Levels and degrees

Higher Education Diploma

To be entitled to a Higher Education Diploma, the following requirements have to be fulfilled:

1. Finished courses totalling 120 credits (two years of full-time studies), including a main field of study of 60 credits minimum.
2. Within the main field of study, at least 7.5 credits should constitute an individually performed project work.

Bachelor's degree (Bachelor of Arts/Science)

To be entitled to a Bachelor's degree, the following requirements have to be fulfilled:

1. Finished courses totalling 180 credits (three years of full-time studies), including a main field of study of 90 credits minimum.
2. Within the main field of study, at least 30 credits must be on G2 level, including a 15-credit Bachelor's thesis.
   

According to new guidelines for degrees decided on 23 April 2025, a minor field of study of ​​30 credits is no longer required in a Bachelor's degree.

In order to be entitled to a Master's degree, you have to hold a Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish "Kandidatexamen", from an internationally recognised university. In the Swedish system there are two Master's degrees; Master of Arts/Science (60 credits) and Master of Arts/Science (120 credits).

Master's degree, 60 credits (Master of Arts/Science)

In order to be entitled to a Master of Arts/Science (60 credits) the following requirements have to be fulfilled:

1. Finished courses at the second cycle totalling 60 credits (one year of full-time studies). At the most, 15 credits is allowed to be from the first cycle. (From 1 January 2029, subject to the necessary decisions being made, a maximum of 7.5 credits from first-cycle courses may be included.)
2. A main field of study of at least 30 credits at the second cycle, including a degree project of 15 credits minimum.

Master's degree, 120 credits (Master of Arts/Science)

In order to be entitle to a Master of Arts/Science (120 credits) the following requirements have to be fulfilled:

1. Finished courses at the second cycle totalling 120 credits (two years of full-time studies). Of the courses included 30 credits maximum is allowed to be at first cycle. (From 1 January 2029, subject to the necessary decisions being made, a maximum of 15 credits from first-cycle courses may be included.)
2. A main field of study of at least 60 credits at second cycle, including a degree project of at least 30 credits.

Licentiate degree

In order to be entitle to a licentiate degree (120 credits) the following requirements have to be fulfilled: Two years of full-time studies, 120 credits, including a licentiate thesis of at least 60 credits.

Doctoral degree (PhD)

In order to be entitle to a doctoral degree (240 credits) the following requirements have to be fulfilled: Four years of full-time studies, 240 credits, including a doctoral dissertation of at least 120 credits that has been defended orally in a public defence.

In addition to the general degrees, in the Swedish system there are around 50 different professional degrees. They comprise from 180 credits (three years of full-time studies) to 360 credits (six years of full-time studies). At Uppsala University, some 20 of these are possible to achieve.

Unlike the general degrees the professional degrees normally require enrolment in a full programme. The general degrees are possible to fulfil either through freestanding courses or through a programme.

For programmes longer than three and a half years, the programme will run through both cycles: the studies start at the first cycle while the degree awarded is on the second cycle.