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Move on up to the European North
Norwegian institutions are constantly working to design programs that will give students in-depth knowledge, research experience and an attractive degree for future employers. A Masters degree is awarded by the universities, specialized university institutions, several university colleges and some private institutions. The degree is normally obtained after one and a half to two years of study and typically consists of 120 “studiepoeng”/ECTS. An important part of this degree is independent research work of between 30-60 “studiepoeng”/ECTS credits eventually leading to a thesis.
The Doctoral Degree (PhD) is awarded after three years of study following completion of a Masters degree or a professional degree/program. Doctoral programs, which are essentially research programs, are offered by all university-level institutions, some state university colleges and a few private institutions. The degree is made up of a training component equivalent to no less than 30 “studiepoeng”/ECTS (one semester of full-time study) and a dissertation. The dissertation is an independent piece of scientific work that meets international standards within its subject area. If the dissertation is approved, it has to be defended at a public disputation.
The Research Council of Norway plays a vital role in developing and implementing the country’s research strategy and is therefore closely related to the development of PhD programs. At present, the Research Council has prioritised marine research, energy and climate research, medicine and health research, food, communication technology (ICT), biotechnology, material science and nanotechnology.
The Norwegian government provides scholarships for students from developing countries and countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia through the Quota Scheme. The objective of the scheme is to promote the internationalisation of higher education and provides for full scholarships for a total of 1,100 students, of which 800 are from developing countries and 300 from Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Additionally, the NORAD Programme for Master Studies (NOMA) provides scholarships for students from developing countries to study Masters and diploma programs in Norway and at institutions in the South.
More information is available at the SIU website at www.studyinnorway.no
Why choose Sweden as a destination for your graduate studies? For many the most compelling reason is the quality and variety of the education itself. With 34 universities and university colleges located throughout the country, Swedish higher education offers subject areas and fields of research interest for all interested international students. According to the OECD, Sweden dedicates more of its gross domestic product to investment in higher education than any other country in the world and ensures, through independent assessment, a system of education that is both well funded and quality controlled.
The wide choice of English-language programmes – aimed at both Swedes and non-Swedes – is perhaps the most obvious draw for students shopping the world for higher education. Of the 300 master’s programs available today, around 40 percent are in the natural sciences, technology or engineering - fields that have been the most thoroughly Anglicised globally. Tina Fransson, a recent graduate from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), completed such a program: the International Master’s Programme in Water Resources Engineering at Linköping University (about 200 kilometres southwest of Stockholm). “It is one year of courses followed by a Master’s thesis,” she explains. “We have studied subjects such as waste water treatment, hydrology and ground water chemistry and the program prepares the student for a future career involving water.”
Around 20 percent of programs are in the area of business and economics. Other Master’s programs offer specialisations in fields as diverse as the social sciences, art and design, health and medicine, law, and the humanities – areas in which Swedish universities have excellent international reputations.
Sweden has a history of academic excellence that stretches back to the 15th century, and the country is home to the Nobel Prize, the world’s most prestigious academic distinction. But its universities don’t have to rest on these laurels: contemporary factors support Sweden’s reputation for quality in higher education. First, there is a commitment by the state to making sure the universities are well endowed. Of all OECD countries, Sweden invests the most funds per student in higher education: latest available figures show that total spending per student over the course of a typical Swedish university education amounts to nearly $70,000, versus an OECD average of $40,000.
