FAQ for international students

How do I apply?

What courses and programmes are offered?

How do I apply as an exchange student from a partner university?

How many credit is one semester of full time credits?
One semester of full-time studies at University West equals 30 Higher Education credits (HE credits). One HE credit equals one ECTS credit. 
If you study here for a full year, you will study 60 HE credits (60 ECTS).

University West do not have the manpower to answer questions regarding eligibility in advance. We kindly ask you to make an application and submit academic documents to the extent where the eligibility can be determined.

At www.universityadmissions.se you can read more about entry requirements for programmes and courses. 

Do I have to pay tuition fee? How much does it cost?

How do I pay my tuition fee? 
All accepted fee-paying students will receive an invoice by e-mail for the tuition fee of the first semester. Payment can be made by bank transfer.

I have paid the tuition fee. How will I know if you have received it?
Once the payment has reached University West, we will confirm this to you by e-mail. 

Can I apply for scholarship?

I have had to cancel my studies - do I get my tuition fee payment back?
You need to complete the online form Application for Refund of Tuition Fee, which you find a linked to on our web page Forms A-Z

I am required to provide a proof of my health insurance with my visa application at the Migration Agency. Can I get a certificate of this from University West?
It is stated on the  ”Notification of selection result”/Acceptance Letter that you are fully covered by health insurance during your studies at University West. No further documentation is needed.
This has been agreed upon between the university and the Swedish Migration Agency. Please refer to this in your application for residence permit.

I have applied for my visa but I have still not heard anything - can University West help me?
University West cannot speed up the process of applications sent to the Migration Agency, and do not have the resources to make calls to other authorities on behalf of students. The Migration Agency will be able to assist you in giving information on your application if you contact them directly. Make sure to have your case number when in contact with them so that they can easily find your application in their system.
You can also check the status of your application and find more information at www.migrationsverket.se/English
If you find in your contact with the Migration Agency that you are not getting the support you should - then contact us. But your first contact must be with the Migration Agency directly.

I am booking my return flight at the end of the semester. Will there be a holiday before end of semester?
There are no set holidays during the academic year at University West apart from the summer in between present and following academic year.
Most students are able to find time off, but we cannot say before the start of the semester if and when you will have time off.
Schedules are set two weeks before the start of the course. That means that the schedules for the second part of the semester will not be set until about 8 weeks into the semester.
Questions regarding time off should always be dealt with by the teacher of your course/s.
We recommend - if you wish to book your return flight early - that you choose an option which allows you to make changes to your booking (i.e. departure date/time return flight) if needed.

How can I arrange accommodation for my stay in Sweden?
You can apply for accommodation through University West, but you must do so in good time. All admitted students will receive information on how to apply.
You can find more information about accommodation at www.hv.se/accommodation

I am still waiting for the decision of my visa application from the Migration Agency, and I may not be able to book my flight before the 1st of August. What do I do if the Arrival Form is closed and I my flight details are finalized later than this?
Don't worry, this is a common issue. Once you know your flight details, e-mail them to international@hv.se so that we know your date, time and point of arrival. 

Will there be a transportation service availiable upon my arrival in Sweden?
Information on Arrival is listed at www.hv.se/arrival
We want all our incoming students to fill out an arrival form so that we know when you are planning to arrive. Once deadline for Arrival Form has passed, we will make arrangements and keep those students who have submitted the form updated on any information they need for their arrival in Sweden and/or Trollhättan.

Where can I find the schedule for my courses?
If you go to www.hv.se/newstudent, you will find a checklist be
fore arrival. Under section 8 in this list, you will find links and information for Kronox Schedule search.

Why am I not able to find the schedule for my course?
All course schedules will be published two weeks prior to course start. Courses starting in the start of the semester will be published two weeks prior to start of semester. If you cannot find your schedule, it may mean that your course starts later in the semester.
At the information page for your course (www.hv.se/education), you can find the section Programme/Course date. Start and end week of the course is listed in the middle of this section. Course schedule will be published two weeks earlier.

How do I register for my programme/course? 

