Information for incoming exchange students Autumn semester 2012 and Academic year 2012/2013 School of Business, Economics and Law University of Gothenburg Sweden
International Office Contacts The International Office is in charge of establishing and maintaining links with partner universities and schools, coordinating negotiations to establish formal exchange agreements, and ensuring a smooth process for receiving and sending students and faculty on exchange programmes. Every year the International Office organizes and administers international exchanges of approximately 600 students at Bachelor and Master level. The office is located on campus in L2 and is open to students Monday Thursday 10.00 am -12.30 pm. Academic Calendar Website: www.handels.gu.se/international E-mail address: exchange@handels.gu.se Telephone: +46 31 786 4493/4494 Mailing Address: Box 602, SE 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden Visiting Address: Vasagatan 1, Gothenburg Autumn semester: September 1 January 18 First quarter (Autumn 1): September 1 November 4 Second quarter (Autumn 2): November 5 January 18 Spring semester: January 19 June 7 First quarter (Spring 1): January 19 March 24 Second quarter (Spring 2): March 25 - June 7 Deadlines and Important Dates Autumn semester 2012 Dates Online application period April 1 May 15 Housing application period April 1 May 15 Application deadline May 15 Course selection period for the autumn semester June 1-15 Arrival day with pick-up service To be announced Mandatory Introduction Day at the School of Business, Economics and Law August 31 Last day to change courses for Autumn 1 August 31 Autumn semester starts September 1 Last day to change courses for Autumn 2 November 2 Autumn semester ends January 18
Online Application and Course Selection The application process at the School of Business, Economics and Law consist of three steps: 1. Online application period; April 1 May 15 2. Housing application period; April 1 May 15 3. Course selection period; June 1-15 All three steps have to be completed in time in order for you to be admitted as an exchange student. 1. Online application All incoming students should register at the School of Business, Economics and Law online at www.handels.gu.se/international under Admission of Exchange Students no later than May 15. In this application, you apply for studies and the following non-academic services: Student Buddy Programme Swedish courses for exchange student Please note that you cannot apply for these services separately, but only through your online application! If you do not complete you online application in time, you cannot apply for housing or select courses later. For further instructions on how to do the online application, see the attachment in your welcome email. 2. Housing application The application for housing is made through the Student Housing Office at the University of Gothenburg no later than May 15. After you have completed your online application (step 1), you will get a confirmation email with a link to the housing application. You will also need your application number stated in your confirmation email to apply. More information regarding housing can be found here: www.utbildning.gu.se/education/exchange-students/practical+information/accommodation/ If you have any questions regarding the housing application, contact the Student Housing Office at studenthousing@gu.se. 3. Course selection To be able to select courses you must have completed your online application. The course selection period is between June 1-15. Information about courses and instructions on how to make your selection will be sent out in the end of May. At the Mandatory Introduction Day, you will confirm your course selection by a personal visit to the International Office.
Mandatory Introduction Day at the School The Mandatory Introduction Day at the School of Business, Economics and Law will start with an information meeting; Date: Friday, August 31 Time and location: will be announced separately. At the meeting you will meet the International Office, the Student Association and other representatives from the School. You will be provided with all necessary information regarding your studies, as well as details about your course registration, your student account and information about access to the university libraries and other services. Welcome Reception The International Office and the Student Association invites you to a Welcome Reception; Date: Friday, August 31 Time and location: will be announced separately. Letter of Acceptance Once we have received your nomination and you have completed your academic online application at the School of Business, Economics and Law, an official Letter of Acceptance will be issued. This letter will be sent to your home address by post at the latest in the end of May. Students who need a visa will be sent their Letter of Acceptance as soon as possible after the completion of their online application. Please do not forget to bring your Letter of Acceptance to the Mandatory Introduction Day on August 31. Courses and Academic Information The School offers around 100 courses in English to exchange students. Most of the courses are either electives or specialization courses at advanced level. All courses are modular and may vary with regard to length and credits. Courses may be offered on a full-time or on a part-time basis. Students are however cautioned that some courses have limited number of places available. Exchange students who wish to take courses where the language of instruction is Swedish need to contact the International Office upon arrival. Please note that there is no guarantee that exchange students will be permitted to take courses in Swedish. You will find the updated list of courses by the end of May at www.handels.gu.se/international/courses
Subject Areas The following subject areas are offered at the School of Business, Economics and Law: Accountancy/Management Control Economic History Economics Finance/Financial Economics Human and Economic Geography Industrial and Financial Management Law Logistics and Transport Economics Management Marketing Mode of Instruction The mode of instruction may vary from large-scale lectures to individual tutorials, including lab sessions, seminars, or work in smaller groups. Certain programmes include compulsory training periods in industry or the public sector. It should be noted that Swedish students are given a great deal of freedom regarding their disposition of time. The emphasis on independent study therefore implies a degree of personal responsibility for the student to organize and plan his/her work. Credits and Grades The credit concept is based on the principles used in the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) and takes into account the total activity of the student in lectures, laboratories, other classroom work, examinations, and personal work. One and a half ECTS-credits represents, for the average student, a minimum of 40 hours a week spread across various activities. Full-time students normally take 30 ECTS-credits per semester, 15 ECTS- credits per quarter. Exams All courses include continuous and/or final assessment of student performance. Normally the assessment is accomplished through one or more written or oral examinations during or at the conclusion of a course, normally two in the middle and two in the end of each semester. Note that you need to register for exams, and always bring a valid national ID or passport to the examination.
Certificate and Transcript of Student Records Upon completion of the exchange, the International Office will issue a Certificate and a Transcript of Records listing all courses, credits earned, and course grades obtained. The Certificate and the Transcript of Records will be sent to the student s home institution. Student Associations INTU The student association has an international division, which organizes various activities for international students. E-mail: intu@hhgs.se www.hhgs.se/en/home/ ELSA Law students who would like to know more about the local ELSA (the European Law Students' Association) can contact ELSA Gothenburg. E-mail: elsagothenburg@elsasweden.org www.elsasweden.org Immigration EU and EEA Citizens Visiting students must be in possession of a valid passport, or other proof of citizenship. If the planned stay in Sweden is longer than three months you have to apply for residence permit from the Swedish Migration Board. This is done after arrival in Sweden. Non-EU and non-eea Citizens Visiting students must be in possession of a valid passport and a student visa. Visa applications should be made directly to the Swedish Embassy in the student s home country, and must be accompanied by a Letter of Acceptance from the school. All students who require a visa to study in Sweden will be sent their Letter of Acceptance as soon as possible after they have completed their online application, since a visa application will take up to three months. If you need a visa, please make sure to complete your online application as early as possible! For more information: www.polisen.se/en/ information on passports, identity cards and border controls www.migrationsverket.se/info/start_en.html information on visas, residence permits and alien s passports
Health Insurance The University of Gothenburg has signed an insurance covering its international exchange students, called "The Swedish State's Insurance for Foreign Students in Sweden", or STUDENT IN. This insurance is free of charge and you are automatically covered as an exchange student at the University of Gothenburg. If you need a proof of insurance for visa purposes, contact us at exchange@handels.gu.se. For more information and full conditions: www.kammarkollegiet.se/english/insurance Useful Links Information about Gothenburg Information about Sweden University of Gothenburg www.goteborg.com www.studyinsweden.se www.gu.se