study phd for free in sweden

PhD studies at Stockholm University

Stockholm University stands as an attractive destination for those considering PhD studies. With a strong commitment to research excellence and a growing network of international collaborations, the university offers a favourable environment for advanced research and academic growth.

Stockholm University has a long tradition of research excellence spanning various fields of study, both in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Many faculty members are at the forefront of their respective disciplines, producing influential research that addresses pressing global challenges and contributing to the shaping of industries, policies and societies.

Doctoral students are employees

Moreover, Stockholm University recognizes international collaborations as an essential part of scientific research, thus actively fosters partnerships with esteemed institutions and scholars from around the world. This global perspective enriches the academic experience for PhD candidates, providing valuable insights and opportunities for cross-cultural engagement.

• Stockholm University is one of the 100 highest-ranked universities in the world and one of the top 50 universities in Europe
• We offer a wide range of research subjects within science and human science
• There are no tuition fees for doctoral education in Sweden
• Doctoral students are employees at SU and  receive salary and other standard benefits of employment.

Available PhD positions

As the academia constitutes the cradle of knowledge, I am proud of being part of this community which actively contributes in the generation of innovative ideas which target to solve everyday problems. I also enjoy the close connection to the industry in Sweden.

- Varvara Apostolopoulou Kalkavoura

Read the full interview with Varvara

Doctoral studies in Sweden

Our doctoral studies take four years and result in a degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), the highest academic degree in Sweden. During this period you will both take advanced courses in your field of interest and work in a original research project.  However, after two years, you might have the possibility to take an intermediate degree of licentiate.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to PhD studies, you need to meet the general entry requirements, the specific entry requirements, and have the ability to successfully complete your studies.

General entry requirements include a completed master’s degree from a Swedish university or at least 240 higher education credits including at least 60 at the master’s level, or the corresponding international equivalents.

Institutions may have specific eligibility requirements. Verify the requirements for your area of interest with the relevant institution.

How to apply

One thing that differentiates PhD programmes at Stockholm University and Sweden from those elsewhere is that most of our PhD students are treated like full employees of the university. PhD positions are posted alongside other jobs on our website and applications are made for specific positions. PhD positions can be announced once or twice per year, depending on funding availability.

Before sending your application, you can check the department’s website for further information about the faculty and the possibilities connected with the PhD position. You can also find specific information about the application process in the announce for the position, along with the contact person if you have further questions.

There is usually an opportunity to apply for doctoral studies both in the autumn and spring. On the institutions' websites about doctoral studies, you can find the specific dates applicable to that institution. You can also see the current doctoral positions advertised. 

Find available PhD vacancies at Stockholm University

Funding and financing doctoral studies

In most cases, doctoral students are treated as employees at Stockholm University, which means they receive a salary and other standard benefits of employment.  There is even the possibility for you to extend your period of studies by working with teaching or administrative tasks within your department, up to 20% of a full-time position, which can result in a full extra year of employment as PhD student.

However, it is possible to pursue doctoral studies at Stockholm University also in case you have an external scholarship or special agreement with a company or other external employers. In these special cases, you will be subject to your employer-specific conditions only, and be considered solely a student at Stockholm University.

Residence permits (if applicable)

If you are an international student from a country outside the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland and you plan to pursue a PhD in Sweden, you will need a residence permit to study in the country. The residence permit is required for stays longer than three months.

You will find more information on the Swedish Migration Agency's website:

Residence permit for doctoral studies

Faculty information

Faculty of science.

Research at the Faculty of Science covers broad knowledge areas, ranging from the elementary particles of atomic nuclei to the outermost limits of the universe, for example. Several of the faculty's institutions have been behind discoveries and scientific breakthroughs that receive recognition worldwide.

The Stockholm University BioResearch School organizes PhD courses for students at any of the Biology departments at SU no matter their subject area.

Stockholm University BioResearch School

Faculty of Humanities

Research in the humanities maintains high quality, with a wide range of subjects, allowing university researchers to engage in collaborative efforts across scientific domains. Philosophy, history, art and literary studies, journalism, linguistics, and Swedish as a second language for the deaf are examples of subjects in which research is conducted.

Those admitted to doctoral education have the opportunity to participate in the Faculty of Humanities Research School.

Faculty of Humanities Research School

Faculty of Law

The Faculty of Law achieves nationally leading and internationally outstanding research. The researcher's freedom characterizes the scientific work. Legal discussions are expected to be lively, open, and ongoing.

Faculty of Social Sciences

The Faculty of Social Sciences conducts qualified and high-quality research within its various established disciplines and interdisciplinary research fields. Strong connections to current challenges for society and politics generate central research questions.

The Faculty of Social Sciences offers doctoral education courses for those admitted to an institution belonging to the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Doctoral Education Courses

Research subjects at Stockholm University

Research infrastructures at Stockholm University

The departments provide education at the PhD level

The individual departments often publish specific information doctoral studies programmes at their respective website.  All institutions offering education at the PhD level are categorized into the following fields: humanities, languages, social sciences, and law, as well as natural sciences.

Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies

• General Archaeology
• Ancient Culture and Society
• Laboratory Archaeology
• Osteoarchaeology

Doctoral studies at the Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies

Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

• Languages and Cultures of Asia
• Languages and Cultures of the Middle East

Doctoral studies at the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

Department of Culture and Aesthetics

• History of Ideas
• Art History
• Literary Studies
• Theatre Studies
• Media and Communication Studies
• Fashion Studies
• Film Studies

Doctoral studies at the Department of Culture and Aesthetics

Department of History

Doctoral studies at the Department of History

Department of Philosophy

• Practical Philosophy
• Theoretical Philosophy

Doctoral studies at the Department of Philosophy

Department of Teaching and Learning

• Didactics of Mathematics
• Didactics of Natural Sciences
• Language Didactics
• Subject Didactics with a focus on the didactics of aesthetic, humanistic, or social science subjects

Doctoral studies at the Department of Teaching and Learning

Department of English

Doctoral studies at the Department of English

Department of Linguistics

• Linguistics

Doctoral studies at the Department of Linguistics

Department of Romance and Classical Languages

• Romance Languages
• Classical Languages

Doctoral studies at the Department of Romance and Classical Languages

Department of Slavic and Baltic Studies, Finnish, Dutch and German

• Baltic Languages
• Slavic Languages

Doctoral studies at the Department of Slavic and Baltic Studies, Finnish, Dutch and German

Department of Swedish Language and Multilingualism

• Nordic Languages
• Bilingualism
• Translation Studies

Doctoral studies at the Department of Swedish Language and Multilingualism

Social sciences and law

Department of child and youth studies.

• Child and Youth Studies
• Preschool Didactics

Doctoral studies at the Department of Child and Youth Studies

Department of Computer and Systems Sciences

• Computer and Systems Sciences
• Information Society

Doctoral studies at the Department of Computer and Systems Sciences

Department of Criminology

• Criminology

Doctoral studies at the Department of Criminology

Department of Economic History and International Relations

• Economic History
• International Relations

Doctoral studies at the Department of Economic History and International Relations

Department of Economics

Doctoral studies is provided in collaboration with:

Institute for International Economic Studies (IIES)

Swedish institute for social research (sofi).

Programs at the doctoral level at the Department of Economics

Department of Education 

Doctoral studies at the Department of Education

Department of Human Geography

• Geography with a Cultural Geography focus

Doctoral studies at the Department of Human Geography

Department of Political Science

• Political Science

Doctoral studies at the Department of Political Science

Department of Psychology

Doctoral studies at the Department of Psychology

Department of Public Health Sciences

• Public Health Sciences

Doctoral studies at the Department of Public Health Science

Department of Social Anthropology

• Social Anthropology

Doctoral studies at the Department of Social Anthropology

Department of Sociology

• Sociological Demography

Studies at the doctoral level at the Department of Sociology

Department of Social Work

• Social Work

Doctoral studies at the Department of Social Work

Department of Special Education

• Special Education

Doctoral studies at the Department of Special Education

Department of Statistics

Doctoral studies at the Department of Statistics

Doctoral studies at the Department of Teaching and Learnin

• International Economics
• Research and higher education in economics

Doctoral studies in Economics

Stockholm Business School

• Business Administration
• Financial Economics

Doctoral studies at Stockholm Business School

• Doctoral candidates at SOFI are enrolled in either the Department of Sociology or the Department of Economics.

Doctoral studies at the Swedish Institute for Social Research

Department of Law

• Jurisprudence

Doctoral studies at the Department of Law  

Natural Sciences

Department of ecology, environment and plant sciences.

