Study in Sweden with the IB Diploma
This guide explains how the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma is used for admission to Swedish universities, using only official Swedish higher-education and institutional sources. Sweden uses a centralized application system via universityadmissions.se for all university applications.
Last updated for the 2027 intake
Recognition
How Sweden Recognizes the IB Diploma
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma fulfils the general entry requirements for bachelor's studies at Swedish universities. Both the regular and non-regular IB Diploma are accepted.
Sweden uses a centralized application system — all applications to Swedish universities are submitted through universityadmissions.se. This means you apply to multiple programmes through a single portal.
Swedish university admissions are requirement-driven, not holistic. This means that missing a specific required subject will result in your application not being considered, regardless of your overall IB score. Meeting the specific entry requirements for each programme is therefore critical.
Merit Rating
IB to Swedish Merit Rating Conversion
IB points are converted to a Swedish merit rating on a scale of 10.00–20.00. Applicants can earn up to 2.5 additional merit points for modern languages, English and mathematics, bringing the maximum possible score to 22.50. The table below has been used since the autumn 2025 admissions.
| IB Points | Swedish Merit Rating |
|---|---|
| 24 | 13.18 |
| 25 | 13.94 |
| 30 | 16.70 |
| 35 | 18.57 |
| 38 | 19.38 |
| 40 | 19.70 |
| 42 | 19.90 |
| 43–45 | 20.00 |
Bonus Merit Points (up to 2.5)
Subject Requirements
IB Subject Requirements for Swedish Programmes
Swedish universities set specific entry requirements for each programme. IB subjects are matched to equivalent Swedish upper secondary courses. Meeting these requirements is mandatory — your application will not be considered if you lack a required subject, even with a high overall IB score.
Important: Swedish admissions are requirement-driven, not holistic. Missing a specific required subject means your application will not be considered, regardless of your total IB points. Always check the specific entry requirements for each programme before applying.
Official Source
Language Requirements
Language Requirements for IB Students
Sweden offers a large number of programmes taught in English. For Swedish-taught programmes, proof of Swedish language proficiency is required.
English
- English 6 (Level 2): English B SL with a language of instruction other than English
- English 7 (Level 3): English A1/A2 HL or SL; English B HL; or English B SL with English as language of instruction
- IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent also accepted
Swedish
- Required only for Swedish-taught programmes
- Svenska 3 (Level 3): Swedish A, A1, or A2 SL/HL; or Norwegian/Danish A or A1 SL/HL
- Many bachelor's and most master's programmes are available entirely in English
Application Process
How to Apply with the IB Diploma
All applications are submitted through Sweden's centralized portal: universityadmissions.se. You can apply to up to 8 courses and programmes per admissions round and rank them in order of preference.
Still in your final IB year? University Admissions advises you not to apply to the first admissions round, because its selection is in April, before you have final grades. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens can apply to the second round instead. Non-EU/EEA citizens are advised not to, as there is not enough time to get a residence permit; they can apply to the first round the following year, or for a spring-semester start.
Högskoleprovet
Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test (Högskoleprovet)
The Högskoleprovet (Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test) is an optional standardized test that can be used to supplement your IB merit rating:
Official Source
Tuition & Fees
Tuition Fees for IB Students
EU/EEA Citizens
- No tuition fees at public universities
- Includes citizens of Switzerland
- Small student union fees may apply (~SEK 50–350/semester)
Non-EU/EEA Citizens
- Tuition fees apply (about SEK 80,000–320,000 a year)
- Application fee of SEK 900 required via universityadmissions.se
- Swedish Institute and university scholarships are aimed mainly at master's applicants
Documentation
Required Documents for IB Students
Documents are submitted electronically through universityadmissions.se:
- If your IB Diploma is awarded in the spring you apply: results made available to recipient code "UHR" through the IB Results Service
- If you already have your IB Diploma: scans or copies of the original diploma including results
- Proof of identity (passport or national ID)
- Proof of English proficiency (if not met through IB English courses)
- Pre-IB transcripts if applicable (e.g., to demonstrate Swedish language study)
- Any programme-specific supplementary documents (e.g., portfolio, work samples)
If your IB Diploma is awarded in the spring you apply, your IB coordinator must make your results available to recipient code “UHR” through the IB Results Service; for autumn 2027 the deadline is 5 July 2027. If you already have your diploma, do not use the Results Service: upload scans instead.
Timeline
Application Timeline
16 October 2026 – 15 January 2027: First Admissions Round
The round for international students, with all English-taught programmes. Fees and documents are due by 1 February 2027, and bachelor's results are published on 8 April 2027. It is for applicants who already have their IB Diploma: if you are in your final year, University Admissions advises you not to apply in this round.
15 March – 15 April 2027: Second Admissions Round
The regular Swedish round, with fewer English-taught programmes. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens finishing the IB in 2027 apply here; the application fee is due by 23 April. Non-EU/EEA citizens are advised not to apply, as there is not enough time to get a residence permit.
5 July 2027: IB Results via Results Service
Your IB coordinator makes your results available to recipient code “UHR” through the IB Results Service.
9 July 2027: Admission Results
Second-round results are published on 9 July, and you reply by 16 July. Second admissions results follow on 22 July, and the semester starts in August or September.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions (IB Only)
Is the IB Diploma recognized for university admission in Sweden?
Yes. The IB Diploma fulfils the general entry requirements for bachelor's studies in Sweden. Applications are submitted through the centralized portal universityadmissions.se. Both the regular and non-regular IB Diploma are accepted.
How are IB points converted for Swedish university admission?
Your IB total points are converted to a Swedish merit rating on a scale of 10.00–20.00, plus up to 2.5 merit points for modern languages, English and mathematics. In the table used since the autumn 2025 admissions, 24 IB points = 13.18, 35 points = 18.57, and 43–45 points = 20.00. The maximum achievable score including merit points is 22.50.
Source: Antagning.se — Calculate your merit rating (in Swedish)
What IB grades are needed for specific subject requirements?
A minimum grade of 4 is required for a course to meet a specific entry requirement. A grade 3 is accepted in Biology, Chemistry and Physics at Higher Level (HL). In mathematics, a grade 3 counts one Swedish level lower: AA HL and AI HL then meet Matematik 4, AA SL meets Matematik 3c, and AI SL meets Matematik 2a.
Do I need to speak Swedish to study in Sweden?
Not necessarily. Sweden offers a large number of English-taught programmes at both bachelor's and master's level. For Swedish-taught programmes, proof of Swedish language proficiency is required. English proficiency can be demonstrated through IB English courses (English A or English B HL/SL).
Source: Study in Sweden — How to Apply
How do IB students submit their results to Swedish universities?
If you finish the IB in the spring you apply, apply in the second admissions round (University Admissions recommends this only for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens) and ask your IB coordinator to make your results available to recipient code "UHR" through the IB Results Service. For autumn 2027 the deadline is 5 July 2027. If you already have your IB Diploma, upload scans or copies of it to universityadmissions.se by the document deadline.
Source: University Admissions in Sweden — Autumn semester dates
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