ImageElin Berge
Learn about how tuition fees in Sweden and at Umeå University work by reading the section below.
Legal background
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.
Umeå University has its own regulatory document, Rules for tuition fees, where rules and regulations regarding fee paying-students at Umeå University can be found. We recommend that all students read this document before paying their fees.
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 96,600 per year to 395,700 per year, depending on the field of study.
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 believe that you are exempt from paying tuition fees, please upload supporting documents to your page on University Admissions. Once you have done so, contact tuitionfees@umu.se.
Current students studying a programme will be invoiced for the full tuition fee for the upcoming semester. This is usually sent in mid-May for payments for the Autumn semester, and mid-October for the Spring semester. The deadlines to pay are 10 August for the Autumn semester, and 10 January for the Spring semester.
We recommend watching our instruction video on how to pay your invoice, as well as reading the information on this webpage, before making your payment.
Rules for tuition fees
Before making your payment, please thoroughly read the Rules for tuition fees. This will give you more information regarding the rules and regulations for fee-paying students at Umeå University.
Instalments
Please note that at Umeå University, the tuition fees are paid in instalments. These instalments are divided into equal payments based upon the total cost of the programme. The instalments are for 30 credits. You will need to pay the full amount, even if you plan on studying fewer than 30 credits.
The instalment fee can be found on your programme’s webpage.
Paying your invoice
The tuition fee should be paid in full via an international bank transfer (wire transfer). Payment information can be found on the invoice, as well as on this website.
When making your payment, it is vital that you include your reference number. This can be found on the invoice. The reference number is the most important information to include, as it means that we can track your payment and can correctly assign the payment.
It is possible for someone else to make the payment on your behalf, but please note that in the case of a refund, the money is refunded to the original bank that the payment was made from. It is your responsibility as a student to pay your invoice through a trusted source.
Deadline for payment
The deadline to pay your invoice in full can be found on Ladok as well as on the invoice itself. The deadline for making the payment is 10 August for the Autumn semester and 10 January for the Spring semester.
The deadline is the deadline for the payment in full to reach Umeå University’s bank account. We therefore recommend that you make your payment well in advance of the deadline, to account for time needed for the transaction to reach our account.
If the student does not pay the full amount by the deadline, the suspension process will begin.
Currencies
Your invoice is created in SEK (Swedish Krona). You may make your payment in other currencies, such as USD or EUR, but we do not create invoices in those currencies.
It is the student’s own responsibility to make sure that the total amount that Umeå University receives corresponds with the amount in SEK. Umeå University holds no responsibility for conversion fees, nor for any fees that intermediary banks may take.
If you have any questions regarding currency conversions, please contact your bank directly.
Freestanding/Single subject courses
Current students that have applied for freestanding/single subject courses will be invoiced after the Notification of Selection Results are published. The invoice needs to be paid within 10 days of invoicing. The deadline will be stated on the invoice.
Freestanding/single subject courses are invoiced separately from the semester fee. In case of non-payment of invoices for freestanding/single subject courses the student will lose their place on the course that they have been invoiced for.
After paying your invoice
There is no need to contact us to let us know that you have paid your invoice.
Please allow 10 working days for your payment to update on your page on Ladok. This is to account for time required for bank transfers, and for the administrative work that needs to be done in order to process the payment.
We will update your payment status on Ladok as soon as we can. Once we have done so, you will receive an automated email from Ladok stating that your tuition case has been handled. Please log in to your student page on Ladok to see whether the payment was made in full, or if you have a remaining sum left to pay. Once the payment has been made in full, you may proceed with applying for your residence permit.
If you do not receive an email within 10 working days, please contact us at tuitionfees@umu.se. Include your swift copy in this email, so that we can track the payment.
When will I receive my invoice?
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:
Update your email address on University Admissions.
Send an email to tuitionfees@umu.se with a request to change your email address.
How do I pay my invoice?
We do not send students an invoice via mail. In order to see and pay your invoice, you will need to log in to your student pages on Ladok. Once logged in, you will be able to see your current invoice, as well as future invoices. Once the invoice is created a notification is sent to the email address registered on the student’s University Admissions account with a link to the student pages on Ladok.
Please note that in the case of a refund, the money can only be sent back to the same account that the payment was made from.
Log in by clicking on this link: https://www.student.ladok.se and log in by using your Umu-ID.
Instruction video: Instructions on how to pay your invoice current students (youtube.com)
Can someone else pay my invoice on my behalf?
Yes, the payment can be made by someone else. They would then need to include the payment reference when making the transfer, the reference is stated on the invoice. This is the most important information to be included when making the transfer. Without this we will not be able to match the payment to the invoice.
Please note, however, that in the case of a refund, the money can only be sent back to the same account that the payment was made from. You should therefore only pay through someone that you trust.
Can the payment be made in another currency?
Yes, your payment can be made in other currencies, as long as the payment that reaches us is in SEK and matches the total amount on the invoice.
We do not issue invoices in currencies other than SEK. If you have any questions regarding conversion, please contact your bank.
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 from the second semester onwards. Invitations to apply are sent out via email ahead of the upcoming semester to students that fulfill the criteria.
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?
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?
Payments take 10 working days to process, to account for bank processing times and administrative time needed to handle the payment. Once the invoice has been logged on our systems, you will receive a confirmation email from Ladok notifying you of this change. The Swedish Migration Agency does not require a confirmation email to check the status of your fees, they can see the status on your page on Ladok.
If your status hasn’t changed on Ladok after 10 working days of making the payment, please contact us at tuitionfees@umu.se. When you contact us, please attach a 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:
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/
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.
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 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.