Study Organization

The academic year is divided into two semesters: the autumn semester from the beginning of September until Mid January, and the spring semester from Mid January until early June. Each semester is in turn divided into four study periods of 4-5 weeks. There is a two-week break for Christmas in the 4th study period of the autumn semester.

The courses are organised in packages of two 7.5 credits courses, which are given parallel in periods 1-2 or 3-4 (a semester consists of a total of 4 periods). Full time courses correspond to 40 working hours per week. About 10 hours per week are spent in class. Some classes are set up as plenary sessions with perhaps 100-150 students, but most classes are either lectures (about 35 students) or seminars (12-20 students). The rest of the working time of the week is devoted to individual studies of textbooks or selected papers or to group work in teams of 2-4 students (normally both Swedish and visiting students) preparing cases or theme reports, doing field work with company interviews, and writing papers for seminar discussions. Exams are usually given at the end of periods 1-2 and 3-4, i.e. there is no specific exam period at the end of the semester.

The rather low requirements on classroom attendance should not be interpreted to mean low demands on work input: a lot of work is needed for literature studies and for team work with cases, field interviewing and writing reports.

A full semester is credited with 30 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). 1.5 credits roughly correspond to 1 week of full time studies. The total course load for one semester should add up to 30 ECTS credits and it is recommended that students try to get an even work-load throughout the semester.

You are only allowed to take 30 ECTS credits, which corresponds to two course packages per semester.

The number of visiting students per course is predetermined, which means that some students may not be admitted to their first choices. Courses may also be added to or deleted from the programme. New optional courses by visiting professors can be offered, and courses may be cancelled or only given in Swedish, e.g. if they are selected by an insufficient number of visiting students.

The academic levels of the courses are basic and advanced. Studies at a master's level requires at least two full semesters in business studies. Students may take courses at level A also towards the end of their study programme in order to broaden their knowledge in other subjects than their major.

Basic Swedish Course

All exchange students are offered a course in basic Swedish that runs part-time during the semester and is worth 7,5 ECTS. This course consists of approximately 40 teaching hours. Application for this course takes place after arrival. For more information about the content of the Basic Swedish courses, see the Department of Scandinavian Languages.

The language course does not provide instruction sufficient to follow courses taught in Swedish, so a good proficiency in English is still required for all non-Scandinavian visiting students.

Studiehandboken