Swedish master's programmes last one year (60 credits) or two years (120 credits), and nearly all international programmes are taught in English. You apply through universityadmissions.se: for autumn 2027, applications run from 16 October 2026 to 15 January 2027, and results are published on 1 April. Applicants with Russian degrees need a bachelor's of at least four years, English at about IELTS 6.5 and the subject credits each programme sets. Non-EU students pay tuition, for example $16,050 (SEK 160,000) for Lund's one-year Master's in Management and $38,620 (SEK 385,000) for most two-year KTH programmes.
Below: one-year versus two-year degrees, requirements and selection, what programmes cost, and what the degree allows after graduation.
| At a glance | Master's in Sweden |
|---|---|
| Length | 1 year (60 credits) or 2 years (120 credits) |
| Language | international programmes in English |
| General requirement for Russian degrees | bachelor's of at least 4 years (equivalent to a Swedish kandidatexamen) |
| English | usually English 6: IELTS Academic 6.5 (no section below 5.5) or TOEFL iBT 4.5 on the new scale |
| How many programmes | up to four, one offer |
| Autumn 2027 application | 16 October 2026 – 15 January 2027; documents and $90 fee by 1 February |
| Results | 1 April 2027 |
| Tuition for non-EU students | $9,030–20,060 a year in our examples, depending on university and field |
One-year or two-year master's?
Sweden has two second-cycle degrees: the one-year magisterexamen (60 credits) and the two-year masterexamen (120 credits). Some two-year programmes let you take the one-year degree after the first year; Uppsala University states this for its Master's in Computer Science.
| Question | One-year | Two-year |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | lower: one year of tuition and living costs | about double in time and usually in tuition |
| Residence permit | for the length of the programme | two years at once at 34 institutions on the Migration Agency's list, otherwise one year plus extension |
| Suits | working professionals, those moving within a related field | those aiming for research, a PhD, engineering careers |
| After graduation | the job-search permit is available once you complete the whole programme | the same, plus more time for internships and employer contacts |
For worked budgets, see the cost section below and the cost of studying in Sweden.
Entry requirements
Degree. You need a degree equivalent to a Swedish kandidatexamen. University Admissions' instructions for Russia say that a bakalavr of at least four years meets this; UHR assesses other degree types from the documents. If you are in your final bachelor's year, many universities will still review your application, but you must document your status as described in University Admissions' final-year instructions.
Subject credits. The real filter is each programme's specific requirements. Examples from university sites:
| Programme | Specific requirements |
|---|---|
| Computer Science, Uppsala University, 2 years | 90 credits in computer science (programming, algorithms, data structures, computer architecture and operating systems) and 30 credits in mathematics |
| Management, Lund University, 1 year | a bachelor's in any subject other than business administration or management; English 6 |
| KTH programmes | a relevant bachelor's with mathematics and subject credits listed on each programme page |
Lund's example shows that changing field is possible on programmes designed for it. Elsewhere, missing credits are hard to fix; you would have to complete courses before applying.
English. Almost always English 6: IELTS Academic 6.5 with no section below 5.5, TOEFL iBT 4.5 (results from 21 January 2026) or 90 for older results, PTE Academic 62. Russian applicants with profile-level school English (graduation 2008 or later) may not need a test, as this also counts for master's.
Documents. The core set: degree certificate and transcript in the original language with a certified English or Swedish translation, passport and proof of English. For Russia, transcripts must be in the official state format; record-book (zachyotka) entries are not accepted. Programmes may add a CV, statement of purpose, essays, references, course descriptions or a portfolio.
How master's applicants are selected
Each university sets selection criteria and groups and publishes them on the programme page. Typically it weighs the number and level of previous credits, grades and the requested documents. Lund's Management programme selects on previous studies and a statement of purpose. For its scholarships, KTH looks at GPA, the ranking of the university that awarded your bachelor's, research and work experience, and motivation.
No cut-off is published in advance; it depends on each year's field. Some universities put fee-paying students in a separate selection group.
Choosing and ranking programmes
You can choose up to four master's programmes but receive only one offer. The portal works down your list: once you are admitted to one programme, everything below it is deleted. Put the programme you really want first, not a back-up.
Ranking also affects funding. KTH, Lund, Uppsala, Gothenburg and Karolinska Institutet consider scholarship applicants only if their programme is ranked first. See scholarships in Sweden, and compare institutions in universities in Sweden.
What a master's in Sweden costs
Fees from official university pages; where no intake is given, the amount is the one published as of 30 September 2026.
| Programme | Length | Tuition for non-EU students |
|---|---|---|
| Management, Lund University (autumn 2027) | 1 year | $16,050 (SEK 160,000) |
| JIBS, Jönköping University (2027/28) | 1 year | $14,640 (SEK 146,000) |
| JIBS, Jönköping University (2027/28) | 2 years | $14,440 (SEK 144,000) a year |
| Humanities and social sciences, Stockholm University (2026/27 intake) | 2 years | $9,030 (SEK 90,000) a year |
| Sciences, Stockholm University (2026/27 intake) | 2 years | $14,040 (SEK 140,000) a year |
| Computer Science, Uppsala University (2026/27 intake) | 2 years | $30,090 (SEK 300,000) |
| Most KTH programmes (2027/28 intake) | 2 years | $38,620 (SEK 385,000) |
| Karolinska Institutet programmes (2026/27 intake) | 2 years | $33,100–40,120 (SEK 330,000–400,000) |
| Stockholm School of Economics (rate as of September 2026) | programme | $36,110 (SEK 360,000) |
Add living costs: the Migration Agency's 2026 rate is $1,070 (SEK 10,656) a month. Funds must cover the whole permit period, about $25,650 (SEK 255,744) for a two-year permit.
