Writing a course syllabus
These web pages serve as a resource for those writing course syllabuses. The material provided includes general advice and suggestions as well as information about important rules and guidelines for course syllabuses that can be found in both local regulations and the Higher Education Ordinance.
PLEASE NOTE
After March 15, Gubas and Convertus can no longer be used to create new syllabuses; you can only use them to view existing syllabuses and reading lists. On April 15, 2024, Gubas Kursplan will be replaced by the national system Ladok. Read more about the transition here (login required). This web resource will be updated in conjunction with the transition.
Each section of the course syllabus template corresponds to one of the pages on the menu (which you will find to the left if you are using a computer, or above if you are using a smartphone or tablet). If you click on the item that you are working on, you will find relevant information linked to that part of the course syllabus. The web pages include useful information, advice, suggestions, inspiration, ideas and links to pages that you may find of use.
What is a course syllabus?
A course syllabus is a pedagogic tool for teachers and students. It comprises a description of the course’s content, form(s) of teaching used, learning outcomes, examination formats, etc. The course syllabus also provides the basis for a kind of agreement between the student and university about how studies are to be conducted and has an important role to play for the students’ legal security.
Under the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), all first-cycle and second-cycle courses and study programmes shall be offered in the form of courses. A course must have a course syllabus. Course syllabuses are to be confirmed at departmental level, which is regulated in the Vice-Chancellor's Delegation of Authority Policy. The formulation is regulated in Rules for course syllabuses at first and second cycle levels.
Quality assurance and review
Course Syllabus Database
Gubas Kursplan is a system support for creating and revising course syllabi. Gubas Kursplan contains course syllabuses from 2010.
From and including 1 January 2013, only Gubas Kursplan is to be used when creating and revising course syllabi (see Decision Dnr V 2012/409). The course syllabus is to undergo a quality assurance process prior to confirmation. There are several stakeholders with different roles in this process. Student representatives will have had an opportunity to present their views on the course syllabus at some stage of the process. The course evaluations carried out by students following a course are then one of the most important quality assurance instruments for confirmed course syllabuses.