Courses for incoming exchange students in Medicine 2025-2026

Study structure and requirements 

The study programme in Medicine offers curricular courses, clinical rotations, and research-oriented projects for incoming exchange students. These are full-time commitments, requiring at least 40 hours of work per week, and you can only attend one study option at a time as all options are offered in blocks. Each study week equals 1.5 ECTS credits, with performance graded according to an A-F scale based on the course syllabus outcomes. All clinical curricular courses integrate theory and practical clinical training and conclude with an examination, while clinical roations and research-oriented projects follow a different structure.

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. 

Other specific requirements may apply. 

Options in English 

Exchange students without a strong command of the Swedish language can apply for the following options in English: 

• Curricular courses
• Elective course (see under Curricular 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 

A 20-week course integrating both theory and clinics, offered in the autumn semester until mid-Janusry, at Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge in Flemingsberg. Both national and exchange students are admitted, and classes are taught in English. 

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

A 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. 

Clinical medicine 6: Obstetrics and Gynaecology , 9 ECTS credits 

This 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. 

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

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

Clinical rotations

A clinical rotation consists of clinical work under supervision, lasting four weeks (6 ECTS credits) and requiring at least 40 hours of work per week. A student can only attend one rotation at a time. A clinical rotation, or parts of it, may take place at different teaching hospitals in Stockholm, and even if offered in English, some elements, such as patient communication, might be conducted partly in Swedish. Each rotation ends with an assessment, the type of which can be found in the syllabus. Note that in addition to the general requirements, specific requirements may apply. 

Four-week rotations

Rotations are offered in four-week blocks throughout the academic year (September-beginning of July), with four blocks in the autumn semester and six in the spring semester. No rotations are offered in August. 

Syllabuses

The syllabuses 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)
• 2EE015 Obstetrics and Gynaecology (8 weeks)
• 2EE098 Oncology
• 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 

Exchange students in Medicine who wish to undertake a research-oriented project must make the initial arrangements themselves. The most effective approach is to participate in an ongoing research project and find a supervisor who is interested in supervising students. The subject area and the supervisor from X must be specified in the application form (more information under the application procedure below). The duration of the project must be either 4, 8, 12, or 16 weeks, and one week of full-time studies is equivalent to 1.5 ECTS. 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 

In addition to the general and specific requirements stated above, exchange students with a good command of Swedish, corresponding to a Pass in the Tisus test (Tisus – Test in Swedish for university studies), or another Scandinavian language are welcome to apply for the courses presented below.  

Curricular Courses in Swedish (subject to change) 

Exchange students may apply to the following course offered in Swedish within the regular curriculum of the 5.5 year programme: 

• 2LK111 Klinisk medicin - inriktning reproduktion och utveckling (obstetrik/gynekologi, pediatrik, klinisk genetik), 22.5 ECTS credits (semester 10) (autumn semester 2025 only) 

For more information please visit the programme website. Note that the website is in Swedish. 

Exchange students may apply to the following courses offered in Swedish within the  curriculum for the 6 year programme up to semester 10 (only in Swedish). 

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

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.