The Best Part-Time Jobs for International Students in Sweden (2026)

By Maria Chen, Remit Choice Team | Updated February 2026

Okay, so you’re finally here. Sweden. You’ve got your acceptance letter, you’ve survived the visa process, and now you’re settling into life in Stockholm or Gothenburg. Amazing!

But let’s be real for a second—between tuition, rent, and just… living in one of Europe’s priciest cities, money gets tight fast. If you’re like most international students I know, you’re probably thinking about getting a part-time job. Maybe to cover your own costs, maybe to send some support back home, or both.

I’ve been talking to students from all over—Nigeria, India, Kenya, Pakistan, Ghana, the Philippines, Bangladesh—and pretty much everyone asks the same questions: Where can I work? How much will I actually make? And is it worth my time?

So here’s the honest breakdown of the 5 best student jobs in Sweden right now, based on what real students are doing and earning in 2026.

Quick Thing About Work Hours

Here’s something you should know: right now (February 2026), you can technically work unlimited hours as a student. The only rule is you need to keep up with your full-time studies.

BUT—and this is important—the government announced in late January they’re thinking about capping student work hours at 15 per week. When will this happen? No clue yet. It’s just a proposal right now.

My advice? Don’t panic, but also don’t plan on working 40 hours a week forever. If you can work more now, great. If not, we’ll show you how to make the most of 15 hours anyway.

Let’s Talk Money (The Real Numbers)

Forget the glossy brochures. Here’s what students are actually making per hour in 2026:

• Retail and restaurant work: 110-150 SEK/hour
• Food delivery (with all the bonuses): 126-158 SEK/hour
• University jobs (the good stuff): 155-175 SEK/hour
• Warehouse/logistics: 150-180 SEK/hour

So let’s say you work 15 hours weekly at 130 SEK/hour. That’s roughly 7,800 SEK a month. In Stockholm or Gothenburg, rent for a student room runs anywhere from 4,000-7,000 SEK, so you can see how it adds up.

The cost side of things:
International student tuition isn’t cheap. Depending on your program:

• Arts and humanities: 80,000-110,000 SEK/year
• Engineering and sciences: 140,000-180,000 SEK/year
• Specialized stuff (MBA, architecture, etc.): up to 295,000 SEK/year

I know a lot of you aren’t just working for yourselves. You’re sending money back to support families in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Bangladesh, and beyond. That’s incredibly common here, and honestly, it’s something to be proud of.

The thing is, when you’re working hard for every krona and then sending it home, the last thing you want is to lose a chunk of it to bank fees. We’ll get to that later, but just know—there are smarter ways to send money than through your regular bank.

The 5 Jobs Actually Worth Your Time

1. Food Delivery (Foodora, Wolt, Uber Eats)

What you’ll make: 126-158 SEK/hour (with tips and bonuses)
Schedule flexibility: As flexible as it gets
Difficulty getting hired: Not too bad

Honestly? This is probably what half the international students I know are doing. And I get why.

Here’s the appeal:
You’re your own boss, basically. Open the app, pick your shifts, and you’re good. Got a huge assignment due Monday? Don’t work Sunday. Need extra cash before you send money home this month? Work Friday and Saturday nights when the orders are flying and the bonuses are highest.

The actual money:
Base pay starts around 126 SEK/hour, but here’s the thing—nobody just makes base pay. During dinner rush (6-9pm) and on weekends, the bonuses kick in. You’re looking at 140-158 SEK/hour, sometimes more. Plus tips.

I talked to Ahmed, a Nigerian student at Chalmers, who works just Saturday and Sunday evenings. That’s about 12 hours total. He pulls in 6,000-7,000 SEK every weekend just from those two nights. Not bad at all.

The catch (because there’s always one):
Swedish winter is no joke. You’ll need proper gear—thermal layers, waterproof everything, and those studded bike tires for when it gets icy. But honestly, once you’re dressed right, it’s fine. Plus you get your cardio in, so there’s that.

Oh, and you’re technically self-employed, so you handle your own taxes. Sounds scary but it’s really not once you’ve done it once.

What you need to start:

• Personnummer (you get this when you register in Sweden)
• Swedish bank account
• A bicycle (some platforms let you rent)
• Smartphone for the app

How to get started:
Just apply on the Foodora, Wolt, or Uber Eats websites. In Gothenburg, students say Foodora and Wolt move faster. In Stockholm, Uber Eats is huge. Most people are working their first shift within 1-2 weeks of applying.

2. Retail (ICA, Coop, H&M, Lindex)

What you’ll make: 110-150 SEK/hour
Schedule flexibility: Pretty good—you know your hours in advance
Difficulty getting hired: Medium

Here’s what retail has that delivery doesn’t: predictability. You get your schedule two weeks ahead, so you can actually plan when you’ll study, when you’ll work, when you’ll sleep. For some people, that structure is worth everything.

The pay breakdown:
Most places start you at 110-130 SEK/hour. But here’s a tip: evening and weekend shifts often pay 10-20% more. So if you can work evenings or Saturdays, do it.

And if you end up at H&M or Lindex, you get 25% off. Which sounds small until you realize how much money you save on clothes over a semester.

The Swedish language situation:
Not gonna lie—most retail jobs want you to speak at least some Swedish. HOWEVER, in really touristy areas (Drottninggatan in Stockholm, Nordstan in Gothenburg), some stores hire English-only speakers specifically to help international customers. So it’s not impossible.

Best time to hunt for these jobs:
July and August, right before fall semester kicks off. That’s when everyone’s hiring. And grocery stores (ICA, Coop) tend to hire faster than fashion stores because they have higher turnover.

Where to apply:
Hit up the company websites: ICA.se, Coop.se, HM.com, Lindex.com. For smaller independent shops, honestly just walk in during a slow afternoon (2-3pm) with a printed CV and ask if they’re hiring. Old school, but it works.

Christmas season bonus:
If you’re here November-December, this is when you can work way more hours if you want. I know students who go from 15 hours a week to 35+ during Christmas shopping madness. The money adds up fast.

3. University Jobs (Library, IT Support, Admin Stuff)

What you’ll make: 155-175 SEK/hour
Schedule flexibility: Excellent
Difficulty getting hired: Competitive (but hear me out)

Okay, these are kind of the holy grail of student jobs. Better pay, you’re already on campus anyway, and—this is huge—your boss actually understands you’re a student first.

Why everyone wants these:
It’s not just the money (though 155-175 SEK/hour is definitely nice). It’s that during exam week, you can usually drop your hours. During breaks, you can pick up more. Your manager gets it because they work at a university. They’ve seen thousands of students before you.

Plus you’re building actual professional experience. Library work, IT support, admin assistant—this stuff looks legit on a CV.

What kind of jobs are we talking about?

• Library front desk (scanning IDs, helping people find books)
• IT support at computer labs (fixing printers, helping with software)
• Admin work at the international office
• Research assistant (usually for second-year master’s or PhD students)
• Student mentor or tutor positions

The competition thing:
Yeah, lots of students apply for these. But here’s how you beat them: apply in June or July before the fall semester starts. Get a professor to recommend you if you can. Or volunteer with student organizations first so you have connections.

I know it sounds like extra work, but trust me—landing one of these jobs for even one year is worth it.

Where to actually look:

• Stockholm University: “Lediga jobb” section
• KTH: Search for “Studentmedarbetare”
• Gothenburg University: Student job board
• Chalmers: “Student opportunities”

Priya, an Indian student at Stockholm Uni, worked at the library for her whole master’s program. She told me it wasn’t just about money—she made Swedish friends, improved her language skills, and had a quiet place to study between her shifts. Pretty solid deal.

4. Restaurants and Cafés

What you’ll make: 110-145 SEK/hour (plus tips at some places)
Schedule flexibility: Pretty good—shift work
Difficulty getting hired: Easier than you’d think

Need a job like, now? Restaurants are probably your fastest route. They’re always hiring because turnover is high, and there are literally hundreds of them in Stockholm and Gothenburg.

Your options:

• Kitchen assistant/dishwasher: 110-125 SEK/hour (easiest to get, minimal Swedish needed)
• Food prep: 115-130 SEK/hour
• Barista: 120-140 SEK/hour (Gothenburg is café heaven)
• Server: 130-145 SEK/hour (Swedish helps a lot here)
• Plus tips at some places: extra 500-1,500 SEK/month

What’s it actually like?
You’ll be on your feet the entire shift. Kitchens get hot and hectic during lunch and dinner. But most shifts are 4-8 hours, which actually fits around classes pretty well.

Weekend brunch shifts (9am-3pm Saturdays and Sundays) are crazy busy but they’re short, and some students prefer cramming all their work hours into weekend mornings.

