Guidelines for tuition fees and scholarships at the Swedish Defence University

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1 1 (8) Guidelines for tuition fees and scholarships at the Swedish Defence University 1. Validity Established in accordance with the Vice-Chancellor's decision of 9 June 2015, the guidelines become valid from the date of the decision. These guidelines include fee-paying students on grant-financed programmes. Students on contract programmes are not included. 2. Tuition fees In 2010 the Riksdag decided that application fees and tuition fees would be paid by students who are not nationals of EEA states or 1 Switzerland, starting from autumn term This is regulated in more detail in the Ordinance on application fees and tuition fees at higher education institutions (2010:543). The Ordinance also regulates which third-country nationals are exempt from paying tuition fees at the time of registration. The decision on the amount of tuition fee will be determined by the University Director. The fee shall be reviewed and revised if necessary every year. The tuition fee shall be stated in Swedish kronor per academic year (60 ECTS). 2.1 Scope of the tuition fee The tuition fee relates to the programme on which the student has been admitted. The tuition fee shall ensure full cost recovery for the programme. A general surcharge for administration and any other additional costs may be included in the tuition fee. The tuition fee shall be the same for the Swedish Defence University's subjects at bachelor s level and master s level, as well as for studies carried out at a distance or on the campus, at full-pace and half-pace. The tuition fee shall be the same for all students who study on the same programme at the same time. Rights and obligations Fee-paying students have access to the same service and the same rights and obligations as non-fee-paying students, such as access to student support, student unions, libraries and so on. Fee-paying students are also covered by the terms and 1 The European Economic Area (EEA) includes all the member states of the EU and Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

2 2 (8) conditions set out in the course syllabus or the programme syllabus. Fee-paying students are subject to the same rules as other students regarding disciplinary measures under Chapter 10 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100). Textbooks, other course materials, accommodation and living costs are paid for by the student Examination of obligation to pay tuition fee When an applicant applies for a programme, a check is made of whether the applicant is liable for tuition fees. Fee-paying applicants must also pay SEK 900 prior to an examination of the application for a programme. The application fee applies to one or several application alternatives. In those cases where the Swedish Defence University has instructed the Swedish Council for Higher Education to administer admissions, the Swedish Council for Higher Education will examine whether a student has an obligations to pay tuition fees or not. The decision by the Swedish Council for Higher Education will apply as a decision by the Swedish Defence University. In the case of local admissions such as a late application, the admissions official at the Student and Education section will examine whether the student is liable for tuition fees. The admissions official at the Student and Education Section will then contact the Finance Department and report which students must pay the application fee locally at the Swedish Defence University. The application fee must be paid within the time limit stipulated by the Swedish Defence University. 2.4 Change of fee status An applicant who, on admission to a programme, has the status of exempt from fees, continues to have that status during the whole of the programme and shall not pay any fees. During the programme, a student who has been declared liable to pay fees may be declared exempt from tuition fees after a review by the Swedish Defence University. Changing of status from fee-paying to exempt from fees can be reviewed at term-start after a request by the student in question. It is the responsibility of the student to prove that there is no longer any liability to pay fees. If a student's fee status has changed, the student must submit the relevant documents substantiating exemption from fees to the Ladok official at the Student and Education Section. A request for the review of a changed fee status must be submitted no later than two weeks before the term starts. The Swedish Defence University reviews changed fee status when the application for the change is received by the Swedish Defence University, not after the date that is shown on the Migration Board s

3 3 (8) decision. If a request for a review of changed fee status arrives later than term start, the student shall be required to pay fees for the current term/course. The student's fee status will instead be reviewed the following term. A term/course started under the status of exempt/fee-paying is completed with the same status. When a freestanding course starts later than term start, the above conditions apply with the amendment that all references to term and term start refer instead to course and course start. The Swedish Defence University shall immediately notify the Swedish Migration Board if a student declines a programme, interrupts studies, takes time off or is unable to start the programme for any reason. 3. Payment terms for tuition fees Tuition fees are to be paid in their entirety no later than the date determined by the Swedish Defence University. The date is stated on the invoice sent by the Swedish Defence University. Payment must be made in Swedish currency (SEK) and the student is liable for any exchange charges and bank charges. Programme: A student who is admitted to a degree programme pays per term, corresponding to 30 ECTS, no later than the date decided by the Swedish Defence University. If a programme student is also admitted to a course/courses not included in the degree programme, the student shall also pay for the number of credits for the course/courses. Freestanding courses A student who is admitted on a course pays for the number of credits on the course each term. The student cannot register for the programme in question until payment has been made. Admission to the Swedish Defence University is on condition that the tuition fee is paid, i.e. the student is admitted on the programme provided that the condition (payment) is fulfilled no later than the date decided by the Swedish Defence University. The Swedish Defence University notifies the Migration Board of its decision to admit the fee-paying student after the tuition fee has been paid. 3.1 Invoicing procedures Enrolment fee If the Swedish Defence University makes a local admission of a fee-paying student, the admissions official at the Student and Education Section contacts the Finance Department with information on which students will pay the application fee locally at the university.

