Information for incoming exchange students Spring semester 2012 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 500 students at Bachelor and Master level. The office is located on campus and is open to students Monday Thursday 10.00 am -12.30 pm. Website: www.handels.gu.se/english/education-/international-office/ 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 Academic Calendar Autumn semester: September 1 January 18 First quarter (Autumn 1): September 1 November 4 Second quarter (Autumn 2): November 7 January 18 Spring semester: January 19 June 7 First quarter (Spring 1): January 19 March 23 Second quarter (Spring 2): March 26 - June 7 Deadlines and Important Dates Spring semester 2012 Dates Online application period October 1 November 15 Application deadline November 15 Course selection period for the autumn semester December 1 15 Arrival day with pick-up service to be confirmed Mandatory Introduction Day at the School of Business, Economics January 18 and Law Spring semester starts January 19 Spring semester ends June 7
Online Application and Course Selection The application process at the School of Business, Economics and Law consists of two steps: 1. Online application; October 1 November 15 2. Course selection; December 1 15 All 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 http://www.handels.gu.se/english/education-/international-office/ under Admission of Exchange Students no later than November 15. If you do not complete this application, you cannot select courses later. For instructions on how to do this application, see the attachment in your welcome email. Please do not forget to apply for housing! This application will be available through your online application only, but will be opened and completed in a separate window. You can find information about housing and other non-academic services (Student Buddy, Swedish Language course) at http://www.utbildning.gu.se/education/exchange-student/practical-services/. If you have any questions regarding the non-academic services, contact the Exchange Student Services (ESS) at ess@gu.se Please note! If you need a visa to come to Sweden, please apply online as early as possible since a visa application can take up to 3 months. You need your letter of acceptance for your visa application, and before we have your complete online application, we cannot send it to you. 2. Course selection To be able to select courses you must have completed your online application. The course selection period is between December 1 15. Information about courses and instructions on how to make your selection will be sent out in the end of November. 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: Wednesday, January 18 Time and location: 1 pm, SEB-room, E4. 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 computer account and how to connect your laptop to the wireless environment at the School and a representative from the Economics Library will give an introduction and assist you in getting access to the library. Welcome Reception The International Office and the Student Association invites you to a Welcome Reception; Date: Wednesday, January 18 Time and location: 4 pm, Hyllan (above the School restaurant/café, E4). 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 November. Please do not forget to bring your Letter of Acceptance to the Mandatory Introduction Day on January 18. 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 complete list of courses by the end of November at http://www.handels.gu.se/english/education-/international-office/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 Cultural 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 the various activities. Full-time students normally take 30 ECTS-credits in each 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.
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 exchange students. E-mail: intu@hhgs.gu.se 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. 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. For more information: http://www.polisen.se/en/languages/startpage/ information on passports, identity cards and border controls http://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". For more information: 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