Startpage for Swedish National Agency for Higher Education

 
An authority for matters concerning institutions of higher education

About the website

www.hsv.se is the official website of the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education.

Structure and navigation


To help you find your way around the website there are seven main categories that you can reach using the horizontal dark blue navigation bar. When you click one of these categories, level 2 appears as a navigation bar with a light blue background. The buttons to take you to levels 3, 4 and 5 can be found in the column to the left.

The four main categories are intended to correspond to the information needed by visitors.

About us


Here you will find information about the role of Högskoleverket (Swedish National Agency for Higher Education) and the tasks assigned to it by the Government. There is also information about the legal framework and international obligations and affiliations. Details of the organisation, publications, the English-Swedish wordlist and contact details are also in this section.

Higher Education in Sweden


This section contains information about the role of the Government and agencies in the higher education sector, as well as statistics about higher education and funding. Descriptions of the system of qualifications and first, second and third cycle study programmes are also described here.

Quality Assurance


This section contains information about the evaluation of subject areas and study programmes, the appraisal of degree awarding powers, and conducting quality audits and thematic evaluations. There are also details about centres of excellence in higher education.

Recognition of international qualifications


Here you can find out about the recognition of international study programmes and teacher education programmes, as well as recognition of course credits and prior learning. There are also details about regulated professions in Sweden.

Miscellaneous


To supplement the normal navigation bar there is also a search engine and Search Help together with a site map. The links to these can be found at the top of every page of the website.

This English section of  hsv.se presents a selection of information designed to meet the needs of an English-speaking audience and is not, therefore, a copy of the Swedish website.

Copyright and content


You may reproduce and circulate material from hsv.se in both paper form or electronically through websites if you respect the following:
  • Text, images, graphics, sounds or other material that you access on the website is protected by the Swedish Act on Copyright (1960:279).
  • The material may not be used for publication in any other context. Contact the webmaster if you are unsure about what material you are allowed to use.
  • You may not copy material of this kind for sale or rent without permission. Contact the webmaster with information about how you would like to use the material.
  • The website is updated continually. You must therefore indicate the source and the date on which you found the material.
  •  The material may not be used in any context in which it could be misunderstood, misinterpreted or harm the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education in any way.
Electronic circulation of material from the Swedish National Agency is subject to our link policy (see below). You are therefore allowed to download our publications etc. in pdf-format and publish them on other websites. NB! The pdf-files are secure so that the text cannot be altered. You can read more about pdf-files under “Tips for Users" below.

Link policy


If you link to hsv.se, please respect the following:
  • Indicate the link to our website in a neutral way.
  • Do not use the Swedish National Agency´s logotype or any other logotypes that belong to the Swedish National Agency to link to our website without our permission. This is to avoid any doubt about who is responsible for the information on the website in which the link has been placed.
  • Only use Hypertext links, i.e. ones that shift users that click on them to the Swedish National Agency´s own web-server.
  • Avoid what is known as frame linking, i.e. do not link so that one of the Swedish National Agency´s websites is placed within the frameset of another website.
  • Do not use what is called inline linking or hot linking, i.e. links that automatically collect information from one of the Swedish National Agency´s websites and position it in another website.
  • Do not place links in contexts that distort the purpose of the Swedish National Agency´s material as the Agency can be associated with the content of the website in which the link is placed.
  • Do not link in any way or any context that could lead to the risk of the Swedish National Agency´s material being misunderstood.

Tips for users

Printing


The best way to print a page from hsv.se is to use the special print function that can be reached using the yellow printer icon just above the text on each page. You can also use your browser´s print function. Select File/Print or click on the icon for printing.

External links


External links can be altered without our knowledge. We cannot be held responsible for information on the websites we link to.External links to other websites always open in a new window. This is indicated in the alternative text displayed when you point to the link with your mouse.

Internal links


Links to pages in our own website hsv.se always open in the same window. However, links to information in pdf-format open in a new window.

Pdf files


The file extension ".pdf" on a document indicates that is a PDF file (Portable Document Format). All of the National Agency´s publications are presented in this format. In order to read, download or print PDF files, you need Adobe´s Acrobat Reader application. This costs nothing and can be downloaded from the Adobe website. If you have problems opening and/or reading these files, it may be because you need to upgrade your Acrobat Reader to a later version.
  • To open a document in pdf-format, click on the link.
  • To save a document on your own computer for instance, point to the link with your mouse and right click, choose “Save link as ..." Give the file a name and choose where to save it.

Accessibility


The website provides accessibility in the following ways:
  • You can navigate in the website without a mouse using only the tab key on your keyboard..
  • Font size is defined as a relative value so that you can enlarge or reduce text.
  • All the links and images have descriptive alternative texts.
  • Legibility and clear contrasts are the prime requirements for design, colours and fonts.
  • The website supports new technologies. At least Explorer 5.0, Opera 5.0 or Netscape 6.0 are required to enable the full benefit of the design and functions.
  • Blinking images or figures are not used in the website.

Adjust


The Adjust page (the link is at the top right of all pages) makes it possible to alter some factors that may make reading easier for those with functional disabilities.
  • Font size: If you feel the text on the pages is too small or too large, here you can change its size without difficulty. You can also change font size with your browser´s built-in functions. In most modern browsers you do so by pressing the Control key and rotating the mouse wheel. If this does not work you can set an alternative font size using the browser´s menu (View, Text Size).
  • Line spacing: to make reading easier you can increase the space between lines.
  • Contrast: for greater legibility you can alter the website´s colour combinations.
  • Font: if you prefer a font or fonts with or without serifs you can choose here.

