Exchange studies in Sweden University of BorĂĽs
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Contents Welcome to the University of Borås
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University of Borås
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The Swedish School of Textiles The Swedish School of Library and Information Science
The City of Borås
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Welcome Service
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International Student Services
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Meet our Students
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Degree programmes in English
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Useful Links
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International Office Support Functions and Facilities The Student Support Functions
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Exchange Studies 10 Scholarship 10 Application Process 10 How to Apply 10 Letter of Admission 10 Application Deadlines 10 Academic Calendar 11 Schedule 11 The Grading System 11 Study Periods 11 English Proficiency and Other Prerequisites 11 Swedish Language Courses 11
Practical Information and Student Support Services
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Mentor Programme Welcome Service Orientation Days Introduction Week Social Activities
Sweden 8 Exchange Studies at the University of Borås
Residence Permit Cost of Living
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Master of Science (one year) – 60 credits 18 Master of Science (two years) – 120 credits 18 Application Procedure 19
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Accommodation 12 Insurance 12
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Welcome to the University of Borås When they leave the university they will be well prepared to start their own businesses and they will be attractive to employers.
The University of Borås is an innovative and dynamic university that provides excellent educational opportunities and facilities for students from all over the world. We believe that internationalisation and exchange of students and staff with universities in other countries is important for maintaining and improving the high quality in the research and education that we offer.
The University of Borås invites you to a friendly and inspirational atmosphere, where you will be able to choose from many different courses as an exchange student. You will also learn more about Sweden and, perhaps most importantly, about yourself. We hope to see you here soon.
High quality is also ensured through the university’s unique profile – science for the professions. Education and research are conducted in close cooperation with business and the public sector. This means that, among other things, students will attain skills that are relevant to the needs of their future workplaces.
Björn Brorström Vice-Chancellor
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University of Borås The University of Borås is a modern university located in the centre of the city. We have more than 12 400 students and 700 employees.
The campus is made up of modern buildings with a big awardwinning library, modern laboratories with all the latest equipment, and plenty of computer rooms, computer labs and free Wifi for all students.
Several of our study programmes can only be found here with us and this attracts students from all over Sweden. The university also has an extensive experience in international cooperation in both education and research. It has almost 200 exchange agreements with universities in more than 50 countries.
To strive for a sustainable society – ecologically, socially and economically - is part of the strategic profile of the University of Borås. The university is commited to a sustainable development according to a policy with an aim to integrate sustainable development in all activities of the organization.
The University of Borås is organised in three faculties: • Faculty of Textiles, Engineering and Business • Faculty of Caring Science, Work Life and Social Welfare • Faculty of Librarianship, Information, Education and IT
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The Swedish School of Textiles The Swedish School of Textiles offers training in design, technology and management. Degrees are awarded at bachelor, master (one year or two years), and postgraduate research level. Textile education in Borås dates back to 1866 when Tekniska Väfskolan (the Technical Weaving School) was founded in Borås. Today, students at the Swedish School of Textiles combine creativity and theory with practical work. The machine halls offer hand knitting machines, advanced 3D technology, textile printing, and colour laboratories. The Swedish School of Textiles offers some of the best training in the world in its field and attracts students from across the globe. Furthermore, co-operation and contact with the business community is strong.
The Swedish School of Library and Information Science The Swedish School of Library and Information Science was founded in 1972 and offers internationally recognised education and research in library and information science. Here you find Sweden’s most comprehensive librarianship training programmes. The rapid development of the information society has changed the classic role of the librarian. For this reason, the Swedish School of Library and Information Science also trains web content managers, information specialists, and information architects to deal with the challenges and vocational roles of the future. Students are offered a variety of master degree programmes in library and information science.
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The City of Borås The Textile Capital
Borås is, according to Swedish standards, a mid-size city. But from an international aspect it is a fairly small city with a population of around 100,000.
Borås is often referred to as the textile capital of Sweden. The city became the centre for Sweden’s textile industry several hundred years ago. These days however, most manufacturing has moved abroad, but Borås remains the centre for textile design in Sweden. In recent years Borås has also earned a reputation as the sculpture capital of Sweden. There are sculptures by renowned Swedish and international artists placed all over the city.
It is located in south-west Sweden, approximately 60 kilometers east of Gothenburg, Sweden’s second largest city, and only 40 kilometers away from Gothenburg’s main international airport. Public transportation is both safe and reliable and as a result a lot of people commute between the two cities.
