Financial matters
Cost of living in Sweden
As a new student in Lund, it can be a good idea to draw up your own budget to help you plan your expenses. Bear in mind that the first month is often the most expensive.
Your cost of living in Sweden will of course depend on your individual lifestyle. Eating out and travelling around can be expensive and this is something you may want to take into account when planning your budget. However, many places also offer student discounts.
The currency in Sweden is the krona (SEK). Swedish students who have been approved for full student loans and grants from the Swedish government receive approximately SEK 9,500 to 13,500 per month. Many international students manage with a budget somewhere in between the required SEK 10,584 and the maximum Swedish student loan amount.
Below is an example of what a monthly budget may look like, depending on your costs for rent and leisure activities. Note that this is only a rough estimate.
- food – SEK 2,300
- accommodation – SEK 4,000 to 6,500
- course materials – SEK 400 to 1,000
- miscellaneous expenses including clothing, mobile phone, leisure activities, etc. – SEK 1,500.
Student discounts
As a student at Lund University, there are several organisations where you can register to receive a student discount card.
You can get student discounts
- in certain cafés and restaurants
- on travel tickets (e.g. Skånetrafiken and SJ) and
- on products such as computers, clothes and books, both in shops and online.
For the student card to be valid, most organisations require you to show your identity card at the time of purchase. Note that your personal access card (LU Card) does not work as a student discount card.
Below are the two main organisations that offer student discount cards.
When you join Studentlund, you automatically receive a student card called 'Studentkortet' ('the student card'). This is both a membership card and a student discount card. The membership gives you access to many important services and activities related to student life in Lund, Malmö and Helsingborg.
In combination with your regular identity card, the student card also gives you discounts on popular services and products.
Find out more about the Studentlund membership and Studentkortet:
Becoming a member of Mecenat gives you many benefits as a student, including student discounts.
To get access to the discounts, you need to create an account on the Mecenat website and then order a Mecenat card. However, this does not apply to students studying at the Faculty of Technology (LTH), as LTH's student union, Teknologkåren, orders Mecenat cards for all students after the University has processed the course registrations.
After graduation, you will automatically have access to the Mecenat Alumni discounts.
Find out more about Mecenat and how to get the card: