Primary and Secondary School
The educational system in Sweden is based on a nine year primary school, or "Grundskola" with mandatory attendance. Following this comes an elective three year secondary school, or "Gymnasium" which is divided in two instances where you either prepare for higher education or receive vocational education. The preparatory instance allows for specialization in either natural sciences or social sciences.
University
After completing the preparatory secondary school the student applies to a university in order to receive a tertiary education. General academic degrees are offered by public universities that recruits students nationally, and university colleges that tend recruit students more on a regional basis. A University Diploma can be awarded after two years of study, and a Bachelor's degree, after three years at a university or university college. It is possible to specialize further by obtaining a Master's degree which requires an additional year at a university, however once at least a Bachelor's degree has been obtained the student is qualified for postgraduate education.
Besides the general academic degrees described the system of higher education in Sweden also provides a number of professional degrees awarded by establishments on the outside of, and on occasion by separate schools within, the public university system. There are professional degrees in fields like engineering, law and medicine, and even if these have a more extensive curriculum and require a longer time to complete than a Master's degree, it is generally not possible to receive any intermediate degree prior to completion. Having completed the preparatory secondary school with a specialization in natural sciences is typically a prerequisite, before being able to apply to an establishment that awards one of the higher professional degrees.
Post Graduate
The stage of quaternary education offers two degrees, an intermediate postgraduate degree, called Licentiate, and the Doctorate degree.
Post-secondary Education
| Qualified Vocational Education |
KY2 |
| KY1 |
| KomVux |
PS |
Secondary School (Vocational)
Ages 16-19 |
S3 |
| S2 |
| S1 |
Post-secondary Education
Completing secondary school on a vocational program with full classes on a three year curriculum does provides a basic qualification for further studies. However many times post-secondary education is required before being admitted at university or university college. Post-secondary education are provided by Municipal "KomVux" schools, and independent boarding schools named "Folkhögskolor".
Instead of opting for higher education, a student from a vocational program in secondary school are able to apply for what is called Qualified Vocational Education or "Kvalificerad Yrkesutbildning". This form combines education and practical experience from business or industry in the chosen field. The level of education is essentially post-secondary but can also contain courses that meet the requirements of tertiary education.
For post-secondary education, the KomVux and the Qualified Vocational Education in some ways correspond to what is offered by community colleges in the United States.
System Comparison
| Sweden |
United States |
| Post Doctorate |
PD |
Post Doctorate |
PD |
| Doktors-examen |
Q4 |
| Doctorate |
Q4 |
| Q3 |
|
| Licensiat-examen |
Q2 |
Q3 |
|
| Q1 |
| Master's Degree |
G2 |
| Magister-examen |
T4 |
| G1 |
| Kandidat-examen |
T3 |
| Bachelor's Degree |
T4 |
| T2 |
| T3 |
| T1 |
| T2 |
Secondary School
(Preparatory)
Ages 16-19 |
S3 |
T1 |
| S2 |
High School
Ages 14-18 |
H12 |
| S1 |
H11 |
Primary School
(Upper)
Ages 12-16 |
P9 |
H10 |
| P8 |
H9 |
| P7 |
Middle School
Ages 11-14 |
M8 |
| P6 |
M7 |
Primary School
(Lower)
Ages 7-12 |
P5 |
M6 |
| P4 |
Elementary School
Ages 6-11 |
E5 |
| P3 |
E4 |
| P2 |
E3 |
| P1 |
E2 |
| Early Primary School |
P0 |
E1 |
| Kindergarten |
K |
Kindergarten |
K |
Comparisons with other Educational Systems
The Swedish educational system has its own distinctions and is as such not directly comparable to other educational systems such as the one of the United States. There is however a need to compare degrees and the educational or academic levels attained through a completed education.
One of the first things to notice as compared to the US system is that primary schooling, which is compulsory end at age 16 in Sweden. However, almost everyone attends the elective secondary school (Gymnasiet), choosing either a university-preparatory programme or a vocational programme. Also students choosing a vocational education path is eligible for university studies, although access to some courses are restricted. Comparatively, in terms of education, the latter half of the preparatory secondary school to some extent corresponds to the freshman year of college.
The higher education system in Sweden does not recognize any intermediate stages between under graduate and postgraduate education. Undergraduate education offers the general degrees of "Kandidat", literally Candidate and "Magister". These degrees are for all purposes seen as equivalent but not identical to the degrees of Bachelor's and Master's. A Swedish Bachelor's degree is seen to hold a slightly higher academic distinction, and a Master's degree, while attaining at least the same level of specialization is not as extensive, as a graduate Master's degree.
The postgraduate level at Swedish universities offers an intermediate degree called Licentiate and it is closer in academic level to a Doctorate than a Master's degree. Due to this the requirements for a disputation for a Doctorate in Sweden is also seen to be slightly higher. Though at the Doctorate level the degree of specialization is reaching a point where the benefit of any kind generalized comparisons can be put in to question.
See also
External links
- Study in Sweden http://www.studyin.sweden.se/
Last updated: 03-03-2005 04:15:22
Last updated: 05-03-2005 09:00:33