• Ecology and Evolution
• Ecotoxicology
• Marine Biology
• Plant Physiology
• Plant Systematics

Doctoral studies at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences  

Department of Molecular Biosciences, Wenner-Gren Institute

• Molecular Biosciences

Doctoral studies at the Department of Molecular Biosciences, Wenner-Gren Institute

Department of Zoology

• Functional Zoomorphology
• Population Genetics
• Zoological Ecology
• Zoological Systematics and Evolution

Doctoral studies at the Department of Zoology

Stockholm Resilience Centre

• Sustainability Science

Doctoral studies at Stockholm Resilience Centre

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Department of geological sciences.

• Geochemistry
• Marine Geology

Doctoral studies at the Department of Geological Sciences  

Department of Environmental Science

• Environmental Science

Doctoral studies at the Department of Environmental Science

Department of Physical Geography

• Physical Geography

Doctoral studies at the Department of Physical Geography

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics Biophysics

• Biochemistry
• Biochemistry towards bioinformatics

Doctoral studies at the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics  

Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry

• Analytical Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry
• Materials Chemistry
• Neurochemistry with Molecular biology
• Inorganic Chemistry

Doctoral studies at the Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry  

Department of Organic Chemistry

• Organic Chemistry

Doctoral studies at the Department of Organic Chemistry

Math/Physics

Department of physics.

• Chemical Physics
• Medical Radiation Physics
• Theoretical Physics

Doctoral studies at the Department of Physics  

Department of Astronomy

Doctoral studies at the Department of Astronomy  

Department of Mathematics

• Computational Mathematics
• Mathematics
• Mathematical Statistics

Doctoral studies at the Department of Mathematics

Department of Meteorology

• Atmospheric Science and Oceanography

Doctoral studies at the Department of Meteorology

For a general study plan in any natural science subject, please contact  [email protected].

The graduation ceremony

Every year, over 200 PhD students defend their thesis at Stockholm Universit, and get a chance to celebrate their achievement at the Stockholm City Hall.

Opportunities abroad for PhD students

There are several ways to participate in international mobility experiences during your PhD studies.

Find possible exchange opportunities for PhD students here

Available PhD Student Positions

On the employee web portal PhD students will find more detailed information about the dissertation defence process .

Last updated: February 6, 2024

Source: Offices of Human Science and Science, Communications Office and Student Services

Study in Sweden for free: What you need to know

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Doctoral studies

Start your academic career with us and make a difference

World-class research, outstanding research staff and specialised research environments at Lund University create excellent conditions for doctoral students.

As a doctoral student at Lund University, you will not only be well prepared for a successful career as an independent researcher, but you will also have the possibility to publish your work independently during your studies and to gain significant teaching experience.

• Lund University offers doctoral education in all nine faculties
• There are no tuition fees for doctoral education at Lund University
• You apply directly to the relevant faculty/department when they advertise a doctoral position
• Self-funded doctoral students should contact the department of their research interest directly.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to a doctoral programme, you need to have completed courses of at least 240 credits (of which at least 60 credits must be for Master’s level studies) or acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way.

In most cases, students will hold a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree, with a major in the same subject as the intended postgraduate study. The major must include a degree thesis presenting the results of independent research.

The quality of your thesis/theses is of particular importance and it is important that you demonstrate a capacity for independent thinking in this piece of work.

Students must have a very good command of English and you may be asked to include proof of proficiency in the form of a TOEFL or IELTS test, if requested by the individual department.

Admission rules for doctoral education at Lund University | 2022 (PDF 249 kB, new tab)

Applying for a doctoral (PhD) position

Doctoral education is organised at the faculty or department level. Application procedures and periods differ between faculties and departments. While some of them advertise their doctoral positions around the same time every year, mostly in spring, others advertise their positions on an ongoing basis.

You apply for a doctoral education position within a certain subject area. Admission to a doctoral education position is restricted and competition for advertised positions is usually tough.

Finding a suitable position

Any funded doctoral positions at Lund University are advertised on our vacancies page on this website (see link below). Select the category 'Doctoral students'.

Once you have found a position you are interested in, carefully read through the vacancy announcement to find out whether you meet the requirements.

Before you apply, we recommend that you also check the relevant faculty's or department's website for any additional information about the application process.

Should you have any questions about a specific position, please contact the contact person(s) listed in the vacancy announcement.

Find PhD vacancies

How to apply

To apply for a doctoral position, you must create an account in the recruitment system Varbi.

Follow the instructions regarding application documents and procedure in the vacancy announcement.

The application documents that you submit through Varbi, including any supporting documents, are sent directly to the faculty or department that advertised the position. 

If you are self-funded through external scholarships or funding, you do not need to create an account in Varbi. You should instead make direct contact with the relevant faculty or department. 

Applying for a position

Employment as a doctoral student

As a general rule, a person admitted to doctoral studies at Lund University is employed through a doctoral studentship.

If you have a doctoral studentship, you are considered to be both a student and an employee with a salary during your doctoral studies. As an employed doctoral student, you are covered by local and central agreements concerning your terms of employment.

In parallel to the doctoral education programme, as a doctoral student you may work with administrative and teaching duties (no more than 20% of a full-time position).

Lund University is responsible for education-related matters and the study environment regardless of how you finance your doctoral studies. All doctoral students also have access to the University’s Occupational Health Service.

Other forms of financing

It is possible to undertake your studies using another form of financing, such as an external scholarship or an agreement between Lund University and an external employer.

Financed by external employer

If you are admitted to doctoral studies and have a position with an employer other than Lund University, you are solely a student, and it is the employer who is responsible for employer-related matters.

External scholarships

As a doctoral student with a scholarship, you are solely a student. You are therefore not entitled to contractual employment benefits at Lund University.

In some cases, a doctoral student with a scholarship is entitled to apply for a doctoral studentship when three years remain of the third-cycle studies.

Doctoral studies – faculty information

On the faculties' webpages for prospective doctoral students you can get specific and detailed information application procedures, admission requirements for various subjects, study plans and more.

• Faculty of Engineering (LTH)
• Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts
• Faculties of Humanities and Theology
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Science
• Faculty of Social Sciences
• School of Economics and Management (LUSEM)

Residence permits (if applicable)

If you require a residence permit, you can only complete your permit application after you receive a letter of acceptance from Lund University. Residence permit applications are dealt with by the Swedish Migration Agency.

Resi­dence permit for doctoral studies – migrationsverket.se

About doctoral studies

A doctoral programme consists of 240 ECTS credits and normally requires four years of full-time study. The programme concludes with a doctoral thesis of at least 120 credits.

A 'licentiate' degree is equivalent to half the coursework required for a full doctoral programme and a licentiate thesis of at least 60 credits. It is equivalent to the MPhil of the British education system.

The following links are to the Swedish Council for Higher Education website:

• Degree of Doctor
• Degree of Doctor in the fine, applied and performing arts 
• Degree of Licentiate 
• Degree of Licentiate in the fine, applied and performing arts

Related links

• Institutes and research centres
• Research excellence areas
• Find research at Lund University
• Services for LU researchers

Doctoral student vacancies

Check out our vacancies page regularly to find open doctoral positions.

Doctoral conferment ceremony

The ceremonial highlight of the academic year.

Postgraduate research schools

Additional development opportunities for doctoral students and postdocs.

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Doctoral Programmes

Jönköping University offers Doctoral Programmes in English, available for international students with the required qualifications. Doctoral education is conducted at all four schools and the university has about 203 doctoral students.

Jönköping International Business School offers Doctoral Programmes entirely conducted in English. At the School of Education and Communication, the School of Engineering and the School of Health and Welfare Doctoral programmes are conducted in English when required.

Humanities and Social Sciences

Jönköping University is entitled to award Licentiate and Doctoral degrees within the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Subjects for research studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences

Business Administration, Disability Research, Education with Specialisation in Didactics, Economics, Education, Health and Care Sciences, Media and Communication Studies, Education with Specialisation in Special Education, Statistics, and Welfare and Social Sciences.

Engineering

The University is also entitled to award Licentiate and Doctoral Degrees in Engineering, research area: Industrial Product Realisation.

Content updated 2022-07-05

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Doctoral studies

Doctoral programmes (PhD programmes) are offered by all six departments at the Lund University School of Economics and Management. It is often given in collaboration with other parts of Lund University or with other institutions in Sweden.

The doctoral degree is the highest academic degree. The Swedish doctoral degree comprises 240 credits and the doctoral programme normally takes four years of full-time study.

The programmes differ somewhat between disciplines, but in all cases they consist of at least one year of course work and at least two years spent writing the doctoral thesis. The thesis can be produced in the form of a monograph or in the form of a number of articles published during the doctoral programme, a so-called compilation thesis. The thesis is defended at a public defence where an opponent reviews and opposes the thesis. An examining committee consisting of at least three people grade the thesis.

