The study system in Sweden may be different from what you are used to. Trying to understand Sweden’s higher education system can be overwhelming at first. Here is some basic information about studies at Swedish universities
Levels and degreesHigher education in Sweden is in accordance with the Bologna process, divided into three levels. The first level is the basic level and it is equivalent to the undergraduate level and concludes with the award of a Bachelor’s Degree. The second level is the advanced level and is equivalent to the master’s level and concludes with the award of a Master’s Degree. The third level is equivalent to postgraduate studies and concludes with the award of a Licentiate Degree or a PhD.
The academic calendarThe academic year at Swedish universities usually consists of two semesters, each lasting 20 weeks. The autumn semester runs from the beginning of September to mid-January, and the spring semester runs from mid-January until the beginning of June. There is usually a two-week break in teaching at Christmas. Please note that the Chritmas break may vary between different departments and it is therefore important that students contact the international coordinator at the department for detailed information. June, July and August are summer holiday months in Sweden. Courses and study programmes may start either in the autumn or in the spring semester.
Credit systemA normal workload is 30 higher education credits (H E Credits) per semester and 60 higher education credits (H E Credits) per academic year. The number of credits assigned by Mid Sweden University corresponds to The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). 60 H E Credits at Mid Sweden University equal 60 ECTS credits. In ECTS, 60 credits points represent the workload of an academic year of study. In general, one week of full-time study is equivalent to 1.5 credit points. By full-time is understood a workload of forty hours per week. However, much of this time is non-scheduled self-study. International students are expected to study full-time, i.e. to choose courses amounting to thirty H E Credits per semester. The university does not recommend students to choose a workload higher than thirty credit points per semester.
PeriodsA semester lasts for 20 weeks, and each semester is divided into four periods of five weeks. The autumn semester includes periods one to four, and the spring semester includes periods five to eight. The number of credits per course may vary from 7.5–30 H E Credits. Students usually take one course of 7.5 H E Credits in each period, (consecutive scheduling). In some cases, courses of 7.5 H E Credits run simultaneously over two periods (parallel scheduling) but are studied on a part-time basis. At the end of the five-or-ten-week period there is some form of examination, after which the student begins the next course.
Teaching and study methodsIn Sweden, higher education is theoretically based and students are responsible for their own studies. Courses are usually a mixture of lectures, seminars, group work, laboratory work and independent studies. They may also consist of fieldwork or training periods arranged by the university. The Swedish university system relies heavily on self-study and the student is expected to take an active part in the learning process.As a student at Mid Sweden University you are expected to actively seek knowledge and set your own targets. Nobody will tell you when or exactly what you should read or study; this demands a great effort from you as a student in higher education. It also implies being responsible for obtaining course material before the beginning of every course, such as textbooks and other written materials.As a student at Mid Sweden University you need to commit a lot of your time to your studies in order to succeed. To just attend classes is not enough. You will also participate in group works, write reports and study independently. It is generally suggested that full-time students should devote 35–40 hours a week to their studies. This will of course depend on your previous knowledge of the subject and the efficiency of your study method.
ExaminationIn addition to written or oral examinations, examination can take the form of continuous assessment, project work, written or oral assignments, or traditional written or oral examinations. The traditional written examination is usually between three and five hours in long and takes place on a weekday morning or afternoon. Occasionally, there are examinations on Saturdays. For students who fail, it is possible to re-take the examination. Students should contact their department for more details about examination regulations.Please note that students always need to register for the written examination. This should be done at least two weeks before the examination date. Contact the Student affairs office at your department for detailed information.
Grading ScaleFrom the autumn semester of 2007, Mid Sweden University applies a grading scale of seven levels, A–F. Each course is defined in terms of the expected results and abilities (‘intended learning outcomes’) which the student should have achieved at the conclusion of the course. This describes the knowledge each student is expected to possess at the end of the course in order to pass it. The grades A-E are used to indicate how well the student has achieved the ‘intended learning outcome’. A Excellent B Very Good C Good D Satisfactory E Sufficient Fx Insufficient F Insufficient