Some universities offer guaranteed housing for international students, but not all. Student living options in Sweden can be acquired by student housing (university or student union). These are often:

• subsidised, meaning lower rent than private market
• allocated by queue or application period
• managed by student unions or academic housing foundations

In many cities, universities do not own all student apartments; instead, student unions or housing foundations handle placement.

examples of student unions

• SSSB (Stockholm) — one of Sweden’s largest student housing providers
• Göteborg's Studentbostäder (SGS)
• Uppsala Studentstaden
• Lund's Studentbostäder

how it works

• You register as soon as admissions are confirmed
• Some cities run priority systems for newly admitted students
• Queue positions may take months/years to translate into an offer

first-hand rental (hyresrätt)

A first-hand rental (hyresrätt) is the most stable and secure way to rent in Sweden. You sign the contract directly with the property owner or housing company, often through a housing queue.

Many cities have their own housing queues, and the larger cities often have long waiting times. Most of the cities run their own housing queues open to all residents (students and non-students). 

Some of those queues include:

• Stockholm bostadskö
• Göteborg boplats
• Malmö bostadskö

These queues can take years in major cities due to demand, but they offer access to a range of apartments beyond student blocks.

second-hand rentals (andrahand)

Second-hand (andrahand) means renting from someone who already holds the main contract or owns the apartment. These rentals are much easier to find quickly, making them popular, especially with international students. In fact, many rely on them when student housing is full. However, they are usually temporary contracts, and rents may be higher than first-hand apartments.

 They are found on common platforms like blocket, bostad direkt, and facebook groups.

roomshare/sublets (inneboende)

Accommodation can also be secured by rooms in shared apartments (ideal for short stays) and often arranged through student networks.

Most rooms in shared apartments are often cheaper and temporary sublets while you search for something longer. These can be secured through platforms like:

• Facebook groups
• local student communities
• university notice boards

The best approach is usually to do all 4 at once: check your university, join the student housing queue, register with the local housing queue, and search private and shared accommodation. Don't wait for one option to come through before trying the others.

So that's:

1
your university or student housing provider

This should be your first stop. Some universities have their own accommodation, while others work with student housing providers or offer priority to newly admitted international students. Check what is available as soon as you receive your admission.

2
the main student housing provider in your city

Register with the local student housing queue as early as possible. For example, SGS Studentbostäder in Gothenburg, SSSB in Stockholm, AF Bostäder in Lund and Studentstaden in Uppsala. Many use queue points, so registering early can make a significant difference.

3
your city's general housing queue

Don't limit your search to student housing. Register with the local municipal housing queue as well. For example, Stockholm's Bostadsförmedlingen also offers student apartments, while Boplats provides access to rental housing in the Gothenburg region.

4
private rentals, rooms and flat-shares

If you need somewhere to live quickly, look at second-hand rentals, rooms and flat-shares alongside the housing queues. Sharing an apartment can be a more affordable option, particularly in larger university cities. Contracts may be temporary, and you should check that the person renting out the property has permission to sublet it.