You also have the option of obtaining a licentiate degree after 120 credits. Such a degree can either conclude a programme or be awarded when you are halfway to a doctoral degree. The thesis is then called a licentiate thesis and is presented and examined at a seminar.

After graduation many doctors pursue academic careers while others obtain positions within business or public administration.

At present, the School of Economics and Management has about 100 admitted doctoral students and around 20 doctoral theses are produced each year.

Regulations for third-cycle education at LUSEM (pdf, 290 kB)

Apply to a doctoral programme

Are you interested in joining a doctoral programme at the School of Economics and Management? You apply via the department where you want to do your research. All vacant PhD positions are advertised via Lund University’s job portal.

Application and admission

Financing your doctoral studies

At the School of Economics and Management there are two different ways of financing your studies: employment as a doctoral student, or external funding. External funding may consist of employment outside the university or a scholarship from an external source. It is important to recognise that the different types of funding give you different levels of social security. Upon admission, funding must be secured for the entire duration of the programme and must be at least half-time.

The doctoral degree conferment ceremony

The doctoral degree conferment ceremony takes place at the end of May and is the biggest event of the academic year. During the ceremony, the University rewards those who have completed a doctoral programme and defended a doctoral thesis. At the promotion ceremony, the insignia of learning are awarded: the hat or laurel wreath, the ring and the diploma.

On the same occasion, the University also honours outstanding researchers from other universities and individuals by awarding them honorary doctorates. As a tribute to previous generations, those who received their doctoral degree 50 years ago are also promoted to jubilee doctors.

The doctoral degree conferment ceremony – lunduniversity.lu.se

Quality assurance in research education

Our doctoral programmes are regularly evaluated to maintain their quality.

Doctoral studies at the departments

• Department of Business Administration
• Department of Business Law
• Department of Economic History
• Department of Economics
• Department of Informatics
• Department of Statistics

Lund’s Doctoral Student Union

– for all research students at Lund University

For current doctoral students

More information about your doctoral studies in Canvas

Doctoral studies at Linköping University

Interested in doctoral studies.

If you want to gain a profound understanding of a particular field, doctoral studies at Linköping University could be for you. You learn scientific methodology, sound research ethics and how to work independently and systematically.

A truly interesting subject, lots of freedom, loads of time and the chance to get down to the nitty-gritty in an academic field. These are some of the reasons that Isabelle Bengtsson started doing a PhD. “I can’t think of a better job”, she says.

LiU offers doctoral studies in three scientific fields: medicine, humanities/social sciences and engineering/natural sciences. Each faculty provides information on doctoral studies within its field.

Meet some of our doctoral students

PhD student to study cancer in New York

Jonas Burman is a doctoral student at Linköping University and has been given the opportunity to go on an international exchange to New York. There he will work at a prestigious laboratory and follow in the footsteps of his supervisor, Linda Bojmar.

Young LiU PhD students in noble company

At the end of June, more than 600 young researchers and 40 Nobel laureates from around the world were invited to the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting. Present in Germany were two LiU PhD students who had the experience of their lives.

Personal development comes with the job

“It’s fun and challenging to be a doctorate student. I enjoy doing research, and now I know it’s something I want to keep doing,” says Lisa Lundin. Her time at LiU has included research into digital customer journeys.

The LiU doctoral student behind a hit game

LiU doctoral student Fredrik Präntare is the architect of the company Pugstorm, which is achieving global success with the game Core Keeper. "Even back when I was studying for my Master of Science degree, I spent every free hour on my own projects,".

PhD-student: "There’s no better job"

A interesting subject, lots of freedom, loads of time and the chance to get down to the nitty-gritty in an academic field. These are some of the reasons that Isabelle Bengtsson started doing a PhD. “I can’t think of a better job”, she says.

Do you want to be a doctoral student at LiU?

I’d recommend anyone looking for stimulating work to apply for a doctoral student position at LiU. Your work here can change society, and also who you are as a person.

Doctoral studies at our faculties

Doctoral studies at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences offers a wide variety of doctoral studies, both in single disciplines and in interdisciplinary programmes.

Doctoral Studies at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences educates researchers across the entire medical field, ranging from basic experimental research to patient-oriented research, health sciences and public health.

Doctoral studies at the Faculty of Science and Engineering

Doctoral studies at the Faculty of Science and Engineering aims to develop your ability to independently use scientific methodology and conduct research within the academy or the industry.

Doctoral Studies at the Faculty of Educational Sciences

Around 80 researchers and doctoral students are currently active within the Faculty of Educational Sciences. During the last few years, research has been greatly consolidated in this area.

More information

Work at LiU

We have the power of over 4 000 co-workers who contribute with actions, large and small, to LiU meeting the challenges of the day. Welcome to apply for att job at Linköping University.

Forskarstudieinfo

Linköping University's course descriptions for third-cycle courses.

PhD student development programme

Our aim is to reinforce and support PhD students to lead themselves and manage performance demands. Also to provide the opportunity to make contacts and exchange experiences with other PhD students.

Curious about doctoral studies?

At studera.nu you’ll find general information on what doctoral studies are all about. This includes everything from admissions and entry requirements to supervision and defending your thesis.

Contact LiU

Contact Linköping University, LiU, and obtain the information you need.

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If you would like to continue your studies beyond your master’s degree, it is possible to progress to doctoral studies. A doctoral programme corresponds to four years of full-time study (240 HE credits) and ends with a doctoral degree. After two years of study (120 HE credits), a licentiate degree can be awarded.

How to become a doctoral student

To be admitted to doctoral studies, you must first apply for and be granted, a vacant employed doctoral position at the university. All international doctoral positions will be posted in English. 

A majority of doctoral students in Sweden are employed by their universities. This means that you get a salary as well as paid vacation leave and the right to paid parental leave when you become a doctoral student.

There are no admission- or tuition fees if you are admitted as a doctoral student through Malmö University. Alternative financing (if you are not employed) for doctoral studies will only be accepted in special circumstances.

More information on admission to doctoral studies in Sweden can be found in the PhD Handbook .

Admission regulations

Information about entry requirements and how to write your application is provided in the advertisement for the vacant position.

The admission regulations are detailed in the document below.

Admission regulations for third-cycle studies

General entry requirements for all doctoral education

Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 7, Section 39

A potential candidate meets the general entry requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if they:

• have been awarded a second-cycle qualification
• have satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or:
• have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or elsewhere.

The higher education institution may permit an exemption from the general entry requirements for an individual applicant, if there are special grounds.

Doctoral subjects

Malmö University offers doctoral studies in the following subjects.

• Doctoral subject: Applied Physics
• Doctoral subject: Biomedical Science
• Doctoral subject: Care science
• Doctoral subject: Computer science
• Doctoral subject: Criminology
• Doctoral subject: Global politics
• Doctoral subject: Health and society
• Doctoral subject: History and history didactics
• Doctoral subject: Interaction Design
• Doctoral subject: International Migration and Ethnic Relations
• Doctoral subject: Language and Literature in Education  
• Doctoral subject: Media and Communication Studies  
• Doctoral subject: Odontology/Dentistry
• Doctoral subject: Organisation Studies
• Doctoral subject: Pedagogy
• Doctoral subject: Science and Mathematics Education 
• Doctoral subject: Social Work
• Doctoral subject: Sport Science
• Doctoral subject: Urban Studies

In addition to the actual doctoral thesis, the doctoral study programme also includes one component course. The content of this course is governed by the general syllabus for the doctoral subject area. The specific courses that should be included in the study programme will be decided upon in consultation with the supervisors.

• Se current doctoral courses

Meet Palwasha Momand, Doctoral student

'The fellowship among doctoral students is fantastic in Malmö. The university does a lot for us. We get to know each other and can network.' Palwasha Momand, Doctoral student.

• Doctoral Schools

Doctoral schools bring together doctoral students with a common focus. That focus might be a postgraduate education subject or theme. The students conduct joint activities in the form of courses, workshops, and seminars. It is often the case that such schools are run in collaboration with other universities and financed with the help of external funding.

Visiting and exchange doctoral students

Malmö University welcomes exchange doctoral students who come to us in order to conduct part of their research in the framework of their doctoral education.

Different doctoral courses may have different application procedures. Read what applies to the course you are applying for.

Contact for visiting doctoral students

Johanna Boussard - International liaison officer

International Office

Information for doctoral students  admitted at Malmö University

You can find more information in your Faculty's study handbook, information about your individual study plan ISP, dissertations, doctoral support and upcoming workshops – on our Staff website.

The Staff website

As a doctoral student, researcher or guest researcher, you can rent housing through Malmö University.

