The Structure of Higher Education of Sweden

Lunds Universitet

Based on information found on Sweden’s website of higher education, there are a total of 38 colleges and universities in the nation of Sweden. From the northernmost Lulea University of Technology, to Malmo and Lund Universities in the southern part of the country. Sweden ranks “among the world leaders in higher education” (Swedish Higher Education, 2018). At 41% of the population having at least 2 years tertiary education, Sweden ranks at number 13 educated population of all OECD countries, (Sadurskis, A. et. al. 2018).

Lund University, Scania, Sweden

The department of Ministry of Education and Research of the Swedish parliament (Riksdag) holds the responsibility for education and research, making policy decisions and changes regarding targets, "guidelines, and the allocation of resources" (Swedish Higher Education, 2018). The universities and university colleges do have autonomy to make many decisions about admissions, courses offered and the content therein, grades, and some other issues, so long as they have expert opinions of two people of "scientific or artistic expertise," and they must represent the student body.

Stockholm University

The Swedish Council for Higher Education is responsible for issues such as international co-operation and assessments of foreign qualifications. The Higher Education Authority then is responsible for reviewing the "quality of higher education and granting degree awarding powers" (Swedish Higher Education, 2018). They supervise other university policies and maintain official statistics.

With the requirement that all university and college education be based on scientific principles, the goals of Sweden's higher education are to "provide knowledge and skills in the relevant area's, an ability to make independent critical assessments, an ability to identify, formulate and solve problems, and preparedness for changes in the students professional life." They must also provide the same opportunities for students with disabilities.

Riksdag in Stockholm

Degree programs offered by Swedish universities and colleges follow the European standards, which is in line with North American standards as well. Bachelor programs take roughly three years to complete, masters programs between one and two years, and PhD programs "are research degrees involving several years of work toward a dissertation" (Swedish Higher Education, 2018).

The primary difference between a university and a university college is that PhD degrees are offered by the university.

Sadurskis, A., Kahlroth, M., Larsson, E., Bengtsson, A., & Berlin Kolm, S. (2018). HIGHER EDUCATION IN SWEDEN 2018 STATUS REPORT. Swedish Higher Education Authority,1-70. Retrieved June 2, 2019, from https://english.uka.se/download/18.7f89790216483fb85588e86/1534509947612/Report-2018-06-26-higher-education-in-Sweden-2018.pdf.

Swedish higher education. (2018, April 04). Retrieved June 02, 2019, from https://sweden.se/society/higher-education-and-research/

Swedish higher education. (2018, April 04). Retrieved from https://sweden.se/society/higher-education-and-research/