Sweden Education Profile 2012

Sweden is a safe and modern country in northern Europe, and it has accrued a spectacular reputation as an innovator and creative force. Sweden’s famed corporate brands — like Volvo, Ikea, Ericsson and H&M — complement its cultural brands — like Ingmar Bergman, Abba, Astrid Lindgren, Bjorn Borg, Jan-Ove Waldner, August Strindberg, Roxette, The Cardigans and Greta Garbo.
Sweden has a long and proud history of academic excellence, with outstanding universities dating back to the 15th century. Sweden is the home of the Nobel Prize, the world’s most prestigious academic distinction.

Today, Sweden’s reputation for innovation is built on close cooperation between industry and academia. Swedish universities are renowned for their research and independent thinking, and this reputation is cemented with rigorous quality control and nationally certified degrees.
Swedish universities offer around 600 master’s degree programmes in English, ranging from human rights law to mechanical engineering. There is also a number of undergraduate programs given in English. Programs are structured in response to student demand — the result is a student-centric education system, with open, informal relations between students and teachers.
Many students studying in Sweden come from abroad and there is always room for more: Sweden’s educational policy is based on the recognition that a multicultural student body is a resource. Competition for places is keen, but students of all nationalities may apply, given the right credentials; and degree equivalency for past studies is granted on a flexible basis. Swedish universities are also keen on developing links to other universities around the world, both in the form of student exchange and in joint research projects.
Chinese students may worry about not speaking the language. However, almost all Swedes speak fluent English and many Swedish companies use English as their official working language. With high standards and moderate tuition fees this makes Sweden an excellent option for studying abroad.
There are more than 30 institutions offering higher education in Sweden, a number of which are internationally recognized such as the University of Uppsala, the oldest university in Northern Europe established in 1477; Karolinska Institutet highly ranked as a medical research center; and the technical universities of Chalmers and the Royal Institute of Technology