Here’s the secret to getting hired fast:
Lots of smaller restaurants don’t even post online. They just hire whoever walks in at the right time. So print out 10-15 copies of your CV, dress presentably, and literally walk into restaurants during the slow afternoon period (2-4pm).

“Hi, I’m a student at [your university], and I’m wondering if you’re hiring?”

Works way more often than you’d think.

Try these neighborhoods:

• Stockholm: Södermalm, Vasastan, Östermalm
• Gothenburg: Haga, Linné, Järntorget area

For chains like Espresso House, Max Burgers, or Bastard Burgers, just apply online.

5. Warehouse/Logistics (PostNord, Bring, DHL)

What you’ll make: 150-180 SEK/hour (with shift bonuses)
Schedule flexibility: Lower—you work fixed hours
Difficulty getting hired: Medium

Look, this isn’t for everyone. It’s physical work. But if you can handle it and you want to maximize your money per hour worked, this is where it’s at.

Why the pay is higher:
Night shifts pay 165-200 SEK/hour. You’re lifting packages (up to 20kg) for 5-8 hours straight. It’s demanding work, which is why they pay more.

The November-December jackpot:
Here’s where warehouse work gets interesting. Black Friday through Christmas is absolute madness in logistics. Everyone needs more workers. Overtime is everywhere.

I met Chen, a Chinese student at KTH, who only works in a warehouse during breaks. Three weeks in December, six weeks in summer. Last December, he worked full-time with night shift premiums and took every overtime shift they offered. Made 35,000 SEK in that one month. That covered his rent for three months AND he sent a good amount home.

What you actually need:

• Be okay with physical work (you’ll be lifting all day)
• Willing to work weird hours—early mornings (5am-1pm) or nights (10pm-6am)
• Show up reliably (logistics depends on having enough people)
• If you have a forklift license, that’s an extra 15-20 SEK/hour

When to apply:
September or October, before the holiday rush. PostNord (Sweden’s postal service) and Bring start hiring like crazy before Black Friday.

Who this works best for:
Students who want to work a ton during winter or summer break and barely work during the semester. If you can grind hard for a few weeks and stack cash, then focus on studies the rest of the time, warehouse work makes sense.

Jobs You Should Probably Skip

“Unpaid internships”:
If someone tells you they’ll give you “great experience” but no money, that’s a red flag. Swedish law is pretty clear—if you’re doing actual work, you get paid. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Cash-only under-the-table stuff:
I know it’s tempting when you need money fast, but no contract means no protection. If they don’t pay you, you have zero recourse. Plus it could mess with your residence permit. Not worth the risk.

Commission-only sales jobs:
You know those door-to-door sales positions? Or the ones where you only get paid if you sell something? Yeah, those almost never work out for international students. The people who succeed at those usually have tons of local connections and native Swedish. Save your time.

Smart Strategies to Maximize Your Money

Go for the higher-paying jobs when you can
Let’s do some quick math:

• 15 hours/week at 120 SEK/hour = 7,200 SEK/month
• 15 hours/week at 160 SEK/hour = 9,600 SEK/month

That’s 2,400 SEK difference. Over a year, that’s nearly 29,000 SEK. Same hours, way more money.

Work the busy seasons hard
November-December (Christmas shopping) and summer break are your money-making windows. If you can work more during these times, do it. Stack your cash when you can.

Learn at least survival Swedish
Even just basic conversational Swedish can bump your hourly pay by 10-20 SEK at a lot of places. On 15 hours a week, that’s an extra 600-1,200 SEK monthly. Plus you’ll make Swedish friends and actually feel like you live here, not just study here.

Your first job probably won’t be your best job
Start with whatever you can get—delivery, dishwashing, whatever. But while you’re working, keep applying to better positions. Build some Swedish work experience, get a local reference, then upgrade. That’s how most successful student workers do it.

Understanding Taxes (The Simple Version)

You’ll pay about 30% tax on income above 22,000 SEK annually.

Example: Making 10,000 SEK monthly

• Yearly income: 120,000 SEK
• Tax-free allowance: ~22,000 SEK
• Taxable: 98,000 SEK
• Tax (30%): ~29,400 SEK yearly (2,450 SEK monthly)
• Your actual monthly take-home: ~7,550 SEK

Tax deductions you can claim:

• Work travel expenses
• Bike maintenance (for delivery)
• Work clothes (certain jobs)
• Union fees

File these through Skatteverket to reduce what gets withheld.

