A brief introduction to Sweden’s higher education system

Briefly describe the Swedish higher education system

Sweden has more than 40 institutions of higher learning, the most famous comprehensive university Including Stockholm University, Uppsala University, Lund University, Gothenburg University, Umea University and Link?ping University, etc. Each of these universities has many departments and tens of thousands of students. The most famous junior colleges in Sweden include Stockholm School of Economics, Royal Institute of Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Chalmers Institute of Technology and Lule? University of Technology. Karolinska Institutet is an institution that selects Nobel Prize winners in medicine or physiology. It is very famous. Many students in the medical field in my country study there or pursue degrees.

Swedish higher education implements free education, and its academic system is divided into three stages. After three years of study after admission, if you get 120 credits starting from the first year of university (including 60 points for main course credits, including 10 points for thesis credit), you can get a bachelor's degree; after four years of study after admission, if you get 120 credits starting from the first year of university, you can get a bachelor's degree. 160 credits (including 80 credits for main courses and 20 credits for thesis) can lead to a master's degree. Both stages serve as undergraduate education stages. In Sweden, postgraduate education refers specifically to doctoral level education, also known as the third stage of education. Doctoral students must complete a certain number of courses and a doctoral thesis. Generally speaking, the duration of doctoral education is four years. Each doctoral student has a tutor and a supervisor. The doctoral thesis is an important part of the third-stage education. Thesis must be publicly defended and divided into pass and fail. Class comments. All doctoral students who successfully complete the course and pass their thesis can obtain a doctorate. Schools with the right to grant doctoral degrees include 16 comprehensive research universities including the Royal Swedish Institute of Technology, Karolinska Institutet, and Chalmers Institute of Technology. There are also four colleges that can award doctoral degrees in some majors. Currently, people studying in Sweden are mainly divided into two categories: one is ordinary or senior visiting scholars sent by the Ministry of Education, colleges and universities, and some scientific research institutions, that is, publicly funded students. These people usually study in Swedish universities for one or two years under bilateral agreements and then return to their home countries as scheduled. The other category is self-financing students who aim to pursue a degree. These people usually graduate from domestic universities. After working for several years, they apply and are accepted by Swedish universities as "International Master's Program" students or as graduate students studying for a doctoral degree. A. Admission requirements and scholarships. Swedish higher education institutions have the right to independently determine teaching content and teaching methods. They have their own special requirements and admission standards for foreign graduate students. Postgraduate courses are taught in English, and students must have a high level of English proficiency and a TOEFL score of at least 550. Many foreign students apply for "International Master's Programs" organized by some universities and taught in English. They can obtain a master's degree after studying for one to two years. Many people continue to pursue doctoral studies after receiving this degree. Whether a master's student can obtain a scholarship is entirely decided by the relevant institution. Doctoral students in Sweden receive salaries according to the salary of scientific researchers.

Sweden has a government agency called the Swedish Institute that specializes in promoting educational and cultural exchanges between Sweden and other countries. This organization awards a certain amount of scholarships to foreign students studying in Sweden every year. In theory, everyone can apply, but very few are successful. Generally, only those scholars whose research on Swedish language, literature, history, etc. is conducive to expanding Sweden's influence in the world, or professionals who are particularly needed by Sweden, can get scholarships from it. B. Accommodation and Study Abroad Life All major universities in Sweden have consultation service offices. If foreign students want to study in Sweden, they should first contact the consultation service office of the relevant university, obtain information about the basic situation of the school from it, and receive admission Application form. Most Swedish universities can help foreign students arrange accommodation, usually in student dormitories near the university. Such dormitories are all single rooms, more than ten square meters, with a small bathroom with shower. The spacious and well-equipped kitchen is used by about ten students, and they need to bring their own cooking utensils. The monthly rent for such housing is between 2,000 and 3,000 kronor.

All Swedish college students participate in student unions, and foreign students are no exception. The Student Union represents the interests of students in academic and life aspects, such as arranging accommodation for students, ensuring students' medical care, organizing recreational and sports activities, and providing consultation for foreign students. Members of the Student Union pay a small membership fee each semester. C. Study and work Like many other countries, Sweden is divided into two semesters each year. The fall semester starts in mid-August and lasts until mid-January, with a short break at the end of December; the spring semester starts in mid-January and lasts until early June. There are generally no classes from mid-June to mid-August, and foreign students are allowed to work. However, in recent years, due to the increase in the number of unemployed people in Sweden, it is difficult to find a job.

Whether you are an undergraduate, master's or doctoral student, learning is very stressful. Engineering students have more class hours, which are also relatively fixed. Liberal arts students attend classes for 12 to 15 hours a week and have more time for self-study. In addition to attending lectures, every student has to read a lot of reference books, and doctoral students have to do a lot of experiments. The exam consists of a written test and an oral test, and the scores are divided into three categories: excellent, passing, and failing. Compared with many other countries, the teacher-student relationship in Swedish universities is relatively casual. Everyone emphasizes equality but not dignity.

Sweden is a Nordic country. In summer, the weather is not hot, the days are long and nights are short, the mountains are beautiful, and it is comfortable and pleasant; in winter, it is the opposite. The weather is often very cold, the ground is covered with heavy snow, and the long nights are difficult, which makes people feel depressed. feel. Swedes are friendly to Chinese people, and the diligence and talent of Chinese students are also highly praised by them. Some Swedes have become friends with Chinese students. However, Swedes are relatively introverted, and differences in thought and culture make it difficult for people to truly integrate into them. For this reason, although some Chinese students have been in Sweden for many years, they interact more with their compatriots. In addition to school and professional factors, there are two advantages to studying in Sweden: first, not only primary and secondary education in Sweden is free, but also universities generally do not charge tuition fees, so foreign students can save this expense; second, Sweden is famous for its benefits. According to the country, all foreign students who study in Sweden for more than one year are registered and given a population number, and can enjoy public medical care. In addition, Sweden has a stable society and good public security, so you will feel more secure when studying and living in Sweden.

But there are also disadvantages to studying in Sweden: first, undergraduate courses in Swedish universities are taught in Swedish, and it is impossible to enroll if you do not understand Swedish; second, Sweden is the most expensive among EU countries . Therefore, although there is no tuition fee to study in Switzerland, living expenses such as food, accommodation, transportation, etc. are relatively high. According to the budget made by the Swedish Immigration Service for foreign students, each person needs to spend about 6,300 Swedish kronor (about 10 kronor per US dollar) per month, including 2,400 kronor for food, 2,100 kronor for accommodation, 500 kronor for transportation, and 1,300 for other various expenses. Krona. Although Chinese students are not afraid of hardship and can live frugally, they still have to spend about 5,000 kronor per month. Learning in this way for several years will require a considerable amount of money.

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