Apartments for doctoral students, researchers, and guest researchers

Jenny Pobiega - Education and research liaison officer

University Executive Office

• Svenska Close Den här sidan är ej översatt Startsida på svenska

Entry requirements for doctoral studies

In order to be accepted for doctoral (PhD) studies, the applicant is required to meet the general entry requirements and any special requirements outlined in the position announcement. The applicant must also possess any other abilities required in order to benefit from the education.

General entry requirements

The general entry requirements are met by those who

• have been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• have satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle or
• otherwise acquired largely equivalent knowledge.

KTH may exempt an individual applicant from the general entry requirements if there is an extraordinary reason to do so.

Specific entry requirements

 The specific requirements may relate to:

• knowledge from higher education or equivalent studies
• special professional or vocational experience
• necessary language skills or other conditions determined by the programme, subject or project

Language requirements

English language proficiency equivalent to (the Swedish upper secondary school) English course B/6 is required. The requirement can be satisfied through a result equal to, or higher than, those stated in the following internationally recognised English tests:

• TOEFL Paper-based: Score of 4.5 (scale 1-6) in written test, total score of 575. TOEFL ITP is not accepted.
• TOEFL iBT internet-based: Score of 20 (scale 0-30) in written test, total score of 90
• IELTS Academic/IELTS UKVI: A minimum overall mark of 6.5, with no section lower than 5.5
• Cambridge ESOL: Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Certificate in Advanced English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) (Certificate of Proficiency in English)
• Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB): Minimum score of 90
• University of Michigan, ECPE (Examination for the certificate of Proficiency in English)
• Pearson PTE Academic: Score of 62 (writing 61)

The language requirement can also be fulfilled through previous university and upper secondary school studies. More information on recognised English tests, previous studies, and required documents is provided by University Admissions in Sweden  under information for Master's level.

 Requirements regarding skills in the Swedish language may also be imposed.

Assessment of entry requirements

Entry requirements and prospective students' suitability are assessed at each school by the school's director of third-cycle education.

Foreign Higher Education studies

In most cases, studies that meet the general entry requirements for doctoral (PhD/third-cycle) education in the country where the degree is issued will also meet the general entry requirements for doctoral studies at KTH. If you are unsure about the status of your education, you may contact the Swedish Council for Higher Education  for an evaluation.

Assessment of equivalence

The assessment of equivalence determines whether an applicant's knowledge – acquired in another system – is equivalent to the higher education studies that are normally required for the doctoral subject in question.

Exemption from the general entry requirements

An exemption from the general entry requirements may be granted to an applicant who has not completed courses corresponding to 240 credits but who has already completed advanced (master's/second-cycle) courses corresponding to a minimum of 60 credits, as well as an independent degree project linked to the intended subject of study.

Assessment of suitability

Applicants are judged suitable for doctoral education if they possess the necessary maturity, judgement and capacity for independent critical analysis.

Candidate(s) will be selected from among the applicants who fulfil the requirements for doctoral education. The results of studies at an advanced (master's) level or in the form of independent work are of particular interest in this context, as is the candidate's ability to benefit from the studies (suitability).

The selection process is handled by each school and the final decision is made by the head of school, in consultation with the intended supervisor(s).

The admission process is conducted at the school-level.

Doctoral studies may lead to two qualifications, a licentiate and/or a doctoral degree. Those accepted to studies leading to a doctoral degree may take a licentiate degree as an intermediate stage in their studies. Students accepted to studies leading to a licentiate degree who subsequently wish to pursue studies leading to a doctoral degree must submit a new application and are not guaranteed admission.

Doctoral studies at KTH

• Being a doctoral student
• Doctoral programmes and subjects
• Employment at KTH
• How to apply
• Entry requirements
• Joint programmes and scholarships

Explore KTH

• Virtual campus tour
• Ask us about studies

Study Abroad: Tips & Updates

PhD in Sweden: ...

PhD in Sweden: A Complete Guide to Study PhD in Sweden for International Students

A PhD in Sweden is the highest level of educational qualification in Sweden. A PhD degree can be completed in 4 years of full-time study whereas you will graduate with a licentiate degree after 2 years of full-time study which is equivalent to MPhil of the British education system. Around 70% of the research in Sweden is privately financed and the remaining 30% is public funded. Research programs in Sweden are quite competitive and to be admitted as doctoral students you must fulfill the entry requirements, have good English language proficiency and also demonstrate strong interest and ability to cope with the program.

Sweden provides a specialized environment for doctoral education. One of the main highlights of a PhD in Sweden is that it is free of cost for all students including non-EU/ EEA students. Along with the doctoral program, you will work as administrative or teaching staff at the university which is equivalent to not more than 20% of the full-time position. If you are planning to study PhD in Sweden, read this guide to get information regarding top universities, PhD programs in Sweden, PhD requirements in Sweden, top universities, cost of studying, funding opportunities and more.

Why Study PhD in Sweden?

Before diving deep into the details of PhD in Sweden for Indian students, let us take a look at reasons why studying PhD in Sweden is preferable:

• Home to reputed institutions: Sweden is home to some historical institutions that enjoy world-class reputation as leaders of research especially in the field of Medicine, Health, Life Sciences among others.
• No tuition fees: Yes, you read it right. Sweden does not charge any tuition fee for PhD from students of any nationality. It is one of the top reasons why international students prefer studying PhD in Sweden.
• Progressive country: Sweden is quite a progressive country with high tech research facilities, promotes growth mindset and provides a very supportive environment for creative thinkers.

Suggested: Get acquainted with the education system of Sweden!

Popular Specializations for PhD in Sweden

Sweden is known for its world class research and about 3% of the country’s GDP is dedicated to research and innovation. All the 17 public universities in Sweden and 14 private universities in Sweden contribute significantly to research. Almost 30% of the research is carried out at top universities in Sweden for PhD. Sweden is home to some top pharmaceutical giants Astrazeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Bayer and more. Some key areas of research in Sweden are:

• Pharmaceuticals
• Biotechnology
• Sustainable energy
• Environmental technology
• Life sciences

Top PhD Colleges and Universities in Sweden

Sweden is home to 8 universities that ranked in QS rankings 2022 which also has a very high research output. Though rankings of institutions are not relevant for research, it will definitely help you in understanding the area of specializations of the university. Take a look at the table below to learn about top universities in Sweden for PhD:

How to Apply for a PhD in Sweden?

The process to apply for PhD in Sweden is somewhat different than applying for bachelor’s or master’s in Sweden . Take a look at the steps in the application process to study PhD in Sweden:

• You will have to apply directly to the universities in Sweden for PhD as there is no centralized application portal for PhD admission in Sweden.
• Start by looking for projects advertised by top universities in Sweden for PhD if you are interested in STEM subjects or go ahead with your project ideas for PhD in Education in Sweden or research in the areas of Arts, Humanities and Social Science.
• Depending on your area of interest, check whether you fulfill the PhD requirements in Sweden.
• Universities in Sweden for PhD set their own entry requirements and also specify the procedure for applying.
• Complete your application for PhD admission in Sweden and prepare all supporting documents.
• Track the progress of your application and wait for the admission decision.
• You may be invited to an interview regarding your research proposal.

Eligibility Criteria for PhD in Sweden

The Sweden PhD requirements are set by individual universities. The general eligibility criteria to study PhD in Sweden are:

• Educational qualifications
• Proof of English language proficiency

Research experience

• Residence permit
• Health insurance

Let us discuss the eligibility criteria to be met for admission to PhD programs in Sweden:

Educational Qualifications

To apply for PhD in Sweden, you will need a second-cycle qualification i.e. a master’s degree in a related field is recommended especially if you wish to apply for funding. You must have completed courses of at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits must be for a master's degree.

Proof of English Language Proficiency

Swedish universities offer PhD in English so if English is not your first language, you must submit IELTS or TOEFL scores as proof of language proficiency. There is no need to be proficient in Swedish language to study in Sweden. The minimum English language proficiency scores recommended for admission are:

• IELTS score: Overall 6.5, no band less than 5.5
• TOEFL-iBT: Overall 90, with minimum 20 in written test

Having some previous research or work experience in a field related to your research proposal can immensely help you in the application and selection process.

Residence Permit

International students need to apply for a residence permit to study in Sweden for programs longer than 90 days. To apply for residence permits, you will need to provide copies of your passports, proof of finances, educational qualifications, etc. You can apply for a residence permit after receiving a letter of acceptance from the university where you have been admitted.

Health Insurance

After coming to Sweden, all students will require health insurance. Your university may cover the health insurance as a part of funding for international students.

Suggested: Complete guide on student visa of Sweden!

