Degree requirements and main fields of study

Each degree has a number of requirements that you must have fulfilled with your studies. In addition to the general requirements according to the local degree ordinance, additional requirements can be found in the specific local qualification descriptor (written in Swedish). Therefore, it is important that you also check the relevant qualification descriptor for your particular degree.

About rules and regulations

The rules that are applicable to all universities and other institutions of higher education in Sweden are contained in the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance.

In addition to the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance, each university and other institution of higher education has the right to adopt more detailed requirements for awarding degrees. At Umeå University, the requirements are stated in the local degree ordinance and local qualification descriptor for each respective degree. It is in the local qualification descriptor that you will find what you must have studied in order to obtain a particular degree. For example, you must have studied a certain number of higher education credits within one or more subjects up to a certain level.

The degree requirements valid at the time when you apply for your degree determines whether the degree certificate can be issued or not. If you need guidance or study planning, turn to a student counsellor.

Requirements for a first-cycle degree

The first two or three years you study at the university are usually at the first-cycle (undergraduate) level. You will find the general requirements for obtaining a first-cycle degree here.

Higher Education Diploma (Högskoleexamen)

The requirements for a Higher Education Diploma at Umeå University are:

• 120 credits in completed courses.
• Within these courses, at least 60 credits must belong to the main field of study in which you desire to graduate. Of those credits, at least 7.5 credits must be a degree project.
• Other requirements as stated in the specific local qualification descriptor.

Further down on this page are Umeå University's main fields of study which you can receive a degree in.

Degree of Bachelor (Kandidatexamen)

The requirements for a bachelor's degree at Umeå University are:

• 180 credits in completed courses.
• Within these courses, at least 90 credits must belong to the main field of study in which you desire to graduate. Of these credits, at least 30 credits must be on Bachelor's degree level, including a degree project/paper of at least 15 credits. Bachelor's degree level refers to a course that has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s within the same main field of study as entry requirements.
• Other requirements as stated in the specific local qualification descriptor.

Further down on this page are Umeå University's main fields of study which you can receive a degree in.

Degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts (Konstnärlig kandidatexamen)

Which rules are applicable concerning the respective degrees in the fine, applied and performing arts can be found in the specific local qualification descriptor.

Further down on this page are Umeå University's main fields of study which you can receive a degree in.

Professional degree (Yrkesexamen)

To be able to receive a first-cycle professional (vocational) degree, you must have studied a vocational programme. At Umeå University there are professional degrees to work as an occupational therapist, biomedical analyst, dietician, physiotherapist, college engineer, teacher, counsellor, x-ray nurse, nurse, social worker, study and career counsellor, dental hygienist or dental technician.

What rules apply to the respective professional degree are given in the specific local qualification descriptor.

Requirements for a second-cycle degree

Academic studies at the second-cycle (master's) level are continued academic studies built upon the foundation from the first-cycle (undergraduate) level. You will find the general requirements for obtaining a degree at the second-cycle level here.

Degree of Master, 60 credits (Magisterexamen)

The requirements for a master's degree (60 credits) at Umeå University are:

• A previous degree of Bachelor, a professional degree of at least 180 credits or an equivalent foreign degree, and
• 60 credits in completed courses, of which at least 45 credits at the second-cycle (master's) level.
• Within these courses at the second-cycle level, at least 30 credits must belong to the main field of study in which you desire to graduate, including a degree project/paper of at least 15 credits.
• Other requirements as stated in the specific local qualification descriptor.

Further down on this page are Umeå University's main fields of study which you can receive a degree in.

Degree of Master, 120 credits (Masterexamen)

The requirements for a master's degree (120 credits) at Umeå University are:

• A previous degree of Bachelor, a professional degree of at least 180 credits or an equivalent foreign degree, and
• 120 credits in completed courses, of which at least 90 credits at the second-cycle (master's) level.
• Within these courses at the second-cycle level, at least 60 credits must belong to the main field of study in which you desire to graduate, including a degree project/paper of at least 30 credits. Such a degree project/paper of at least 30 credits may be substituted with two degree projects/papers of at least 15 credits each.
• Other requirements as stated in the specific local qualification descriptor.

