Higher education and research in Sweden
Higher education in Sweden used to be divided into undergraduate (Bachelor and Master) education and postgraduate studies and research (PhD). However, within Europe there is now a process underway to harmonize all higher education. Sweden, together with 44 other European countries, participates in an international cooperation – the Bologna model. The aim of the Bologna model is to establish a common structure for higher education within Europe, thereby promoting mobility and employability and making Europe a more competitive continent for higher education. From the 1 of July 2007, Sweden is a part of the Bologna model.
Adapting to the Bologna model meant that the Swedish structure, where higher education was divided into two parts (undergraduate and postgraduate), is changed. Higher education is now divided into three parts (undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate). Degrees are taken at first, second or third level. Education at first level will lead to a Bachelor’s degree, education at second level to a Master’s degree and education at third level (doctorate level) to PhD.
At the national level, the Ministry of Education and Science, located in Stockholm, is responsible for higher education and research.
Read more about the higher education system in Sweden.
First Degree Programmes
First degree programmes vary in length from 3 to 5 1/2 years. Each programme consists of courses and subcourses of varying length. Admission to some of the courses is restricted to students taking the specified programme, while other courses may be open to all students meeting the the course qualifications.
Single subject courses
Uppsala University offers a large number of single subject courses, also called separate or independent courses (fristående kurser). This does not apply to the School of Engineering, however, where the emphasis is on entire programmes. Subject courses are usually offered in traditional university subjects, as the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities. The University decides on an annual basis which courses it wishes to offer, although the course offerings do not change substantially from one year to another. In Sweden studies are usually confined to one subject at a time during a given semester, which is a marked difference from, for instance, the case in the USA.
Single subject courses vary in length from 5 to 40 weeks, and may be combined into a programme leading to a degree. The requirement for obtaining such a degree is, in most cases, to have attained a minimum of 120 Swedish points (approximately 3 years of full-time studies), which must include a major of at least 60 Swedish points in the same subject.
Exchange students (students participating in an exchange programme between the home University and Uppsala University) are usually expected to take courses during one or two semesters, either from a first degree programme or one or more single subject courses.
Master programmes
Master programmes are 2 years in length and require a previous degree of at least Bachelors's level. The content of the programmes is composed of a number of courses and end with a degree project. According to the present Swedish study system master studies are cathegorised as graduate studies.
Post-graduate studies
The two types of degree awarded for post-graduate studies in Sweden are Licentiate (Licentiate degree) and Doctor (Doctor of Philosophy, PhD). The former should take about 2 years and the latter about 4 years of full-time studies.
The Swedish term for the continued studies is “forskarutbildning”, meaning research education, and the general aim is to give the student knowledge and skills needed to carry on independent research in his/her scientific field.
