Admission to higher education Swedish students may apply to study courses or full study programmes By selecting courses, students build up degrees or qualifacations. On completing courses, students are awarded credits. Students are awarded a qualification or degree after accumulating the appropriate number of credits in appropriate combinations.

Study programmes A student may apply for a full study programme where some components may be compulsory and some optional. Some of the study programmes lead to professional or vocational qualifications.

Admission system Sweden has a uniform system for admission to higher education. The admission regulations are national and are stipulated in the provisions of the Higher Education Act and the Higher Education Ordinance and regulations issued by the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education.

Admission regulations for new entrant The admission regulations for new entrant to study programmes are specified at national level. Admission to second and third cycle programmes are also regulated, but to a lesser degree.

Admission for new entrant An applicant must fulfil the general entry requirements The general entry requirement is the succesful completion of upper secondary school leaving certificate, completed adult education at upper secondary level or completed education from other countries giving access to higher education in the home country or a completed study programme at a Folk High School (adult education centre)

Specific entry requirements To be admitted to many study programmes, there are additional requirements, i.e. specific entry requirements. Knowledge acquired from one or more speficic courses at upper secondary level, or the equivalent. Must be considered to be completely necessary for succesful completion of the study programme applied for. Engineering programmes mathematics, physics and chemistry at a specific level with pass grade

Selection criteria The selection criteria to all first cycle programmes are more or less the same, with the exception of admission to programmes in fine, applied and performing arts. Selection is based mainly on final school grades and the results of the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test for higher education.

Selection criteria An average of final school grades is calculated in the same way for admission to all study programmes. Even final school grades from other countries are converted to a grade average. The uniform regulations cover admission to courses for new entrants as well as to study programmes.

Selection criteria The Higher Education Act stipulates that HEIs must accept qualified applicants to the greatest degree possible whilst maintaing the standard of the courses and programmes. If a qualified applicant cannot be guaranted a place, a selection process may take place.

Selection At least one third of all places are allocated on the basis of final school grades and at least one third on the basis of the scores from the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test HEIs are allowed to allocate a maximum of one third of places based on, for example, prior learning and experience, proficiency in specific areas and interviews.

General entry requirement New requirements from 2010 Completed upper secondary school certificate as today Knowledge of Swedish, English and Mathematics with grade Pass 2013 a new system for upper secondary school certificates will be in place.