Swedish Language Requirements for Swedish Universities and the Tisus Test

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

Whether you need Swedish depends on the language of the programme. Our catalogue lists 1,130 bachelor's programmes in Sweden, and only 93 of them are taught in English. For the rest, Swedish is part of the entry requirements, and applicants with a foreign school diploma must prove it. This guide explains the routes. Always check the entry requirements on the page of your programme on University Admissions in Sweden, because each course can add its own conditions.

English-taught or Swedish-taught

For English-taught programmes, University Admissions says that in most cases the Swedish requirement is waived. You then need to prove English instead. The usual bachelor's requirement is the Swedish upper secondary course English 6, also called English Level 2.

If you apply to a programme taught in Swedish, you need the appropriate Swedish studies to meet the general entry requirements. The same is true for Swedish citizens: having Swedish as your native language is not accepted as proof by itself.

How applicants with a Swedish school record show it

Applicants with a Swedish upper secondary qualification need a passing grade, at least E, in Svenska or Svenska som andraspråk 2 and 3, or in Svenska or Svenska som andraspråk level 3. This is the standard that foreign applicants are measured against, so it is useful to know it.

Tisus: the test for foreign diploma holders

Tisus (Test in Swedish for University Studies) is run by the Department of Swedish Language and Multilingualism at Stockholm University. It is meant for people with a foreign upper secondary diploma who do not have a Swedish certificate. Points to know:

Recognition: all universities in Sweden accept it as proof of Swedish for admission.
Level: advanced. Stockholm University says that passing it requires Swedish equivalent to Svenska 3.
Dates: the test is held twice a year, in May and in October or November. The next date given on the university's page in October 2026 is 11 to 12 May 2027.
Where: in Sweden and abroad.
Results: an approved result works like a grade and has no expiry date.
Difficulty: the university says the overall pass rate is usually around 50 percent. For the reading comprehension part, the passing score is normally about 28 to 32 points out of a maximum of 45, and it is set after each test.
Cancelling: you can get a refund up to 11 calendar days before the exam, minus an administrative fee. The fee cannot be moved to a later date or to another person.

The fee itself and the registration deadline are not stated on the pages we checked, so look them up on the Tisus website when you plan.

Other ways to qualify

Stockholm University's FAQ lists these alternatives:

an approved grade in Svenska 3 or Svenska som andraspråk 3 at upper secondary level, at least E;
courses in Swedish as a foreign language at a university, which give the same university qualification as Tisus;
if Tisus falls on the same days as your IB exams, a Swedish A course in the IB, a special individual examination in Swedish at komvux, or Tisus on another date.

University Admissions adds that an applicant who lacks the required Swedish or English can take the courses later at komvux or a folkhögskola. The application deadlines are explained in how to get into a university in Sweden.

English results for English-taught programmes

For English 6 University Admissions accepts the IELTS Academic with an overall score of 6.5 and no section below 5.5. For the TOEFL iBT, results from 21 January 2026 onward need a total of 4.5 on the 1 to 6 scale and no section below 4. Earlier results were judged on the old 0 to 30 scale, so check which one your score report uses. IELTS General Training is not accepted. More on the exams is in IELTS and TOEFL for European universities.

Where to look next

Official sources

University Admissions in Sweden: Sweden, bachelor's admission: Swedish and English requirements, komvux and folkhögskola
University Admissions in Sweden: English language requirements: IELTS and TOEFL levels
Stockholm University: Tisus: the test, dates and recognition
Tisus FAQ: alternatives, validity and pass rates

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.