Further down on this page are Umeå University's main fields of study which you can receive a degree in.

Degree of Master in Fine Arts, 60 or 120 credits (Konstnärlig magister- eller masterexamen)

In order to be able to obtain a degree in the fine, applied and performing arts at the second-cycle level, you must have previously obtained a degree of Bachelor, a professional degree of at least 180 credits or an equivalent foreign degree.

Which rules are applicable concerning the respective degrees in the fine, applied and performing arts can be found in the specific local qualification descriptor.

Further down on this page are Umeå University's main fields of study which you can receive a degree in.

Professional degree (Yrkesexamen)

To be able to receive a second-cycle professional (vocational) degree, you must have studied a vocational programme. At Umeå University there are degrees for working as, for example, a pharmacist, architect, midwife, civil economist, civil engineer, lawyer, speech therapist, doctor, teacher, psychologist, psychotherapist, hospital physician, specialist nurse, specialist teacher or dentist.

What rules apply to the respective professional degree are given in the specific local qualification descriptor.

Requirements for a third-cycle degree

Academic studies at the third-cycle (doctoral) level are based on academic studies from the second-cycle (master's) level.

Degree of Licentiate (Licentiatexamen)

The requirements for a licentiate degree at Umeå University are 120 credits in a subject for doctoral studies, of which an approved licentiate thesis of at least 60 credits.

What rules apply to the respective licentiate degree are given in the specific local qualification descriptor found on the intranet for staff (in Swedish only).

Degree of Doctor (Doktorsexamen)

The requirements for a doctoral degree at Umeå University are 240 credits in a subject for doctoral studies, of which an approved doctoral thesis of at least 120 credits.

What rules apply to the respective doctoral degree are given in the specific local qualification descriptor found on the intranet for staff (in Swedish only).

Main fields of study

There are main fields of study for general degrees or degrees in the fine, applied and performing arts that show the profile of the degree in question. The main fields of study are established by the Vice-Chancellor at Umeå University. The lists below are sorted by the main fields of study written in Swedish and show which degrees they can be issued for.

The abbreviations mean the following:

Hög: Higher Education Diploma (Högskoleexamen)
Kand: Degree of Bachelor (Kandidatexamen)
Mag: Degree of Master (60 credits) (Magisterexamen)
Mas: Degree of Master (120 credits) (Masterexamen)

Main fields of study for general degrees

Arbetsliv och hälsa (Occupational Health) - Mag

Arbetsterapi (Occupational Therapy) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Arkeologi (Archaeology) - Hög, Kand

Barn- och ungdomspsykiatri (Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - Hög, Kand

Befolkningsstudier (Population Studies) - Mag

Beräkningsteknik (Computational Science and Engineering) - Mag, Mas

Beteendevetenskapliga mätningar (Measurement in the Behavioural Sciences) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Biblioteks- och informationsvetenskap (Library and Information Science) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Bildterapi (Art Therapy) - Mag

Bioinformatik (Bioinformatics) - Mag, Mas

Biologi (Biology) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Biomedicin (Biomedical Sciences) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Biomedicinsk laboratorievetenskap (Biomedical Laboratory Science) - Hög, Kand, Mag

Byggteknik (Civil Engineering) - Hög, Kand, Mag

Datavetenskap (Computing Science) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Ekonomisk historia (Economic History) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Elektronik (Electronics) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Energiteknik (Energy Engineering) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Engelska (English) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Estetik (Aesthetics) - Hög, Kand

Estetiska ämnen (Creative Studies) - Hög, Kand

Etnologi (Ethnology) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Farmaci (Pharmacy) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Filosofi (Philosophy) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Finska (Finnish) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Folkhälsovetenskap (Public Health) - Mag, Mas

Franska (French) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Freds- och konfliktstudier (Peace and Conflict Studies) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Fysik (Physics) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Fysioterapi (Physiotherapy) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Företagsekonomi (Business Administration) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Genusvetenskap (Gender Studies) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Geografi (Geography) - Hög, Kand, Mag

