Warguns, I have read with interest several of your posts describing various (free) courses run by Swedish further education establishments. Could you provide a quick list (with links) of what you consider to be the best establishments in Sweden that offer courses for non-Swedish students, delivered in English? Many thanks in advance, Dave C.
Swedish Higher Ed I appreciate your confidence in me but I'm really not qualified to comment on which institutions are "best", particularly for distance studies. Like everywhere else, there is a prestige hierarchy among Swedish institutions but I doubt that this relates much to the comparative quality of their distance programs. It should be noted that, unlike the US, there are no such things as unaccredited colleges or universities in Sweden. All degree-granting institutions are government regulated. Consequently a minimum standard is always met. Here's a search engine for both courses and degrees http://english.netuniversity.se/ Note that you can search for courses without "compulsory meetings" You might try asking on this board http://www.swedenintouch.se/ or here http://www.thelocal.se/discuss/viewactive.php Very likely there are other Swedish discussion boards. Of course, how knowledgeable the posters are is always unknown. Good luck.
new Swedish search engine? application https://www.studera.nu/ This is the new search engine for ALL (so far as I know) Swedish higher education programs in English, including distance. All applications are being handled through this as well. To search for distance programs, one must choose a subject, choose "all universities", then choose distance learning on the next page. Unfortunately, the engine is not infallible. For example, search "children" as the subject, all universities, but then the distance education button is blacked out, indicating no distance programs. If you look at all the programs however, the distance program at well-regarded Linköping University is shown. Second, the engine may show that late applications are closed, when, if fact, they may still be accepted. If a program one is interested in is shown as closed, contact it directly. Note that for historical reasons, Swedish universities offer both one-year (60 units) and two-year (120 units Masters degrees. The names of the degrees are different in Swedish of course, but who reads Swedish?
Warguns, Thanks again for this information. Some time ago, when you discussed the grad program you were studying, you said (I believe) one campus visit was required. Just wondering, did you travel to Sweden? I imagine the free courses would still be a good deal, even with one or two visits to campus.
Hey! I'm guessing that if you timed it right, you could attend some international conference on widgets or something and let the whole trip be a write-off.
Thanks for posting this information! I forwarded this to a friend that I'm sure will enroll in a few of these. For my own curiousity I noticed in another thread it mentioned some graduate certificates or diploma programs in Sweden via distance learning but even after a thorough search of the links provided I cannot locate them. I did see the master's level programs and the individual undergraduate courses but no mention of the certs/diplomas. Any idea which unis offer them and what the subjects are? Again thanks for providing this information. This board has always been an invaluable source of information.