Cost of Studying PhD in Sweden

Having learned about the Sweden PhD requirements, let us take a look at the cost of studying PhD in Sweden. The cost of studying for a PhD in Sweden includes tuition fees and cost of living.

• One major relief for students applying for PhD in Sweden is that there is absolutely no tuition fees for all students irrespective of their nationality.
• Universities in Sweden for PhD don’t even charge application fees.
• So clearly you are only left with the living expenses which is around 8,568 SEK per month on an average. This can differ depending on your preferences and location in Sweden.
• Usually, the rent of accommodation ranges between 2,500-6,500 SEK per month which is a major expense and you will find costlier accommodation in cities like Stockholm and Gothenburg compared to other places.

Suggested: Estimated cost of living in Sweden for international students!  

Funding Opportunities for Studying PhD in Sweden

Funding options include applying for various scholarships and bursaries awarded by universities in Sweden for PhD. As a general practice, doctoral students in Sweden are regarded as employees at most universities. Here is how this works:

• You will be applying for doctoral positions available and universities offer them departmental administration service or teaching.
• With an employment contract, you will be entitled to a salary which is commonly known as a study grant.
• You can expect to get 1500 SEK as a study grant while studying PhD in Sweden for international students.
• The Swedish government funds third-cycle education programs through direct government funding, government agencies, research councils, public research foundations and municipalities.

PhD in Sweden for international students is a lucrative option. Sweden happens to be a research and development intensive country in the world and an ideal location for young and innovative minds. There are various areas of specializations for pursuing research in Sweden which ensures opportunities for all. Post completion of Phd, you can apply for work permit in Sweden ! 

Frequently Asked Questions about PhD in Sweden

Is PhD in Sweden free?

Yes, PhD in Sweden is free for all students irrespective of their nationality. You will not be charged any tuition or application fee for PhD. The only expense you will be paying is the cost of living.

Is it hard to get a PhD in Sweden for Indian students?

PhD in Sweden is recognized worldwide. Therefore, expect stiff competition when it comes to selection of candidates. The application process is quite simple and open to all candidates. Try to maintain a research-oriented background from the beginning that will help you in being a suitable match for the position, if you wish to pursue PhD in Sweden.

Is a PhD in Sweden a job for students?

Yes, it can be said that a PhD in Sweden is a job for students. You are applying for a doctoral position rather than just a doctoral program and some part of your program will include administrative or teaching work.

Are international students allowed to stay in Sweden after PhD?

Once you have a residence permit for doctoral studies for four out of the last seven years and are employed in Sweden, you can apply for a permanent residence permit to stay in Sweden after PhD.

What are the top areas of research in Sweden?

The top areas of research in Sweden include healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, sustainable energy, environmental technology, etc.

Sumeet Jain

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4 best tuition-free universities in Sweden for int’l students

Let’s face it: it is expensive to study in Sweden. On average, you can expect to pay  8,824.05 Swedish krona per month (1 krona is approximately US$0.093 at the time of writing) to live in what looks like a frosty utopia — and that is not including your rent and tuition fees.

Your cost of living also depends on the place you intend to study. Take, Stockholm, for example. Rent can soar up to 6,518 krona s and tuition fees at universities in Stockholm average at around US$17,400 (that’s about 18,6247 Swedish kronas). In Malmö, expect to spend 6,585 to 8,252 krona on rent and average tuition fees at Malmo University — one of two universities in the city — start from 106,200 krona  per year.

Don’t be discouraged, though. If you are on a tight budget, consider tuition-free universities. International students from the European Economic Area (EEA), European Union (EU), and those with a permanent Swedish residence permit do not pay for tuition at Swedish universities. For those outside these countries, tuition range from US$9,000 to US$17,000 — still far cheaper than tuition fees in the UK and US.

With a bit of digging, here are the best tuition-free universities in Sweden that students outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland can consider:

Sweden is home to some of the most popular names, including Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg, an environmental activist. Source: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP

Best tuition-free universities for international students in Sweden

Linköping university.

Linköping University, more commonly known as LiU, is a public university based in southern Swedish city known for its two canals, a bloody history, a cool university and successful hockey and football teams. It was the sixth university founded in Sweden and was granted full university status in 1975.

Today, LiU is one of the  world’s 200 best universities in education, electrical and electronic engineering, materials science, and sociology. Many companies have their roots in LiU’s research or are founded by LiU alumni. 

Like most unis in Sweden, students from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland do not pay for tuition. The same applies to those with a permanent Swedish residence permit.

For those not from these countries, you will have to pay 900 krona for your application fees (which is standard for all Swedish universities), and tuition fees range between 80,000 to 136,0000 krona, (approximately US$7,490 to US$ 12,7344).

Uppsala University

When it comes to tuition-free universities in Sweden, Uppsala University ranks among one of the best. As one of the first Nordic universities, it is divided into three disciplines: humanities and social sciences, medicine and pharmacy, and science and technology.

Thanks to their research-led teaching, you will experience the highest standards of intellectual rigour. Some of their graduates include  15 Nobel Prize laureates — eight of whom received prizes for discoveries made during their time at Uppsala University. 

Depending on the chosen programme, one semester or full-time study will cost students outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland between 50,000 to 72,500 Swedish kronas. 

Stockholm School of Economics is near the city’s many gems, including the iconic city hall. Source: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP

Stockholm School of Economics

Located in the city district of Vasastaden, Stockholm School of Economics is one of Europe’s leading business schools. Its programmes are developed in close cooperation with research and business communities and are delivered in English. 

Vasastaden is situated in the central part of Stockholm, considered one of the most  modern and open cities in the world . From its iconic city hall to the world’s first open-air museum, you are one step away from discovering the city’s gems.

Generally, you can expect to pay  150,000 to 165,000 krona for a master’s programme if you are not from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland. However, the school offers generous full and partial scholarships  for those who wish to pursue an MSc programme.  

Malmö University

Malmo University is one of the younger universities in Sweden. Founded in 1998, the university is located in the heart of the city of Malmö – ranked fourth on Forbes’s list of the most inventive cities in the world. At its core, the university is characterised by a multidisciplinary, challenge-based approach to education, research, and collaboration.

Here, programmes often include  internship elements and project work  in close cooperation with regional authorities, local initiatives and international companies. As a  global campus , they house 1,800 international students and deliver their undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in English.

An education at Malmo University will cost students outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland 80,000 to 425,000 Swedish krona. 

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• New students 2024

New PhD students 2024

Before the start of the studies.

Admission letter    The admission letter you have received is the proof that you have been admitted as a PhD student at SSE. If you need a visa to come to Sweden, the Swedish Migration Office might ask you to provide the protocol of the decision to admit you to the program. This is a standard procedure, and the decision will be sent directly from SSE to the Swedish Migration Office. Contact Elena Braccia in case you receive such a request. 

Immigration Depending on your country of origin, you might need a residence permit to come to SSE. Please refer to the Swedish Migration Agency ’s website to read what applies to your specific case. If you need a residence permit, note that you can get a permit that is valid from August 1st, which allows you to come to Stockholm a little earlier and settle down. Make sure you fill in the application properly so you don't miss this possibility.

The Swedish Tax Authorities' website also offers useful information about moving to Sweden, including webinars in English that explain the process and what one should think about. The webinars are free of charge, but have a limited amount of spots and registration is needed. 

Accompanying partner and children Spouses/registered partners and children moving and following a PhD student to Sweden are entitled to receive a residence permit based on the PhD student’s visa. The residence permit for spouses/registered partners allows them to work, and once registered in Sweden children gain the right to go to school here. In order to facilitate this process, it is important that the whole family applies for the visa at the same time.

For spouses/registered partners to SSE PhD students there is also the possibility to become a member of the Stockholm Dual Career Network , which is a non-profit network for partners and spouses of international talent in Stockholm. SDCN supports expat partners with professional events, career-related advice and by building a social network in their new hometown. 

Housing At SSE we have a small housing office that offers rooms and apartments to some of our international students. Check our  housing page  to view the available options, but please contact your department before you contact our housing office, as some arrangements might already have been made for you.

Insurance It is very important that you purchase a travel insurance that covers your trip and ensure that you have valid medical insurance covering you and any accompanying family members for the initial months in Stockholm before you have obtained your Swedish Personal Identity Number. EU/EEA students should make sure they bring a European Health Insurance Card from their home countries or, alternatively, bring the terms and conditions for a fully comprehensive private health insurance policy.

Introduction

We are welcoming all our newly admitted PhD students at SSE with a full day of activities on  August 26, 2024 . The introduction day is mandatory for all students and it is officially your first day at SSE, so please mark your calendar already now.

Depending on which program you have been admitted to, you will also receive an invitation to introduction activities for your specialization. 