4 4 (8) The Finance Department then sends an invoice for the application fee to the student. If the application fee is not paid by the date specified on the invoice, the registration will not be examined. The application fee is an administration charge and is not repayable. Tuition fees Invoicing of tuition fees takes place as soon as possible after the final selection of students. Payment of the tuition fee is made in advance, before the term starts. For programmes that start later in the term, payment must be made within the time period decided by the Swedish Defence University. Payment is made to the Swedish Defence University in the manner described in the payment instructions attached with the posted invoice. If an incorrect amount is paid, due to a change in the exchange rate for example, the Swedish Defence University has right to regulate the debt or credit either directly or on the next term's invoice. If a fee-paying student is awarded a scholarship relating to the tuition fee, the fee is reduced by the amount corresponding to the scholarship. 3.2 Suspension of a student who fails to pay the tuition fee If payment is not made within the time limit stated in the reminder, under Section 10 of the Ordinance on application fees and tuition fees at higher education institutions (2010:543), the Swedish Defence University may decide to suspend a student during the ongoing programme until payment is made. The student must be informed of this in the reminder. A decision on suspension means that the student may not participate in studies, tests or other activities on the programme at the university. In certain cases the Swedish Defence University may also decide that degree certificates and course certificates may not be issued until the fee has been paid. A decision on the suspension of a student who has not paid the tuition fee applies immediately and is taken by the Vice-Chancellor. A decision to suspend a student who has not paid the tuition fee after a reminder may be appealed to the Higher Education Appeals Board. The decision by the Higher Education Appeals Board may not be appealed. 4. The right to complete a programme A student's right to a programme includes the right to complete the programme he/she has started and paid for. Among other things this includes the right to a reexamination without new tuition fees needing to be paid.

5 5 (8) Students who complete their programme in a shorter time than the number of terms for a normal pace of studies must still pay the fees for the total number of credits. Students who, as part of their programme, carry out some of their studies abroad as exchange students must still pay tuition fees to the Swedish Defence University. 5. Interruption of studies and respite Fee-paying students do not need to pay tuition fees for a period of interruption in studies with a guaranteed place. After finishing the interruption in studies, the feepaying student should continue the programme with the same charges as at the start of the programme or, if the charge is lower at the end of the interruption in studies, to that level. Students must apply in writing for a planned interruption in studies on a special form and in accordance with the guidelines established by the university. Students who re-start their studies after a break will not pay a new application fee. Students who have paid tuition fees but cannot start studies at the time of admission may request a respite. Such students must send a request in writing for a respite using a special form before studies commence, in accordance with guidelines established by the university. For programmes where a respite has been granted, the tuition fee will be reimbursed (see heading 6.1 Special reasons for reimbursement of tuition fee). 6. Reimbursement of tuition fee If a student has paid a tuition fee but is no longer liable for its payment, the Swedish Defence University may pay back the fee for the part of the programme the student is not liable for. The university must pay back all or part of the tuition fee in other cases where the student, for special reasons, is unable to participate in the programme. A request for a refund of tuition fees paid must be made in writing and received by the Student and Education Section no later than three weeks after the course or programme has started. Documents that the student wishes to cite must be attached to the request for a refund. The refund of fees is only possible in the cases listed below. The refund is made in Swedish currency (SEK). The student is entitled to a refund of the entire tuition fee that has been paid, excluding any bank charges. No interest shall be paid on the refunded amount and the Swedish Defence University will not replace any economic losses resulting from changes in exchange rates. A refund is only made to the person/organisation that made the original payment. The application fee of SEK 900 that the student paid to the Swedish Council for Higher Education or the Swedish Defence University is non-refundable.

