Sweden has more than 40 institutions of higher education, and the most famous comprehensive universities include Stockholm University, Uppsala University, Lund University, Gothenburg University, University of Ume? and Link?ping University. Each of these universities has numerous faculties and departments with tens of thousands of students. Some of Sweden's most prestigious specialized colleges include the Stockholm School of Economics, the Royal Institute of Technology, the Karolinska Institutet School of Medicine, the Chalmers School of Engineering, and the Technical University of Lule?. Karolinska Medical School is the selection of Nobel Prize winners in medicine or physiology, a great reputation, our country has a number of medical students in the field of medicine there to further their studies or study for a degree.
Sweden's higher education to implement free education, its academic system is divided into three stages. Three years of study after enrollment, from the first year of college if you get 120 credits (including the main course credits accounted for 60 points, including thesis credits 10 points) can be awarded a bachelor's degree; four years of study after enrollment, from the first year of college if you get 160 credits (including the main course credits accounted for 80 points, including thesis credits 20 points) can be awarded the master's degree. Both stages are considered undergraduate education. In Sweden, postgraduate education refers specifically to doctoral education, also known as the third stage of education. Doctoral students must complete a certain number of courses and a doctoral thesis. The doctoral thesis is the main part of the third stage of education. The thesis must be defended in public and is divided into two categories: passed and failed. The doctoral degree is awarded to those who have successfully completed the program and whose dissertations have been approved. There are 16 research universities, including the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering, Karolinska Institutet, Chalmers University of Technology and others, which have the right to grant doctoral degrees. There are also four colleges that grant doctoral degrees in some of their specialties. Currently, people studying in Sweden in China are mainly divided into two categories: one is ordinary or senior visiting scholars, i.e., publicly-funded students, sent by the Ministry of Education of the State, universities and colleges and some scientific research institutions. These people generally according to bilateral agreements in Sweden to further study in the university for one or two years, and then return home as scheduled. The other category is self-funded students who study for a degree. These people generally in the domestic undergraduate, after working for a number of years, I applied, was accepted by the Swedish universities as "international master's class" students or as a postgraduate study doctoral degree. a. Entrance Requirements and Scholarships Sweden's institutions of higher education have the right to independently determine the content of the teaching and teaching methods, and they have their own special requirements and admission criteria for foreign postgraduates. They have their own special requirements and admission criteria for foreign graduate students. Graduate programs are taught in English, and students must have a high level of English proficiency, with a TOEFL score of at least 550. Many foreign students apply for the "International Master's Program" organized by some universities and taught in English, and study for one or two years to obtain a master's degree. Many go on to pursue a PhD after receiving this degree. Whether or not a master's student receives a scholarship is entirely up to the institution concerned. In Sweden, doctoral students are treated as researchers and receive a salary.
Sweden has a government agency called the Swedish Institute, which specializes in promoting educational and cultural exchanges between Sweden and other countries. The organization awards a certain amount of scholarships each year to foreign students who go to Sweden to study. In theory, everyone can apply, but very few do. Generally, only those scholars who study Swedish language, literature, history, etc., which are conducive to expanding Sweden's influence in the world, or those professionals whom Sweden needs especially, can get scholarships from it. b. Accommodation and Life in Sweden All the major universities in Sweden have counseling services, and foreign students who want to study in Sweden should first contact the counseling service office of the university concerned, and get information about the basic situation of the university and application forms from it. They should first contact the university's counseling service to obtain information about the university and to receive an application form for admission. Most Swedish universities can help foreign students to arrange accommodation, usually in a student dormitory near the university. Such dormitories are single rooms, about ten square meters, with a small bathroom with a shower. The spacious and well-equipped kitchens are used by about ten students***, who have to bring their own cooking utensils. The monthly rent for such housing is between 2,000 and 3,000 kronor.
Swedish university students all participate in the student union, and foreign students are no exception. The student union represents the interests of the students in their studies and life, such as arranging accommodation, providing medical care, organizing recreational and sports activities, and advising foreign students. Members of the student union pay a small membership fee each semester. c. Study and work Like many other countries, Sweden has two semesters each year. The fall semester starts in mid-August and lasts until mid-January, with a short break at the end of December; the spring semester starts in mid-January and lasts until the beginning of June; there are no classes from mid-June to mid-August, and foreign students are allowed to work part-time, but in recent years, due to the increase in the number of unemployed people, it has been very difficult to find a job in Sweden.
Studies are intense for undergraduates, masters and doctoral students. Engineering students have more hours and are more regular. Arts students attend classes 12 to 15 hours a week, with a little more time for self-study. In addition to attending classes, each student has to read a lot of reference books, and doctoral students have to do a lot of experiments. Examinations are divided into written and oral exams, and the grades are divided into three categories: excellent, pass and fail. Compared with many other countries, the relationship between teachers and students in Swedish universities is more casual, we talk about equality, do not talk about the dignity of teachers.
Sweden is a Nordic country, the weather is not hot in the summer, the day is long and the night is short, the mountains and the water are green and pleasant; in winter, the opposite is true, the weather is often very cold, the snow paved the ground, the long night is difficult to get through, giving people a sense of depression. Swedes are friendly to Chinese people, and they praise Chinese students for their diligence and talent, and some Swedes have become friends with Chinese students. Some Swedes have become friends with Chinese students. However, Swedes are relatively introverted, and the differences in thinking and culture make it difficult for people to really integrate into them. For this reason, some Chinese students, although they have been in Sweden for many years, socialize more with their own compatriots. In addition to school and professional factors, there are two other advantages of studying in Sweden: first, Sweden is not only free of charge for primary and secondary education, but also does not charge tuition fees for universities, so foreign students can save money; second, Sweden is a famous "welfare state", foreign students who have been studying in Sweden for more than one year are registered and get a population number, and can enjoy publicly-funded health care. All foreign students who have been studying in Sweden for more than one year are registered and given a population number, and can enjoy public medical care. In addition, Sweden's social stability, the security situation is better, learning and living in Sweden will have a greater sense of security.
But there are also disadvantages to studying in Sweden: first, Swedish is the language of instruction at the undergraduate level in Swedish universities, so it is impossible to enroll if you don't know Swedish; second, Sweden is the most expensive country in the European Union. Therefore, although you don't need to pay tuition fees to study in Sweden, you will have to pay higher living expenses for food, accommodation, transportation and so on. According to the budget made by the Swedish Migration Board for foreign students, each person needs to spend about 6,300 SEK per month (1 US dollar is about 10 kronor), of which 2,400 kronor for food, 2,100 kronor for accommodation, 500 kronor for transportation and 1,300 kronor for other expenses. Although Chinese students are not afraid to suffer, can scrimp and save, but also have to spend about 5000 kroner per month. This will require a considerable amount of money for several years of study. (This article was reviewed by Sun Ling, Counselor of the Education Department of the Chinese Embassy in Sweden).