Academic calendar: Academic Calendar 2023 / 2024

SSE floor plan SSE floor plan

Confirm that you are done with your Master's degree

If your Master's degree is not from SSE:

• Unless you have attached it to your application, send a copy of your official Master’s transcript and diploma as soon as possible by email to Elena Braccia.
• If you are not done with your degree yet, make sure to send us your final official Master's transcript and a certificate from your home university that you are done with all the Master's program requirements by August 26, 2024 . Don't forget to send the copy of your official Master’s transcript and diploma as soon as you receive it.

For SSE MSc students or graduates (except parallel enrollment): 

• You must be done with all the MSc courses required for the degree by the start of the program. We will check your eligibility ourselves prior to the registration. 

Let's stay in touch!

For general questions regarding SSE, such as the registration to the program, immigration, being a student at SSE, introduction day on August 26, 2024 and more, feel free to email Elena Braccia . For questions specifically linked to your program, like for instance courses, introduction days for your specialization or specific questions about the department you have been accepted to, please contact Business Administration: Agneta Carlin Economics: Rasa Salkauskaite Finance: Jenny Wahlberg Andersson

Would you like to learn Swedish before your studies begin?

Then download the app “Learning Swedish” now! This app has been developed in Sweden by the Swedish Institute, a public agency, together with a group of experienced Swedish teachers and partners. "Learning Swedish" is a free course in Swedish course for beginners with material for self-study aimed at adult learners.

It is your fast track to learning Swedish wherever you live. The course gives basic spoken and written knowledge of the Swedish language, as well as an insight into Swedish culture and society. All instructions are given in English. Once you have downloaded the app, it is also available offline:

Google Play:  swedn.me/LearningSwedishAndroid App Store:  swedn.me/LearningSwedishiOS

In addition, feel free to check out the following Swedish courses as well: 

• Folkuniversitet: Swedish Course - Online
• Hermods: Swedish Online Courses
• Udemy: Swedish Language Courses
• Alison: Free Online Swedish Courses
• Study in Sweden: Learn Swedish Online
• LanguaTalk: Become Fluent in Swedish
• Learning Swedish: A Free Language Course

Guide for international students 2024

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You don't appear to have JavaScript activated in your web browser. In order to use all of the functions available on Universityadmissions.se, you must allow JavaScript in your current web browser or upgrade to one that can manage JavaScript.

Apply to courses and programmes in all of Sweden

Find detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to complete and submit an application for master's studies in Sweden.

If you're interested in bachelor's studies, find step-by-step instructions on how to apply to University Admissions.

A successful admissions process means meeting deadlines. Find out all the important dates for your application.

Wondering where to start with the admissions process?

Take a look at our guide to what you need to do, when - and where

Your most frequently asked questions

When will i find out if i've been offered a place if i was on reserve or submitted a late application.

It's difficult to say if and when an applicant on reserve (waiting list) or with a late application will find out if they've been offered a place:

• universities offer places to people on reserve as they become available. It's impossible to say if places will open in a course or programme as an accepted applicant needs to decline their place for it to be made available.
• late applicants may be considered if there are still places available after all reserves have been contacted.  

After selection, if the university decides to offer you admission, you'll receive an email along with a new Notification of Selection Results. In most cases, the university will be in touch with you directly.

In some cases, you won't hear from the university until after the semester starts.

If you do not wish to keep your place, you should decline your offer. This will remove you from the university's class and contact list for the course and make the space available to other interested applicants.

If you wish to keep your place, you do not need to reply to your offer. All contact from this point on should be directly between you and your university.

I've submitted my electronic application, what more is required?

In order to complete your admissions application, there are several things we need from you:

• Documentation of your previous studies
• Proof of English skills
• Payment of the application fee (if required)
• Documentation of your citizenship status in an EU/EEA country (if you're a citizen)

For more information, please see the following links:

Bachelor's studies documentation requirements

Master's studies documentation requirements

English language requirements

Paying your application fee

Documenting your EU/EEA citizenship

My application status is ’Unqualified’. What does that mean?

The application status ‘Unqualified’ means that you don’t fulfil the general entry requirements. You haven’t submitted complete documentation by the supporting documentation deadline.

The status is not a final admissions result.

If you believe you meet the general entry requirements, you can submit further documentation as proof. Any documents you submit at this stage won’t be assessed until after the admission results have been published.

What can I do if I really want to study one of my lower ranked courses or programmes?

You can change the ranking of your courses and programmes up until the application deadline. 

If it's after the application deadline, you cannot change your ranking.

However, you can delete courses and programmes up until the first selection. This process takes places a few days before the admissions results are published. The lower ranked courses and programmes will then move up the ranking. Your application will still be considered to be timely. 

You can also reapply for the lower ranked course/programme after the admissions results have been published on Universityadmissions.se. There are a few things to keep in mind:

• Please note that you may only reapply for courses that were deleted because of ranking and NOT because you weren't qualified.
• If you reapply for a lower ranked course or programme, you may be competing for a limited number of places and there's no guarantee that you will be offered one. 

More information can be found at Reapplying to courses and programs.

I submitted documents after the deadline and my application was deleted even though I believe I am qualified. What do I have to do?

University Admissions doesn’t register documents received after the deadline until admissions results have been published. During that time, we review the applications that were on-time.

After admissions results are published, if a course was deleted because you didn’t meet the entry requirements – but you believe you do meet them based on the late documents you submitted – you must reapply for the course. You can do this by completing these steps:

• send us an email at University Admissions  after admissions results are published , explaining that you’d like to reapply
• in the letter, include the application code(s) for the courses you wish to reapply for and indicate in what order you wish to rank them
• you can submit your documents at any time.

You can read more at  reapplying for courses and programmes

Do I have to reply to my admissions offer?

If you applied in the first round.

If you applied to the First round, you're not required to reply to your admissions offer here on Universityadmissions.se. However, please note that the university that you've been accepted to may require you to reply to them. Be sure to follow any instructions given to you by your university.

We hope that you'll choose to study in Sweden! However, if you decide not to accept the place you've been offered, please be sure to decline it here on Universityadmissions.se. In that way, you let the university know you won't be attending and free up the place for someone on the waiting list.

Key dates for First and Second round

If you applied in the Second round

If you applied to the Second round, you must reply to your admissions offer. You can do that right here at Universityadmissions.se.

Find out more about replying

From application to results

There are several steps and decisions that are made during the processing of your admissions application. Find out more about them - and what you can do after each one.

Find out what you need to submit

Find out what documents you need to complete your master's application

All courses taught in English have an English requirement. Find out what that is - and the ways you can meet the requirement.

• Share full article

How Bad Are Ultraprocessed Foods, Really?

They’re clearly linked to poor health. But scientists are only beginning to understand why.

Credit... Casey Zhang for The New York Times

Supported by

By Alice Callahan

• Published May 6, 2024 Updated May 10, 2024

In the mid-1990s, Carlos Monteiro, a nutritional epidemiologist in Brazil, noticed something alarming: Obesity rates among children in his country were rising rapidly.

To understand why, he and his colleagues at the University of São Paulo scrutinized data on the food buying patterns of Brazilian households to see if they had changed in recent years. The researchers found that people were purchasing less sugar, salt, cooking oils and staples like rice and beans, and more processed foods like sodas, sausages, instant noodles, packaged breads and cookies.

To describe that second category of food, Dr. Monteiro said, the team introduced a new term into the scientific literature — ultraprocessed foods, or UPFs — and defined it. They would later link UPFs to weight gain in children and adults in Brazil.

Since then, scientists have found associations between UPFs and a range of health conditions , including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, gastrointestinal diseases and depression, as well as earlier death.

That’s concerning, experts say , since ultraprocessed foods have become a major part of people’s diets worldwide. They account for 67 percent of the calories consumed by children and teenagers in the United States, for example.

But many questions remain. What are ultraprocessed foods, exactly? And how strong is the evidence that they’re harmful? We asked experts to answer these and other questions.

What are ultraprocessed foods?

In order to study foods based on how they were processed, Dr. Monteiro and his colleagues developed a food classification system called Nova, named after the Portuguese and Latin words for “new.” It has since been adopted by researchers across the world.

The Nova system sorts foods into four categories :

Unprocessed or minimally processed foods , like fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, beans, lentils, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, plain yogurt, rice, pasta, corn meal, flour, coffee, tea and herbs and spices.

Processed culinary ingredients , such as cooking oils, butter, sugar, honey, vinegar and salt.

Processed foods made by combining foods from Category 1 with the ingredients of Category 2 and preserving or modifying them with relatively simple methods like canning, bottling, fermentation and baking. This group includes freshly baked bread, most cheeses and canned vegetables, beans and fish. These foods may contain preservatives that extend shelf life.

