Acceptable standard

CSN uses UHR's decision regarding acceptable standard as the basis for decisions on whether a course/programme at the post-secondary level abroad should be approved for student financing.

If you have questions about student financing for studies abroad, contact CSN.   

Find contact information on CSN's website

Questions about recognised courses/programmes

If you're wondering if a course/programme is recognised or not, you can start by searching for information at various official education websites. You can also consult the website of the respective country's ministry of education, or equivalent. If you can't find the information, you can contact the Swedish Council for Higher Education.

Send an email to the Swedish Council for Higher Education at godtagbarstandard@uhr.se

Grounds for determining acceptable standards

The basic requirement stated in the regulations is that the course/programme must be recognised in the country of study, and subjected to quality control through a national education authority. In some countries the recognition and quality control of education is carried out through a regional education authority or through an established accreditation organisation.

UHR assesses the type of organisation responsible for the recognition. If the course/programme (or the school as a whole) does not have direct recognition from one of these institutions, the course/programme can still be considered to have an acceptable standard if it is included as part of an exchange program at a Swedish university.

Studies outside Sweden

If you want to study outside Sweden, the education must be recognized by the country's education authorities. There are also other types of education that UHR can decide on based on other national or international regulations and UHR's regulations.

Additional requirements for France, Italy, Spain, Great Britain and the US

For many countries, there are sometimes additional requirements.

France

In France the course/programme must lead to a qualification (diploma) that is recognised by the state. Schools can also issue their own diplomas that we do not accept. Most examples of national diplomas can be found on the Qualifications Assessment Tool.

Find educations in France

ONISEP - L’Office national d'information sur les enseignements et les professions

Italy

The school must be recognized and the courses must lead to a nationally recognized diploma. Most examples of nationally recognized diplomas can be found on the Qualifications Assessment Tool. Schools can also issue their own diplomas that we do not accept.

Find educations in Italy
Recognized universities in Italy: UNIVERSITALY

Spain

In Spain, both the school and the training must be recognized and lead to a nationally recognized degree. Higher education programs leading to a nationally recognized degree are registered in the Registro de Universidades, Centros y Títulos (RUCT). Other post-secondary education must be registered in the Registro Estatal de Centros Docentes no Universitarios (RCD). Schools can also issue their own diplomas, which we do not accept.

Find educations in Spain
RUCT

RCD

Great Britain

For the United Kingdom, courses/programmes are approved in schools that are so-called "recognised bodies" and "listed bodies". Information on both of these types of schools is available on the UK Department for Education's website. Programmes leading to at least a Higher National Diploma can be approved.

Read more at the UK's Department for Education's website.

USA

The program must be accredited by a regional accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the US Department of Education. UHR may, in some cases, approve program-based accrediting organizations.

Search engines for accredited universities in the United States

Search engines for all accredited universities in the United States (including universities with national and professional/programme-based accreditation).

Search the database at the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) 

The Swedish Council for Higher Education’s (UHR) regulations

The Swedish Council for Higher Education’s (UHR) regulations (UHRFS 2024:6) state the requirements a course must fulfil to be of an acceptable standard. They only apply to studies outside Sweden. As a first step, UHR examines whether the course is recognised by the educational authority in that country.