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The changing face of Higher Education in Sweden and the Nordic countries
following the Bologna process

Karin Dahl Bergendorff

National Agency for Higher Education, PO Box 7851, SE-103 99 STOCKHOLM, Sweden
www.hsv.se [email protected]

The National Agency for Higher Education

I will start by giving a summary of the assignments of the National Agency for Higher Education, the
office where we work, as it reflects the areas of great importance within higher education in Sweden
today. In Sweden the ministries are smaller than in most countries and so state agencies have been
given the assignment to perform tasks that in other countries are handled within the ministries.

The National Agency for Higher Education is a central authority that deals with issues concerning
Swedish universities and colleges. The Agency assesses the quality of higher education. All general
and professional degree courses including research programmes are being assessed during a six-year
cycle.

The Agency also exercises supervision over higher education institutions on behalf of the Swedish
government.

The Agency is responsible for all central statistics related to higher education and makes analysis
and studies. The purpose of these studies is to provide the Swedish parliament and government with a
basis for evaluations and decision making.

The Agency provides information about higher education in Sweden and strives to change attitudes
so as to promote social and ethnic diversity at institutions of higher education. The Agency publishes a
Student handbook that can also be found on the web, which gives broad and neutral information about
studying at universities and colleges in Sweden.

The Agency is responsible for the National Aptitude Test, which is used in the admission process.

The Agency is the contact point for the general system on recognition of professional qualifications,
directives 89/48EEC and 92/51EEC and provides information on recognition procedures for regulated
professions. It is also competent authority for teachers and contact point and competent authority
for architects.

The Agency is the Swedish NARIC/ENIC office. We evaluate foreign higher education
qualifications. The main purpose of the evaluations is to facilitate entry into the Swedish labour
market for persons with foreign higher education qualifications (professional recognition). We give
advise to the institutions of higher education concerning academic recognition of studies abroad for
further studies at undergraduate or post-graduate level. The institutions themselves take the final
decisions on academic recognition. The Agency, being competent authority for teachers, takes
decisions on recognition of foreign teacher qualifications.

Short version:
The National Agency for Higher Education is a central agency responsible for matters relating to
institutions of higher education. Its tasks include quality assessments, supervision, reviews,
development of higher education, research and analysis, evaluations of foreign education and
provision of study information. The Agency provides material that can be used to modify,
improve and renew activities carried out within the higher education sector.
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Cooperation in the Nordic countries

There is a long tradition of cooperation in higher education between the Nordic countries, Denmark,
Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden (OH map). Many years before the Lisbon Convention was
signed the Nordic countries signed an agreement regarding the recognition of qualifications in higher
education. Each country recognises qualifications from any other Nordic country. It may concern
access, recognition of periods of study, admission to postgraduate studies or recognition of degrees.
Nordic students can apply for admission to any Nordic university on equal terms and also bring their
student support with them.

The Nordic Council of Ministers stimulates cooperation between Nordic scientists and research
communities through a number of projects, research programmes and the Nordic scientific institutions.
The goal is to create a Nordic scientific community and to this effect great efforts are made to promote
researcher mobility and to establish new networks.

There has been a large expansion of higher education in the Nordic countries beginning in the 1960s.
New universities and university colleges have been established and there are now big universities with
30-40 000 students and also smaller regional colleges with just some hundred students.

The Nordic universities and other institutions of higher education are, with a few exceptions, state
institutions. Tuition at Nordic universities is free. The students only pay a small fee to their students’
union for the services they receive (appr $A60).

The Nordic universities are governed by acts of parliament stating the general outlines and goals for
the activities of the institutions. The recent reforms have all been towards a higher degree of local
autonomy.

Internationalisation of higher education has a very high priority in the Nordic countries. A growing
number of Nordic students take part or their whole education abroad and more and more foreign
students are coming to the Nordic countries as “free movers” or as visiting students on international
exchange programmes like NORDPLUS, SOKRATES/Erasmus and Leonardo.

Although the Nordic countries have close cultural, linguisticand economic and ties the educational
systems do not look the same. I my presentation I will concentrate on the Swedish and the Norwegian
higher education systems and give a brief overview of the systems in Finland, Denmark and Iceland.
The length of this session sets the limits.

