Bachelor's Programme in Biomedicine

Apply for the Bachelor's Programme in Biomedicine - First intake Autumn 2026

Specific eligibility

General eligibility (with exemption from the Swedish language requirement for applicants with foreign upper secondary school credentials), and Biology 2, Chemistry 2, Mathematics 4 or Mathematics D, English 6. Or: Biology level 2, Chemistry level 2, Mathematics Further level 2, English level 2.

Documentation requirements

If you have foreign upper secondary school qualifications should follow the documentation requirements for bachelor's applicants at universityadmissions.se

If you have Swedish upper secondary school qualifications should follow the documentation requirements at antagning.se

You will find instructions on how to meet the English language requirement of English 6/English level 2 on the page English language requirements at universityadmissions.se.

Selection

The selection is based upon the applicant's upper secondary school qualifications (merit rating).

The deadline for the supporting documentation is 2 February 2026. All credentials must have reached universityadmissions.se by the deadline for the supporting documentation. You will find all key dates on the page Autumn semester dates at universityadmissions.se

Fees

If you have citizenship within the EU/EEA, or Switzerland, you are not required to pay application or tuition fees. For further details see the page Find out if you need to pay fees at universityadmissions.se.

Application fee

900 SEK

Tuition fee

Total amount: 540 000 SEK
First instalment: 90 000 SEK
Tuition fees

Application process

The first intake is open for both non-EU and EU/EEA citizens with completed upper secondary studies. If you need to apply for a Swedish residence permit for studies, you should apply in this intake.

Read more on entry requirements, documentation requirements and the selection process on the page Apply for a bachelor's programme

Application

You apply via universityadmissions.se.

Apply for the Bachelor's Programme in Biomedicine - Second intake Autumn 2026

Specific eligibility

General eligibility (with exemption from the Swedish language requirement for applicants with foreign upper secondary school credentials), and Biology 2, Chemistry 2, Mathematics 4 or Mathematics D, English 6. Or: Biology level 2, Chemistry level 2, Mathematics Further level 2, English level 2.

Documentation requirements

If you have foreign upper secondary school qualifications should follow the documentation requirements for bachelor's applicants at universityadmissions.se

If you have Swedish upper secondary school qualifications should follow the documentation requirements at antagning.se

You will find instructions on how to meet the English language requirement of English 6/English level 2 on the page English language requirements at universityadmissions.se.

Selection

The selection is based upon the applicant's upper secondary school qualifications (merit rating) and the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test (Högskoleprovet) in the ratio 66% / 34%.

All credentials must have reached universityadmissions.se by the deadline for the supporting documentation. You will find all key dates on the page Autumn semester dates at universityadmissions.se

Fees

If you have citizenship within the EU/EEA, or Switzerland, you are not required to pay application or tuition fees. For further details see the page Find out if you need to pay fees at universityadmissions.se.

Application fee

900 SEK

Tuition fee

Total amount: 540 000 SEK
First instalment: 90 000 SEK
Tuition fees

Application process

The second intake is open primarily for national and EU/EEA citizens. Applicants who need to apply for a Swedish residence permit for studies are not recommended to apply in this intake.

Read more on entry requirements, documentation requirements and the selection process on the page Apply for a bachelor's programme

Application

You apply via universityadmissions.se.

Bachelor's Programme in Biomedicine

Outcomes

Outcomes of First Cycle Education According to the Higher Education Act

First-cycle courses and study programmes shall be based fundamentally on the knowledge acquired by pupils in national study programmes in the upper-secondary schools or its equivalent. The Government may, however, permit exceptions for courses and study programmes in the fine, applied or performing arts.

First-cycle courses and study programmes shall develop:

• the ability of students to make independent and critical assessments
• the ability of students to identify, formulate and solve problems autonomously, and
• the preparedness of students to deal with changes in working life.