Ultraprocessed foods made using industrial methods and ingredients you wouldn’t typically find in grocery stores — like high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils and concentrated proteins like soy isolate. They often contain additives like flavorings, colorings or emulsifiers to make them appear more attractive and palatable. Think sodas and energy drinks, chips, candies, flavored yogurts, margarine, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, sausages, lunch meats, boxed macaroni and cheese, infant formulas and most packaged breads, plant milks, meat substitutes and breakfast cereals.

“If you look at the ingredient list and you see things that you wouldn’t use in home cooking, then that’s probably an ultraprocessed food,” said Brenda Davy, a nutrition professor at Virginia Tech.

The Nova system notably doesn’t classify foods based on nutrients like fat, fiber, vitamins or minerals. It’s “agnostic to nutrition,” said Maya Vadiveloo, an associate professor of nutrition at the University of Rhode Island.

That has led to debate among nutrition experts about whether it’s useful for describing the healthfulness of a food, partly since many UPFs — like whole grain breads, flavored yogurts and infant formulas — can provide valuable nutrients, Dr. Vadiveloo said.

Are ultraprocessed foods harmful?

Most research linking UPFs to poor health is based on observational studies, in which researchers ask people about their diets and then track their health over many years. In a large review of studies that was published in 2024, scientists reported that consuming UPFs was associated with 32 health problems, with the most convincing evidence for heart disease-related deaths, Type 2 diabetes and common mental health issues like anxiety and depression.

Such studies are valuable, because they can look at large groups of people — the 2024 review included results from nearly 10 million — over the many years it can take for chronic health conditions to develop, said Josiemer Mattei, an associate professor of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She added that the consistency of the link between UPFs and health issues increased her confidence that there was a real problem with the foods.

But the observational studies also have limitations, said Lauren O’Connor, a nutrition scientist and epidemiologist who formerly worked at the Department of Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health. It’s true that there is a correlation between these foods and chronic diseases, she said, but that doesn’t mean that UPFs directly cause poor health.

Dr. O’Connor questioned whether it’s helpful to group such “starkly different” foods — like Twinkies and breakfast cereals — into one category. Certain types of ultraprocessed foods, like sodas and processed meats , are more clearly harmful than others. UPFs like flavored yogurts and whole grain breads , on the other hand, have been associated with a reduced risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Clinical trials are needed to test if UPFs directly cause health problems, Dr. O’Connor said. Only one such study, which was small and had some limitations, has been done, she said.

In that study , published in 2019, 20 adults with a range of body sizes lived in a research hospital at the National Institutes of Health for four weeks. For two weeks, they ate mainly unprocessed or minimally processed foods, and for another two weeks, they ate mainly UPFs. The diets had similar amounts of calories and nutrients, and the participants could eat as much as they wanted at each meal.

During their two weeks on the ultraprocessed diet, participants gained an average of two pounds and consumed about 500 calories more per day than they did on the unprocessed diet. During their time on the unprocessed diet, they lost about two pounds.

That finding might help explain the link between UPFs, obesity and other metabolic conditions, said Kevin Hall, a nutrition and metabolism researcher at the National Institutes of Health, who led the trial. But the study needs to be replicated, which Dr. Hall is in the process of doing now.

Why might UPFs be harmful?

There are many “strong opinions” about why ultraprocessed foods are unhealthy, Dr. Hall said. “But there’s actually not a lot of rigorous science” on what those mechanisms are, he added.

Because UPFs are often cheap, convenient and accessible, they’re probably displacing healthier foods from our diets, Dr. Hall said.

But he and other scientists think that the foods could be having more direct effects on health. They can be easy to overeat — maybe because they contain hard-to-resist combinations of carbohydrates, sugars, fats and salt , are high-calorie and easy to chew. It’s also possible that resulting blood sugar spikes may damage arteries or ramp up inflammation , or that certain food additives or chemicals may interfere with hormones, cause a “ leaky” intestine or disrupt the gut microbiome.

Researchers, including Dr. Hall and Dr. Davy, are beginning to conduct small clinical trials that will test some of these theories. Such studies may help identify the most harmful UPFs and even suggest how they may be made healthier, Dr. Hall said.

But most researchers think there are various ways the foods are causing harm. “Rarely in nutrition is there a single factor that fully explains the relationship between foods and some health outcome,” Dr. Vadiveloo said.

What should we do about ultraprocessed foods?

In 2014, Dr. Monteiro helped write new dietary guidelines for Brazil that advised people to avoid ultraprocessed foods.

Other countries like Mexico , Israel and Canada have also explicitly recommended avoiding or limiting UPFs or “highly processed foods.” The U.S. dietary guidelines contain no such advice, but an advisory committee is currently looking into the evidence on how UPFs may affect weight gain, which could influence the 2025 guidelines.

It’s difficult to know what to do about UPFs in the United States, where so much food is already ultraprocessed and people with lower incomes can be especially dependent on them, Dr. Hall said.

“At the end of the day, they are an important source of food, and food is food,” Dr. Mattei added. “We really cannot vilify them,” she said.

While research continues, expert opinions differ on how people should approach UPFs. Dr. Monteiro said that the safest course is to avoid them altogether — to swap flavored yogurt for plain yogurt with fruit, for example, or to buy a fresh loaf from a local bakery instead of packaged bread, if you can afford to do so.

Dr. Vadiveloo suggested a more moderate strategy, focusing on limiting UPFs that don’t provide valuable nutrients, like soda and cookies. She also recommended eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains (ultraprocessed or not), legumes, nuts and seeds.

Cook at home as much as you can, using minimally processed foods, Dr. Davy said. “We can’t really say a whole lot beyond that at this point.”

Alice Callahan is a Times reporter covering nutrition and health. She has a Ph.D. in nutrition from the University of California, Davis. More about Alice Callahan

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Title: What These Class of 2024 Graduating Seniors Will Miss Most About Georgetown

In the coming days, Georgetown will celebrate Hoyas in the Class of 2024 as they earn their degrees.

As these students prepare to graduate, many of them will remember the lifelong friendships, treasured lessons and favorite memories long after they’ve flipped their graduation tassels. Ingrained in every Georgetown experience are those little moments that make a deep impression, from random conversations in Lau with friends to a daily morning stroll under Healy Hall and countless hours of studying in the library.

We asked the seniors behind Georgetown Stories about those little moments and what they’ll miss the most about Georgetown. Here’s what the soon-to-be graduates said.

Countless Hours in Leo’s

Ava Culoso (C’24) 

I’ve been off the Georgetown meal plan for a year now, and even though I found ways to complain about the dining hall my sophomore and junior year, some of my fondest memories in college happened while sitting with my friends. We would turn hopes of “quick dinners” into hours of chatting. It always seemed whenever we had the most work, we would sit in Leo’s after we finished eating, just talking and laughing and losing track of time. 

I still have dinners with my roommates in my off-campus house, but nothing compares to the many nights when Leo’s dinner ended up being over two hours long. When I graduate and leave Georgetown, what I’ll remember are those conversations about nothing that somehow meant everything to me. 

Daily Joys on the Hilltop

Renato Llontop Calosi (SFS’24)

Waking up to the sight of beautiful Healy Hall right outside my window, walking to Leo’s for breakfast and greeting Suru — the front desk worker at Leo’s — working out early with all my roommates, and having bagels with Chaplain Michelle are just some of the daily joys that make Georgetown special. From greeting many students while walking around campus to making a new friend in class every day, there’s nothing more meaningful than savoring the graces we’ve received here. 

One of the things I’ll miss most is engaging in fascinating conversations about faith, culture, politics or simply Georgetown events with faculty and friends. Visiting our sacred spaces on campus, especially Dahlgren Chapel on Sundays, and chatting with our wonderful Campus Ministry staff — “God’s Squad” — are among those little things that truly make Georgetown so unique. As a campus tour guide since freshman year, I’ll miss showing our home to prospective students and their families. But I know for sure that every time I return, I’ll fall in love with this place all over again.

I know for sure that every time I return, I’ll fall in love with this place all over again. Renato Llontop Calosi (SFS’24)

Blissful Laundry Days

Christine Mauvais (N’24) 

It’s Sunday morning. The light is hitting my eyes, and I wake up to the natural rhythm of my own body instead of a bothersome ringtone. I roll around in my white comforter as I take in the scene of my room. My hamper is stuffed to the brim, reminding me that it’s laundry day. This means that I will dedicate the rest of my day  to only one task, and then follow suit with relaxation. 

I spent most of my laundry days “rotting” away while catching up on my dramas or New York Times crossword puzzles. The naps I had on that twin-sized bed were when I had the best hours of rest. It’s something about a full day of leisure that wraps up an exhausting school week and kicks off an upcoming exciting one. 