Navigating with the keyboard


If you do not use a mouse to find your way round in the website, it is possible to navigate using the keyboard. You can move from page to page simply by using the ALT and arrow keys:
  • To return to the previous web page press ALT and the left arrow. To move forward press ALT and the right arrow.
  • To select a link click your way to it using the TAB key (you will see a dotted line enclosing the link selected) and choose by pressing ENTER. To return to the previous link press the ALT key and move using the TAB key.

Shortcuts in the website


Most browsers support what are called Access keys, or shortcuts, to enable navigation in websites. How they work varies in different browsers and operative systems, but in Windows in most cases you use ALT + the access key and in Mac OS Ctrl + the access key - and sometimes you then have to press Enter.

S - Skip the navigation and go straight to the text. This is useful if you cannot navigate with a mouse or use some form of screen reader.

0 - About the website If you want information about the website and its functions.

1 - Start page To the first page of the website.

2 - not in use

3 - Site Map Provides an overview of the structure of the website.

4 - Search engine Takes you directly to the search engine where you can search if you are unsure where to find specific information.

5 - not in use

6 - Help Information about how to use the search engine in the website.

7 - Contact Here you will find contact details and information about all the members of our staff.

Technical information

Recommended browsers


The website is designed for Internet Explorer 5.0, Opera 5.0, Netscape 6.0 and Mozilla 1.0 or later versions. It also works with other browsers or earlier versions but there may then be changes in the layout.

Screen resolution


To see hsv.se at its best we recommend a screen resolution of at least 800 x 600 pixels, but the website also works with higher resolutions. Higher resolutions mean that the font and images are smaller and you can read larger chunks of text without having to scroll down.This is how to change your screen resolution. Select Control Panel (under Start/Settings) and click Display. Then select the Settings tab and choose Screen Resolution to set it at 1024x768. for example.

Scripts


The website uses minor Java scripts for the Print function, the explanatory text for “Our websites" and the Adjust page. You must activate JavaScript in your browser before these can work - on the other hand the website itself will work without JavaScript.

Personal data and integrity

  • The information we acquire about visitors is not used to trace them. We use the information to register statistics on the number of visitors and to see which pages they visit.
  • The Swedish National Agency for Higher Education is a Swedish government agency. This means that all messages sent to us are public documents and can be disclosed in accordance with the principle of public access to official documents.
  • The appropriate security technology is used to safeguard your personal data.
  • Users of the website are sometimes asked to give their name and address when they use certain web services. The personal details you submit are registered and processed in compliance with the Swedish Personal Data Act. This means that the information is stored no longer than necessary, no information is disclosed to any companies or organisations, nor is it used for any purpose other than that for which it was requested.

The Swedish Personal Data Act


The provisions of the Swedish Personal Data Act safeguard individuals from violation of their personal integrity. This law came into force in 1998 and is based on an EU directive and replaces the Computer Act. You can read more about the Act on the website of the Swedish Data Inspection Board.

Cookies


A cookie is a small text file that is stored on the visitor´s computer and contains information. Cookies are normally used to improve the usefulness of the website for the user.

According to the Swedish Act on Electronic Communication (SFS 2003:389), which came into force on July 25, 2003, everyone visiting a website using cookies is to be provided with the information that the website makes use of cookies, what these cookies are used for and how they can be avoided.

Two types of cookies

  1. One type of cookie saves a file that remains on your computer. These are used for example to adapt the website to the visitor´s personal wishes, choices and interests.
  2. The second type is called a session cookie. These are stored temporarily in your computer´s memory while you are visiting the website. Session cookies are deleted when you close your browser. No personal data about the visitor like an e-mail address or a name is registered.
At this website we only use what are called session cookies to keep track of what kind of database searches visitors are making. Cookies are used in other words for purely technical reasons and today they are used by most websites.

Switching off cookies


If you do not want to accept cookies your browser can be set to refuse them automatically or to inform you when a website contains cookies. The browser also enables you to delete cookies that have previously been downloaded. See your browser´s help page for more information.

Responsibility


The Swedish National Agency for Higher Education´s Information Officer, Eva Ferndahl (e-mail address: forename.surname@hsv.se), has overall responsibility for the information on this website hsv.se.

Disclaimer


If the printed texts issued by the Swedish National Agency (in reports for instance) differ from the texts published in pdf-format on the website, the latter are to apply.

The Swedish National Agency cannot be held liable for any errors in the information provided on websites it refers to.

Comments and questions


If you have comments on or questions about the contents of any page on the website, please contact the person responsible for the information (this information is provided at the bottom of each page).

We are continually working to improve our website. If you have comments or questions about the way the information is organised, functions, technical requirements etc., please contact Åsa Andersson (e-mail address: forename.surname@hsv.se). You can also contact the Swedish National Agency´s Information Department at hsv@hsv.se or by phone on +46 (0)8-563 086 00.

Last updated: 2010-02-24
Contact: Karin Wrete, Email: firstname.lastname@hsv.se
Swedish National Agency for Higher Education  Visting address: Luntmakargatan 13  Box 7851, 103 99 Stockholm
Phone: 08-563 085 00  Fax: 08-563 085 50  Email: hsv@hsv.se