CSN and Swedish student finance: the 2026 guide
For most students in Sweden, CSN is the main source of income during their degree, and also one of the most misunderstood parts of student life. Here is what applies in 2026: how much money is involved, what is required to keep it, how much you are allowed to earn on the side, and what happens when studies do not go to plan.
The amounts below apply to student finance for studies in Sweden at higher education level. Always check your own case with CSN, since amounts are adjusted annually and rules can change.
Grant and loan: two parts of one payment
Student finance consists of a grant, which you never repay, and a loan, which you repay after your studies. You can choose to take the grant only.
| Full time studies 2026 | Amount per 4 weeks |
|---|---|
| Grant | SEK 4,148 |
| Loan | SEK 9,444 |
| Total | SEK 13,592 |
Payments are made per four week period rather than per calendar month, which is a classic source of budget confusion. The money will not always arrive on the same date each month.
On top of the standard amount there is a supplementary loan for students who worked and earned above a certain level the year before starting, and a supplementary grant for students with children. Both are applied for in the same application.
How much can you earn on the side?
This is the question we see most often, and the answer is the income threshold, or fribelopp. If you earn more than the threshold during a calendar half year, your student finance is reduced. For someone studying full time for 20 weeks in a half year, the 2026 threshold is SEK 114,676 per calendar half year, or roughly SEK 19,000 a month.
Two things matter here. The threshold covers all your income during that half year, including money you earned before term started. And the threshold is lower if you study fewer weeks or part time. If you study only the spring term but work all summer, the summer income counts towards the half year in which it was paid.
Study results: the requirement you must meet
CSN does not pay indefinitely. To keep receiving finance you must pass a share of the credits you were funded for. At higher education level the norm is 62.5 percent during your first 40 weeks with student finance, meaning 37.5 of 60 credits for an academic year, and 75 percent after that.
If you miss the requirement your next application can be refused until you catch up. If you have special reasons, such as illness or caring for a relative, CSN can take that into account, but you have to report it yourself. Do not wait for the refusal.
How long you can receive student finance
At post secondary level you can receive student finance for a maximum of 240 weeks, roughly six years of full time study. That sounds generous, but weeks are consumed by courses you drop as well, so switching programmes costs more than people expect.
On age, you can receive the grant up to and including the year you turn 60. The right to borrow is gradually reduced from the year you turn 51.
Applying, in short
You apply at csn.se with a Swedish e-identification, and you can apply before you have been admitted. Apply early: processing times peak just before term starts in August and January, when everyone applies at once. Three things to keep in mind:
Apply for the whole academic year at once if you know you will study both autumn and spring. Report changes immediately, for example dropping a course or changing your study pace, or you will end up having to repay. And check that you are registered on your courses, because your institution reports registration to CSN and payments stop without it.
Repayment
Repayment starts at the earliest six months after you stop studying with student finance, and normally runs over 25 years or until the year you turn 64. The interest rate on student loans is set annually by the government and has historically been well below ordinary bank loans. If you struggle to pay you can apply for a reduced annual amount, but do it before the debt is passed to the enforcement authority.
Making the finances work
Student finance alone rarely covers rent in a major city. The usual complements are part time work within the income threshold, housing benefit for young people, and keeping down the costs you can actually influence. Course literature is one of those, and it is a bigger item than most expect. See our breakdown of what course literature costs and our guide to course books. If you work alongside your studies, studying and working at the same time is worth a read.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to take the loan part?
No. You can choose the grant only in your application, and you can change your mind during the term. Many take the loan and keep it as a buffer, but it is still debt that has to be repaid.
What happens if I earn above the threshold?
Your student finance is reduced by a share of the excess, and if the money has already been paid out you have to repay it. If you realise during the year that you will go over, tell CSN so the amount can be adjusted in time.
Can I get CSN for studies abroad?
Yes, both for exchange studies and for full degrees abroad. There are extra grants for travel and in some cases for tuition fees, but it is a different application and takes longer, so start early.
Does my summer job count towards the threshold?
Yes, if the income is paid during a half year in which you received student finance. Income is counted per calendar half year rather than per term, which makes June and July a trap for many students.