The number of students studying abroad is increasing after the pandemic

A total of 21,000 people studied abroad with study funding in the 2021/22 academic year, an increase of around 3,400 compared to the previous academic year. However, student numbers have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Since the 2014/15 academic year, when the number of international students was at its peak, there has been a decrease of approximately 8,700.

The number of exchange students was particularly low during the pandemic.
– During the pandemic, we clearly saw how the number of exchange students decreased as schools canceled their exchanges. Now the number of exchange students has started to increase again. However, we do not see the same effect among independent learners, that is, those who add their own education. In recent years, even during pandemics, the number of free-movers has remained essentially constant, says CSN analyst Jenny Nielsen.

In 2021/22 the number of 14,700 students is the largest group of overseas students. The number of exchange students increased from 1,800 to 5,000 last academic year, while 1,400 took language courses.

Great Britain and London are at the top

Great Britain remains the most popular study country among all international students, although this number fell by 16 per cent last academic year. At the same time, the number of international students has increased in the US, which is now almost as high as the UK. In France, the number of foreign students almost doubled, while in Australia the number fell again last academic year. In two years, the number of international students in Australia has fallen by two-thirds. Only foreign students with study funds are included in the above figures.
In the post-secondary stage, the three most popular destinations remain unchanged from before: London is the most popular, followed by Copenhagen and Riga. The most popular school at the secondary level last academic year was once again the University of Riga Stradins. Many people are studying to become doctors there. In second place is Copenhagen Business School and third is Lithuanian University of Health Sciences.

Latvia is very popular for medical students

The number of overseas medical students in the 2021/22 academic year was 2,200, a 6 percent decrease from the previous academic year. Latvia has now overtaken Poland as the most popular country for medical students.
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a relatively small impact on the number of medical students abroad, for example, compared to the number of exchange students. On the other hand, the number of medical students studying abroad has fallen by more than a quarter since the 2011/12 academic year.

Official statistics released

Official statistics for the 2021/22 academic year have now been released. You can find it in CSN’s statistical database. There you will find statistics for the 2021/22 academic year on, among other things, study funds, study initiation support and study aid. Statistics are available for both courses in Sweden and abroad.

Ten most popular schools – Post-secondary courses (number of students) 2021/22. In the academic year 2021/2021 the reservation bracket is:

1. Riga Stradins University, Latvia, 691 (1)
2. Copenhagen Business School, Denmark, 413 (2)
3. Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Lithuania, 356 (4).
4. Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland, 272 (3).
5. Santa Monica College, USA 264 (5)
6. Code Institute, Ireland, 218 (6)
7. University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 206 (9)
8. University of Copenhagen, Denmark, 148 (8)
9. University of Warmia and Masuria, Poland, 143 (7)
10. Academy of Culinary Arts Switzerland, Switzerland, 130 (New on the list)

Ten most popular school types – Post-secondary courses (number of students) 2021/22. Employment for the 2020/2021 academic year is in brackets.

1. London, United Kingdom, 1,073 (1)
2. Copenhagen, Denmark, 787 (2)
3. Riga, Latvia, 724 (3)
4. Paris, France, 404 (8)
5. Amsterdam, Netherlands, 368 (7)
6. Kaunas, Lithuania, 360 (5)
7. Dublin, Ireland, 339 (new to list)
8. Gdansk, Poland, 297 (4)
9. Barcelona, ​​Spain, 285 (New on the list)
10. Oslo, Norway, 282 (6)

Ten most popular countries – all school forms (number of students) 2021/22. In the academic year 2020/2021 the reservation brackets are:

1. Great Britain, 3,088 (1)
2. United States, 3,053 (2)
3. Spain, 1,258 (5)
4. France, 1,205 (new on the list)
5. Poland, 1,079 (3)
6. Netherlands, 1,077 (7)
7. Denmark, 1,059 (4)
8. Germany, 823 (8)
9. Italy, 803 (New on the list)
10. Latvia, 729 (10)

Press contact

Sophia Bayer Rangela, Ex. Press Secretary CSN, 070-229 45 11.