Sweden

School education

In Sweden there have been many changes in the school system during the last decade. The new laws
involved fundamental changes in the control and organisation of the schools. There are new curricula
and a new grading-system (OH of school system). Compulsory school is 9 years. Most children start at
the age of 7. Children start studying English in grade 1 or 2. A second foreign language is studied
from grade 5 or 6. It can be French, German or Spanish. More than 90% of compulsory school leavers
go on to upper secondary school. (OH, 17 programmes)

Upper secondary school is three years. There are 17 different programs divided into branches after the
first year. There are the more theoretical programmes, the Natural Science programme and the Social
Science programme. There are also the vocational programmes. Students from any of the 17
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programmes meet the general entrance requirements for university studies. There is the same set of
core subjects in all programmes.

There is a new grading system. The grades are goal-related and given at the end of each course. (OH
of grades)

A leaving certificate, Slutbetyg, is awarded on completion of upper secondary school (OH leaving
certificate).

Higher education

The higher education system in Sweden has been reshaped by two major reforms in 1977 and 1993.
The reform in 1993 reduced the detailed influence of central government and a decentralization of
decision-making was implemented. A new system of allocating resources to undergraduate education
was introduced. Institutions are now allocated resources based on the number of students registered
and their academic performance rather than on the basis of planned volume of education as was
previously the case.

In Sweden there are some 50 institutions of higher education run by either central government,
regional authorities or private interests. Of these 36 are state run institutions. There are 13 state run
universities and two private universities. A total of 330 000 students are enrolled in undergraduate
studies.

To be admitted to undergraduate studies in Sweden the applicant must fulfil basic requirements that
are the same for all courses and programmes of education. To be eligible the applicant must have a
secondary school leaving certificate or meet the basic entrance requirements by being at least 25 years
of age, having 4 years of working life experience and sufficient knowledge of English (and Swedish).
In most cases there are also specific course requirements.

There is a numerus clausus for admission to higher education in Sweden. Competition for a place of
study is in many cases very keen. Admission is based on school-results and/or the result from the
University Aptitude Test. The test is the same for all higher education. It measures the knowledge and
skills of importance for studies at tertiary level. It is a tool for selection as an alternative to school
results. Admission might also be made on the basis of special tests, previous education and work
experience.

All undergraduate education is provided in courses. These may be linked to constitute a programme of
education. The students themselves are able to combine different courses into a degree.

Sweden has a system of credit points. One week of successful full-time study is equivalent to one
credit point. One academic year usually yields 40 points. The European credit system, ECTS, will also
be used by Swedish universities and university colleges alongside with the point system.

The grades used in higher education are: fail, pass and pass with distinction. Sometimes only pass and
fail are used. This sometimes makes it difficult for Swedish students when applying for a place of
study abroad. The institution can decide on using other grading systems. In engineering and in law
studies other grades are being used.

Degrees

In the Degree Ordinance the government has laid down which degrees may be awarded and the
objectives for these degrees. The degrees in undergraduate education are divided into general degrees
and professional degrees.
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The general degrees are (OH):

Högskoleexamen (University Diploma) totalling at least 80 points

Kandidatexamen (Bachelor´s degree) totalling at least 120 points (3 years). In the main subject in-
depth studies at the 60 point level are required with an independent thesis of a minimum of 10 points.

There are two types of Master´s degrees, Magisterexamina, one academic and one more professional:
Magisterexamen med ämnesdjup (academic)is awarded after studies of at least 160 points (4 years)
and in-depth studies at the 80 point level are required with an independent thesis of at le ast 20 points
or two of 10 points each.

There is also a Magisterexamen with ämnesbredd (professional):

40 points is studied in a certain field and there must be a thesis of at least 10 points. These studies are
intended for those who already hold a degree of at least 120 points.

There are more than 50 professional degrees. They range from 40 to 220 points. Professional degrees
are awarded in medicine, engineering, teaching, social work, law etc. (OH of diploma)

Postgraduate studies is based on undergraduate education of at least 120 points with at least 60
points in the research subject. Furthermore the faculty board may add other requirements for
admission. An assessment is also made of the applicant’s capacity for completing postgraduate
studies.
Postgraduate training comprises 160 points (4 years) and leads to a Ph D or Doktorsexamen. A
Licentiatexamen, Licentiate degree may be taken after two years and comprises at least 80 points.
The Ph D student must complete a number of courses and write a doctoral dissertation, which must be
defended at a public oral examination.