In addition to knowledge and skills in their field of study, students shall develop the ability to:

• gather and interpret information at a scholarly level
• stay abreast of the development of knowledge, and
• communicate their knowledge to others, including those who lack specialist knowledge in the field.

Degree Outcomes According to the Higher Education Ordinance

Outcomes of the Degree of Bachelor according to the Higher Education Ordinance
Knowledge and understanding
For a Degree of Bachelor of Science student shall

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including knowledge of the disciplinary foundation of the field, understanding of applicable methodologies in the field, specialised study in some aspect of the field as well as awareness of current research issues.

Competence and skills
For a Degree of Bachelor of Science student shall

• demonstrate the ability to search for, gather, evaluate and critically interpret the relevant information for a formulated problem and also discuss phenomena, issues and situations critically
• demonstrate the ability to identify, formulate and solve problems autonomously and to complete tasks within predetermined time frames
• demonstrate the ability to present and discuss information, problems and solutions in speech and writing and in dialogue with different audiences, and
• demonstrate the skills required to work autonomously in the main field of study.

Judgment and approach
For a Degree of Bachelor of Science student shall

• demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the main field of study informed by relevant disciplinary, social and ethical issues
• demonstrate insight into the role of knowledge in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and
• demonstrate the ability to identify the need for further knowledge and ongoing learning.

Outcomes of the Study Programme at Karolinska Institutet

In addition to the national objectives, the following objectives apply for the study programme at Karolinska Institutet:
Knowledge and understanding
After completion of the degree programme the student shall

• demonstrate general knowledge of molecular and cellular processes which regulate human physiology, based on extensive scientific knowledge,
• demonstrate general knowledge of pathological molecular and cellular processes and their link with genes, the environment and diseases amongst people,
• demonstrate general knowledge of biomedically relevant experimental methods within the degree programme's subject areas, including the theoretical backgrounds of the methods, their executions, applications and limitations in addition to necessary precautionary measures.

Competence and skills
After completion of the degree programme the student shall

• demonstrate the capability, individually and in collaboration, to plan and carry out studies and experiments within the field of biomedicine, and to document and analyse observations,
• demonstrate knowledge of how to apply for relevant permits and grants to carry out studies within the field of biomedicine,
• demonstrate the capability to search for, analyse and summarise scientific information within the field of biomedicine,
• demonstrate the capability of using basic statistical methods and to be aware of other mathematical methods that may be used within fields of biomedicine and bioinformatics.
• demonstrate the capability, both orally and in writing, to report on biomedical problems/projects for both the general public and experts.

Judgement and approach
After completion of the degree programme the student shall

• demonstrate insight into research ethics and the ethical aspects of human and animal research, as well as respect for the integrity of patients, and
• demonstrate the capability to evaluate information and to relate it to established knowledge within the field of biomedicine.

Content and structure

During the first year of the degree programme the students are introduced to the main field of study and take courses in chemistry and cellular- and molecular biology which lay the foundation for subsequent courses. The second year is focused on how the human body functions in health and disease, primarily in a molecular perspective, and is completed with an introduction to how the life science industry operates. The first two years of studies lay a solid foundation for the courses in molecular medicine during the third year, as well as for the degree project. During the courses in molecular medicine the content of the preceding courses is integrated with medicine and pathology content, which leads to a stronger focus on translational medicine.

Scientific knowledge, competence and approach

The degree programme provides a broad theoretical knowledge within the main field of study with focus on methods and findings in the front of research. During the programme the students are trained to search and critically examine information and discuss both research ethics and the ethical aspects of research. Practical knowledge is an essential component of the entire programme through laboratory work. The individual degree project focuses on the scientific methodology and analysis as well as oral and written presentation.

Practice Integrated Learning

Practice integrated learning is a generic term for the pedagogical models based on collaboration and integration between higher education and working life. Practice integrated learning may take the form of placements, study visits, observing teaching activities, staff exchange training schemes or field studies within in-patient and out-patient healthcare, social care or other relevant activities.