As a student you are entitled to apply to have credits transferred for previous courses and study programmes. This applies to both Swedish and foreign courses and study programmes. You must be admitted to and pursue studies at the University West for the credit transfer to be assessed.

Read more about credit transfer and how to apply at University West - Credit transfer (hv.se). If you want to know more about how it works, please contact the study counselling.

For more information about health care, please visit this webpage too.

How do I get in contact with a doctor/ nurse?
If it is an emergency call 112.
If it is not an emergency, you have to call or visit a Health care center. To know where to go and what to do call the number 1177: you can also visit the website 1177.

I have an appointment at the health care center. Do I need to bring any documentation?
If you are a student from within the EU/EES countries, you need to bring your EU health insurance card. You will then pay the same fees for health care as Swedish citizens.

If you are a student from outside of the EU/EES, you are covered by the emergency health insurance from the Swedish Legal, Financial and Administrative Service Agency (Kammarkollegiet). You do not need to bring any documentation. A the time of your appointment,the health center will ask you to pay directly so be prepared to pay with bankcard a larger amount (around 1000 SEK). Keep the receipt so you can be refunded by the insurance company. Give the receipts or any other documentations to the International Office that will provide you with the claim form from the insurance agency. 

I have an emergency appointment at the dentist. Do I need to bring any documentation?
No. But ask to be invoiced the cost for your visit to your address here in Sweden and follow the steps below once you have received it.

I have had expences for emergency health care, dental care or received an invoice for this. What do I do?
Visit the Kammarkollegiet inrurance agency web pages to download your claim form (Exchange student -  claim application form Student IN, Fee Paying student - claim application form FAS)
Fill out the claim form and sign it and send the form together with incoices and/or receipts to international@hv.se who will forward the claim form for the insurance agency. Do this promptly if you have received an invoice for emergency health or dental care. 

You can have a lot of knowledge that can make you eligible for education even though you do not have formal qualifications from upper secondary school or adult education or equivalent. If you apply to be judged by your real skills, an overall assessment of your skills and experience from working life, society, from long stays abroad, completing training and / or other courses is performed. The purpose is to judge if your combined competence gives you the opportunity to complete the education you are looking for.

You can also apply for accreditation of prior learning. Accreditation means that you can use approved courses completed at another university in your degree, a credit transfer. The same applies when through professional experience, you have acquired the knowledge and skills required for the courses you want to be accredited. 

For more information contact: servicecenter@hv.se

I need to extend my visa - what do I need to do?
University West can help to provide you with documentation for your visa extension providing that the reason of your extension is study related. Therefore, you need to contact international@hv.se with your full details and the reason for your need of extension. We will then issue the documentation in contact with your supervisor/examinator.
The actual application for extension of your permit is to be made at Migration Agency web pages.  

If you are admitted to a programme and need to pause your studies, you can apply for a leave from studies. In order to have a guaranteed place on the programme when you wish to restart studies, you need a valid reason. You are welcome to contact study counselling for questions about this.

Apply for approved leave from studies

I am currently studying at University West, but due to certain circumstances I have decided to quit my studies. What do I need to do?
You must file for the termination of your studies through a form linked to below. For fee paying students, termination of studies means that any tuition fee paid will not be refunded.
To webpage (Registration - forms available at the bottom of the page) 

I have studied single subject courses/course packages at University West. How will I obtain my transcript of records?
As an exchange student from a partner university you do not need to request a transcript of records - this will automatically be sent out once your period of studies is completed. For autumn semester, transcript will be issued/sent in mid February and for spring semester in end of June.
If you have applied for your studies here through www.universityadmissions.se you can request a transcript of records from Servicecenter if you need it signed and stamped (to be used outside of Sweden) - otherwise, if you need it for purposes within Sweden, you are also able to print it from My Pages.

I am studying at a Bachelor Degree programme/Master programme at University West. How can I obtain my degree certificate once my studies are completed?
The degree certificate is not issued automatically, but you must first apply for it. More information, on how to apply and on the diploma supplement can be found at our web pages for degree certificate.