MS.. related queries and their replies

EMAIL 1

I wrote:
More queries
1) KTH has good repute for its SOC but what about CS. How you rate it or what's their general repute.
2) I am under impression that in KTH programs are offered based on the feedback form industry otherwise they are offering it coz they have teachers available to do that. If the former is true then is it good idea to assume that they need interactive system engineers that is why they have started this program. This assumption will lead to conclusion that chances of getting jobs are there in Sweden (in CS).
3) How difficult are studies there. Is it humanly possible to get full GPA? Plus if one ends up in class top 5 will life will be easier for him in Sweden or not (for paid thesis and job)

A friend replied:
About the reputation of KTH in general, it is quite good. e.g. people have got admissions in Phd in top US schools like Texas A&M etc... the industry recognizes it quite well e.g. Like Philips, Nokia, Microsoft, IBM etc... so I guess this is not an issue...

About the job situation in Sweden it has been pretty bleak because of Ericsson. Ericsson has been their biggest tech employer and it has fired more than 10,000 ppl and because of this the chances are quite slim to hire foreigners especially if so many of their own people are unemployed (in case some jobs do open). This has been for the past two years. Now the situation has been improving although very slowly... cannot say any thing about it for the future.

Regarding feedback from the industry, the SOC program was started in 2000. The plan for SOC program originated around 1998-1999 and the first batch was inducted the next year. Ericsson was one of the major funders of the program and then it decided to pull back because of its own financial conditions so...the industry can change…

Coming to your specific question, I and some other students from Pakistan are under the impression that they have started these programs for two purposes.

One reason for starting these programs there were / are forecasts for growth in these areas in the future. There are many challenges in these areas which need to be solved through research.
So master thesis and then inducting best students out of those for a Phd enables them to continue their research.

The second reason is that the Sweden education system is designed in such a way that the department gets funding based on the number of students that pass a specific course.
……….. Again I cannot say that this is also the reason for starting the Interactive systems program or there is going to be some real demand in the near future.

…. I was lucky enough .. to get a paid thesis in ….. So if you have two plus years of solid experience, the industry will "generally" welcome you.
Regarding the grading system, it is tough but not impossible to get a full GPA. to make it easier, the Swedish and Finnish system both allow a student to repeat an exam as many times as he like to improve his grade even if he has an A-. This sounds easy and comforting but... I can assure that in practical this is not the case. Courses move at quite a brisk pace.