Once you have completed gymnasium with a pass, you are entitled to apply to any institutions of higher education. There are 39 accredited institutes in all. Of these, six are core ‘universities’ in Sweden – Uppsala, Lund, Stockholm, Göteborg, Umeå and Linköping (in order of foundation year) and 19 are university colleges (although some confusingly call themselves a university). There are also a number of specialist colleges dealing with specific subject areas – for example, the Royal Institute of Technology, The Stockholm Institute of Education and the University College of Physical Education and Sports. Finally, there are also some highly regarded private institutions – such as Stockholm School of Economics – which are nevertheless open to all students without needing to fund it themselves.

The fundamental difference between universities and university colleges is that universities are entitled to award licenciates and doctorates without referral to the government while university colleges concentrate on the teaching side. Some university colleges have won the right to award post-graduate degrees too but they have to apply for each course. This means universities are much more active in research (which tends to be the most highly funded part of higher education) than university colleges. Must of the higher education system was reformed in 1977 to bring it all under state governance. Nevertheless, the divide between research and teaching institutions remained and there are increasing calls for a second review to address this issue.

STUDY IN SWEDEN
is a comprehensive guide, in English, to university education (aimed at foreign students considering studying for degrees in Sweden).
 

the public authority that oversees higher education institutions in Sweden.
 

One application for studies at higher education institutions.

HANDBOOK FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS
is produced by Högskoleverket and contains most of the information you need about your rights and obligations and the conditions that apply to postgraduate programmes.