I will miss those moments of bliss. Even when I return home, my Sundays don’t hit as much as they do at Georgetown. I don’t know if it’s the mattress or the college air, but there’s something special about my lazy laundry days on the Hilltop. It will truly be missed!

The Hunt for Free Food

Maliha Kahn (SFS’24)

It’s been nearly a week since I graduated from Georgetown University in Qatar, and there are so many small things that made the last four years memorable. The city does not feel the same without the familiar routine of waking up and taking a tram to the campus. I miss the rush of running to the tram station knowing I’m already late yet managing to catch the tram just before it leaves (on good days). Visiting the atrium made me realize how much I miss the bustling noise and chaos. No matter how lonely I felt, all I needed to do was to step into the atrium and I’d feel at home. I’ll miss the many events that happened simultaneously and being mad at having to miss some.

The epitome of college life was scouring campus for events solely for the free food with my friends. Every now and then we’d stumble upon an event hosted by the dean’s office and then comment on how fancy the food and tiny hors d’oeuvres were. Even better were the midnight snacks from the vending machine when we pulled late nights at the library. I’ll miss my beloved couch, my faithful companion for studying and deep sleep.

Late Night Lau Study Breaks

Zehra Mizra (C’24)

I’m going to miss all the nights in Lau 2 (the 2nd floor of Lauinger Library) when I figured the presence of my friends would help me get work done. It may have helped me achieve about 20% more studying than I would’ve done if studying by myself, as we always got caught up talking to each other, seeing other classmates and friends and chatting with them, and taking study breaks to get a snack or coffee from the Midnight Mug coffee shop.

I am going to miss enjoying the first snowfall of the year on the Hilltop and watching my friends from warmer hometowns be fascinated by the snow, and find any material to sled down our small hills on campus, from extra mattresses to Adirondack chairs and cardboard boxes. 

I am going to miss the joy in the air as soon as the air starts to get warm after the winter and you see herds of students flock to the front lawn to have picnics, hammock, play spikeball and just sit outside and enjoy the weather despite being in the midst of midterms. 

Around-the-World Roommate Dinner Parties

Alara Karahan (SFS’24)

I’ll miss walking up the stairs next to Lau and seeing the towering Healy clock come into view. I’ll miss wandering past Corp spots, ears tuned for new songs to add to my playlist. I’ll miss seeing the familiar faces at Yates and silently acknowledging the shared misery of a treadmill workout. 

I’ll miss themed roommate dinner parties that take us from Argentinian alfajores to Hyderabadi biryani. I’ll miss wearing florals on Farmers Market Wednesdays and sunbathing under Copley’s “tree of life.” I’ll miss my friends spam-calling me whenever they spot Jack and dropping everything to go see him. I’ll miss doing my world tour on the library’s “social floor,” procrastinating by making small talk with every person I’ve ever encountered over four years. 

I’ll miss post-class debates with a professor because the hour and 15 minutes just wasn’t enough time. I’ll miss attending events in DC with big-name politicians and professionals and proudly telling them I attend Georgetown. I’ll miss watching my friends lead organizations that invest millions for the alumni association, organize tours for the 55,000 annual campus visitors, or run the world’s largest student-run nonprofit. 

Amidst these goodbyes, there’s one thing that’s true for all of us — we’ll always be Hoyas.

Celebrate the Class of 2024

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Degree programmes

No swedish no problem. we’ve got so many programmes taught entirely in english. thousands actually. 😁.

We don’t pay much attention to ranking lists, but it seems like they always keep track of us. Our higher education system is ranked as one of the best in the world. And the best part? You don’t even need to speak Swedish to make the most of what we have to offer.

What can you study? Well, almost anything…

We offer loads of programmes . Thousands. At all levels too – bachelor’s, master’s, PhD. And you can pretty much study any subject in English.

…but there are a few exceptions.

And here they are. You can’t study to become a clinical doctor 👩🏻‍⚕️ or nurse or dentist. Or a vet. Nor can you take a programme to become a teacher. 👨🏽‍🏫 Not in English at least. But if you’re fluent in Swedish? Now that’s another story. Head on over to Antagning.se ↗️ to get the ball rolling.

“Studying and living in Sweden has opened up a world of professional, personal, and academic possibilities”

Kick-start your university studies in Sweden. 🙌🏿

Great choice, if you ask us. 😊 And you’ve got over 100 bachelor’s programmes taught entirely in English to choose from.

What can you expect?

Well, it’ll take you three years, for starters. And at the end of it, you’ll have a degree worth 180 ECTS credits. What else? Oh, and you can look forward to having a lot of freedom and responsibility for your own learning right from day one.

+ - Apply for a bachelor’s programme

Know what you want to study? Wicked. So far, so good. You’ve got to get a few things sorted now. And we’ve made it easy for you. Here’s how to apply .

Still in high-school? You might not be able to apply yet.

Hold up. You’ll need to have finished your studies before you can apply. But be sure to check out what Universityadmissions.se ↗️ has to say about it.

“I knew exactly which master’s programme I wanted to do. And it happened to be in Sweden. And Sweden really has brought out the best version of myself” – Marina, Uppsala University. Photo: Oskar Omne

You’ve finished your bachelor’s degree. Why not study a master’s in Sweden?

And you have over 1,000 master’s programmes to choose from. You’ll find one-year (60 ECTS credits) and two-year (120 ECTS credits) programmes. What’s the difference? They’re both master’s programmes. And you’ll take advanced courses, write a master’s thesis, and graduate with a master’s degree, no matter which length of programme you take. But the one-year programme simply won’t cover as much material as a two-year programme.

+ - Apply for a master’s programme

Found your dream programme? Sweet. So what’s next? You’ve got some stuff to sort out before you apply – like checking requirements, getting your documents together. But don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. We’ve put together a guide for how you apply .

“The non-hierarchical and equal study conditions have helped me develop, work with freedom, and given me space to explore”

And what about PhD programmes? Yep, we’ve got plenty of those too.

But the application process is slightly different. Why? We’ll not go into too much detail right now though. But here’s a hint – they’re fully-paid positions .

• What's it like to study business in Sweden? ↗️
• 👩‍💻 👨🏽‍🔬 What can I study in Sweden? Pretty much anything...
• Avoid these mistakes when choosing a programme ↗️

• OU Homepage
• The University of Oklahoma

New Study Finds Carbon-free Approach for Methane Transformation

The study offers solutions that would benefit both the plastic and petroleum refinery industries.

Kat Gebauer

Media Contact

Kat Gebauer (405) 325-1860 [email protected]

NORMAN, OKLA. – A recent study, led by University of Oklahoma researcher Hanping Ding, Ph.D., has revealed a new way to convert methane into hydrogen and benzene, a finding that could reduce carbon emissions produced during chemical manufacturing. The article in Nature Communications examines a new catalyst that enhances the process of converting methane into higher-value products, such as aromatics — the building blocks for a variety of consumer products, including chemicals, coatings, detergents and pharmaceuticals.

The production of aromatics depends on crude oil, and current production methods create extensive carbon emissions. This study offers a promising possibility for carbon-free upgrading of natural gas and converting methane to aromatics and hydrogen.

“We have so many resources in Oklahoma. We don’t want to simply burn them to generate heat or generate electricity. We can convert [the resources] to more value-added chemicals,” said Ding, assistant professor in the Gallogly College of Engineering.

Researchers found that adding a mix of platinum and bismuth to the catalyst improved overall performance. The catalyst promotes the activation of methane molecules and facilitates the formation of carbon-carbon bonds necessary to form desired compounds like benzene. This particular catalyst mix helps to activate the methane and to link carbon atoms together more effectively, which increases how much of the final product is produced.

The ability to produce aromatics more efficiently benefits many industries, including potentially reducing carbon emissions in the petroleum refinery industry. Additionally, the catalyst can be regenerated to restore its activity after use, a benefit that could reduce operations costs.

Reduced industry emissions are a focal point of the work done in Ding’s Advanced Materials and Clean Energy Laboratory , which focuses on research with the hope of decarbonizing the world. Efforts to reduce industrial emissions are a step toward making energy production cleaner and better for the climate and human health.

This study is the result of institutional collaboration between the University of Oklahoma, Kansas University, George Mason University and the Idaho National Laboratory.

About the project

“Direct conversion of methane to aromatics and hydrogen via a heterogeneous trimetallic synergistic catalyst” is published in Nature Communications at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47595-9 .

About the University of Oklahoma

Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. OU was named the state’s highest-ranking university in  U.S. News & World Report’s  most recent Best Colleges list .  For more information about the university, visit  ou.edu .

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