself, others are held by exhibitors. Giving a lecture is an excellent way to reinforce your statement. Read more here