Here you will find information about the rules that apply to a degree, how to apply for more than one degree certificate and the different degree cycles and titles.
Three cycles of degrees
There are first, second and third cycle degrees. Each level includes different types of degrees and requires you to have previous levels of education.
There are both general and professional first cycle degrees. Unlike the general degrees the professional degrees at KTH normally require enrolment in a full programme.
General first cycle degrees
Higher Education Diploma, 120 credits (two years of full time studies), including a major subject of studies totalling 60 credits at a minimum
Bachelor of Science, 180 credits (three years of full time studies), including a major subject totalling 90 credits at a minimum and within the major subject of studies at least 15 credits need to constitute a degree project
Professional first cycle degrees
Bachelor of Science in Engineering, 180 credits (three years of full time studies)
There are both general and professional second cycle degrees. Unlike the general degrees the professional degrees at KTH normally require enrolment in a full programme.
General second cycle degrees
In the Swedish system there are two cycles of Master's degrees. There is the Master of Science with 60 credits and the Master of Science with 120 credits.
Master of Science, 60 credits (one year of full time studies)
Of the courses included, 15 credits maximum is allowed from the first cycle. Not, however, courses already included in the underlying first cycle degree (for example a Bachelor of Science). In addition, a major subject of studies of 30 credits minimum in the second cycle, including a degree project of 15 credits minimum is required.
Master of Science, 120 credits (two years of full time studies)
Of the courses included 30 credits maximum is allowed to be at the first cycle. Not, however, courses already included in the underlying first cycle degree (for example a Bachelor of Science). In addition, a major subject of studies of 60 credits minimum at the second cycle, including a degree project of 30 credits minimum is required.
Professional second cycle degrees
Master of Architecture, 300 credits (five years of full time studies)
Master of Science in Engineering, 300 credits (five years of full time studies)
At third cycle there are two degrees:
Licentiate, 120 credits (two years of full time studies)
Doctor (PhD), 240 credits (4 years of full time studies)
All degree descriptions for first and second cycle degrees will include:
The exact number of credits the degree covers.
Descriptions of the expected learning outcomes of the degree. These should express what you are expected to know, understand, relate to or be able to do, to obtain a particular degree.
Each course should be defined as belonging to either basic or advanced level. Institutions must specify learning outcomes for each course within the first and second cycles.
For all first and second cycle degrees, a thesis is required. In the case of general degrees, the title of the degree shall consist of the degree as defined in the Higher Education Ordinance and a prefix or suffix to be determined by the higher education institution itself, which shall indicate the focus of the degree.
Two or more degrees
If you have a combination of courses that meet the requirements for both a professional degree and a general degree, you can choose which degree(s) you want to apply for. If you apply for both a professional and a general degree, a separate certificate is issued for each degree.
Two or more degrees of Masters of Science in Engineering may be issued only if all degree requirements for each educational programme (engineering field) are fulfilled and separate degree projects have been carried out. Courses included must differ by at least 90 credits in the concluding parts of the programme (including a 30-credit degree project).
Two or more degrees of Bachelor of Science in Engineering may be issued only if all degree requirements for each educational programme (engineering field) are fulfilled and separate degree projects have been carried out. Courses included must differ by at least 60 credits in the concluding parts of the programme (including a 15-credit degree project).
Two or more degrees of Master of Science (120 credits) may be issued only if all degree requirements for each educational programme are fulfilled and separate degree projects have been carried out. Courses included must differ by at least 90 credits in the concluding parts of the programme (including a 30-credit degree project). In cases where a master’s degree is not based on studies within an educational programme, courses must differ by at least 90 credits (including a 30-credit degree project).
Two or more degrees of Master of Science (60 credits) may be issued only if all degree requirements for each educational programme are fulfilled and separate degree projects have been carried out. Courses included must differ by at least 45 credits (including a 15-credit degree project). In cases where a master’s degree is not based on studies within an educational programme, courses included must differ by at least 45 credits (including a 15-credit degree project).
