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Find your path

Find your own path

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Maybe you haven’t started thinking about the future. Maybe you’ve already planned every last detail of it. Maybe you never want to open a textbook again. Maybe you’ll change your mind in a year or so. Whatever you choose to do, we at the Swedish Board of Student Finance think that you should find your own path. And if you want to start studying – tomorrow, next year or when you’re 35 – we’re here for you.

What are your dreams?

Five people tell us about their paths, what they’re doing today and what they dream of doing in the future.

Mirabel

Attends upper secondary school

"If you want to have a happy life, it’s important to believe in yourself and to have some courage"

Reflection questions, Mirabel

What are your thoughts following Mirabel’s story?
Do you know what you want to do for a living, or are you still trying to decide? How do you go about finding out what training and which jobs are available?
How will you manage your finances if you’re considering post secondary school studies?
More girls than boys are considering going on to university. Why do you think that is?

Abdul

Attending a vocational course at adult education college

"I like stability and an education gives you that."

Reflection questions, Abdul

What are your thoughts following Abdul’s story?
What suits you best – a practical or a theoretical education? Explain.
What are your thoughts around grants and loans for continuing your studies after secondary school?
Would you have liked to work alongside your studies? Why/ Why not?
An interesting job and a high salary tempt many to carry on their studies after secondary school. What would motivate you?

Jeppe

Training to be a pre-school teacher

"My path to an education has not been straightforward, but I’m not a worse pre-school teacher, just because it’s taken me a bit longer."

Reflection questions, Jeppe

What are your thoughts following Jeppe’s story?
What would you tell a friend who thinks he or she couldn’t cope with carrying on their studies post secondary school?
What do you think decides whether someone carries on their studies or not? How do you feel personally?
Boys take out student loans more often than girls. Why do you think that is?

Gabriella

Studying at Swedish Defence University

"I want the world to be a better place."

Reflection questions, Gabriella

What are your thoughts following Gabriella’s story?
What do you think is most important when choosing an education? In what way can an education affect your future?
What would you do to make ends meet during your studies? Do you have any money saving advice?
Those with parents who themselves are university educated are more likely to go to university, compared with those who haven’t. Why do you think that is?

Sanna

Works as a psychologist

"My quarterly student loan repayments seem insignificant now that I’ve got a salary."

Reflection questions, Sanna

What are your thoughts following Sanna’s story?
Do you see any advantages or disadvantages about starting your studies later in life? What are they?
Sanna chose to work quite a lot during her studies. What are the advantages or disadvantages of that?
If you carry on your studies will you take out a loan? Explain.
What are your thoughts around repaying your loan? Is there anything you’re worried about?

How student grants and loans work

You can receive around SEK 13,500 per month in student grants and loans while you are studying. Of this, around SEK 4,092 is a grant and SEK 9,408 is a loan.
You can choose to borrow less, or take only the grant.
The interest rate for the student loan in 2024 is 1.23%.
If you are studying at a university, college, or an institute of higher vocational education, you can receive student finance for up to 240 weeks. This corresponds to about six years of full-time study. If you are studying at the upper secondary level at a school of municipal adult education (Komvux) or a folk high school, you can receive student finance for 2-3 years, depending on your previous education.
You need to earn a certain number of academic credits to continue receiving student grants and loans.
You start repaying your student loans when you stop receiving student finance. If this is the first time you have taken out a student loan, you will be given a grace period of at least six months.
If you find it difficult to pay during a certain period, you can apply to pay less during that time.

Read more about student grants and loans

Updated: 2024-11-13