scandinavia articles
Share this article on...
Contact Us
- Report errors or inaccuracies topmba@qsnetwork.com
- Contribute articles contribute@qsnetwork.com
- Advertise advertise@qsnetwork.com
Move on up to the European North
While the Nordic countries may be known for their cold climate, the welcome foreign students receive is nothing short of warm. The countries have a reputation for open and well-organised societies and excellently efficient graduate degree programs.
The Nordic countries are made up of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and are located in Northern Europe. Sometimes called Scandinavia, the five countries share a great deal of common history and culture and offer similar political and educational systems; but are, nevertheless, distinct destinations for those students wishing to study at the graduate level. With an increasing number of programs taught in English, excellent academic facilities available to all international students, reasonable, and in some cases, no tuition fees for graduate programs, it is no surprise that the universities in this part of the world are attracting more of the top students to their degrees.
Denmark is a small country with only five million inhabitants, but it nevertheless offers graduate students many options and opportunities in the field of higher education. Danish higher education institutions are all internationally-oriented with a wide selection of programs and individual courses taught in English. This means that you can study for a globally-recognized degree while experiencing Danish culture, society and way of life.
As well as attending lectures, students work together in small groups and are encouraged to contribute to discussions. The student’s own critical and analytical initiative is an important element of graduate education in Denmark. With the international labour market becoming increasingly competitive, many higher education institutions cooperate with businesses and research institutions, bringing about an enriching and up-to-date learning environment for all students.
Universities have a commitment to teach and conduct research at the highest international level. Some are multi-faculty institutions covering many disciplines; other institutions are specialized in technical science, agriculture and veterinary science, business and architecture. Three-year PhD programs requiring independent study and research, as well as a lengthy thesis and oral defence are commonplace. The approach to studying is robust, “I like the Danish way of studying very much,” says Anna Ryl from Poland, a student pursuing a degree in Intercultural Management.
Tuition fees for international students have recently been introduced and are in the region of €6,000 to €8,000 depending on the program and the institution. In order to offset these fees, the Danish Ministry of Education now offers a dedicated scholarship scheme for international students, focused on a range of academic disciplines. The university that you are applying to administers applications and if you are successful the awards will cover a proportion of your tuition and living costs.
For international students, the issue of quality and recognition is important. All higher education institutions in Denmark are state-recognized. They receive their main funding from the Danish state and, though they enjoy a high degree of autonomy, must follow the national regulations on teacher qualifications, award structures and external evaluation of their study programs. This system ensures high quality at all institutions.
One key to understanding the Danes is hygge – an important element of the Danish mentality. The term is difficult to translate, but it is often, inadequately, translated as coziness. But it is much more than that: uncomplicated, relaxed and informal are some of the elements of hygge. It is closely associated with having a good time with friends or family, simply enjoying each other’s company without necessarily having planned how to spend time.
Terms often used to describe the five million Danes are: gender equality, tolerance and an easy-going attitude towards life. They tend to put a great deal of emphasis on their individual freedom as well as on the quality of their social life. As most Danes speak English, students tend to find it easy to live in Denmark, even though they themselves hardly speak any Danish. All this makes for an exciting environment in which to study your graduate program.
Read more about studying and living in Denmark at www.studyindenmark.dk