Don’t Lose Money on Transfer Fees

Here’s something nobody mentions in orientation: regular banks will take 3-5% of your money when you send it home.

Real example: Sending 5,000 SEK

• Traditional bank exchange rate markup: 2-3%
• Transfer fee: 50-150 SEK
• Total cost: 150-300 SEK gone

Over a year with monthly transfers, that’s 1,800-3,600 SEK lost to fees. That’s like working 12-24 hours for nothing.

This is why we built Remit Choice

We’re a money transfer service specifically for international students and workers sending money home. Here’s the difference:

• Transparent exchange rates (no hidden markups)
• Lower fees than banks
• Money arrives in 1-2 business days
• Goes straight to your family’s bank account

We support transfers to:
Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Tanzania, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and 30+ other countries.

The actual savings: Students switching from Forex Bank, SEB, or Swedbank to Remit Choice save 100-300 SEK per transfer on average.

If you send 4,000 SEK monthly:

• Traditional bank: ~200 SEK per transfer (5%)
• Remit Choice: ~50-80 SEK per transfer (1.2-2%)
• You save: 120-150 SEK monthly
• Yearly savings: 1,440-1,800 SEK

That’s a flight home, a month of groceries, or several weeks of rent.

Your 4-Week Action Plan

Week 1: Get the basics

• Register at Skatteverket for personnummer
• Open Swedish bank account (Swedbank, SEB, Handelsbanken)
• Set up Skatteverket digital account

Week 2: Apply everywhere Don’t wait for the perfect job. Apply broadly:

• 5 delivery apps (Foodora, Wolt, Uber Eats)
• 5-10 retail stores (ICA, Coop, H&M, local shops)
• 3-5 university postings
• 3-5 restaurants (online + walk-ins)
• 2-3 warehouse jobs if interested

Week 3: Start working Take your first offer. Keep applying to better jobs. Your first job is rarely your best job.

Week 4: Set up smart transfers

• Sign up for Remit Choice (takes 5 minutes)
• Link your Swedish bank
• Compare the cost to your bank
• Send your first transfer and see the difference yourself

Real Student Stories

Amara, from Nigeria (Chalmers): “I do Foodora only on weekends—Saturday and Sunday dinner rush. About 12 hours total. I make around 1,800 SEK each weekend, so 7,200 monthly. I keep 2,500 for my expenses and send 4,500 home. Banks wanted 250 SEK fees per transfer. Remit Choice charges about 80 SEK. That extra 170 SEK monthly really adds up.”

Priya, from India (Stockholm University): “Got a library job after volunteering at the international office. Pays 165 SEK/hour. They let me work 8 hours during exams, 20 hours during breaks. It’s quiet so I study between tasks sometimes. Plus it’s real professional experience.”

Chen, from China (KTH): “I only work PostNord during breaks—3 weeks in December, 6 weeks summer. Last December I worked full-time with a night shift premium and overtime. Made 35,000 SEK in one month. Covered three months of rent and sent good support home.”

Staying Updated

The 15-hour limit we mentioned? Nobody knows when it’s actually happening. Stay informed through:

• Your university’s international student office
• Swedish Migration Agency (migrationsverket.se)
• Student organizations on campus

Helpful Resources

Official stuff:

• Swedish Migration Agency: migrationsverket.se
• Tax Agency: skatteverket.se
• Study in Sweden: studyinsweden.se

Job hunting:

• Arbetsförmedlingen.se (national job service)
• Academic Work (student staffing)
• Your university career portal
• LinkedIn (Swedish companies use this a lot)

Student support:

• Your international student office
• Student unions (studentkåren)
• SFI (free Swedish classes)

Final Thoughts

Working while studying in Sweden is totally doable. Yes, you’re juggling a lot—tough academics, maybe some language barriers, financial pressure, expensive city living. But thousands of students from all over the world do this successfully every year.

The key is starting smart:

• Pick jobs that fit your schedule and pay decently
• Don’t lose money to unnecessary bank fees
• Remember you’re building skills and experience too

Your family’s counting on you. Your education matters. Make your work hours count by keeping more of what you earn.

Ready to stop losing money on transfers?
Sign up for Remit Choice and start saving on your very first transfer. It takes 5 minutes to set up, and you’ll see exactly how much you save compared to your bank.

 

Got questions or tips to share? Drop them in the comments below. Let’s help each other out!

Note: Information current as of February 2026. Work rules and wages can change, so always double-check with the Swedish Migration Agency and your university.