Courses for incoming exchange students in Medicine 2026-2027

Study structure and requirements 

The study programme in Medicine offers curricular courses, clinical rotations, and research-oriented projects for incoming exchange students. All study options are full-time, requiring at least 40 hours of study per week, and you can only take one option at a time since they are offered in blocks. Each study week equals 1.5 ECTS credits (1.5 högskolepoäng, hp).

Clinical curricular courses combine theoretical learning with clinical training and include final examinations. Clinical rotations and research‑oriented projects follow different structures. 

Assessment follows the grading scale specified in the respective course syllabus, which may be an A–F scale or Pass/Fail.

General requirements 

Specific requirements 

• Three years of study in a medical programme.
• Ability to take medical history and to perform a physical examination of a patient. 

Additional specific requirements may apply (see syllabus). 

Options in English 

Exchange students without sufficient Swedish skills can apply for the options in English below: 

• Curricular courses and elective courses
• Clinical rotations - designed to fit the needs of incoming exchange students
• Research-oriented projects 

Courses and clinical rotations are offered throughout the academic year (September - early July) at the different teaching hospitals affiliated with Karolinska Institutet, in accordance with the timetable below. No rotations are offered during August. Please note that the study options in English are limited and that a study place cannot be guaranteed.

Curricular and elective courses in English (subject to change)   

2EE134 Clinical medicine 3: Surgery, 30 ECTS credits 

20-week course integrating theory and clinics, offered in the autumn semester until mid-January, at Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge in Flemingsberg. Taught in English for both Swedish and exchange students.

Course website

2LA022 Clinical medicine 5: Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 15 ECTS credits 

10-week course focusing on diagnosing and managing common, acute, and serious conditions in children and adolescents. It includes understanding genetic diseases and applying scientific models to clinical practice. The course emphasizes professional competence, global healthcare, and the importance of health during childhood and adolescence. Specific requirements include having completed a basic course in medicine and surgery within a medical programme. The course takes place at Karolinska University Hospital in Solna. 

Course website

2LA025 Clinical medicine 6: Obstetrics and Gynaecology , 9 ECTS credits 

The course covers diagnosing and managing common, acute, and serious conditions in gynecology and obstetrics. It also includes preventive work in sexual and reproductive health. The course emphasizes professional competence, global healthcare, and applying scientific models to clinical practice. Specific requirements include having completed a basic course in medicine and surgery within a medical programme. The course takes place at Karolinska University Hospital in Solna and Danderyd Hospital in Danderyd. 

Course website 

1EE021 Community and Home Based Rehabilitation - Cultural Perspectives, 7,5 ECTS credits

Five-week interprofessional course offered every spring semester with teachers and students from different countries and different study programmes (e.g. occupational therapy, physiotherapy, nursing, medicine).  

Elective courses - autumn semester

(Spring semester courses will be published later.)

Term 11 of the programme includes two elective periods of 7.5 credits (hp) each, giving you the chance to specialise, broaden, or deepen your medical studies.

Autumn semester: Elective period 1: 5/11 – 3/12 Elective period 2: 4/12-17/1

Clinical rotations and elective courses follow different schedules and cannot be combined without a time gap. This means you may need to plan for a short break between the two. The structure still allows flexibility to design a study path that suits your interests.

Clinical rotations

A clinical rotation is four weeks long (6 ECTS credits), full-time, and takes place under supervision. Students complete one rotation at a time, and elements involving patient contact may be conducted partly in Swedish.

Rotations run in 4-week blocks throughout the academic year (September–early July). No rotations are offered in August.

Assessment methods and specific requirements are listed in the course syllabi.

The syllabi presented below are examples from one of the teaching hospitals where the rotations are offered, and specific requirements can be found in each syllabus. 

• 2EE112 Dermatology
• 2EE090 Emergency Medicine
• 2EE073 Inflammatory diseases
• 2EE054 Internal Medicine (including subspecialties)
• 2EE043 Neurology
• 2EE044 Obstetrics and Gynaecology (4 weeks)
• 2EE039 Ophthalmology
• 2EE033 Oto-rhino-laryngology
• 2EE062 Paediatrics
• 2EE045 Primary Care
• 2EE027 Psychiatry
• 2EE036 Surgery (covers the rotations in Hand surgery, Neurosurgery, Plastic surgery and Thoracic surgery)
• 2EE097 Urology

Research-oriented projects 

Students wishing to complete a research project must arrange supervision themselves by contacting research groups at KI. The project topic and supervisor must be stated in the application. The most effective approach is to participate in an ongoing research project and find a supervisor who is interested in supervising students. The duration of the project must be either 4, 8, 12, or 16 weeks, and one week of full-time studies corresponds to 1.5 ECTS credits. Note that the grade awarded is either Pass or Fail. 

