How to Get Your Foreign Degree Recognized in Sweden
Moving to Sweden? Here’s Why Recognizing Your Degree Matters
How to get your foreign degree recognized in Sweden, it’s a question that thousands of newcomers ask each year. Whether you’re a teacher, engineer, nurse, or business graduate, getting your education validated is often the first big step to building a career in Sweden. But how does it work? What authorities handle it? And what can you expect from the process?
In this guide, we break it down, helping you navigate Swedish bureaucracy with confidence and showing you how your qualifications can open doors in this Nordic country.
What Recognition Means And Why It’s Important
In Sweden, recognizing your foreign qualifications ensures that employers, universities, and authorities understand what your degree represents. This isn’t just a formality. It can affect:
Your ability to work in regulated professions (such as healthcare, teaching, or law)
Your eligibility for further study
Your credibility with employers, especially if your degree comes from outside the EU
By obtaining official recognition, you provide Swedish institutions with a clear reference for your level of education compared to the Swedish system.
Who Handles Degree Recognition in Sweden?
The main authority for academic degree recognition in Sweden is UHR, the Swedish Council for Higher Education (Universitets- och högskolerådet).
UHR assesses your foreign qualifications and issues a formal statement explaining what your degree corresponds to in the Swedish system.
Their role also includes guidance through Euroguidance Sweden, helping you navigate both Swedish and EU standards.
How to Get Your Degree Recognized: The Step-by-Step Process
1️⃣ Prepare Your Documents
To apply for recognition, you’ll need:
A diploma or certificate from your home institution
A transcript showing your courses and grades
A valid ID or passport
(Always provide official translations if your documents are not in English, Swedish, Danish or Norwegian.)
2️⃣ Apply Online via UHR
Go to UHR’s online portal and fill out the application.
Upload your documents.
There’s no fee for general assessments.
3️⃣ Wait for the Assessment
Most assessments take a few months, depending on case volume and complexity.
4️⃣ Receive Your Statement
You’ll receive a certificate stating what Swedish qualification your degree corresponds to. This can be used when applying for jobs or further study.
What Will UHR Compare Your Degree To?
UHR uses national standards to compare your degree:
Secondary education = Swedish gymnasium
Short-cycle higher education = yrkeshögskola
Bachelor’s degree = kandidatexamen
Master’s degree = masterexamen
You can explore examples using the UHR Qualification Assessment Tool.
What About Regulated Professions?
Some professions in Sweden are regulated, meaning you must meet specific requirements or hold a Swedish license. These include:
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Doctors
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Nurses
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Teachers
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Dentists
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Lawyers
UHR’s recognition is just one part of the process. You must also contact the relevant licensing authority (such as Socialstyrelsen for healthcare).
More info: Regulated professions in Sweden
How ONLINE SWEDISH Can Help You Succeed
At ONLINE SWEDISH, we don’t just teach the language, we help you integrate fully into Swedish society.
Our courses are designed for professionals aiming to work in Sweden.
We offer tailored Swedish for healthcare, education, and business sectors.
Need help understanding your qualification’s status? We provide guidance and language support for the recognition process.
Learning Swedish is essential, not just for your career, but for your daily life. And we’re here to make it achievable.
Start Your Journey Today
Step 1: Visit UHR’s recognition page to apply for your degree assessment. Step 2: Sign up for one of our Swedish language courses to gain the skills you’ll need. Step 3: Stay informed, read our articles and follow us for updates on working and studying in Sweden.
