SWEDEN
In Sweden students can take a 5-year integrated master program in engineering (civilingenjör, 300 ECTS). At some universities and university colleges (högskole) students can graduate from a 3-year bachelor program with professional qualifications (högskoleingenjör, 180 ECTS) and then take a 1- or 2-year master program (60-120 ECTS). Civilingenjör is a legally protected professional title in Sweden. Civilingenjör programs are often more theoretical while högskoleingenjör programs are more applied, incorporating work-placement and an industry-focused final project. Bachelor programs are usually taught in Swedish and master programs are taught in Swedish or English. Universities in Sweden that offer engineering programs are:
KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Luleå University of Technology
Chalmers University of Technology
Mälardalen University
Jönköping University
Halmstad University
Linnaeus University
University of Gävle
Umeå University
Uppsala University
Mid Sweden University
Lund University
Malmö University (bachelor only)
Dalarna University
Application and preparation
General entry requirements for bachelor programs taught in English are a matriculation exam and proficiency in English. General entry requirements for master programs taught in English are a bachelor's degree and proficiency in English. To apply and to be admitted to programs taught in Swedish, international students must have passed the Swedish language test TISUS. To demonstrate proficiency in English an English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS) is required. For bachelor programs in engineering certain levels of mathematics, physics and chemistry from upper secondary school are required. For 5-year integrated master programs (civilingenjör) the following upper secondary school levels are required:
Mathematics 4
Physics 2
Chemistry 1
For 3-year bachelor programs (högskoleingenjör) the following upper secondary school levels are required:
Mathematics 3c
Physics 2
Chemistry 1
The upper secondary education programs that offer the necessary subject levels are the technology program and the natural science program, so these are the optimal programs for students aiming for engineering programs at university level.
Master programs often require a CV and a motivational letter. Application is done digitally and students can apply to different programs in all universities with the same application.
The Swedish Council of Higher Education administers admission to study programs on behalf of the higher education institutions. Programs only have a certain amount of study places available so meeting program requirements does not necessarily guarantee a study place. If there are more applicants than study places, applicants are split into three groups where they compete against other applicants for study places. In the first group students are ranked based on their average point score from their upper secondary education. This evaluation is used for at least ⅓ of study places. In the second group, applicants are ranked based on their grade from the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test, a standardised test used as one of the means to gain admission to higher education. Students in this application group must also fulfil the entry requirements since the test does not grant permission to programs. This evaluation is used for at least ⅓ of study places. Universities have the right to organize specific tests for certain programs that the applicants can take. In the last group, applicants are ranked based on their results from these tests. Universities can allocate up to ⅓ of study places to this type of evaluation.