The Swedish government has declared that the Bologna Declaration does not motivate any changes in
the Swedish degree structure. The Swedish higher education system already consists of two main
cycles, undergraduate and graduate as stated in the Bologna declaration. However a committee has
been appointed to look into the degree system as the surrounding world is changing and being part of
the international educational community is very important.

Trends and developments

The number of students in undergraduate programmes continues to rise although age cohorts are
becoming smaller. The goal of the government is that 50% of the young people of any age cohort will
start higher education by the time they reach the age of 25. Higher education is expanding and there
are currently more post-graduate students than there were upper secondary school pupils 50 years ago.
There are now more than 330 000 students enrolled in undergraduate education in Sweden.

The number of applicants exceeds the number of places available but the difference between supply
and demand is declining. The major expansion of higher education during the 1990s is beginning to
result in spare capacity in a few areas, particularly in the natural sciences and engineering where
expansion has been particularly intense. The number of students beginning higher education was last
year 70 000 including foreign students and exchange students. More than 10% of the beginners were
foreign students.

Since 1989 when it became possible in Sweden to receive financial assistance for studies abroad the
number of Swedish students studying abroad has risen markedly. More than 30 000 Swedish students are
now studying abroad on their own initiative as free movers or in exchange programmes. Most of the
students go to the United Kingdom, Spain, France or the USA. Also Australia is very popular. (OH from
CSN)
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At Swedish universities and university colleges more and more courses are offered in English both for
national and international students.

Further information on education in Sweden can be found at:

http://utbildning.regeringen.se/inenglish/index.htm
http://www.skolverket.se/english/index.shtml
http://www.si.se/E_FirstPage.cs?dirid=1236
http://wwweng.hsv.se/en/iwt/startpage/startpage_en.jsp?home=location

Norway

In Norway compulsory school lasts 10 years from age 6 to 16. Upper secondary education is either
general or vocational and leads after three years of study to a Certificate of Upper Secondary school,
Vitnemål (OH).

Higher education in Norway is covered by the same legal act including 4 universities, 6 specialised
university institutions and 28 university colleges. Undergraduate programmes at the university
colleges can be transferred to undergraduate programmes at universities and “vice versa”.

About 10% of the students are enrolled in colleges in the private sector. The private institutions cover
study programmes in a wide spectrum of study programmes from ballet to engineering and business
administration. A great number of their courses and programmes can give transfer credit.

Last year the Norwegian Parliament passed an extensive reform on higher education to be gradually
implemented from autumn this year.
- There will be a new degree structure: bachelor, master and PhD.
- The academic year can be organised in three semesters instead of two.
- The student loans will be increased
- The Diploma Supplement will be compulsory

(OH of old and new degree structure)

In the new structure there will be a 3-year bachelor degree providing professional qualifications
and/or qualify for admission to higher degree studies.

The master degree will require two years of study and will lead to professional qualifications and/or
qualify for admission to doctoral studies.

The formal research training will still be three years duration and lead to a PhD.

The European Credit System ECTS will replace the “vekttall”. The normal workload for one semester
has been 10 “vekttall” and that equals 30 ECTS credits. One academic year comprises two semesters
of together 40 weeks.

Undergraduate level in the old structure

The cand mag normally requires 4 years of study /80 vekttall/ 240 ECTS credits or in the natural
sciences 3 ½ years/70 vekttall/210 ECTS. The cand mag degree includes a preparatory course in
philosophy called Examen Philosophicum/Examen Facultatem of 10 vekttall/30 ECTS.

The degree of Høgskolekandidat is a final qualification awarded by the state university colleges upon
the completion of 2-4 year study programmes mainly in professionally oriented subjects. A three year
programme in engineering will lead to the degree of Høgskoleingeniør
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Graduate level in the old structure

Cand philol, cand polit, cand scient are graduate degrees awarded upon completion of 1,5-2 years of
study beyond the cand mag degree. These degrees include a thesis of one year’s duration.
There are also professional degrees of 2 to 7 years of study offered by the universities and university
colleges.