6 6 (8) Decisions concerning the refund of tuition fees and the decision to reject such a request are made by the University Director. 6.1 Special reasons for repayment of the tuition fee In the following cases, a repayment of the tuition fee is made: No residence permit or withdrawn residence permit If a student drops out of a programme before the term starts as a result of a Swedish residence permit not being granted, or if the residence permit has been withdrawn, the admissions procedure is stopped and the tuition fee is refunded in its entirety, excluding bank charges. Change of tuition fee status If a student is regarded as not liable for a tuition fee after examination by the Swedish Defence University, the tuition fee will be refunded in its entirety, excluding bank charges (see also heading 2.4. Change of fee-paying status). Cancelled programme If the Swedish Defence University withdraws the offer of a place on a programme or cannot provide the programme that the student applied for, the student is entitled to a refund of the entire tuition fee. No deduction is made for bank charges. Respite A student who is granted a respite for starting studies has the right to a refund of the tuition fee, excluding bank charges. Special reasons In the case of, for example, serious illness or death of the student, the student's partner or a member of his/her close family, the student may apply for a refund of the tuition fee for the terms that has already started. This must be substantiated by a certificate. The fee will be refunded, excluding bank charges. 7. Scholarships Under the Ordinance on scholarships for students required to pay tuition fees (2010:718), higher education institutions may allocate scholarships to fee-paying students in so far as funds are available. The purpose of such scholarships is to promote the recruitment of particularly well-qualified fee-paying students 2. The funds are paid to higher education institutions by the Swedish Council for Higher Education. 2 Under the Ordinance on application fees and tuition fees at higher education institutions (2010:543).

7 7 (8) 7.1 Granting of scholarships A scholarship may cover all or part of the tuition fees and may be granted, provided that the recipient meets the following criteria: For a student to be given a scholarship at the Swedish Defence University, he/she must be fee-paying under the Ordinance on application fees and tuition fees at higher education institutions (2010:543). Such students may not be nationals of a country within the EU/EEA or Switzerland. An applicant who is a national of a country specified on the Aid Committee's DAC list must, in conjunction with application, state that he/she has no intention of settling or working in Sweden or any other OECD country directly after completion of studies financed through a scholarship. Scholarships may not be awarded to students who already receive scholarships from programmes aimed at students from countries with which Sweden has longterm development cooperation. 7.2 Application for a scholarship An application for a scholarship must be made in writing by the student and be sent to the Student and Education Section. The application is made in conjunction with the student's application for the programme. 7.3 Decision to grant a scholarship to a fee-paying student The international official at the Student and Education Section coordinates scholarship processing at the Swedish Defence University. A drafting committee shall be set up, which proposes scholarship fellows to the University Director. The drafting committee shall consist of the international official at the Student and Education Section and one representative each that the Department of Security, Strategy and Leadership (ISSL) and the Department of Military Studies (MVI) nominate. The department's proposal for its representative is put forward by the head of department and is appointed for one year at a time. Representatives in the drafting committee must have an academic background and represent the whole of the Swedish Defence University. The Research and Education Board decides on the appointment of a drafting committee. Only those students who have applied will be considered for the selection of scholarship fellows. Allocation of scholarships will be based on the applying student's previous study results. The drafting committee will nominate scholarship fellows and reserves for the scholarship places. Those students who are offered a scholarship must confirm or decline it within the time limit set by the Swedish Defence University. If a student declines the offer of a scholarship, it will be offered to the registered reserves in order of priority. Students who were not granted a scholarship will be informed of the decision after the reply period.

8 8 (8) Decisions on the allocation of scholarships are made by the University Director after proposals are put forward by the drafting committee. Scholarships are for the entire programme, provided that the student completes his/her studies in accordance with the conditions stated in the course syllabuses. In this way, the scholarship is extended to apply for the following academic year until the degree programme is completed. At least 75% of the credits for each term must be approved. Scholarship funds not allocated during an academic year may be used for future scholarships. Decisions regarding the allocation of scholarships cannot be appealed. 8. Scope of the scholarship The scholarship received by a student may only be used for the programme/course to which the student has been admitted. For every supplementary course or courses, a tuition fee per credit is payable. A scholarship shall not be paid directly to the fellow, but shall be used to reduce his/her tuition fee by the corresponding amount. Before a scholarship can be deducted from the fee, the Swedish Defence University must examine the student's eligibility with respect to nationality. If a student is granted a scholarship but is no longer fee-paying in accordance with the Ordinance on application fees and tuition fees at higher education institutions (2010:543), or breaks off studies prematurely, the student is not entitled to the part of the scholarship that relates to the part of the programme that he/she does not pay fees for. 9. Repayment of scholarships Under Section 7 in the Ordinance on scholarships for students required to pay tuition fees (2010:718), the following applies: "If the recipient of a scholarship pursuant to this ordinance is no longer required to pay tuition fees, he or she is obliged to repay that part of the scholarship intended for the section of the programme of study for which he or she is no longer required to pay tuition fees." If the university finds that the recipients of a scholarship has supplied false information, which has been the basis for the university's decision to award a scholarship, the university may decide that the fellow must repay the scholarship to the university. This means that the student must pay for tuition fees corresponding to the amount of the scholarship. The decision on repayment of the scholarship is taken by the University Director. A decision on repayment may not be appealed.