Comparison table
Comparison between engineering education in the Nordic countries
| Denmark | Faroe Islands | Finland | Iceland | Norway | Sweden | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering | Civilingeniør: bachelor and master Diplomingeniør: bachelor, practical oriented |
Software engineering: bachelor Energy engineering: bachelor |
Engineering: academically oriented, bachelor and master Applied Engineering: professionally oriented, bachelor |
Engineering: bachelor and master Applied engineering: bachelor |
Engineering: bachelor and master | Civilingenjör: theoretical, bachelor and master Högskoleingenjör: applied, bachelor |
| Length (bachelor + master) | Civilingeniør: 3 + 2 years Diplomingeniør: 3.5 years |
Software Engineering: 3 years Energy Engineering: 3.5 years |
Engineering: 3 + 2 years Applied engineering: 4years |
Engineering: 3 + 2 years Applied engineering: 3.5 years |
Engineering: 3 + 2 years | Civilingenjör: integrated master, 3 + 2 years Högskoleingenjör: 3 years |
| General entry requirements (bachelor programs) | 1. Matriculation exam or equivalent 2. An admission course for engineering programs |
1. Matriculation exam 2. Students that do not meet the requirements can be evaluated on other skills and experiences Energy engineering: 3. Maskínmeistaraprógv with a minimum average of 7 |
1. Finnish matriculation exam or equivalent 2. Vocational qualifications of three or more years 3. Finnish vocational upper secondary qualification or a further or specialist vocational qualification as a competence-based qualification, or a comparable previous qualification 4. Foreign qualification that provides eligibility for higher education studies in the awarding country |
1. Matriculation exam or equivalent 2. A degree from the Department of Preliminary Studies at Reykjavik University (1 to 1.5 years) 3. Degrees and examinations from abroad are evaluated for each applicant 4. Fourth degree examination from the Mechanical engineering program at the Technical College in Iceland 5. Final examination from Keilir, the Department of Preliminary Studies Academy related to University of Iceland (University of Iceland) Applied engineering: 6. Students that do not meet the requirements, but consider themselves to have sufficient knowledge, are offered evaluation exams in math and physics (Reykjavik University) 7. Applicants can gain admission by getting through a special evaluation and completing a preparatory course in mathematics during the first semester (University of Iceland) |
1. Matriculation exam 2. Technical vocational education including documented knowledge in mathematics and physics 3. Exemptions can be made for students that a) are at least 23 years in the year of admission and have at least 5 years of education or practice, and have completed and passed the six study skills subjects b) are at least 25 years old in the admission year and want to apply on the basis of real competence (e.g. professional practice, unpaid work, education) |
1. Matriculation exam 2. Specific entry tests for programs (see More applicants than study places) |
| Required subject levels Subject conversion table (pdf) |
Majority of civilingeniør programs: 1. Danish A (replaced with native language for Nordic students) 2. English B 3. Mathematecs A 4. Physics B and/or Chemistry C Majority of diplomingeniør programs: 1. Mathematics A 2. Physics B 3. Chemistry C and/or English B |
Software engineering: 1. Math at B or A 2. An average grade of at least 4 in mathematics B or 2 in mathematics A Energy engineering: 1. An average of 6 in mathematics A 2. Physics B 3. Chemistry C |
N/A | Engineering: Reykjavik University: 1. 30 Fein in math, with 15 Fein on level 3 or higher 2. 10 Fein on level 2 or 3 in physics with knowledge in motion, forces and electricity 3. 5 Fein in chemistry on level 2 University of Iceland: 40 Fein in math and 50 Fein in natural science subjects, with at lest 10 Fein in physics, are strongly recommended Applied engineering: Reykjavik University: 1. 20 Fein in math, with 15 Fein on level 3 or higher 2. 10 Fein on level 2 or 3 in physics with knowledge in motion, forces and electricity University of Iceland: No specific subject level requirements |
1. Mathematics R1 and R2 2. Physics I |
Civilingenjör (5 year program): 1. Mathematics 4 2. Physics 2 3. Chemistry 1 Högskoleingenjör (3 year program): 1. Mathematics 3c 2. Physics 2 3. Chemistry 1 |
| Admission course | A couple of weeks to 1.5 years depending on the amount of supplying needed | N/A | N/A | 1- to 1.5-year prerequisite programs (see Entry requirements) | 1-year prerequisite program Three-semester scheme: Begins in summer and runs alongside engineering programs for one year |
Specific tests organized by universities (see More applicants than study places) |
| More applicants than study places | Quota 1: Applicants ranked based on the grade point average from a matriculation exam Quota 2: Applicants ranked based on the quota 2 application criteria set by each university |
No limit on study places | The applicant's suitability for programs is evaluated by each university | No limit on study places | Quota 1: 50% of study places go to applicants under 21 years, who finished their matriculation exam/vocational education in normal time, are ranked based on their grade point average plus any additional language or science subjects Quota 2: All students who meet admission requirements compete for 50% of study places. They are ranked based on the quota 1 score plus additional points for age, higher education, folk high school or military service. |
At least 1/3 of study places go to applicants that are ranked based on the average point score form their matriculation exam At least 1/3 of study places go to applicants that are ranked based on their grade from the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test Universities can allocate up to 1/3 of study places to applicants that are ranked based on results from specific tests organized by universities |
| General entry requirements (master programs) | Bachelor's degree of good standard or equivalent | No master programs available | University: Bachelor's degree University of applied sciences: Bachelor's degree or higher education degree and a minimum of two years work experience |
Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Language requirements | Good knowledge in Danish or English, depending on which language programs are taught in | Good knowledge in Faroese, English and Scandinavian languages | Good knowledge in Finnish, Swedish or English, depending on which language programs are taught in | Good knowledge in Icelandic or English, depending on which language programs are taught in | Good knowledge in Norwegian or English, depending on which language programs are taught in An English certificate is necessary for programs in English, e.g. TOEFL |
Programs in Swedish: The Swedish language test TISUS (international students) Programs in English: English proficiency test, e.g. TOEFL, IELTS |
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