Borås is also known for its zoo, outlet shopping, cheap food prices, its big recreational swimming pool located in the city centre, as well as “Summer Thursdays” when the citizens of Borås gather at the main square for free concerts and evening shopping.
The city centre has plenty of shops, cafés and restaurants. Everything you need is within walking distance and the university is located right in the city centre. The countryside is however never far away. There are forests, lakes and large areas of farmland just a short bus or cycle ride from the city centre.
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BORĂ…S
Sweden Excellent Higher Education
Sweden is located in Northern Europe, more precisely in the part of Europe which is commonly referred to as Scandinavia.
Higher education in Sweden has a long history of excellence in academia and research. Sweden is the home of the prestigious Nobel Prize, many successful inventions, and has a mixture of older universities that date back to the 15th century, and younger dynamic and modern universities. Swedish universities have an open climate and relations between students and teachers are informal. The education system is student centric and has a focus on cooperation and group work. Independent and critical thinking as well as personal initiative are encouraged in order for the students to develop a true understanding for the subjects they are studying.
Sweden is a fairly large country, larger than both Germany and the UK, but with a population of only 9.8 million. Despite a small population, Sweden is one of Europe’s strongest industrial nations and many large global companies originated here including Volvo, IKEA, H&M and Ericsson. Sweden is a member of the European Union since January 1995, but uses the Swedish Crown (SEK), and not the Euro, as its currency. Sweden is known around the world for being democratic, safe and clean, its high level of equality between men and women, and not least for having beautiful nature and a rich wildlife. If you travel from north to south you will see forests and mountainous terrain as well as farmland and white sandy beaches.
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Exchange Studies at the University of Borås Exchange Studies
Application Process
A student can carry out one or two exchange semesters/periods at the University of Borås if he or she is currently enrolled as a student at a university that has an exchange agreement with the University of Borås. The University of Borås is always open to form new agreements with partners that fit the university’s profile and curriculums. The exchange studies are expected to form part of the student’s educational programme at the home university.
How to Apply Exchange students have to be nominated by their home university coordinator in our online application system TransIT. Nominated students who will be accepted by the University of Borås will automatically receive a username and password in order to complete their application. All exchange students are required to apply online before the application deadline. International Coordinators for each subject area will decide about the admission of each individual student.
The University of Borås participates in several different international exchange and internship programmes, including Erasmus, Nordplus, and Linnaeus-Palme. Scholarships are connected to those programmes. Please contact your home universities about the possibilities for receiving scholarships. The university also accepts incoming exchange students from universities that do not participate in the above mentioned programmes. For further information on courses offered for exchange students, please visit: hb.se/exchangecourses.
For further questions regarding the application and admission process please contact us at: internationalstudent@hb.se. Letter of Admission Students will receive their letter of admission by e-mail two to three weeks after the application deadline. Students from outside Europe will receive the admission letter also to their home address, or will be sent to their international coordinator at their home university, in order to be able to apply for a residence permit.
Scholarships Incoming students within the programme Linneaus-Palme can be offered scholarships by the University of Borås. All other students should ask their home universities about the possibilities for receiving scholarships.
Application Deadlines Autumn Semester: 1 May Spring Semester: 1 November
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Academic Calendar
Study Periods
The academic year consists of 40 weeks divided into two semesters. Each of these two semesters is divided into two periods. Full-time studies correspond to 15 credits per period, 30 credits per semester and 60 credits per academic year. One academic credit equals 1 ECTS credit (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System). A course is usually worth 7,5 or 15 academic credits. Furthermore full-time studies require about 40 hours of work per week. There is no break during the semester. It is therefore recommended for students who want to travel within Sweden and Europe for a longer period to either do this before or after their study period.
Schedule At Swedish universities, students usually study according to consecutive scheduling instead of parallel scheduling. This means that they are enrolled in only one or two courses at a time, and each course is followed by an exam, instead of being enrolled in several different courses simultaneously, with a midterm and a final exam for each course at the end of the semester.
The Grading System The grading system at the university varies depending upon the faculty. Most faculties use a three level scale of fail, pass, and pass with distinction, while some use a four level scale: fail, 3, 4 or 5 where 5 is the highest grade. All exchange students will be marked according to the European wide scale (F/E/D/C/B/A) – ECTS.
