Fachsystemet

Fachsystemet, meaning "the subject system," is a term used in several Nordic languages to describe a framework for organizing knowledge, work, or study programs into discrete subjects or fields, known as fack. The exact meaning and implementation differ by country and institution, but common elements include a hierarchical categorization of knowledge into broad fields (fackområden or fakultetsområden) and more specific subfields, paired with standardized curricula, courses, and assessment tied to those subjects.

In education, fachsystemet has historically structured curricula around separate disciplines within universities, colleges, and vocational schools. It influenced how degrees are described (for example, by listing the main fack areas and their required courses), how examinations are organized, and how credits are allocated. In vocational training and professional certification, the term has been used to delineate the knowledge and skills associated with particular trades or professions.

Over time, criticisms of strict subject-based organization—such as rigidity, fragmentation, and hindered interdisciplinary learning—have led reforms in many places. Modern reforms often replace the rigid fachsystem with program-based curricula, modular courses, and competence- or outcome-based frameworks, while retaining a structured mapping of subjects for transparency and credentialing.

See also: curriculum, modular education, competency-based education.