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How to apply

Follow this step-by-step guide to completing your application - from creating an account to replying to your notification of selection results.

Your step-by-step guide

1. Select your programme or course of interest

The most important step in the admissions process is choosing the programme or course that is right for you. Search our online education catalogue to find out what is available with English language instruction.

The difference between a programme and a course
A programme is made up of a set number of courses. At the completion of a programme you will have earned a specific degree. A programme is usually comprised of 60–180 ECTS (1–3 years of full-time study).

A single-subject course can never lead to a degree. The standard course is 7.5 ECTS (5 weeks of full-time study).

IMPORTANT: 30 ECTS comprises full-time studies for an academic term. If you need a residence permit to Sweden, you need to be admitted to full-time studies in order to obtain one.

Search programmes and courses

2. Review admissions criteria, eligibility, requirements and deadlines

Read the sections on general admissions criteria, eligibility, timelines and deadlines, and then carefully review the admissions requirements for your specific programme(s) or course(s) of interest.

Eligibility requirements are found under the 'Application and eligibility' section on the specific programme or course page.

3. Create an account at universityadmissions.se

Create an account at the national University Admissions in Sweden website and follow the steps to make your online application. Click the login icon in the upper right of the page to create your account.

University Admissions in Sweden website

4. Complete the online application

To complete the application visit the University Admissions website - the Swedish national online admissions website. Before you apply you must create a user account. This user account serves as a link between your application and your personal data.

5. Rank your selections

If you are applying for master's degree studies, you can choose to apply for up to four programmes in the one application on the University Admissions in Sweden application website. If you are applying for Bachelor's degree studies, the maximum number of programmes you can apply for is eight. However, you can only be offered admission to one programme in both cases.

If you apply to more than one programme, it is extremely important to rank the programmes in order of your preference (i.e. rank the programme/university that you would most like to be admitted to as priority 1 and your next choice as priority 2, and so on). 

When the time comes to award places:

  • You'll first be considered for the programme you've ranked the highest
  • if you meet the entry requirements and there's a place available, you'll be offered one 
  • all the programmes you ranked lower will then be deleted
  • if you aren't offered a place in the first programme on your list, your second choice will be evaluated, and so on.

You can be offered only one study place. As soon as you're offered a place in a programme, all the lower-ranked programmes will be deleted. 

More about ranking your selections - master's
More about ranking your selections - bachelor's

6. Assemble your supporting documents

After submitting your application, the next step is to submit documentation to demonstrate your eligibility for the courses and programmes you have applied for. The documentation must include your previous studies and your English proficiency.

On the University Admissions website you can find more information about which documents are needed to prove your eligibility for studies.

Depending on your country of residence, you may be able to scan and upload your original documents to your account at universityadmissions.se, or you may be required to have them submitted in hardcopy (in some cases directly by the University). You must check the country-specific requirements and document rules for Master's studies and for Bachelor's studies in case of other rules and instructions before you submit the following documents, to ensure you follow the instructions correctly and that your documents can be accepted:​ 

Please Note: Programmes in Architecture, Design and Fine Arts, have separate instructions regarding the submission of portfolio documents. See the specific programme page for details.

7. Pay the application fee (if required)

With a few exceptions, all citizens of countries outside of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are required to pay application and tuition fees for education at the undergraduate and advanced level.

IMPORTANT: Your application will not be processed until you have paid the application fee or proved that you are exempt from paying. 

The application fee of 900 SEK (Swedish kronor) must be received by the fee deadline in order for your application to be processed.

Tuition fees and funding

Please note: There are no application or tuition fees if you have citizenship from an EU/EEA country (or Switzerland). You will need to document your citizenship when applying at universityadmisssions.se

8. Follow your admission status

After the admissions selection, results are posted on the University Admissions website, both in the 'Applications' tab and in the pdf document Notification of Selection Results on your account.

Visit the University Admissions website also if you need help with understanding your results.

9. Reply to your offer

First (main) application round

If you applied to the First round for the Autumn or Spring semester (application deadlines 15 January and 15 August), you do not need to reply to your offer at the University Admissions website.

Second application round

If you applied to the Second round for the Autumn or Spring semester (15 April and 15 October application deadlines), you must reply to your first Notification of Selection Results in order to keep the places you've been offered. This is also necessary if you want to keep your place on the reserve/waiting list for the second selection round. 

For the second Notification, you do not need to reply to courses you wish to keep, but should decline those courses you are not planning on attending. This makes those places available for students on the waiting list.

You reply to your offer on the University Admissions website

If you've been offered admission in a course or programme but have decided not to attend, it's important that you decline your offer so that waiting list students can be awarded a place.

10. Apply for a residence permit

If you are a citizen of a country outside of the EU/EEA and are planning to study in Sweden for at least three months, you will need to apply for a residence permit for studies in Sweden. As the application processing time can be long, you should apply as soon as you have received your Notification of Admission.

Please visit the Swedish Migration Agency website for specific details how to apply for a residence permit for studies in higher education.

Note that you must be admitted to full-time studies in a programme or courses that require your presence in higher education in Sweden. You cannot receive a residence permit for studies at a distance. 

Video tutorial how to apply

Produced by Study in Sweden. Duration: 8m29s.

As an exchange student you will find information about how to apply at:
Exchange studies

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Latest update: 2024-11-01