Student loan (studielån, CSN)
Studielån is the loan part of Swedish student aid (studiemedel) from CSN, what you can borrow on top of the grant while you study. The interest is low and set by the state each year. For 2026 it is 2.135%.
How the interest is set
The CSN rate is not market-driven. It is based on the state’s own borrowing cost over the past three years, plus a small markup, then reduced by 30%. The reduction reflects that ordinary loan costs are normally tax-deductible. The result is a rate clearly below what a regular loan costs, which makes the student loan one of the cheapest credits you can have.
How you repay
The student loan is an annuity loan and is normally repaid over up to 25 years. Repayment starts at the earliest six months after you last received student aid, always at a year-end. The annual amount is raised by around 2% per year. Loans taken from 2022 must be repaid by the end of the year you turn 64, and are written off if any remains at the end of the year you turn 71.
Repay early or invest?
Because the rate is so low, the student loan is rarely the thing to pay off first. Historically, long-term saving has returned more than the low rate costs, so letting the loan run and investing instead can pay off. Work out your own case in the CSN calculator, which compares extra amortisation against investing the money.
Where it shows up
- CSN calculator
The student loan affects your creditworthiness less than most loans, but it still counts when a bank assesses your room for, say, a mortgage. Never miss an annual payment; an unpaid CSN debt can be sent to the Enforcement Authority (Kronofogden).