Rania has lived in Sweden for five years – must pay to go to university
Rania is 20 years old. She has studied on the IB programme at upper high school. Now she speaks Swedish and several other languages fluently.
”My grades were quite good. I try to do my best in everything I do”Rania Herzallah
– My grades were quite good. I try to do my best in everything I do, and I enjoy studying. I had lots of friends at school, and was much happier, says Rania Herzallah.
After leaving school she applied to college and university. Rania was accepted for a programme for marketing in Jönköping. But she could not afford to study.
”Only people who have paid taxes in Sweden can study without paying fees or at a reduced cost”Andreas Sandberg, co-ordinator at the Swedish Council for Higher Education
The reason is that Rania’s family has been informed that they will not get a residence permit in Sweden. The family must go back to Palestine. But they are unable to go back because of the unrest.
– We can’t go back, my father is stateless. And we’ve got nothing left in Palestine, says Rania Herzallah.
”My parents came here so that we children would have the opportunity to study”Rania Herzallah
Non-Swedish subjects must pay to be able to study. She is not entitled to a CSN loan either.
– That’s what the government ruled in 2011. Only people who have paid taxes in Sweden can study without paying fees or at a reduced cost, says Andreas Sandberg, co-ordinator at Universitets – och högskolerådet (the Swedish Council for Higher Education).
”Education is a right, and it gives people a better chance of a decent life”Rania Herzallah
To study in Jönköping would cost 50,000 crowns a term, excluding costs for housing, food and other necessities.
– My parents came here so that we children would have the opportunity to study. They wonder now why it costs so much. I wish it could be changed. Education is a right, and it gives people a better chance of a decent life, says Rania Herzallah.
”I think that if I help peope, they will be kind to me”Rania Herzallah.
The alternative is less expensive courses online. Rania has gone a course in life-coaching. During the autumn she will begin an online course in psychology at ”Derby University”. Her dream is to be a psychologist.
– I like helping people. My mother has read psychology, that has inspired me. I think that if I help peope, they will be kind to me, says Rania Herzallah.
”Even although you have a residence permit for studies, you must be able to pay to study at university or college”Andreas Sandberg, co-ordinator at the Swedish Council for Higher Education
It is possible to apply to Migrationsverket for residence permit for higher studies.But you must have a passport, something that Rania does not have. And you must also be able to support yourself.
– Even although you have a residence permit for studies, you must be able to pay to study at university or college, says Andreas Sandberg.
Student fees
The law on student fees was introduced in 2011. It applies to people who are not subjects of EU and EES countries or Switzerland and who want to study at a basic or advanced level.
For example to study psychology in Lund for five years costs 700,000 crowns.
Swedish subjects are not required to pay student fees. They are paid for by the state.
Source: Antagning.se