Autumn Semester Period 1: end of August – end of October Period 2: end of October – middle of January Spring Semester Period 3: middle of January – end of March Period 4: end of March – beginning of June
English Proficiency and Other Prerequisites Since the language of instruction and course literature for exchange students is English, the student must have sufficient English skills. The faculties require the students to submit documents proving proficiency in English equivalent to B2 level (i.e. TOEFL test or language of instruction certificate from the university). The B2 level is the basic language, some study programmes have special requirements. Please contact the responsible international coordinator.
Swedish Language Courses All incoming exchange students are offered a Swedish language course for beginners (7,5 ECTS) and, depending on the availability, also a continuation course (7,5 ECTS). You apply for the language courses through TransIT. The University of Borås does not offer language courses in any other languages.
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Practical Information and Student Support Services Accommodation
Residence Permit
The University of Borås does not have a campus with student accommodation but the university cooperates closely with Borås’ largest student accommodation agency, and informs them about admitted exchange students.
Students from outside the EU/EEA need to apply for a residence permit (visa) in order to be able to study in Sweden. The application for the permit is submitted at a Swedish embassy or consulate in the student’s home country. Citizens of some countries can apply online at the website of the Swedish Migration Board, but still need to visit the embassy or consulate to submit fingerprints and have their photo taken for the residence permit card.
Exchange students are not guaranteed accommodation, but are given the chance to book a student room before all other students except fee-paying students. The university will assist exchange students who cannot find accommodation, but students should also realise that it is their own responsibility to find a place to live.
Insurance All incoming exchange students to the University of Borås are covered by a health insurance either through the University of Borås or through European social insurance. The insurances do not cover property or losses from for example theft. Students from the EU/EEA should order a European Health Insurance Card from their national social insurance agency. It will grant them health care on the same terms as Swedish citizens, if the treatment becomes necessary during their stay in Sweden. Exchange students from partner universities outside the EU/ EEA are covered by a health insurance plan signed by the University of Borås. It grants them free medical treatment if the treatment becomes necessary during their stay in Sweden.
The permits for exchange students are granted directly by the embassy or consulate, and not by the Swedish Migration Board. The students are required to have the permit and the residence permit card before they move to Sweden. The procedure can take 2 months or more. EU/EEA citizens have the right of residence in Sweden and thus are allowed to study in Borås without a residence permit.
Cost of Living The cost of living in Sweden for a student is estimated by the Swedish Migration Board to be SEK 7,974/ month. If you are required to have a residence permit before moving to Sweden, you need to show that you have this amount of money for each month you plan on studying in Sweden. If you do not show you can support yourself financially for your entire stay, the Swedish Migration Board will not grant you a residence permit. For more details about this process refer to Residence Permit. The costs of living depend on where in Sweden you live. The living costs in Borås can in many areas be lower than in several other cities in Sweden, for example Stockholm.
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Welcome service Mentor Programme The Mentor programme is a chance for you to get in touch with a student currently studying at the University of Borås (local or international student) before the semester begins. The student will be a point of contact for you before your arrival and can give you a helping hand while starting your time a an international student here.
Welcome Service During a few days before the semester starts students from our Welcome Service will be present at Landvetter Airport and the Borås Central Station/Resecentrum to greet you and instruct students how to reach your accommodation.
Orientation Days Every semester we have compulsory orientation days just before the official start of the semester. It is a good
chance for you to receive inforamtion about living and studying in Sweden and Borås, and to meet your fellow students for the first time. Students are also given a welcome package including, among other things, a SIM card for their mobile phones.
Introduction Week The Student Union arranges social activities for all new students in the beginning of each semester, international as well as domestic students. The activities will introduce you to the University and the city of Borås and it is a great opportunity to make new friends.
Social Activities Together with the Student Union there are several different student associations on campus, organising events, games and other activities for students. Borås also has a local section of the Erasmus Student Network, ESN Borås, which organises activities for international students as well as domestic students.
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International Student Services International Office
The Student Support Functions
The international coordinators are working closely with the faculties and are there to support incoming as well as outgoing students. Exchange students can always turn to the International Office with questions or for support.
The Student Support functions furthermore offer individual assistance as well as courses, seminars, group activities or workshops during the academic year. Examples can be writing assignments, giving oral presentations or maths support. Students with disabilities can receive special pedagogical support.
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Support functions and facilities during your studies Student Reception
Student Ombudsman
Provides information about examinations, results, re-exams, certificates, access cards, print-outs and more.
Students can turn to the student ombudsman if they feel that they have been subject to unacceptable behavior by the university staff or other students.
University Library
Coordinator for Disabilities
The University of Borås has a state of the art library with over 800 work places and 31 study rooms with 220 computers, and a comfortable lounge area, and is manned with friendly employees that can help students in finding information as well as with IT support.
