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Study in the European North: Destination Nordic countries
Internationalization is a priority within all sectors of the Norwegian education system. Nearly 11,000 foreign nationals are currently enrolled at Norwegian institutions of higher education and may apply for admission to a variety of graduate degree programs. You can find institutions of higher education located all over Norway. The major cities can have both a university and various university colleges and in addition to regular programs like humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, every institution has their own specialty areas.
At the graduate level, admission requirements are decided by each university and college based on an academic evaluation of the applicants. Applicants for Masters programs have normally obtained an undergraduate/bachelor's degree or equivalent of at least three years' duration. The degree must include courses equal to at least 1 1/2 years of full-time studies in a subject relevant to that of the program applied for. In special cases, the first (and sometimes the second) year of study at a foreign higher education institution will not be recognized as higher education in Norway.
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 1 � -2 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 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/programme. 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 programmes.
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 internationalization 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 programmes in Norway and at institutions in the South.
With an open society, fascinating culture, great environment and excellent academic graduate programs, Norway is an interesting choice for many students. More information is available at the SIU website at www.studyinnorway.no
Sweden
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, though independent assessment, a system of education that is both well funded and quality controlled.
The wide choice of English-language programs - 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 programmes 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 Program in Water Resources Engineering at Link�ping 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 programme prepares the student for a future career involving water."
