Entry Requirements for Swedish Universities

In order to study in Sweden, you'll need to meet general entry requirements in addition to program-specific entry requirements. You can find specific requirements for different academic programs in Sweden on university websites. When you're ready to apply, you'll use universityadmissions.se to submit the necessary paperwork according to both sets of guidelines.

Requirements for a Bachelor Degree

In order to meet the general entry requirements for bachelor's level studies, all students must:

• have successfully completed their upper secondary (high school) education (post-16).
• be able to demonstrate proficiency in English. The entry requirement for studies at the bachelor's level in Sweden is the equivalent of the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. See English Language Requirements.

For students who received their final school grades after 31 December 2009, there is an additional entry requirement for mathematics as follows:

• The student must have successfully completed courses in mathematics to reach the level of the Swedish courses Mathematics 1a, 1b or 1c.

A note about previous university studies:

If you have previous university studies, you must submit your upper secondary (high school) qualifications in addition to your university qualifications. For some courses and programs, students are only offered places based on their upper secondary qualifications and NOT on their university qualifications. 

Photo: Sofia Sabel/imagebank.sweden.se

Requirements for a Master Degree

To meet the entry requirements for master's level (second cycle or graduate) studies, you must:

• have been awarded a Bachelor's degree (equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen) from an internationally recognized university.
• be able to demonstrate proficiency in English. You can do this by means of an internationally recognized test, such as TOEFL, IELTS, etc. Previous upper secondary studies or university studies completed in some countries can also meet the requirement. Check the website of the university where you would like to study for more information about language requirements as they determine what level is required for Master's course and program.

Requirements for a PhD Program

Generally speaking, to be admitted to a PhD program, you must:

• Hold a university degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree or higher with a focus in the same subject as the intended field of study. In most cases, a master’s degree is required. Previous studies must have included a degree thesis presenting the results of independent research.
• Have a good command of English. Skills in Swedish are also important in some subjects where lectures and seminars are conducted in Swedish.

Further specific admission requirements are set by the department that has advertised the position.

Learn more about how to study in Sweden:

The content of this study guide has been developed in partnership with Study in Sweden.

About Study in Sweden

Studyinsweden.se is a comprehensive, official resource on studying in Sweden for prospective and current international students. Studyinsweden.se is built and maintained by the Swedish Institute, a public agency tasked with promoting Sweden abroad.