programs and courses
study program at a Swedish university consists of a number of courses in a particular field of study – such as business, humanities or natural sciences - leading to a specific degree. These programs vary in length – most English language master’s level programs in Sweden are one- or two-year full-time study programs.
The academic year is divided into two terms. The autumn term begins at the end of August and lasts until mid-January with a short break at the end of December. The spring term runs from mid-January to the beginning of June. Full-time studies correspond approximately to a 40-hour work week. Students normally study only one course at a time. Exceptions include technology subjects, where several courses may be studied simultaneously.
Study programs usually contain a mix of compulsory, recommended and optional courses. This system allows institutions to combine courses into full programs, offering varying levels of individual choice.
The structure of individual courses varies with the subject area. Technical programs normally feature courses with a high proportion of scheduled hours. Courses in the social sciences and arts involve approximately 4-15 hours of attendance per week, but you will be expected to read in your own time which adds up to full-time study.
Course activities can include lectures attended by up to several hundred students and smaller seminars where students are expected to play an active part in discussions and express their own views. Classes – composed of groups of 20-30 students (occasionally fewer) – are designed to encourage interaction and discussion with the teacher. The aim is to help you develop your polemical skills and to encourage critical thinking.
The required reading is usually extensive, and you will be responsible for buying your own books, although teachers often prepare and hand out compendia. Courses in technology and the natural sciences involve substantial laboratory work. Practical exercises are a feature of many study programs. Most programs conclude with a degree thesis or project work.
Examinations are usually in the form of written and oral tests. Laboratory work, group work and special projects may be the subject of both oral and written reports. Students are expected to be able to use computers and word-processing programs, e-mail and the internet. Universities and university colleges offer access to computer rooms and internet services.
As a foreign student you may find relations between teachers and students at Swedish universities and university colleges surprisingly informal. It is not unusual to see students and teachers fraternizing outside regular lecture hours.
This makes for a comfortable and stimulating study environment, in which students are encouraged to develop and apply their own critical faculties. Students enjoy a large measure of independence and are expected to do a substantial amount of work on their own initiative. This approach can be demanding and you must be prepared to take a good deal of responsibility for your own studies.
Students are also expected to observe high standards of academic conduct. Academic misconduct, such as cheating and plagiarism, is considered a serious offence and a variety of sanctions can be applied if a student is found guilty. These range from warnings to suspension for a specified period.
Plagiarism and cheating involve presenting as your own work something you did not do yourself. Examples include the use of another author's words or ideas without proper citation, turning in work which someone else did for you, copying from someone else’s paper during an exam, or using notes during an exam (unless approved by the teacher). There are many other examples; when in doubt do not hesitate to consult your professor.
The academic year is divided into two terms. The autumn term begins at the end of August and lasts until mid-January with a short break at the end of December. The spring term runs from mid-January to the beginning of June. Full-time studies correspond approximately to a 40-hour work week. Students normally study only one course at a time. Exceptions include technology subjects, where several courses may be studied simultaneously.
Study programs usually contain a mix of compulsory, recommended and optional courses. This system allows institutions to combine courses into full programs, offering varying levels of individual choice.
The structure of individual courses varies with the subject area. Technical programs normally feature courses with a high proportion of scheduled hours. Courses in the social sciences and arts involve approximately 4-15 hours of attendance per week, but you will be expected to read in your own time which adds up to full-time study.
Course activities can include lectures attended by up to several hundred students and smaller seminars where students are expected to play an active part in discussions and express their own views. Classes – composed of groups of 20-30 students (occasionally fewer) – are designed to encourage interaction and discussion with the teacher. The aim is to help you develop your polemical skills and to encourage critical thinking.
The required reading is usually extensive, and you will be responsible for buying your own books, although teachers often prepare and hand out compendia. Courses in technology and the natural sciences involve substantial laboratory work. Practical exercises are a feature of many study programs. Most programs conclude with a degree thesis or project work.
Examinations are usually in the form of written and oral tests. Laboratory work, group work and special projects may be the subject of both oral and written reports. Students are expected to be able to use computers and word-processing programs, e-mail and the internet. Universities and university colleges offer access to computer rooms and internet services.
As a foreign student you may find relations between teachers and students at Swedish universities and university colleges surprisingly informal. It is not unusual to see students and teachers fraternizing outside regular lecture hours.
This makes for a comfortable and stimulating study environment, in which students are encouraged to develop and apply their own critical faculties. Students enjoy a large measure of independence and are expected to do a substantial amount of work on their own initiative. This approach can be demanding and you must be prepared to take a good deal of responsibility for your own studies.
Students are also expected to observe high standards of academic conduct. Academic misconduct, such as cheating and plagiarism, is considered a serious offence and a variety of sanctions can be applied if a student is found guilty. These range from warnings to suspension for a specified period.
Plagiarism and cheating involve presenting as your own work something you did not do yourself. Examples include the use of another author's words or ideas without proper citation, turning in work which someone else did for you, copying from someone else’s paper during an exam, or using notes during an exam (unless approved by the teacher). There are many other examples; when in doubt do not hesitate to consult your professor.
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