Two or more degrees of Bachelor may be issued only if all degree requirements for each educational programme are fulfilled and separate degree projects have been carried out. Courses included must differ by at least 60 credits (including a 15-credit degree project). In cases where a bachelor’s degree is not based on studies within an educational programme leading to a Bachelor’s degree, courses must differ by at least 60 credits (including a 15-credit degree project).
Two or more Higher Education Diplomas may be issued only if all requirements for each educational programme are fulfilled and separate diploma projects have been carried out. Courses included must differ by at least 40 credits (including diploma project). In cases where a University Diploma is not based on studies within an educational programme, courses must differ by at least 40 credits (including the degree project).
Courses which show a considerable degree of overlap with one or more other courses may not be counted simultaneously within the framework of the same degree.
Main fields of study and degree titles
To issue general degrees such as Bachelor or Master following the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance, main fields of study must be established. Here you can see the main fields of study and degree titles issued at KTH.
Please note that a general degree does not correspond to an engineering degree or the Swedish degrees Högskoleingenjör (degree of bachelor in engineering) and Civilingenjör (master of science in engineering).
The following main fields of study have been established by KTH's Faculty Board.
Main fields of study for first cycle degrees
English (main field of study)
Swedish (huvudområde)
Architecture
Arkitektur
Technology
Teknik
Main fields of study for second cycle degrees
English (main field of study)
Swedish (huvudområde)
Architecture
Arkitektur
Biotechnology
Bioteknik
Computer Science and Engineering
Datalogi och datateknik
Electrical Engineering
Elektroteknik
Industrial Management
Industriell ekonomi
Information and Comunication Technology Note: Not available after 2016, but if you have studied until 2016 you can still apply for a degree certificate
Informations- och kommunikationsteknik
Chemical Science and Engineering
Kemiteknik
Mechanical Engineering
Maskinteknik
Mathematics
Matematik
Material Science and Engingeering
Materialteknik
Medical Engineering
Medicinsk teknik
Environmental Engineering
Miljöteknik
The Built Environment
Samhällsbyggnad
Technology and Economics
Teknik och ekonomi
Technology and Health
Teknik och hälsa
Technology and Learning
Teknik och lärande
Technology and Management
Teknik och management
Engineering Physics
Teknisk fysik
First cycle degrees
English (first cycle)
Swedish (grundnivå)
Higher Education Diploma, 120 hp/120 credits
Högskoleexamen, 120 hp/120 credits
Bachelor of Science in Engineering, 180 hp/180 credits
Högskoleingenjörsexamen, 180 hp/180 credits
Bachelor of Science, 180 hp/180 credits
Teknologie kandidatexamen, 180 hp/180 credits
Second cycle degrees
English (second cycle)
Swedish (avancerad nivå)
Master of Architecture, 300 hp/300 credits
Arkitektexamen, 300 hp/300 credits
Master of Science in Engineering, 300 hp/300 credits
Civilingenjörsexamen, 300 hp/300 credits
Master of Science, 120 hp/120 credits
Teknologie masterexamen, 120 hp/120 credits
Master of Science, 60 hp/60 credits
Teknologie magisterexamen, 60 hp/60 credits
Third cycle degrees
English (third cycle)
Swedish (forskarnivå)
Doctor of Philosophy
Teknologie doktorsexamen
Doctor of Philosophy
Filosofie doktorsexamen
Licentiate of Engineering
Teknologie licentiatexamen
Licentiate of Philosophy
Filosofie licentiatexamen
The Degree Ordinance – how credits work
Completed courses at KTH are credited according to the ECTS system (European Credit Transfer System) where one week of study corresponds to 1.5 ECTS. The term hp (credits) is used interchangeably with ECTS and has the same value.
A study year consists of 40 weeks equivalent to 60 ECTS credits. The number of ECTS credits equivalent to each course is determined by the amount of work normally required to achieve the course objectives.