Geografiska informationssystem (GIS) (Geographical Information Systems) - Hög, Kand, Mag

Geovetenskap/Naturgeografi (Earth Science/Physical Geography) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Historia (History) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Idéhistoria (History of Science and Ideas) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Idrottsmedicin (Sports Medicine) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Idrottspedagogik (Sport Education) - Hög, Kand, Mag

Informatik (Informatics) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Informationsvetenskap (Information Science) - Mag, Mas

Italienska (Italian) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Journalistik (Journalism) - Hög, Kand, Mag

Kemi (Chemistry) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Kognitionsvetenskap (Cognitive Science) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Konst- och bildvetenskap (Art History and Visual Studies) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Kostvetenskap (Food and Nutrition) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Kreativt skrivande (Creative Writing) - Hög, Kand

Kriminologi (Criminology) - Hög, Kand

Kulturanalys (Cultural Analysis) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Kulturgeografi (Human Geography) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Landskapsarkeologi (Landscape Archaeology) - Mag, Mas

Ledarskap och organisation (Leadership and Organisation) - Mag, Mas

Lingvistik (Linguistics) - Hög, Kand

Litteraturvetenskap (Comparative Literature) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Logopedi (Speech Pathology and Therapy) - Mag

Maskinteknik (Mechanical Engineering) - Hög, Kand, Mag

Matematik (Mathematics) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Matematisk statistik (Mathematical Statistics) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Medicin (Medicine) - Hög, Kand, Mag

Medicinsk teknik (Biomedical Engineering) - Mag, Mas

Medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap (Media and Communication Studies) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Medieteknik (Media Technology) - Hög, Kand

Miljö- och hälsoskydd (Environmental Health) - Hög, Kand, Mag

Miljöarkeologi (Environmental Archaeology) - Mag, Mas

Miljöteknik (Environmental Technology) - Hög, Kand

Miljövetenskap (Environmental Science) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Molekylärbiologi (Molecular Biology) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Museologi (Museology) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Måltids- och restaurangvetenskap (Restaurant and Culinary Arts) - Hög, Kand, Mag

Nationalekonomi (Economics) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Odontologi (Odontology) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Omvårdnad (Nursing) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Oral hälsa (Oral Health) - Hög, Kand

Pedagogik (Education) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Pedagogisk yrkesverksamhet (Educational Professions) - Mag, Mas

Polisiärt arbete (Police Work) - Hög, Kand, Mag

Praktisk filosofi (Practical Philosophy) - Hög, Kand

Psykologi (Psychology) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Radiografi (Radiography) - Hög, Kand, Mag

Religionsvetenskap (Religion and Theology) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Ryska (Russian) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Rättsvetenskap (Law) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Samiska (Sami) - Hög, Kand

Samiska språk (Sami Languages) - Mag, Mas

Samiska studier (Sami Studies) - Mag, Mas

Sexuell och reproduktiv hälsa (Midwifery Science) - Mag, Mas

Skandinavistik (Scandinavian Studies) - Mag, Mas

Socialt arbete (Social Work) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Sociologi (Sociology) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Spanska (Spanish) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Specialpedagogik (Special Education) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Språkdidaktik (Language Teaching and Learning) - Mag

Statistik (Statistics) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Statsvetenskap (Political Science) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Svenska/Nordiska språk (Scandinavian Languages) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Svenska som andraspråk (Swedish as a Second Language) - Hög, Kand

Tandteknik (Dental Technology) - Hög, Kand, Mag

Teologi (Theology) - Hög, Kand, Mag

Teoretisk filosofi (Theoretical Philosophy) - Hög, Kand

Tyska (German) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Utbildningsledarskap (Educational Leadership) - Mag, Mas

Vetenskaps-, teknik- och miljöstudier (Science, Technology and Environmental Studies) - Mag, Mas

Main fields of study in the fine, applied and performing arts

Arkitektur (Architecture) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Fri konst (Fine Arts) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas

Industridesign (Industrial Design) - Hög, Kand, Mag, Mas