Posts tagged with "education"

Can you remember the time before wifi…?

Posted by Katja 4 Comments
Jan 17 2011

Can you remember the time before iphones, androids and blackberries? Not to mention ipads and when everybody could get internet on their phones? Most of you probably can, though could you seriously consider going back and living in that day and age?

Whether it is specifically Swedes or not who are used to having wireless internet almost everywhere can be discussed, but in Sweden in general you can quite easily access wifi (wireless internet); in cafes, libraries, shops, schools, trains and bus stations etc. Not all places are free but there is still the possibility to access the internet.

Then when going abroad or even just out into the countryside the exasperation at not having wireless internet can be enormous. “Why can’t I access the internet!!??” Well… Maybe internet plays a bigger role in Swedes lives than in some other countries… or maybe other countries have chosen to not invest the money in installing wifi?

In a lot of high schools in Sweden, students receive personal laptops for their school work. The schools also install wifi on the school premises, of course giving all students access to  the internet.

Considering the lifestyle of a Swedish high school student, growing up in the age and amidst of high speed developing digital technology, having access to Facebook, MSN, Skype and other internet sites almost 24 hours a day, even when at school, it might not be so hard to understand the feelings of exasperation, loss of security and identity when not having access to the internet.

Is this the case in Sweden only? Do you recognize this feeling of slight panic at not being able to access parts of your life without internet?

Meet the world in Gothenburg

Posted by Tibor 4 Comments
Sep 2 2010
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Let me give you a short introduction to the student and educational life of Gothenburg. Yesterday I wrote about education in general in Sweden on the Swedish blog. I hope I could provide some useful information for you. This post is a kind of part two.

At the moment you can study in Swedish higher education at six different levels. Two levels are so called basic levels, two are advanced levels and two are research levels:

Basic levels:

  • Högskoleexamen (Higher education diploma)
  • Kandidatexamen (Bachelor of Arts/Science)

Advanced levels:

  • Magisterexamen (Master of Arts/Science 60 credits)
  • Mastersexamen (Master of Arts/Science 120 credits)

Research levels:

  • Licenciatexamen (Licenciate exam 120 credits)
  • Doktorandsexamen (Doctor of Philosophy or Law 240 credits)

Application deadlines are usually: from 15 of March to 15 of April each year for courses and programs in Swedish language for the following autumn semester and from 15 th of September to 15 th of October for the following spring semester. 15 th of April for summer courses. For programs and courses in English check it with your institution. You can either apply at www.studera.nu or send your application form to VHS in Strömsund. The forms are avaiable at the universities, KOMVUX; Arbetsförmedlingen etc.

Swedish University Education

Posted by Tibor 11 Comments
Sep 1 2010

Swedish university education is one of the top ranked educations in the world. The reason is for that is a lot of research and that people are not afraid of using new technologies and methods. Swedish education is often based on the one-step-ahead idea. The Swedish governments have invested a lot into adequate educations. There has been a tendency since the early 90s that universities started looking for sectors that might develop or should/could be succesfully developed. You plan ahead and it is for long-term. The education should be competitive on an international scale. Swedish institutions have been flexible changing their profile, research areas and developing them during the years.

In Sweden education is free of charge. From this year it is also a free choice whether you want to pay for your student union a semester fee or not. I have to highlight the importance of these fees, whether it is up to you or not. I think it is essential to be in a safe position if anything unfair happens to you at the university. Let´s say you have problem with a teacher or with the institution. The student union can always provide you any kind of help (inculding legal) and back you up. Besides, you receive a student discount card and a bunch of benefits. It is like belonging to a union at work. The union always keen on your interests towards the employer. A membership can lead to equality in dialogue. There have been discussions about introducing an entrance fee for students coming outside of the EU, but to be honest I really don´t know if any decision has been made about it.

If you live in Sweden you can go to KOMVUX to learn Swedish as a second language aka. Svenska 2 that gives you secondary school competence. Before KOMVUX you have also a possibility (when you arrive to Sweden) to learn Swedish at SFI (Svenska för invandrare/Swedish for immigrants). It is free of charge and gives you primary school competence. There has been lot of criticism towards SFI-system, but I have to say it really depends on your teacher and your engagement how much you will learn. You´ll be given the tools. Besides, it is for free! How many countries do you know where language education is free of charge? Not many.