• 2EE113 Project for Exchange Students (6 ECTS)
• 2EE114 Project for Exchange Students (12 ECTS)
• 2EE115 Project for Exchange Students (18 ECTS)
• 2EE116 Project for Exchange Students (24 ECTS) 

Options in Swedish 

Exchange students with Swedish skills equivalent to a Pass on the Tisus test (Tisus – Test in Swedish for university studies) or another Scandinavian language may apply for courses taught in Swedish. These include courses from the 6‑year medical programme (semesters 1–10).
Courses are held at various teaching hospitals affiliated with Karolinska Institutet and placements at the teaching hospitals are assigned based on availability.

Curricular Courses in Swedish (subject to change) 

See the programme overview (in Swedish).

Available courses:

• 2LA000 Basvetenskap 1: Grundläggande basvetenskap, läkaryrket och lärande, 12 hp
• 2LA001 Basvetenskap 2: Cellbiologi, matsmältning och ämnesomsättning, 18 hp
• 2LA002 Basvetenskap 3: Anatomi, histologi och basal klinisk konsultation och undersökning, 18 hp  
• 2LA003 Basvetenskap 4: Neurovetenskap, neurofarmakologi och endokrinologi, 12 hp  
• 2LA004 Basvetenskap 5: Funktion och dysfunktion, 30 hp
• 2LA005 Basvetenskap 6: Mikrobiologi och infektionsimmunologi, 7,5 hp
• 2LA006 Medicinsk diagnostik med basvetenskaplig integrering, 22,5 hp
• 2LA007 Klinisk medicin 1: Invärtesmedicinsk inriktning, 30 hp
• 2LA011 Klinisk medicin 2: Invärtesmedicinsk fördjupning och breddning, 22,5 hp 
• 2LA016 Klinisk medicin 3: Kirurgisk inriktning, 30 hp
• 2LA021 Klinisk medicin 4: Neuro, sinnen och psyke, 30 hp
• 2LA022 Klinisk medicin 5: Barn- och ungdomsmedicin, 15 hp (2LA022-2LA024)
• 2LA025 Klinisk medicin 6: Obstetrik och gynekologi, 9 hp (2LA025-2LA028)
• 2LA029 Klinisk medicin 7: Cancer och palliativ medicin, 6 hp

Please contact international coordinator Magdalena Palmqvist for further information. 

Application

Application deadlines

• 1 May for the autumn semester (end of August to mid-January)
• 15 October for the spring semester (mid-January to the beginning of June)

More information about the programme 

Medical students are expected to take significant responsibility for their own learning. Teaching methods include group work, seminars, lectures and individual projects, and there is a clear integration of practical and theoretical skills, often based on descriptions of patient case descriptions. 

The courses are offered on two levels: semester 1-6 form the basic level and semester 7-11 (12 in the six-year programme) form the advanced level. Both levels include in-depth studies to ensure progression within and between levels. The final seven (eight) terms take place in teaching hospitals and primary care., where students participate in day-to-day patient care under the supervision of specialists. 

The new six-year medical programme prepares students for diverse roles in healthcare and beyond, emphasizing clinical, scientific, and professional competencies. Team-based learning (TBL) is the primary teaching method, promoting active participation and problem-solving. The programme also includes Entrustable Professional Activities (EPA) to ensure students gradually increase their independence and readiness for medical licensure. Additionally, a mentorship programme supports students' professional development and self-reflection. 

After graduation 

After five and a half years of study, students in the current 5.5-year medical programme receive their medical degree, followed by an internship (allmäntjänstgöring, AT) for 18-24 months, depending on the location. After this, the Swedish licence to practice medicine is granted by the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen). To receive a specialist qualification, another five years of specialist training (ST) or residency is required. There are currently 63 medical specialties in Sweden. 

The six-year medical programme, which started in autumn 2021, is as licensure-based medical education. Students receive their Swedish licence to practice medicine upon graduation. Instead of the internship (AT), there will be a basic training (bastjänstgöring, BT) that can be completed either as a standalone 12-month service or as an integrated part of specialist training (ST). 

Medical doctors can work in various sectors, including in-patient and out-patient hospital care, occupational healthcare and primary care, private surgeries, research laboratories and industry. They may work abroad or for aid organisations. Career paths are often determined by chosen medical specialties, such as general practice, surgery, infection diseases or psychiatry. Besides patient care, doctors also often engage in teaching, quality development, management and administration. Many also work in research to improve and develop future healthcare provision.