SOP for Sweden: Guidelines for Top Swedish Universities

Most universities in Sweden ask for short essays or a personal statement or a statement of purpose (SOP). A few programmes also ask for an additional writing supplement or a motivational letter. As applicants, you need to distinguish the intent of the document required by a university, divide the information accordingly, and include only the relevant content.

When you plan to study in Sweden, one of the main documents you need is a Statement of Purpose (SOP) or personal statement. Some courses might also ask for a motivation letter or short essays.

It is important to know what the university is asking for. Each document is a little different, so you should divide your information clearly and only write what is needed. When you are planning to study in Sweden, you may wonder what exactly is required in the SOP for Swedish universities. As an applicant, you need to understand what the document requires exactly, divide the information accordingly, and include only the relevant content as per each document.

This guide will help you understand how to write an SOP for Sweden and how to match it with what the university wants.

What is an SOP for Sweden?

A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is an essay you write to explain:

• Why you want to study in Sweden
• What course are you applying to and why
• Your academic background and work experience
• Your goals after the course
• Why you think the university and program fit your goals

Some Swedish universities may ask for a short SOP or a personal statement, usually between 300 to 1000 words, depending on the program.

How to write an SOP for Sweden?

Writing an SOP for Swedish universities is similar to writing an SOP for a university for any other country. Refer to this Sample SOP and have a look at what to include and what not to include in an SOP. Now that you have your basics clear, let us discuss some important aspects of your SOP or personal statement that will be expected by the university; highlight them to outshine other applicants:

• Give a brief yet impressive academic and professional background
• If you faced any challenges or difficulties in life or as a professional, explain how did you overcame them?
• Do you have any significant personal or professional achievements?
• See if there is anything in your resume/CV that you want to elaborate more on in your statement? Any interesting story that you want to tell?
• What is so special about the programme at a particular university that you cannot find in any other programmes/universities? Do you find any professor inspiring whom you want to meet and learn from?
• Is your profile suitable for this programme? Is there any special prerequisite knowledge, skills or work experience that you need before applying?
• What are your future plans? What do you hope to do with the knowledge, network and experiences gained from this programme?

SOP Requirements at Top Swedish Universities

Let us glance at some of the top universities in Sweden and what do they require in their personal statement or statement of purpose:

Chalmers University of Technology: The SOP for this university should not exceed one page and must include a brief autobiographical statement. Along with this, you also need to submit a resume. As there is no specific format or template given by the university, so TNR with a 12-point font size is preferable. Some courses also require applicants to submit a thesis proposal, as per the subject they have chosen.

Lund University: The university offers a set of questionnaires that should be answered in your Statement of Purpose. It is important to note that these questions may differ slightly as per the programme. But the word limit is the same for all, which is 1000 – 1400 words. Here are the points that should be covered in your SOP:

Interrelation between the chosen programme, your future career, and your previous degrees and professional experiences.

• Value addition by this program to your career development
• What do the terms Manager, Management, and Managing mean to you?
• Relevant qualities or perspectives that you think you will bring to this program as a student of management?
• Reasons for applying for this programme
• How can you contribute to this programme?
• Relevant academic strengths and interests for this programme?
• Career ambitions immediately after graduation
• Pros and cons of working in teams versus individually, and working with applications versus literature studies
• Any other relevant qualifications, achievements, or experiences that have not been covered in the resume

Stockholm University: Generally, Stockholm University asks for an SOP or a Letter of Intent for its programmes. The document must focus on the following:

• Description of the academic and professional background
• Particular areas of interest and why you are interested in them
• Motives for applying to the programme
• Future career plans
• Plans for the programme you have enrolled in
• Why this university and your compatibility as a graduate student of Stockholm University?

KTH Royal Institute of Technology: The requirements for this university vary as per the programme. Some courses will ask for a 500 to 1000-word SOP, while others may require short answer essays. For instance, the MS Engineering programme requires an SOP of 500 words (not more than one page). This SOP should emphasize the applicant’s academic and professional experiences, extracurricular activities, reasons for further studies, technical skills, and interests that will contribute to the programme, and why the applicant has chosen this institution. Another example can be a Master’s in Turbomachinery Aeromechanical University Training (THRUST). A short essay of 250 words is required, which should cover:

• Reason for interest in this program, specialization option and mobility scheme
• Career intentions and reasons for interest in those career choices
• Academic, professional, or other related accomplishments
• Role of a Master’s degree in future career advancement

Uppsala University: Uppsala University’s statement of purpose should be one or two pages long, with the following topics covered:

• Why did you apply to this program?
• What do you expect to gain from this program?
• Any relevant work experience?
• What do you hope to achieve as a graduate?

Important Tips for Writing SOP for Sweden

As and when you begin to draft your SOP for Swedish universities, always remember that each university and programme will have different requirements.  Top Swedish universities usually expect you to write short-answer questions or a short essay, which generally range between 300 to 500 words. Hence, read the programme-specific instructions carefully. Tips to consider before writing your draft are:

• Type of document: Do check if it is an essay or a short-answer questionnaire, a personal statement or an SOP. Read the points to cover carefully and stick to them.
• Word limit: Take the word limit very strictly. If there is no specific limit mentioned, it is advisable to keep the length to two pages with 1,000 words (maximum).
• Format and font: Universities usually mention their preferences for a format. If it is not there, it would be ideal to use Times New Roman and a 12-pt font size. Arial font may also be accepted by some universities.
• Language and vocabulary: If your courses require you to know Dutch and you are fluent in it, showcase this knowledge in your document. However, mostly, English will be preferred for the SOP for Swedish universities and other related documents like the letter of recommendation and resume. Your language should be lucid and simple, and avoid using jargons.
• Plagiarism: Do not forget to run a grammar check as well as a plagiarism check for your SOP. All the foreign universities are strictly against plagiarized work.

After explaining how to write an SOP for Swedish universities, it is advised that they take their application process and SOP drafting very seriously. For help with university applications, students seeking to study abroad can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors. The comments section below allows candidates to contact us as well.