FAQ for students affected by the war in Ukraine

Stockholm University does not have a common process for transfers. In most cases, you need to apply through the admissions portal and commence your studies from the first semester of the programme.

Dates for current and upcoming admission rounds is available on su.se/applicationdates

A few programmes do however offer the possibility to transfer through an application to a later semester of the programme. Please note that your subject might not be available with English as the language of instruction and proficiency in Swedish may be required to be eligible for the programme.  If you are admitted to any programme or course at Stockholm University, you may apply for validation and transfer of your previous studies. For more information, please visit: Credit transfer 

You can find courses and programmes that will open for application at www.universityadmissions.se 

Find more information on how to apply in the link below. 

How to apply step by step 

Dates for upcoming admission rounds is available on su.se/applicationdates 

Note that the second admission rounds are mainly for programmes and courses that have Swedish as language of instruction. 

University Admissions is the national admission portal for most universities and university colleges in Sweden. Stockholm University’s admission office assesses foreign qualifications accordingly to national legislation and our local rules. Therefore, in order for your merits to be assessed you need to submit the required documents as stated on the country specific information page for Ukraine in University Admissions’ website. 

If the documents are issued in Ukrainian language, they must be translated into Swedish or English by an official translator. The documents can be translated in Sweden or any other country, as long as it is carried out by an official translator, for example, a translation company or a person who works as a translator.

Any change to the rules regarding required documents from Ukraine has not been decided at this moment. The issue will be discussed at the national level and any change to the rules will be published on the University Admissions website. Meanwhile, you should make an application and submit the documents that you currently have. 

If you have completed your education programme and been conferred a degree but are missing documentation such as transcript or diploma, the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) may still be able to assess your post-secondary foreign qualifications. This kind of evaluation may however take time. For more information, please visit No documents from your foreign education?

If possible, you can take a test in another country. There is also the possibility to take some tests online, please see the link below for information about which online tests we accept. 

You can also meet the English language requirement through certain university studies. Find more information about which tests are accepted and how you can prove your English level through previous university studies via the link below. 

About English language requirements at universityadmissions.se

The general eligibility to master’s programmes is regulated by Swedish law. The general entry requirement for a Master's programme is a complete first-cycle qualification (Bachelor's degree) comprising of at least 180 ECTS credits or a corresponding qualification from abroad. 
Depending on the subject of your studies it might be possible to complete your first cycle degree at Stockholm University. See the answer to the question “I was studying in Ukraine, but cannot continue my studies due to the war. Can I transfer to SU?”.

Yes. Stockholm University welcomes applicants from all countries and the selection for our studies is based on academic qualifications. Nationality is not a factor when selecting students for admission. 

However, please note that as collaboration has been suspended with state institutions in Russia and Belarus, we cannot currently receive exchange students from these institutions.

If you are covered by the EU´s Temporary Protection Directive, left Ukraine on 24 February 2022 or later to come to Sweden to get your permit here on the basis of the Directive, you will be exempt from tuition fees for the duration of the permit. 
If you are not covered by the directive, you are required to pay tuition fees as a non-EU/EEA student.  

If you are covered by the EU´s Temporary Protection Directive, left Ukraine on 24 February 2022 or later to come to Sweden to get your permit here on the basis of the Directive, you will be exempt from tuition fees for the duration of the permit. 

In addition, to make it easier for those who were already in Sweden at the time of the invasion, the Government has adopted a legislative amendment. The amendment means that those who travelled to and stayed in Sweden between 30 October 2021 and 23 February 2022 are also included in the group who are entitled to residence permits with temporary protection, provided that they meet the requirements, e.g. being a Ukrainian citizen and resident in Ukraine. The legislative amendment to the ordinance will enter into force on 26 April 2022.
Temporary Protection Directive to cover more people

However, if you are not covered by the directive, you are required to pay tuition fees as a non-EU/EEA student.

Stockholm University does not have any scholarships for Ukrainians or any other nationals in particular. 

However, all applicants for master’s programmes from non-EU/EEA countries having to pay tuition fees are welcome to apply for the Stockholm University Scholarship Scheme. If a student is granted this scholarship the tuition fee will be covered, but living costs will have to be covered by the student. 

Note that students from Ukraine who have been granted a permit in Sweden on the basis of EU´s Temporary Protection Directive will be exempt from paying tuition fees. 

