Degree certificate rules
In order to receive a Degree certificate, the requirements for the degree must be met. Here you will find information about the rules that apply to a degree.
There are three levels, cycles, of higher education and the degrees awarded follow the same level.
- First cycle: Higher Education Diploma (120 credits), Bachelor's degree (180 credits)
- Second cycle: Master of Arts/Science (60 credits), Master of Arts/Science (120 credits)
- Third cycle: Licentiate (120 credits), Doctor (PhD) (240 credits)
The extent of the studies is indicated in higher education credits (hp). One semester's full-time studies corresponds to 30 higher education credits and one year's full-time studies therefore to 60 higher education credits. All degrees issued have a precise scope, i.e. you cannot include more higher education credits in a particular degree than the scope specified in the Higher Education Ordinance (with the exception of licentiate degrees). For example, 180 higher education credits (hp) are required for a bachelor's degree.
In order for a second-level degree to be issued, a previous bachelor's degree or professional degree of at least 180 credits or an equivalent foreign degree is required.
Degree certificate rules
The government decides which degrees may be issued at various universities and colleges. This is regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance. In addition to the national regulations, each university can decide on local rules and regulations, within the framework of the national examination system.
The following document shows the degree certificate rules that apply at Karolinska Institutet.
Degree certificate rules at Karolinska Institutet (in Swedish)
First level and second level
Karolinska Institutet is entitled to issue the following degrees:
| First-cycle degrees | Second-cycle degrees | Third-cycle degrees | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General degrees: | General degrees: | Licentiate degree | ||
| • Higher Education Diploma | • Master's degree, 60 credits | Doctoral degree (PhD) | ||
| • Bachelor's degree | • Master's degree, 120 credits | |||
Professional degrees
In addition to the general degrees, in the Swedish system there are around 50 different professional degrees.
The following professional degrees are issued at basic level at Karolinska Institutet (please not that these programs are only given in Swedish):
- Degree of Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy
- Degree of Bachelor of Science in Audiology
- Degree of Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Laboratory Science
- Degree of Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy
- Degree of Bachelor of Science in Optometry
- Degree of Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Radiology Nursing
- Degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Degree of Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene
The following professional degrees are issued at advanced level at Karolinska Institutet (please not that these programs are only given in Swedish):
- Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery
- Degree of Master of Science in Speech and Language Pathology
- Degree of Master of Science in Medicine
- Degree of Master of Science in Psychology
- Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapy
- Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Nursing – Pre-hospital Emergency Care
- Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Nursing – Anaesthesia Care
- Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Nursing – Primary Health Care
- Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Nursing – Paediatric Care
- Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Nursing – Intensive Care
- Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Nursing – Surgical Care
- Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Nursing – Medical Care
- Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Nursing – Oncology Care
- Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Nursing – Theatre Care
- Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Nursing – Mental Health Care
- Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Nursing – Elderly Care
- Degree of Master of Science in Dental Surgery
Main fields of study
A general degree must always include a main field of study. Below is a list over disciplines that can constitute the main field of study.
K: can be the main field of study in a Bachelor's degree (kandidatexamen)
Mg: can be the main field of study in a Master's degree, 60 credits (magisterexamen)
Ms: can be the main field of study in a Master's degree, 120 credits (masterexamen)
| Main field of study | K | Mg | Ms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work and Health | Mg | ||
| Occupational Therapy | K | Mg | |
| Audiology | K | Mg | |
| Bioentrepreneurship | Ms | ||
| Biomedicine | K | Ms | |
| Biomedical Laboratory Science | K | Mg | |
| Diagnostic Cytology | Mg | ||
| Public Health Sciences | K | Mg | Ms |
| Physiotherapy | K | Mg | |
| Insurance Medicine | Mg | ||
| Global Health | Mg | ||
| Health Informatics | Mg | Ms | |
| Public Health in Disasters (Erasmus Mundus Programme) | Mg | ||
| International Health (Erasmus Mundus Programme) | Mg | ||
| Clinical Medical Science | Mg | Ms | |
| Speech and Language Pathology | Ms | ||
| Pharmaceutical Medicine | Mg | ||
| Medical Management | Mg | ||
| Medical Education | Mg | Ms | |
| Molecular Life Science | Ms | ||
| Nutrition Science | Mg | ||
| Odontology | Ms | ||
| Odontological Prophylaxis | K | Mg | |
| Nursing | K | Mg | |
| Optometry | K | Mg | |
| Podiatry | K | ||
| Psychology | K | Ms | |
| Psychotherapy | Mg | ||
| Radiography | K | Mg | |
| Sexual, Reproductive and Perinatal Health | Mg | ||
| Dental Technology | K | Mg | |
| Toxicology | Ms | ||
| Translational Physiology and Pharmacology | Ms | ||