EDUCATION SYSTEM

In the Swedish University system courses are primarily studies in sequence rather than parallels. Swedish Universities use a system of credits for studies at undergraduate and graduate level. One credit equals one week of full-time studies (approximately 40 study hours per week). One academic semester consists of 20 weeks, which are 20 credits.

Most undergraduate study programs require a minimum of 6 semesters, i.e., three academic years/120 credits. Basic single subject courses are usually one-semester courses of 20 credits each, although some are shorter. The 20-credit courses (A-Level) can usually be extended and supplemented to 40 (B-Level), 60 (C-Level) and even 80 (D-Level) credits. As a full-time student, you can combine short single courses (e.g. 5-credits) to form a study program corresponding to a maximum of 20 credits per semester. A Bachelors degree comprises of 120 credits, with 60 credits in a major subject. A Masters degree comprises 160 credits with a minimum of 80 credits in the major subject. A Doctorate requires minimum of 4 years study of top of Bachelors degree. One Swedish Credit corresponds to 0.75 US-credits or 1.5 ECTS-credit.

Academic year, duration of studies:

The scope of an undergraduate course of studies is measured in terms of a 'points' system, in which each point is the equivalent of one week's full-time study. The academic year normally comprises 40 points, out of which 20 points corresponds to the Autumn term (normally from mid/late August until late December) and 20 points to the Spring term (normally from mid-January until early June). There is normally a break of a couple of weeks over Christmas.