For more information on Stockholm University’s Scholarship Scheme, see: Scholarships

Stockholm University does not have any scholarships for Russians or any other nationals in particular. 

However, all applicants for master’s programmes from non-EU/EEA countries having to pay tuition fees are welcome to apply for the Stockholm University Scholarship Scheme. If a student is granted this scholarship the tuition fee will be covered, but living costs will have to be covered by the student. 

For more information on Stockholm University’s Scholarship Scheme, see: Scholarships

Due to international regulations, Stockholm University is not allowed to conduct monetary transactions with Belarus and Russia. You should be aware of this when you make a payment and be careful which account you choose to make the payment from.

Reimbursement is always made to the same account from which the payment originated. Consequently, we recommend selecting a payment method that works if a refund must be made. 

There are specific guidelines in Sweden and at Stockholm University regarding the grounds for deferral. These grounds are related to medical situations, legal requirements, or other situations that make it impossible for you to start your studies as planned. As for not being able to pay the tuition fee due to international regulations on conducting monetary transactions with Belarus and Russia, it is not in itself a ground for deferral. Read more about the rules deferral for international students.

If you will not be able to commence your studies and you cannot be granted a deferral, you are instead recommended to decline the offered seat. You are much welcome to apply again next year and declining your offer this year will not affect your chances of being admitted again next year.
 

If you have left Ukraine on 24 February 2022 or later, you will be eligible to seek protection, and residence, in Sweden under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive. Learn more about the EU Directive by clicking the link below. In parallel with this, you can also apply for studies in Sweden. See the question above regarding applying for studies. If you are not covered by the Directive, you generally need to apply for and be admitted to studies first and then apply for a residence permit for studies based on that admission.

Information regarding the situation in Ukraine and the EU's Temporary Protection Directive on the Swedish Migrations Agency's website

Temporary Protection Directive to cover more people

See the question above regarding applying for studies. If you are admitted to studies in Sweden, you will need to follow the regular pre-arrival steps, including paying your tuition fee instalment and applying for a residence permit for studies. If you are a third-country national or stateless person with permanent residence status in Ukraine as of 24 February 2022, who is unable to return in safe and durable conditions to your country or region of origin’, you may be covered by the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive (more information below). If you are not covered by the Directive, you will need to apply for a regular residence permit for studies as an admitted non-EU/EEA student. 

Information regarding the situation in Ukraine and the EU's Temporary Protection Directive on the Swedish Migrations Agency's website  

In the regular process of applying for a residence permit for studies, you must have an approved permit before entering Sweden. You apply for the permit once you have been admitted and paid your first tuition fee instalment. Note that the permit processing time can be several months. However, if you are coming to Sweden under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive, you can travel to Sweden at any time, as long as this directive is active, and apply for the temporary permit.

Information regarding the situation in Ukraine and the EU's Temporary Protection Directive on the Swedish Migrations Agency's website

As an admitted student, you should normally apply for a residence permit for studies in Sweden. Please see more information about this process on the Swedish Migration Agency's website. In order to be eligible for this permit, you must pay the first tuition fee instalment and show that you meet the funding requirement of around 9 000 SEK per month. 

Studying and researching in Sweden – migrationsverket.se 

If you have left Ukraine on 24 February 2022 or later, you will also be eligible to seek protection, and residence, in Sweden under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive. This would mean that you would be eligible for a temporary residence permit in Sweden. The permit would be issued for one year at a time, up to a maximum of 3 years. In order to be granted the permit, you should visit the nearest Swedish Migration Agency office. Please learn more about the EU Directive below. 

Information regarding the situation in Ukraine and the EU's Temporary Protection Directive on the Swedish Migrations Agency's website  
 

In most cases, the Swedish Migration Agency requires that an applicant submits a passport in order to show their identity. There are some exemptions, but as long as the person missing the passport doesn’t fear contacting their home country’s authorities, and there are authorities operating to issue passports within and/or outside the country, (for instance at Embassies), the Migration Agency will likely require the applicant to renew their passport before applying. If this isn’t possible for you, we recommend that you contact the Migration Agency directly.  

The Swedish Migration Agency Contact information – migrationsverket.se

There are different options depending on your Residence Status in Sweden and the situation of your family member. Please see the Migrations Agency details in this regard