Why Sweden
Sweden
is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe, bordered by Norway and Finland.
It is the third largest country in the European Union by area, with a
population of about 9.5 million. So, what does Sweden have to offer an
international student?
Studying
in Sweden is different from studying in other countries because Swedish
universities have an open climate with a strong focus on group work. The
Swedish education system focuses more on your academic interests than pushing
you to achieve a grade. Swedish universities work to prepare you for a
successful future; the job market values ambitious, innovative, and perceptive
team players, so Swedish universities attempt to install these qualities in
their students. Degree programs in Sweden offer students the opportunity to mix
study and practical work, so that they have first-hand experience in their
field when they graduate and enter the job market.
The
education system in Sweden is student-centric. Relationships between students
and teachers are relaxed and informal; as a student in Sweden, you will be
expected to address your teachers by their first names. Swedish universities
prize personal initiative and independent thinking; if you choose to study in
Sweden, you will be expected and required to take an active role and contribute
with your opinions and ideas in lectures, seminars, and group discussions. This
will give you the opportunity to develop your individual strengths and
cultivate your academic abilities.
In the
2010 edition of the Academic Ranking of World Universities compiled by Shanghai
Jiao Tong University, Sweden has three universities in the top 100 and eleven
in the top 500.
Almost
everyone in Sweden speaks English nowadays; 89 per cent of Swedes are
bilingual, so international students from English-speaking countries need not
worry about not being able to communicate if they don’t speak Swedish.
Sweden
is one of the world’s most modern countries, and the birthplace of many
successful corporations. A number of successful inventions have resulted from
research at Swedish universities and companies, including the computer mouse,
Bluetooth, the pacemaker, the ball bearing, the dialysis machine, and internet
applications such as Spotify and Skype. These recent inventions are built on a
long history of excellence in academia and research in Sweden. Sweden is the
home of the Nobel prize and several highly acclaimed universities dating back
to the 15th century. This innate creativity has established Sweden as a strong
nation within design, fashion, and music. It is one of the largest
music-exporting countries in the world.
For students who wish to seek
internship’s or work experience, look no further than one of Sweden’s many
internationally-renowned businesses.
Students will find the head offices
of companies like H&M and Spotify in Stockholm. Or, if you find yourself
studying on Sweden’s west coast, you may be interested in gaining experience at
Volvo’s head office in Gothenburg.
Unlike many other countries, Sweden
does not impose any official limitations on how many hours a student can work.
Therefore, it is much easier for students to find job prospects that turn into
lifelong careers.