Swedish universities have a wide range of Master programs given in English, but if you want to study in Swedish you have to of course speak the language. You have two choices to be eligible for studies in Swedish. One option is a test so called TISUS (Test in Swedish for universities). An additional fee has to be paid for taking an exam. I have heard that you can write the tests also once or twice a year at the Swedish Embassy in your home country. It is a hard and very advanced test just like a Proficiency Test in English. Both universities and Folkuniversitetet provide preparation courses for these exams. It is strongly recommended if you ask me. You can apply for a preparation course that is free of charge at the universities or buy a place through a so called Tisus course-package at Folkuniversity in case you don´t get into the university. To be able to study at a Swedish university you have to have TOEFL or Cambridge certificate or anything similar that can be transferred by the local university or by VHS that is the Board for Higher Education Service. They can also transfer all your credits from your native country, but even the local universities provide that service. If you are a new student take contact with a so called student counselor studievägledare. They usually know everything about the bureaucracy.

You can also take an international Swedish language examination that is called SWEDEX if you need proof of your Swedish knowledge in a foreign country because of work or other reasons. The Swedex won´t give you any qualifications for higher education in Sweden. The exams are from level A2-B1, which is the European Framework of Reference for Langauges and it is valid all across the EU.

Study in Sweden

Posted by Transparent Language 18 Comments
Aug 14 2009

Every so often somebody asks me about studying in Sweden. And my first response is “yeah, what about it?” But lately, the questions have become a lot more specific. Namely, one question – “Is university level education still free in Sweden?” And the answer is – at public universities, yes it is.

That alone is a deciding factor for many people to choose a Swedish university to continue their education. Add to that the fact that many schools offer Master’s degree programs in English, and people are hooked.

When I’m asked if I would recommend Sweden as a destination for international students, I always answer “you betcha!”

But before you start applying to programs offered by Swedish universities, there are still a few things to consider:

  • 1. Even though there is no tuition here, it won’t be a free ride. You still will have to cover your accommodation and living expenses. In fact, to be granted a student visa by Migrationsverket, you will need to prove that you have sufficient financial means to support your stay in Sweden. If I’m not mistaken, the amount is still standing at SEK 7300 per month. And that’s the absolute minimum you need to prove that you have to satisfy the immigration requirements to get a visa.
  • 2. Will you get accepted? I don’t want to dash your hopes of studying in Sweden, but just keep in mind that you will be competing for a place with people from all over the world. There is a finite number of applicants filling a finite number of available spaces and the competition is tough. So just in case, you might have better luck at a smaller school in a smaller city than in, for example, Uppsala or Lund.
  • 3. Accommodation… If you are a bona fide exchange student (under either the Socrates or Erasmus program) then your accommodation should be sorted out for you. If you are a free mover, then you’re on your own. Some people mistakenly think that if they are accepted at a school, then everything else will fall into place, too. Not so. In some cities and at some schools you will have no problem getting a “corridor” student room, but in other cities, you will be left to your own devices. And yes, there is a serious shortage of student accommodation in many cities. Just so you won’t say that nobody told you, OK?
  • 4. Living expenses. In many countries students are able to work part-time and make some extra money. In Sweden, due to how the courses and classes are structured, that will be almost impossible. And for most jobs you will need to speak reasonably fluent Swedish – something that many foreign students don’t realize. And living expenses in Sweden are higher than in many other countries – again something that foreign students are only vaguely aware of. So yes, you will need money. Plenty of money.
  • 5. The weather. This is a tired cliché, but it always amazes me how unprepared some foreign students can be. Sweden is a Nordic country and winters will be dark and miserable here. Your mood will be affected and because of that, it’s very possible that your academic performance will suffer.

These are just the few main biggies that immediately come to my mind when somebody mentions studying in Sweden. And from my experiences with foreign students, both prospective students and those already in Sweden, these five points are worth repeating over and over.

Finally, if you want to learn more, Study in Sweden is an excellent website chock-full of detailed info. And it’s amazing how many foreign students don’t even know it exists!

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