Welcome to the internship abroad blog! Your work placement in Sweden? It means doing your international work placement (or work placement abroad: call it what you like!) in one of the countries that is regularly voted (alongside Denmark) the happiest country in the world. Let’s go!
Budget for your work placement in Sweden
Expensive and still quite expensive. Although not as much as Norway or Finland. So you’ll need to budget for just over €1,000 a month to be able to live in Sweden, including accommodation, food and pocket money. Naturally, International Horizons will help you build your budget and give you lots of tips on how to cut costs during your work placement abroad. The team even has a specialist to help you apply for grants 😉
Stockholm: Stockholm, the Swedish capital, is a dynamic and cosmopolitan city, but it is also renowned for being quite expensive.
Accommodation: The cost of a one-bedroom studio in Stockholm generally ranges from SEK 8,000 to SEK 12,000 per month, depending on location and amenities included. Rents can be higher in central areas and more affordable on the outskirts of the city.
Food: Spending on food depends on your lifestyle and eating habits. On average, a person spends around SEK 3,000 to 4,000 a month on shopping, including meals in and out of the home. Restaurants and cafés in Stockholm can be relatively expensive, with a meal in a mid-range restaurant costing around SEK 150-300.
Public transport: Stockholm has an excellent public transport network, including bus, metro (Tunnelbana) and tram. A monthly season ticket for public transport costs around SEK 930. If you plan to use public transport occasionally, individual tickets cost around SEK 37 for a single journey.
Leisure: Leisure activities in Stockholm vary in cost. Museums and art galleries can charge admission fees of between 100 and 200 SEK. Cinemas generally offer tickets for around 100 SEK. Prices for concerts, sporting events and outdoor activities can vary considerably.
- Gothenburg: Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-largest city, offers a more relaxed atmosphere than Stockholm, but prices are still relatively high.
Accommodation: The cost of a one-bedroom studio in Göteborg is generally between SEK 6,000 and SEK 9,000 per month. Prices may vary according to location, size and facilities.
Food: Monthly food expenditure in Göteborg is similar to that in Stockholm, ranging from SEK 3,000 to 4,000 on average. Restaurant and supermarket prices are generally comparable to those in the capital.
Public transport: Gothenburg also has a well-developed public transport network, including buses, trams and ferries. A monthly season ticket for public transport costs around SEK 700, while an individual ticket for a single journey costs around SEK 30.
Leisure: Gothenburg offers a wide range of leisure activities. Museums and tourist attractions can charge admission fees of between SEK 80 and 150. Cinemas offer tickets at around SEK 100. Prices for cultural events and outdoor activities vary according to the season and the nature of the event.
- Malmö: Malmö is a city in southern Sweden, close to Denmark. Compared with Stockholm and Gothenburg, it tends to be a little less expensive.
Accommodation: The cost of a one-bedroom studio apartment in Malmö is generally between SEK 5,000 and SEK 8,000 per month. Prices may vary depending on the location and features of the flat.
Food: Monthly food expenditure in Malmö is similar to that in other major Swedish cities, ranging from SEK 3,000 to SEK 4,000 on average. Restaurant and supermarket prices are generally comparable.
Public transport: Malmö has a well-developed public transport network, with buses and trains connecting the city and surrounding area. A monthly season ticket for public transport costs around SEK 600, while an individual ticket for a single journey costs around SEK 25.
Leisure: Leisure options in Malmö are varied. Museums and art galleries can charge admission fees ranging from 80 to 150 SEK. Cinemas generally offer tickets for around SEK 100. Prices for cultural events and outdoor activities may vary depending on the season and the nature of the event.
Please note that these figures are estimates and may vary depending on various factors such as exact location, personal preferences and price trends. It is always advisable to check current costs before making any major financial decisions.
What you need to know before doing your work placement in Sweden
Sweden is one of the countries of Northern Europe. It’s centrally located, so it’s ideal for getting the most out of other countries. You’ll be able to travel cheaply to Norway, Finland and Denmark. Don’t like flying? Try the ferry! Discovering Sweden means discovering a society that is the antithesis of French society, and it’s sincerely worth the diversions. Sweden is often highlighted for its social advances. It’s a great country to live in, summer and winter alike; and unlike Finland, even in winter Swedes are very active! And if you’re travelling within Sweden or to neighbouring countries, we’ve got a blog for that too: I’m in Sweden, where can I travel during my work placement abroad?
Swedish culture has a few peculiarities that may differ from French culture. Here are a few key points to bear in mind to help you adapt:
- Lifestyle: Swedes attach great importance to work-life balance. They generally prefer a relaxed pace of life, with regular working hours and an appreciation of the quality of free time.
- Individualism and respect for privacy: Swedes tend to be more individualistic and attach great importance to their private lives. They respect the personal space of others and may appear more reserved or aloof at first. It is common to greet with a simple nod rather than a hug or handshake.
- Equality and respect: Sweden is known for promoting gender equality and social inclusion. Swedes attach great importance to mutual respect, equal opportunities and the absence of excessive hierarchy in social and professional interactions.
- Punctuality: Punctuality is highly valued in Sweden. It is important to arrive on time for appointments and business meetings. It is also common to confirm plans in advance and to scrupulously respect agreed times.
- Nature and the outdoors: Swedes have a deep bond with nature and attach great importance to preserving the environment. They love to spend time outdoors and enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, camping and skiing.
- Fika: The concept of “fika” is an institution in Sweden. It means taking a break to have a coffee accompanied by a pastry or snack. Fika is an opportunity to relax, socialise and strengthen ties with colleagues, friends or family.
- Language: Although most Swedes speak English, it’s useful to learn a few words and expressions in Swedish to make communication easier and show your interest in the local culture.
Your work placement in Sweden
Internship projects are tailor-made. Sweden is at the cutting edge of technology in Europe, but above all in terms of ecology, justice, education and culture. It’s a country that offers a wealth of opportunities, with a working culture that’s very different from our own, so make the most of your internship abroad to discover a new way of working and thinking. You don’t need to go to the other side of the world to get a real intercultural kick!
To contact us, send us your CV in English. No stress, we’ll transform your CV and make it sexy before sending it to the four corners of Sweden. Our aim: to find you an internship that matches your skills and requirements. Above all, an internship abroad should be a skills-booster, and an experience that is both human and professional. Don’t forget that an internship abroad is a compromise between your desires, the reality of the field, the expectations of your school and … those of the company!
Want to do your work placement in Sweden? Go for it! It’s time to get in touch with us about your work placement abroad: sign up now, there’s no obligation, and someone will call you back as soon as possible to work out your international mobility plan with you.
For more general questions, visit the International Horizons Internships Abroad FAQ.