Sweden welcomes visiting Chinese students

As the new semester starts, universities around Sweden are extending a welcoming hand to visiting Chinese students.

Luyao Yuan, a senior student, welcomes Chinese students at Arlanda Airport on Saturday, August 18, 2018. [Photo: China Plus/Chen Xuefei]

Maria Fogelstrom Kylberg is the CEO of the Stockholm Academic Forum, an organization that has been taking steps to welcome Sweden's international students.

"I used to work in international networks, so I bring together organizations that have a lot of things in common. We promote Stockholm as an excellent academic destination for students and scholars."

Maria Fogelstrom Kylberg, CEO of the Stockholm Academic Forum. [Photo: China Plus/Chen Xuefei]

Kylberg said that Swedish universities, and Stockholm more generally, have a lot of advantages when it comes to attracting students and staff.

"It's a place that's very safe, it's very democratic, and you often have quite a close relationship with your tutor, which is different from other countries. You can change career if you're in middle age. And there are more and more classes in English."

The Royal Swedish Technology University campus, as seen on Tuesday, August 21, 2018. [Photo: China Plus/Chen Xuefei]

According to China's embassy in Sweden, a total of 8,000 Chinese students are currently studying in Sweden. China is the largest contributor of international students from outside the European Union. China is the third-largest contributor of overseas students to universities in Sweden, after Germany and Finland.

For Chinese students, engineering and technology subjects are popular, and Chinese students make up the largest group of international students in these disciplines.