Are you eligible for studies at Umeå University? There are different levels of eligibility that you have to meet to study different courses and programmes. All applicants must meet the basic eligibility requirements.
Basic eligibility
Bachelor's level studies:
If you have completed an upper secondary school/high school education that makes you eligible for higher studies in your home country and meet the language requirements in English and/or Swedish, then you are eligible for bachelor's level university studies at Umeå University.
You also need to be able to demonstrate proficiency in English by means of an internationally recognised test, such as TOEFL, IELTS or the equivalent. It is also possible to be eligible through previous high school or university studies.
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 course Mathematics A (approximately 10 years of mathematics studies).
This mathematics requirement does not apply to students who received their final school grades before 1 January 2010.
Eligibility for master's programmes
To be eligible to study at a Master's programme you must:
have a Bachelor's degree from an internationally recognised university.
This means a minimum of three (3) years university or college studies (180 ECTS) from an accredited university or college, with a minimum of two terms (60 ECTS) of full-time studies in one discipline, subject or major.
be able to demonstrate proficiency in English by means of an internationally recognised test, such as TOEFL, IELTS or the equivalent. It is also possible to be eligible through previous high school or university studies.
Depending on the country you graduated from, there may also be other requirements regarding qualifications and which enclosures your need for your application. Visit the University Admissions website for more information about required documents.
Note! Results below second class are not accepted and study results under 50% will not be considered.
For many courses and programmes (and all Master's programmes) there are specific eligibility requirements to be met. These requirements generally concern previous studies in the specific subject or field of study and are determined by reviewing your academic transcripts.
For example, you may need have completed certain subject credits within your bachelor's (undergraduate) degree and/or earned credits in speciifc courses.
These specific requirements are found in the information regarding each course/programme in the on-line course catalogue. Look for the heading 'Application and eligibility'.
English language proficiency
For most master's level courses and programmes, the requirement is the equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.
Proficiency in basic English can be proven by test scores from a number of internationally recognised tests. The most common are IELTS and TOEFL. Detailed information about English language requirements can be found on the University Admissions website.
English 6 level is the equivalent of IELTS 6.5 (no section less than 5.5) or TOEFL 90. It is important that you check the programme or course as some programmes have a higher requirement for admission.
The English language requirement can also be met through previous upper secondary studies or previous university studies in certain countries.
Proficiency in Swedish is only needed if you intend to apply to courses and programmes with Swedish language instrution. This can be done through the TISUS test.
Country specific instructions
There are specific requirements for students from most countries wishing to study at a Swedish university. It is very important to check these national regulations before applying to a programme or course at Umeå University.
If you are in the final year of your undergraduate degree
You can apply to a Master's programme during the last year of your undergraduate degree programme. Your application may be considered if you provide the necessary documentation on the University Admission website.
Note: If you have not uploaded your complete transcript and degree by the start of the programme, you will not be able to register as a programme student. This applies to all applicants, both EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA applicants.
Recognition of prior learning
You can be considered eligible for a course or a programme despite the fact you don't meet the formal entry requirements. This can be done by referring to your accumulated competence, if you document it completely and clearly.
If you do not fulfil the requirements formally but still feel that you have acquired the knowledge needed to study a specific course or programme, you can apply for recognition of prior learning. In the application you must describe in what way you acquired knowledge and proficiency that gives you the ability to pursue higher studies, as well as support your claim with certified documents.
To apply for recognition of prior learning you must first submit an application for a course or programme. The form and all documents must have been uploaded no later than the last day for applying for the course or the programme.
If you submit a late application, it is not possible to apply for recognition of prior learning. The form and all documents must have been uploaded no later than the last day for applying for the course or the programme.
Interested in applying for a validation of prior learning? Please consult with a study counsellor.
Application for deferment
If you are admitted to a course or a programme and have a valid reason to why you are not able to begin your studies, you can apply for a deferment. To apply for a deferment means that you are applying to postpone the start of your studies until another semester when the course or programme is offered.
To be granted a deferment, you will need to have a valid reason (e.g. social or medical). Examples of valid reasons include the care of children under one year of age, military or civic service, student union assignments or that your employer has denied or postponed your application for leave for studies.
Deferment is granted for up to a maximum of 18 months. An application for a deferment with the start of studies must, together with a certificate proving the reasons, be sent to Student Services at Umeå University by email to antagning@adm.umu.se before the education begins, or as soon as possible.
If you send the application with a certificate via e-mail, all attached files must be submitted as PDF-files. You can appeal the deferment decision.
