Academic culture
Many international students find the learning environment and teaching style to be different in Sweden, compared to what they are used to at their home institutions. Below you will find a summary of what to expect.
An open environment
Students experience an open, informal study environment with teachers and students usually on a first-name basis.
Student-centred education
The student is at the centre of the education provided at Lund University. There is a focus on enabling students to develop their critical and analytical thinking skills, independent research skills, group work, problem solving and leadership skills so as to prepare them for their career.
Course load
Studies at Lund University are usually undertaken one course (unit/module) at a time, with an examination or essay at the end of each individual course. Courses can be anything from 2 to 20 weeks long, with 5, 10 and 20 weeks being the most common lengths.
Most of Special Area Study (SAS) courses have a part-time pace and therefore last longer (often up to 10 to 15 weeks). It is therefore often possible to study several SAS courses in parallel.
Lectures
The most common form of instruction is lectures to groups of 25–30 students. Attendance at lectures is required but students are also expected to work independently and develop an in-depth knowledge of their subject through independent study.
Independent study
A large part of the learning process takes place outside the classroom as students read and discuss the course material with each other. Students at Lund University are trained to efficiently assess large amounts of information. Study techniques are taught in the classroom and also by study advisors and through workshops.
Group work
Group work is common for many of our courses. The goal is for students to practise teamwork in small groups, across different cultures within the class, and also to develop problem solving and leadership skills.
Research-intensive university setting
Education at Lund University is closely aligned to current research, often drawing on the interdisciplinary research approach that has helped secure Lund University’s place as Sweden’s strongest research university.
Critical thinking and freedom of mind
Critical thinking and freedom of mind are the cornerstones of academic life at Lund University, and are stimulated in all activities at the University. In seminars, workshops and experiments, students analyse and present solutions to given problems and assignments. Theoretical concepts are tested in practical situations, and practical experiences are employed to develop and enrich theory.
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Read a student blogger's reflection on "How is teaching and learning different in Sweden? Links to an external site." on the website of Study in Sweden Links to an external site..
Grading system
At Lund University, there are five different grading scales.
- Pass – Fail (Godkänd – Underkänd)
- Pass with Distinction – Pass – Fail (Väl godkänd – Godkänd – Underkänd)
- Pass with Distinction – Pass with Credit – Pass – Fail (Med beröm godkänd – Icke utan beröm godkänd – Godkänd – Underkänd)
- Five – Four – Three – Fail (Fem – Fyra – Tre – Underkänd)
- A – B – C – D – E – Fail (A – B – C – D – E – Underkänd)
The relevant faculty board decides which grading scale is to be used for which course. At the HT faculties, "Pass with Distinction – Pass – Fail" is the most common used grading scale.
Moreover, this means that one transcript may include courses with different grading scales. Please note that no overall grade is given for a semester or academic year and that the faculties generally do not provide grade conversions, and we cannot "translate" different grading systems, from a grading system used at Lund to what you use at your home university.
Read more about the different grading systems used at Lund University