Timeline for autumn 2027
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| September–October 2026 | shortlist four programmes; check each specific requirement against your transcript |
| By November 2026 | take IELTS or TOEFL; line up referees |
| 16 October 2026 | open your application on universityadmissions.se |
| 1 December 2026 – 15 January 2027 | apply for the KTH Scholarship if KTH is your first choice |
| 15 January 2027 | submit and lock your ranking |
| 1 February 2027 | pay the fee and upload all documents |
| February 2027 | apply for Lund, Uppsala, Gothenburg and Karolinska Institutet scholarships in their windows |
| 1 April 2027 | results |
| April–May 2027 | pay the first semester and apply for the permit |
| August 2027 | move and start |
Every step is covered in applying to Swedish universities.
Work during and after your studies
Students whose permit was granted on or after 11 June 2026 may work at most 15 hours a week during term and without limit from June to August. Work that is part of the programme (such as an internship) or at your own university in student representation, administration or research is outside the limit.
The new rules also tightened study progress: to extend the permit you need 37.5 credits in the first year and 45 credits in each later year. Falling behind can cost you the extension.
After graduating, you can get a permit of up to one year to look for work or explore starting a business, if you apply before your study permit expires. Switching to a work permit from within Sweden now generally requires a completed programme of at least two semesters. Since June 2026, a work permit requires a salary of at least 90% of the median, $3,460 (SEK 34,470) a month.
A master's as a route to a PhD
Doctoral studies in Sweden carry no application or tuition fees; those apply only at bachelor's and master's level. PhD students are typically employed or funded; at the Stockholm School of Economics, for example, every PhD student receives $2,610 (SEK 26,000) a month. You apply for doctoral positions directly to the university, not through universityadmissions.se. A two-year master's with a research project is the most direct route.
Mistakes to avoid
- Applying without checking your transcript against every specific requirement.
- Ranking a back-up first and losing the programme you wanted.
- Sending the same statement of purpose to all four programmes.
- Choosing a two-year programme just for a longer permit without budgeting for it.
- Planning to live on earnings beyond 15 hours a week.
- Ignoring the credit requirement for permit extension.
FAQ
Non-EU students pay from $9,030 a year for humanities programmes at Stockholm University to $38,620 for a two-year KTH programme. Lund's one-year Master's in Management costs $16,050 for autumn 2027. Add about $12,830 a year for living costs at the 2026 rate.
Yes, if the bachelor's lasted at least four years, according to University Admissions' instructions for Russia. The programme then checks its specific requirements, such as 90 credits in computer science and 30 in mathematics for Uppsala's Computer Science.
Yes, on programmes designed for it. Lund's one-year Master's in Management, for instance, admits graduates of any field except business and management. Most programmes require subject credits, and without them the application is rejected as ineligible.
Up to four on universityadmissions.se for one $90 (SEK 900) fee, but you get only one offer: admission to a programme deletes everything ranked below it. You can re-order your list only until 15 January.
Graduates of a programme of at least two semesters can get a permit of up to one year to look for work or start a business, if they apply before the study permit expires. A work permit requires a salary of at least $3,460 (SEK 34,470) a month under rules in force since June 2026.
For permits granted from 11 June 2026, at most 15 hours a week during term and without limit in summer. Work within the programme or at your university in research or administration does not count towards the limit. Exceeding it can lead to the permit being revoked.
Sources
- University Admissions: master's requirements, Russia, master's, English, selection, ranking, documents and final-year students, autumn 2027 dates, who pays; checked 30 Sept 2026
- Uppsala University: Computer Science, Lund University: Management; checked 30 Sept 2026
- KTH: tuition and KTH Scholarship, Stockholm University: fees, Karolinska Institutet: fees; checked 30 Sept 2026
- Jönköping University: 2027/28 fees, Stockholm School of Economics: fees and PhD scholarship; checked 30 Sept 2026
- Swedish Migration Agency: study permit and permit length, new rules from 11 June 2026, looking for work after studies, work permit salary threshold; checked 30 Sept 2026
- Exchange rate: ECB, 29 Sept 2026, €1 = $1.1355 = SEK 11.3210; one krona ≈ $0.1003. Sums under $100 are rounded to $1, the rest to $10.
Shortlisting master's programmes for your degree, checking your transcript against requirements and preparing your CV, letters and application are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The university decides on admission, the university or the Swedish Institute on scholarships, and the Swedish Migration Agency on the residence permit.
Next steps
- Applying to Swedish Universities: Process, Documents and 2027 Deadlines
- Scholarships in Sweden for International Students: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
- Cost of Studying in Sweden: Tuition, Living Costs and a Full Budget
- Universities in Sweden for International Students: Types, Fees and How to Choose
- Bachelor's Degrees in Sweden in English: Programmes, School Certificate Rules and Real Timelines
- Swedish Residence Permit for Studies: Requirements, Funds and Steps for Russian and CIS Applicants
