The culture at Swedish higher education institutions is informal, creative and student-centred. Much work is left to the student’s own initiative. Such a system, with its lack of rigid scheduling, is often demanding. It encourages students to develop a critical attitude and an independent approach — two highly sought-after attributes in today’s knowledge-based employment market.
Sweden has a long and proud history of academic excellence, with outstanding universities dating back to the 15th century. Sweden is the home of the Nobel Prize, the world's most prestigious academic distinction. At 4.9% of GDP, Sweden’s public spending on education is the OECD’s highest.