FAQ - Degree certificates

Once you have submitted your application and are logged in to Ladok for students, you can click on the tab "Degree and certificates" to see that your application has been received. Your application will be listed under the heading "Cases," and the application's case number will also be visible. When your application is being processed, the status of the case will change to "Being processed."

If you have submitted your application and later wish to add more information or make changes, you can contact us at examen@ki.se. Provide your personal information or your application's case number. The person handling your application will receive your message and contact you. You should not submit a new application if you only want to add information.

You will be notified via the email address you provided when your degree is issued, and your case is processed.

You will have immediate access to your issued digital degree in Ladok. You will be notified via the email address you provided. You can then download your digital degree as a PDF file.

You can find your issued digital degree by clicking on the menu and selecting "Degree and certificates." Under the heading "Issued certificates," your issued degrees will be displayed.

The processing time varies throughout the year depending on the number of incoming applications and the complexity of your case. The processing time is normally 2 weeks. During peak seasons in January and June, the processing time may be slightly longer. Processing time may also be extended if there are credit transfers or other factors contributing to a prolonged processing time. If we have any questions regarding your application, we will contact you from examen@ki.se. Certain groups are given priority, such as professional degrees with licensing requirements from the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen).

Ladok retrieves personal information from the population register (Swedish Tax Agency). These details in Ladok are stated on the degree certificate and cannot be changed afterward. If a preferred name is indicated in the population register, only the preferred name will be on Ladok. This means that if you want all your first names to appear on the degree certificate, you need to write a comment about this in your application or email examen@ki.se along with your application, as we do not change this once your degree certificate has been issued. Therefore, check how your first and last names are displayed in Ladok when you apply.

Starting from April 1, 2024, Karolinska Institutet issues digital degree certificates. The digital degree certificate consists of a PDF file with an e-stamp.

Your degree certificate includes the degree designation (such as Nursing Degree or Bachelor of Medicine with a major in Nursing) and the courses included in your degree. The degree certificate is bilingual (in Swedish and English).

When you receive a degree certificate issued by a state university or college, you also receive, at no cost, an English-language supplement, known as a Diploma Supplement (DS), which briefly describes the education and the Swedish higher education system. This supplement is intended to facilitate recognition and credit transfer of a Swedish degree for employment and further studies abroad. It does not replace the degree certificate but serves as an attachment to it.

The degree certificate is dated with the date of issuance of the degree. The issuance date is not when you submit your application or when you complete your last course within a program. The first page of the degree certificate specifies the date of completion of studies, i.e., the date when you completed your final course that is included in your degree.

The degree certificate is bilingual, meaning it is issued in both Swedish and English. Additionally, there is an English-language description of your degree, known as a Diploma Supplement (DS), which briefly describes the education and the Swedish higher education system. This supplement is intended to facilitate recognition and credit transfer of a Swedish degree for employment and further studies abroad. It does not replace the degree certificate but serves as an attachment to it.

If you need a separate English document regarding your studies at Karolinska Institutet, you can order an English-language Ladok certificate or print one yourself from Ladok.

You can retrieve your degree certificate directly in Ladok. You can find it on the "Degree and certificates" page by clicking on your degree. There, you will not only see the contents of the degree but also have the option to download the certificate as a PDF file.

Yes, you can download the degree certificate as many times as needed.

When your digital degree is issued, an e-stamped PDF is generated. The e-stamp on your digital degree indicates who issued your degree and is easy to share and verify.

Starting from April 1, 2024, Karolinska Institutet issues only digital degree certificates, meaning no degree certificates are issued on paper anymore. This results in quicker, easier, and more secure handling for students, staff, and external parties needing access to the degree certificate. The digital degree certificate consists of a PDF file with an e-stamp. The e-stamp validates it as

You can obtain a certified copy of your already issued degree certificate by contacting arkivet@ki.se. Provide your full name, personal identification number, the degree in question, and the date of issuance. Also, include your contact information.

Degree certificates issued from April 1, 2024, onwards can be downloaded directly from Ladok for students/alumni. Note that you should not apply for a new degree certificate for a degree that has already been issued.

Once your degree has been issued, you have the option to share information about the degree with any recipient, such as an employer. You can do this by logging into Ladok for students/alumni to obtain a verification code that you can share with the recipient of your choice. With the code, the recipient can view information about your degree and the courses included. The code is valid for 6 months and can be used multiple times for multiple recipients.

To share your degree, follow these steps:

1. Log in to Ladok for students/alumni.
2. Click on "Degree and certificates" in the menu.
3. Select "Share certificate."
4. Share the obtained verification code with your chosen recipient.

Learn more about sharing your degree on Ladok.se.

Before submitting an application for licensure to the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen), you must apply for your professional degree at Karolinska Institutet. Applications for licensure for professions within healthcare are made to the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen).

Since December 1, 2001, all degree certificates have been issued in both Swedish and English. If you have a degree certificate dated earlier or wish to translate your degree into another language, you must contact an authorized translator. An English version of your transcript usually lists the English names of the courses included in your degree. If you are unable to obtain a transcript from Ladok for students, you can email UFS-systemforvaltning@ki.se to request an English-language transcript.

New degree certificates for previously issued degrees are not typically issued. Therefore, you cannot receive a new degree certificate solely due to a change in your first or last name. If you have changed your Swedish personal identification number, for example, due to a change in gender identity, please contact us at examen@ki.se for information on how to proceed.

Yes, please contact examen@ki.se, and we will assist you.

Legalization: If you need to legalize your degree certificate to present it to a foreign authority, you should contact the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Utrikesdepartementet). Legalization involves the Ministry for Foreign Affairs certifying that a signature and seal/stamp on a Swedish document are authentic. After the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has legalized the document, it typically also needs to be approved by the foreign embassy in Stockholm representing the country where the document will be used.

Apostille: If you need to present your degree certificate to a country that has acceded to the Apostille Convention, you can obtain an apostille from a Notary Public. An apostille certifies that a signature and seal/stamp on a Swedish document are authentic.

An apostille means you do not need to have the degree certificate legalized by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and additional approval from a foreign embassy is typically not required. Notaries Public are appointed by the County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen). Read more at: https://www.regeringen.se/sveriges-regering/utrikesdepartementet/legaliseringar/

Karolinska Institutet organizes graduation ceremonies for students who have completed their undergraduate studies or their global master's program at KI, as well as promotion ceremonies for newly conferred doctors. Learn more at Academic ceremonies.

As an alum, you are important to us, and we hope you will stay connected with KI through our alumni network, which includes over 19,000 alumni around the world. You are most welcome to KI Alumni!