Higher education is carried out at three different levels; first cycle, second cycle and third cycle. A Bachelor's programme is on a first-cycle level, a master's programme is on a second-cycle level and a research programme is on a third-cycle level.» Read more about higher education in Sweden on the webpage for the National the Agency for Higher Education.
In order to be admitted to higher education, you must fulfill certain entry requirements. The entry requirements are divided in general entry requirements and specific entry requirements.
Please note that all papers documenting your qualifications must be submitted directly to DOCH, together with your application form.
First cycle
General entry requirements
General entry requirements for studies at first-cycle level are the same regardless of which education at first-cycle level you apply for. You can fulfill the general entry requirements in various ways, where the most common being to have final school grades from the upper secondary school or adult education at upper-secondary level.
You must verify that you have successfully completed upper secondary education (post-16). This completed education, and subsequentally awarded degree certificate or diploma, must qualify you for higher education studies in the country you received it. » Please find a detailed list of the right documentation for your country.
It is important that the grade document clearly states what subjects you have taken and what grade you have received. Grades should primarily be in Swedish, but English, Norwegian or Danish are accepted too. Regarding documents issued in other languages, you must enclose a copy of the original document along with a translation (into Swedish or English) made by an authorized translator. Regarding grades from other countries it must be clearly stated what level of the Swedish educational system your qualification corresponds to (whether it is from upper secondary education, post-16 years, or university level).
» This gives you general entry requirements to first cycle studies.
Specific Entry Requirements
In addition to the general entry requirements, many courses and programme require specific entry requirements. The specific entry requirements varies between the different programmes and courses. The specific entry requirements are divided in field-specific entry requirements ('områdesbehörigheter). A field-specific entry requirement consist of qualifying courses.» An example of a qualifying course is English B. The majority of the programs for first-cycle studies at DOCH also have a so-called qualification test. In the qualification tests the applicant should demonstrate certain skills often artistic and/or technical abilities.
Second cycle
General entry requirements
To be qualified to a programme on a second-cycle level, it is required that you have a higher education qualification from first-cycle level of 180 credits. » More information is available at universityadmissions.se. You can also fulfill the entry requirements to second-cycle studies without having these requirements. If that is the case, you must have other preconditions that can guarantee that you could successfully complete the course or programme in other ways. It could, for example, be that you have achieved equivalent knowledge through professional experience within the artistic field, so-called prior learning.
Specific Entry Requirements
For second-cycle studies it might be specific entry requirements that needs to be fulfilled. It can for example be English A or equivalent or professional experience of artistic activities.
Prior knowledge in English
For general entry requirements to second cycle, you must either:
- have lowest the grade Passed in » English A or equivalent knowledge
- have grade in English from adult education at upper-secondary level level 2 or
- have a passed results from one of the tests that the universities and the higher education institutions accept (TOEFL, IELTS, First Certificate in English from Cambridge/Oxford, Certificate in Advanced English or Certificate of Proficiency).
» Read about TOEFL (please state the specific code for DOCH, 7792, if you are planning to take a TOEFL-test)
» Read about IELTS
Read more about the specific entry requirements of the programmes on the » webpages of the programmes.
Prior learning
If you don't fulfill the formal entry requirements (by grades from for example upper-secondary school or higher education institution) you can request having your actual experience and knowledge, your prior learning, assessed. In this assessment DOCH examine if you by other merits than formal qualifications (i.e. certificates), comply with the requirements. On the application form, you state that you apply for validation of prior learning. Write a letter with an explanation that you send in together with your application. In the letter state which entry requirements you want us to assess and how you consider your informal qualifications complies with them. In the letter, also describe what special skills or knowledge you think you have and how you have acquired this. For example, it can be about experiences from working life, volunteer work or longer stays abroad, and knowledge from attended staff training or other courses. Authenticate your statements to the greatest possible extent with certificates or assessments from employer, teacher or other persons who know you well. The letter should also include your personal information (name, date of birth, address and what programme you are applying for). If you neither formally nor through prior learning comply with one or more entry requirements, the university will examine whether there are reasons to grant you exemption from the entry requirements.
Please contact UFE at studieinfo@doch.se regarding what our processes are for assessing the documents that you send in together with your application.
Exemption from the Entry Requirements
If you don't fulfill formal entry requirements (grade), DOCH can give you exemption from the requirements. If you want to take a course or a programme at DOCH but not fulfill the entry requirements you can request to obtain exemption from one or several of the requirements. In the application form you mark with a cross that you applying for an exemption and write a letter which you enclose the application. In the letter state from what entry requirement you wish to be exempted and also motivate why you want to take the programme and what it is according to you that will make you successfully complete the course even though you do not fully comply with the entry requirements. The letter should also include your personal information (name, date of birth, address and what programme you are applying for). The letter should also include your personal information (name, date of birth, address and what programme you are applying for).