My first semester at Linnaeus University, a state university in Kalmar, Sweden, has just begun.
Having studied in the United States and southern France, I was excited to experience the Swedish educational system firsthand; I can already confidently say that Linnaeus University is incredibly different than Saginaw Valley State University.
I’ll describe the 10 most noticeable differences.
1. Swedes do not typically enroll in more than one course at a time. Courses last only five weeks and are referred to as “freestanding,” due to their intense nature. These courses are similar to our spring and summer sessions at SVSU but are much more focused: one of my classes meets nine hours each week.
2. The semesters in Sweden universities are longer. SVSU’s 15-week semesters end in December and April, but Swedish semesters end in mid-January and early June. One semester at Linnaeus University will take me 20 weeks — more than five months — to complete.
3. Not only do students have to register for courses, but they also have to also register for their exams. Some students will not register for an exam if their grade in that particular course will not be heavily impacted, but most students’ final grades are determined solely by how well they do on the final test. Exams are always taken a week after courses are completed. If a student doesn’t register for an exam in time, they will likely fail the class.
4. Exams are much more difficult in Sweden than in America. I will never complain about an exam in the United States again! The exams in Sweden last anywhere between four and eight hours and are broken down into modules. Some modules include group presentations in both English and Swedish, as well as randomized test sections, like essay prompts or multiple-choice questions. It will be more challenging to study for the exams here, because not all professors disclaim to students how the exams will be conducted.
5. There are no holiday breaks, even during major holidays. Year-round schooling is popular in Sweden because it allegedly keeps the mind refreshed. Every Swedish student has been shocked that American students have long weekend and holiday breaks. Summer vacations here are not nearly as long as those in the United States, but Swedish students do enjoy a month off near the end of June.
6. Swedes like to learn in interactive and engaging ways, so professors distinguish between lectures and lessons in their schedules. During lectures, professors give oral presentations about a subject while students simply take notes. Lessons, on the other hand, are hands-on experiences and involve serious dialogues between students and their professor.
7. The Swedes love hosting guest speakers from around the world. It is uncommon to not have a guest speaker on any course schedule. In my business relations course, three guest speakers will be sharing their stories and discussing their ideas with my classmates and me.
8. Education is free for residents in Sweden. With that said, there are all kinds of extra fees that accumulate over time, but it is free to attend classes here. Exchange students like myself are expected to pay tuition rates close to those at our home universities. Scandinavian nations are known for their affordable and prestigious educations.
9. Attendance is more flexible. In the United States, many professors will claim that not attending class will negatively influence students’ final grades; this, however, is not the case in Sweden. Here, professors give students more independence, determining grades by final examination scores, not attendance. Exchange students have even more leniency in regards to skipping class due to their travel to nearby countries.
10. Although attendance is flexible, being punctual is crucial. Unlike my experience studying in France, professors expect students to be on time, even early, for class. Professors do not like to waste time and see lateness as an insult. Swedes are generally peaceful people who do not get offended easily, but this is something that is taken very seriously here.