Student Health Care
The Student Health Care includes social counsellors and a student nurse. Visits are free of charge and confidential.
Career Services
The Career Services can help with information about the labor market in Sweden. Career Services together with the International Student Services offer workshops and seminars on career guidance especially designed for international students.
Language and Speech
As a student you can receive support with speech and communication, Swedish as a second language, reading and writing disabilities/dyslexia. Furthermore the university provides a Language Lab where students can individually improve their language and communicative skills. The Language Lab offers professional guidance in Swedish, English and Swedish as a Second Language.
The University of Borås offers all students the possibility to study on equal terms. Consequently, if you have a disability, you can apply for special pedagogical support by contacting the coordinator for disabilities.
Student Priest
Students can get in touch with our student priest regardless religion for discussions and inspirations.
Spiritual Room
The spiritual room is a room for prayer and meditation open for all regardless of religion. It is located in the main university building on floor 2 section D.
Computer Services
For questions about or problems with the University’s computers and networks, your user account or accessing software you turn to the service desk. For software support the Computer Support at the library is also available for assistance.
Computer Labs
Each subject area has its own computer facilities; some are accessible 24 hours a day. Wireless internet access is also available on campus.
Restaurant and Cafés
In the main university building, Balder, there are two cafeterias and a café. At Sandgärdet, there is one café. Lunch and coffee coupons are available for purchase. At Simonsland there is one restaurant and a café.
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Meet our Students What’s been your most valuable experience? –I think the most important thing will be English as a language. When I arrived it was really difficult for me to take part in discussions. I know that my English still isn’t perfect but now I can have a real discussion in English and be understood. Going abroad is the best decision that I ever have taken. I’ve learned so much during this time and if I only have one advice for students who are a bit afraid to make an exchange semester, it will be: Don’t hesitate anymore, just apply! You will learn so much more abroad than if you stay at your own university, regardless of the country. Pauline Verdelle, France
What do you think about the University and the city? – The university is very pretty and I love the decorations around the campus. The lecturers gave us students a lot of own responsibility during the studies and taught us how to learn and do the research independently. Borås is a lovely and cosy city. The atmosphere actually calmed me down and released all pressure. The people are extremely nice! I made a lot of amazing friends from all over the world and I still have contact with some of them. Tina Yiwen Ding, China
What was going through your mind when you arrived here? – When you go to another country to do an interchange you need to have an open mind, because you are entering a different culture and have to accept things that you are not used to. With this in mind, I didn’t feel uncomfortable when I arrived here. Everything was new and ready to be explored and shared. Swedes have a lot of traditions and one of them is fika, a coffee break to eat something sweet, and no doubt I will continue doing that in Brazil. Nicholas Felipe Jeworowski Klock, Brazil
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Degree Programmes in English at the University of Borås Master of Science (one year) – 60 credits
Master of Science (two years) – 120 credits
• Informatics • Textile Engineering • Textile Management
• Digital Library and Information Services (Distance program) • Fashion Design • Fashion Marketing and Management • Informatics • Resource Recovery • Textile Engineering • Textile Design • Textile Value Chain Management
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Useful Links University of Borås hb.se/en The official Facebook page of University of Borås facebook.com/universityofboras Courses and contact details for exchange students hb.se/exchangecourses Admission for exchange students hb.se/exchange TransIT transit.hb.se Swedish language courses hb.se/swedishforstudents International Coordinator and Student Services hb.se/international-coordinator Information on practical matters for newly admitted exchange students (important dates, accommodation, insurance, residence permit, arrival information etc.) hb.se/admittedstudent Website for application to degree studies in Sweden universityadmissions.se Student Union in Borås studentkareniboras.se Erasmus Student Network Borås esnboras.org Study in Sweden studyinsweden.se Official tourist website of Borås boras.com
Application Procedure Applications to our degree programmes are made online at the official website for applying to higher education in Sweden www.universityadmissions.se, which is managed by the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education in cooperation with the National Admissions Office. International students have two different admission rounds to apply for each semester: the January and April rounds for the autumn semester and the August and October rounds for the spring semester.
Official website of Borås municipality boras.se Official gateway to Sweden sweden.se The Swedish Council for Higher Education uhr.se/sv/Information-in-English/ Swedish Migration Board swedishmigrationboard.se
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Postal address: SE-501 90 Borüs, Sweden E-mail: internationalstudent@hb.se – hb.se/en