Some 450 Master's programmes at Swedish universities are taught in English. Before you can apply to a Master's programme, you need to have completed studies leading to a degree or diploma equivalent to 180 ECTS credit points (or three years of full-time study).

The decision on whether to accept an applicant rests with the institutions themselves. In addition, some programmes have specific entry requirements which applicants also need to satisfy.

As of the 2007-2008 academic year, there are two kinds of master's programmes leading to two different kinds of degrees, as recognized by the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education:

• The Degree of Master (Two Years), "masterexamen" in Swedish, takes two years to complete (120 ECTS). Authorisation to award “masterexamen” is given to state universities and other higher education institutions that are approved for research in one or more disciplinary domains, and to private education providers that are authorised to award doctorates and licentiates in a disciplinary domain.

• The Degree of Master (One Year), "magisterexamen" in Swedish, is for one-year study programmes (60 ECTS).

 

Campus Life

Students at Swedish universities and university colleges are required to join a student trade union. Among other things, these unions nominate student representatives to the various governing bodies in the higher education system. They are also responsible for a considerable share of student welfare services and social activities. Unions are entitled to levy membership fees to finance their activities.

Many of the local student unions are members of the National Association of Student Unions, which thus indirectly encompasses about 230,000 students.

Medical services for students in central government-run higher education are administered by the local university or university college. In places where there is a special student health centre, there are doctors and other paid staff. The student health centres are primarily concerned with preventive health care. They are not intended to replace the ordinary health care services to which everyone in Sweden is entitled.

It is the duty of higher education institutions to make the necessary modifications for the benefit of disabled students and to bear the costs involved. At Stockholm University there is a national coordinating unit for disabled students from which government funds are distributed to universities and university colleges which have had significant costs in this respect.

 

Author:
www.sweden.se