For international purposes master degree programmes with instruction in English have been
introduced at universities and university colleges and more will be introduced.

Doctoral degrees are awarded on the completion of a 3 to 4 year academic programme.

A list of higher education institutions in Norway with detailed information on special programmes for
international students can be found on these websites:

www.nordenedu.net
www.siu.no
www.nnr.no/naic

Finland

In Finland higher education has expanded significantly starting in the 1960s and there was a rapid
growth in resources and an increase in independent decision-making from the mid-80s. There are now
20 state run universities. In the 1990s the independence of universities has continued to grow while
attention has focused increasingly on improving performance and quality.

The Finnish higher education system consists of two sectors: universities and polytechnics. The
polytechnics are more practically oriented. There are 29 polytechnics. The polytechnics were formed
on the basis of post-secondary vocational institutions by raising their standards and by merging several
institutions to create multi-field polytechnics.

(OH) Finnish compulsory school is nine years for children 7-16 years of age.
The upper secondary school offers a three year general education curriculum at the end of which the
pupils take the national matriculation examination, studentexame n, ylioppilastutkinto, which is the
general eligibility requirement for higher education.

The first university degree is kandidatexamen kandidaatti, which roughly corresponds to a bachelor
degree and can be attained after three years of study. Magisterexamen, maisteri, or Master degree
requires another 1-2 years of study. There is an optional pre-doctoral postgraduate degree,
licentiatexamen, lisensiaatti, Licentiate degree, which can be completed after two years of study after
the Master degree. Full time studies for a doctoral degree, doktorsexamen, tohtori, take
approximately four years.

The polytechnics award polytechnic degrees, ammattikorkeakoulututkinto/yrkeshögskoleexamen The

length of the programmes are 3,5 –4 years.

Information on education and higher education in Finland can be found at:

www.minedu.fi/education
http://finland.cimo.fi/
www.oph.fi
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Iceland

In Iceland there have been reforms concerning both school education and higher education.
Compulsory school is 10 years for children 6-16 ears of age. Upper secondary school is 4 years with
four different branches, academic, vocational, fine arts and a short general branch.

(OH educational system) In the framework law on higher education from 1997 the higher education
institutions are given increased autonomy. The Ministry’s emphasis is on agreements and monitoring
rather than on interference with particular internal matters of the institutions. The Ministry has also
passed a regulation on a quality assessment system. The Ministry has signed financial contracts with
all higher education institutions. The contracts are performance-related.

In Iceland there are 8 institutions of higher education most of them state run. The largest is the
university of Iceland, Háskóli Íslands.

The degrees awarded by Icelandic higher education institutions are:

-BA or BS after 3-4 years of study
-BEd, for pre-school teachers, compulsory school teachers
-BFA, in drama
-BMus , in music
- BphIsl, Baccalaureatus Philologiae Islandicae awarded to foreign students on completion of a
programme in Icelandic language, literature and history. It is at the same level as a BA.
- Candidatus , academic or professional degree in theology, medicine, law, economics, business
administration, engineering
-MA, MBA, Med, MSc degrees are awarded after further 1-2 years of study.
Doctoral programmes are offered at the University of Iceland.

Further information can be found at:

http://www.hi.is/HIHome.html
http://www.hi.is/~arnif/skrifstofa/higher.html
http://mrn.stjr.is/mrn/mrn-eng.nsf/pages/frontpage

Denmark

(OH educational system) In Denmark education is compulsory for nine years and upper secondary
education is three years. Pupils following the academic preparatory education take at the end of the
third year the school leaving examination, studentereksamen, which is the requirement for admission
to higher education.

The structure of Danish higher education integrates elements from both the continental and the Anglo-
American academic traditions which can be seen in the degree structure. Years before the Bologna
Declaration Denmark introduced the bachelor degree as the first degree after 3-3,5 years of study. A
further two years of study leads to the Candidatus degree and another 3 years for a PhD degree. All
programmes include the preparation of a major project report, a thesis, or a dissertation, depending on
the level of the degree.

Further information can be found at:

http://eng.uvm.dk//
www.ciriusonline.dk
www.cvuu.dk