Sweden, which occupies the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula, is the fourth-largest country in Europe. The country slopes eastward and southward from the Kjölen Mountains along the Norwegian border, where the peak elevation is Kebnekaise at 6,965 ft (2,123 m) in Lapland. Today, Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy form of government and a highly developed economy. Sweden has the world's eighth-highest per capita income.
Sweden is located in Northern Europe and is bordered by Finland, Norway and the Baltic and North Seas. Sweden is well-known for literature, films, fashion, and a universal health care system. The average life expectancy for women is 83.5 years and for men 79.5 years, which is among the longest in the world. Major industries include timber, iron ore, telecommunications, automobiles, and pharmaceuticals.
Climate in Sweden
Sweden has a relatively mild climate. In Stockholm, the average January temperature is about -3 degrees C and the average July temperature is a cool 17 degrees C. Although Stockholm receives only about 6 hours of daylight in January, 18-hour days are normal in the summertime.
Culture
Swedish culture revolves around the seasons. Swedes have a very active lifestyle and spend daylight hours in the summer participating in outdoor sports, open-air theaters, and music festivals. Dark evenings in the winter attract people to indoor activities such as films. Swedes are also famous for promoting sustainable lifestyles, with an emphasis on organic food, organic clothing, recycling, waste management, and energy conservation.
Cost of Living
Minimum monthly expenses for a student (excluding tuition and fees) will be about SEK 7,000 (about 700 euro), mostly for food and lodging. Students are required to demonstrate to the Swedish Migration Board that they have sufficient funds to live in Sweden. Current amounts per month for ten months each year are SEK 7,300 for the student, SEK 3,500 for a spouse, and SEK 2,100 for each child. These amounts can be reduced for students who can demonstrate that they have free lodging. Students are also allowed to work while they are attending school.