The degree programme is for most of the part carried out in an academic environment with research-active teachers and practical training at research laboratories. A number of courses on the programme include study visits to potential future workplaces such as life science companies and research institutes. During the degree programme, representatives from various work places are invited to courses to talk about possible career paths and how it is to work within the academia, companies and organizations. The degree project is carried out within a research field of choice in the field of biomedicine, performed in an academic setting or in the life science industry, in Sweden or abroad.

Internationalisation

Biomedicine is an international subject and the students therefore have to be prepared for work in an international arena. The programme accepts both national and international students and the teachers on the programme have an international background and/or experience. The multicultural classroom is seen as a vital asset for the programme that facilitates discussions on the multinational/multicultural aspects of the subject areas included in the programme. Global health aspects are included in relevant courses during the programme. The students are given the option to go on exchange studies at research-intensive universities in the world during their education.

Elective courses

In order to facilitate exchange studies during semester 6 there is the possibility, for those undertaking exchange studies at a partner university requiring the students to also take courses, to combine a shorter degree project with one or more elective courses in a total of 7.5 credits.

Transitional provisions

For students admitted 2022 until 2025, the specific eligibility requirements were written as follows:
*General eligibility (with exemption from Swedish language proficiency) and Biology 2, Chemistry 2, Mathematics 4 or Mathemics D, English 6. *

For students admitted in 2021 or earlier, the specific eligibility requirements were written as follows:
General requirements (with exemption from Swedish proficiency) and Biology 2, Chemistry 2, Mathematics 4. Or: Biology B, Chemistry B, Mathematics D. And proficiency in English equivalent to English 6/English B.

Other guidelines

Grading scale

The grades used are Fail, Pass or Pass with Distinction. Alternative grading scales may apply to elective courses or cross-programme courses. The grading scale is detailed in the course syllabus.

Language of instruction

The teaching language is English.

Specific eligibility requirements within the programme

There are specific eligibility requirements for the courses within the programme. The eligibility requirements can be found in the syllabi. There may also be specific eligibility requirements within a specific term if a course requires certain prior knowledge.

Study plan with constituent courses

Term Name of the course Credits Main field of study Cycle and depth of the course (for first cycle courses within the main field of study)
1 Introduction to Biomedical Science 6 Biomedicine First (G1)
1 General and Organic Chemistry 12 Biomedicine First (G2)
1 Cell-, stem cell and developmental biology 12 Biomedicine First (G2)

2 Biochemistry 12 Biomedicine First (G2)
2 Genetics, genomics and functional genomics 10 Biomedicine First (G2)
2 Chemical biology 8 Biomedicine First (G2)

3 Biostatistics 4.5 Biomedicine First (G2)
3 Tissue Biology 4 Biomedicine First (G2)
3 Immunology and microbiology 13 Biomedicine First (G2)
3 Neuroscience 8.5 Biomedicine First (G2)

4 Physiology 13 Biomedicine First (G2)
4 Pathology 3 Biomedicine First (G2)
4 Pharmacology and toxicology 10 Biomedicine First (G2)
4 The life science industry 4 Biomedicine First (G2)

5 Molecular medicine - oncology 15 Biomedicine First (G2)
5 Molecular medicine - cardiometabolic and infectious diseases 15 Biomedicine First (G2)

Alternative 1:
6 Degree Project in Biomedicine 30 Biomedicine First (G2)
Alternative 2:
6 Degree Project in Biomedicine 22.5 Biomedicine First (G2)
6 Elective Course(s) 7.5 First/Second

Contact

Admissions

For information on the admissions process, visit the page Apply for a bachelor's programme, or contact the admissions office at Karolinska Institutet.

The programme

For information about the programme and its outline please see the programme webpage or contact:
Programme Study Director Jonas Sundbäck, jonas.sundback@ki.se, +46 8 524 867 68

Study guidance and career advice service

For general study guidance and career advice service, please contact Study and career advice service