Foreign Studies

[Inphy]

Good evening everyone reading this very interesting post.

I know I haven't posted alot on the IE forums lately, been reading though so don't worry.

Question; Do you guys know something about foreign studies? And more about, how are the finances dealt with, how does my current Dutch education connect with the one abroad etc. etc.

I'm currently doing HAVO - Higher General Secundary Education. I'll be finished next year may.

I want study History (Archaeology) in preferably Sweden (I just love the country). But my decan hasn't got a clue where in Sweden I can do that. And if I need to have some other education for going to a University etc.

My knowledge on this subject is pretty low atm. I wish some of you people could inform me on how it goes, and what I need to do.

Thanks in advance,

(former) Inphyy - Caron (since I'm not really ingame, my RL name will do).

[Shiftey]

All I know about is EU program called ERASMUS. It's students exchange program, unfortunately you have to study uni in your country and then you will be able to study a year abroad.

I guess that's not really what you are looking for.

[Inphy]

Well, it's better then the decan had for me. But thanks anyway.

And no, it's not really what I'm looking for. I'm looking for a whole study to do abroad, not a year of internship of something like that. Just moving there, study and see what i'll do.

[Ellori]

I don't know much about Dutch educational system, but I know a bit about studying abroad since I'm doing it myself (Norawy here).

Generally, within EU it is possible to apply to any university and as long as you are a citizen of an EU country they won't ask for much more than that you have to meet whatever educational standard they have. If you were from outside EU you would also have to provide evidence that you have money upfront to sponsor your studies.

This means that you can either work evenings and weekends to pay for your stay, or maybe your parents could sponsor you as they perhaps would if you were to study in a far away place in Holland. Your country might even offer some student loans, that I cannot tell you about.

Going to Sweden, however, to study Archeology would require you to have at least some understanding of the Swedish language. Special study exchange programs between universities such as Erasmus arrange for their students to be able to take education in English, but if you apply as a regular student that option is very limited. Many books and resources Scandinavians use are in English but lectures are not. You can only expect English lectures in Masters studies since that is a fairly common destination of foreign students participating in exchange programs.

Personally, I spent my first year in Norway learning Norwegian (the most relaxing year I've had in ages :) ) but if Dutch is similar to Swedish -- which I honestly don't know -- you could maybe get away with learning Swedish as you go.

Hope this helps. :)

[Supremacy]

Smthing wrong w/ u girl! u change ur signature every day xD

[Inphy]

Thanks Ellori!

And Dutch is actualy quite similair to swedish (seems so to me atleast), so that shouldn't be a great problem. And the finances should be fine.

The only thing I'm wondering atm, is how my current study connects with the study I want to do in Sweden. I've looked around on the net for information on that, but I can't find alot of usefull information. And student exchange programs are not my style, I would steel feel too connected to Holland. I just want to 'move on', start something new there or something. If I do an exchange programm it still feels like I'm 'just doing an internship' in Sweden. (Yeah, I know I'm weird).

[kagir]

https://www.studera.nu/studera/1374.html

Happy reading!

Sweden applied complied the Bologna system some 3 years ago, so you should be able to "meassure" your studies, and amount of time spent, with the Swedish standard. Requirements that may exist to apply to a course/programme is another thing though. That you'll have to have a dialog with the university about.

Protip: Biggest universities are in Lund, Uppsala, Göteborg and Stockholm.

[Ellori]

If you really want to break all connections with Holland and experience the "real" Sweden, I recommend you don't apply to one of the big universities (listed above). They are generally full of foreign students and you will most likely meet other Dutch students there too. Getting to know Swedes in these universities is harder since they tend to keep for themselves and let foreigners have their own community.

The smaller universities are generally much tighter and the diminished possibility to meet other foreign students gives you a higher chance of getting to know Swedes as well as the chances that the Swedes will accept you among them.


P.S. to Supremacy: I just like playing around in Gimp, that's all. And my old signature is after all not quite finished yet, still have some drawing left to do on it, so I rather not have it up. :)

[delling]

Open-source treehugger!

[Ahkailon]

You could come to Norway instead of Sweden. Everything is much better here :) (except for alcohol and tobacco prices). Me, Vorte, Grill and Arches (if he comes up here) could help you with your Norwegian. I'm thinking of taking some German next year as well, which I suppose is even closer to Dutch than Norwegian is.

The Norwegian University of Sience and Technology (located in Trondheim; third largest city in Norway) offer both history, and archeology. I do not, however, know what language these courses are being held in or how finance is arranged (anybody know how lånekassen deals with foreign students? Nothing at all from them?).

[Lotinja]

Sweden>Norway

And you know it

We got a popstar buidling a viking village

WHAT DO YOU HAVE!?

[Vorte]

I'd rather do Sweden than Norway, too.. Allthough I'm pretty sure a degree from Norway would be worth more!

[Inphy]

Thanks for all the information! Helped me quite some bit.

And I'm going to study Swedish, just because it's more awesome than Norway!

[Shannaro]

Inphy is becoming swedish!

[treachery]

As Kagir said there should not be any problem for you to get a degree in Sweden that will be 'valid' across EU (due to the bologna system). However, this does not mean that all Universities in EU will give you credit for courses you've taken in other places (foreign or not). This is only a problem if you want to continue your academic carrier some place else. If you want a job, wave your degree and make them like you.

I had some troubles getting credit for the courses I took in Canada in my master degree from Stockhom Uni. I finally got it, lots of paper work though. LOTS. And I was an exchange student.

Sweden is a good place to study for a lot of people because its free. Stockholm is the best place in Sweden. This is not biased information. However, dont expect "student" life in Stockholm. Expect "city" life. If you want a student life I would go to one of our smaller cities with a big university, such as Lund, Uppsala, Linköping or Umeå. It will be easier to meet new (sweidish) people there because you will find alot of swedes that has moved there to study too. Studying in Stockholm is like a job where everyone goes home to theirs after 5 pm.

For a degree in anything but business or engineering (the popular ones) you'll probably need to learn swedish.