FAQ

Program offerings

Are the PhD programs entirely taught in English, or do I need to learn Swedish?

All programs are taught entirely in English, and it is generally easy to live in Sweden without speaking Swedish. However, as you will be living in the Stockholm area for at least four years, some knowledge of Swedish may be helpful in daily life.

In addition, if your research involves Swedish institutions or Swedish-language data sources, knowledge of Swedish may become necessary, as some material is only available in Swedish. SSE offers introductory Swedish language courses for PhD students.

Are the PhD programs full-time, or can I work while studying?

The PhD programs at SSE are full-time residential programs and are expected to take five years to complete. It is not possible to study or work part-time while enrolled in the program.

Can I complete the program online or through distance learning?

No. SSE’s PhD programs are residential programs. Students are expected to live in the greater Stockholm area while enrolled in the program.

Application procedure, requirements and tests

I only have a Bachelor degree. Can I apply to the program?

You are welcome to apply if you hold a four-year Bachelor's degree, or a three-year Bachelor degree combined with at least one additional year of Master-level studies or the equivalent.

I have not yet completed my Master's degree. Can I still apply to the PhD program?

Yes. If you will complete your Master's degree before the start of the program at SSE, you may still apply for admission in the same year. You will need to submit a certificate of enrollment from your university, together with a transcript of records from your current Master studies.

Any offer of admission will be conditional upon completion of your Master's degree. If admitted, you must submit a certified copy of your Master degree certificate as soon as it becomes available.

Can you review my CV and research proposal to determine whether I am eligible to apply?

Due to the volume of requests we receive, we are unfortunately unable to provide individual feedback by email. Please refer to the website for detailed information about the application requirements for each program.

My previous degrees are not in business administration, economics, or finance. Can I still apply?

Applicants are generally required to have completed at least 90 ECTS in business administration, economics, or finance, depending on the program they are applying to. Without sufficient background knowledge in the field, it may be difficult to follow the coursework.

Can I send photocopies of my degree certificates and transcripts?

All application documents must be uploaded digitally through the online application portal. Paper applications and paper documents are not considered.

Can I send my original degree certificate?

No. As application materials are not returned, you should not send original degree certificates to SSE.

I am not a native English speaker, but my degree program was taught in English. Do I still need to take the TOEFL or IELTS?

No. The TOEFL or IELTS is only required if your previous degree program was not taught in English. However, language test results can strengthen your application by providing additional evidence of your English proficiency.

My TOEFL or IELTS scores are more than two years old. Do I need to retake the test?

If you completed the TOEFL or IELTS more than two years ago and subsequently studied in a program not taught in English, we recommend that you retake the test.

I completed my Master degree several years ago and no longer have academic referees. Who can provide recommendation letters?

Academic referees are preferred, as they can assess your academic potential, research skills, and ability to complete a PhD program. However, if academic references are not available, professional references from your workplace are also accepted.

We are particularly interested in understanding your potential to work as a researcher in an academic environment. Recommendation letters should therefore ideally address your analytical, writing, research, project management, and collaboration skills.

My Master program did not include a thesis. Can I still apply?

Yes. We understand that not all Master programs include a thesis requirement.

If you do not have a Master thesis, you may instead submit another example of academic writing. If no academic writing sample is available, we will also accept relevant professional writing samples. If you do not have any written work to submit, please upload a one-page document explaining why.

Must I take the GMAT or GRE?

The PhD program in Economics and the PhD program in Finance both require the GRE test, and this requirement cannot be waived. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

For the PhD program in Business Administration, the GMAT or GRE is strongly recommended but not mandatory. Submitting test scores may strengthen your application. In cases where candidates are otherwise equally qualified, applicants who have submitted GMAT or GRE scores may be assessed more favorably.

My GMAT or GRE scores are more than five years old. Do I need to retake the test?

Test scores older than five years are not considered representative of current academic skills. We therefore recommend retaking the test.

Must I find a PhD supervisor before applying?

No. There is no need to identify a supervisor before applying. For the PhD programs in Finance and Economics, students initially focus on coursework and typically select a supervisor toward the end of the second year. In Business Administration, supervisors are assigned based on the research interests indicated in the application.

Residence permit, visa and work status

Will I need a visa to study in Sweden?

All non-EU and non-EFTA citizens admitted to one of SSE’s PhD programs must apply for a Swedish residence permit for studies before moving to Stockholm. Residence permits for doctoral studies can normally be granted for up to four years.

EU and EFTA citizens do not need a residence permit but may need to register their right of residence in Sweden. For more information and current requirements, please refer to the Swedish Migration Agency.

I have a partner and children. Can they come with me to Sweden?

Yes, accompanying family members are welcome. However, please note that the monthly scholarship is calculated for one person and may not be sufficient to support an entire family.

If admitted to the program, each family member must apply for a residence permit. We recommend including all accompanying family members in the same application to the Swedish Migration Agency.

What is my status as a PhD student at SSE? Am I considered a student or an employee?

PhD students at SSE are formally considered students and receive a non-taxable scholarship. At the same time, doctoral students are integrated into the research environment of their department and are treated as part of the academic community.

Doctoral students typically share offices with other PhD students and have access to departmental infrastructure and resources. Depending on the department, students may also have opportunities to work as teaching, research, or administrative assistants.

Costs and funding

What are the costs? Are scholarships available for PhD students?

All three PhD programs at SSE are free of charge, in accordance with Swedish legislation. Admitted PhD students receive a monthly tax-free scholarship from SSE and are guaranteed funding throughout the program, conditional upon satisfactory academic performance as determined by the faculty.

The current scholarship amount is SEK 26,000 per month. Funding levels may change in later years of the program.

I already have external funding for my studies. Do I still need to apply?

Yes. Having your own funding does not guarantee admission to the program. Applicants with external funding - such as private funding, company sponsorship, or government scholarships from their home country - must still complete the regular application process and are evaluated together with all other applicants.

Frequently asked questions