Sweden – Qualifications Exempt from Assessment

At a glance

Qualifications from Sweden that are listed in the Academic Qualifications Table and awarded by a listed institution, with the correct abbreviation and from the specified year, are exempt from NZQA International Qualification Assessment for Skilled Migrant Residence (SR) applications under Appendix 17. The exemption also applies to work visa applications under WI instructions where Sweden is listed in Appendix 17. [S-sweden]

Definition

Qualifying criteria

A Swedish qualification is exempt from assessment if all of the following conditions are met [S-sweden]:

1. The qualification appears in the Academic Qualifications Table.
2. The awarding institution appears in the Awarding Institutions Table.
3. The qualification abbreviation is the one listed in the Awarding Institutions Table.
4. The qualification was awarded from or after the year shown in the Awarding Institutions Table.
5. The qualification is not excluded by the notes (e.g. honorary degrees, study completed outside Sweden, cross-credited courses, initial teacher training degrees, or qualifications awarded after 2018).

Academic Qualifications Table

Qualification	Abbreviation	NZQF Level	Points under SMC*
Kandidatexamen** (speciality may precede)	K	7	50
Konstnärlig kandidatexamen**	KK	7	50
Civilingenjörsexamen**	CX	9	70
Magisterexamen and Konstnärlig Magisterexam	–	requires NZQA assessment	–
Masterexamen** (speciality may precede)	M	9	70
Konstnärlig masterexamen**	KM	9	70
Licentiatexamen***	L	9	70
Konstnärlig licentiatexamen**	KL	9	70
Doktorsexamen***	D	10	70
Konstnärlig doktorsexamen**	KD	10	70

• Points shown are under the former Skilled Migrant Category (SMC). For SR, points are awarded according to the NZQCF level and qualification type under the SR instructions. The table indicates the NZQF level only. ** A speciality may be stated after the qualification name. *** Filosofie, Ekonomie, Politices, Teknologie, or Teologie generally appear before Licentiatexamen or Doktorsexamen; some Doktorsexamen may state the speciality after the name (e.g. Doktorsexamen i Odontologi) [S-sweden].

Awarding Institutions Table (summary)

A full list of recognised institutions and the years from which each qualification is accepted is available in the operational manual. Key institutions include [S-sweden]:

• Blekinge Tekniska Högskola (CX, M, L, D from 2017)
• Chalmers Tekniska Högskola / Chalmers University of Technology (K from 1999; CX from 2012; M from 2009; L from 2004; D from 1993)
• Göteborgs Universitet (K from 1999, KK from 2010, M from 2009, KM from 2009, L from 2004, KL from 2012, D from 1993, KD from 2014)
• Handelshögskolan i Stockholm (K from 2011, M from 2010, L from 2004, D from 1993)
• Jönköping University (K, CX, M, L, D from 2017)
• Karlstad Universitet (K, L, D from 2005; CX from 2012; M from 2009)
• Karolinska Institutet (K from 1999, M from 2009, L from 2004, D from 1997)
• KTH / Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (K from 1999, CX from 2012, M from 2009, L from 2004, D from 1993)
• Linköpings Universitet (K from 1999, M from 2009, L from 2004, D from 1993)
• Linnėuniversitetet (K, L, M, D from 2010)
• Luleå Tekniska Universitet (K, D from 2003, L from 2004, CX from 2012, M from 2009)
• Lunds Universitet / Lunds Tekniska Högskola (K from 1999, KK from 2010, CX from 2012, M from 2009, KM from 2009, L from 2004, KL from 2012, D from 1993, KD from 2014)
• Mittuniversitetet / Mid Sweden University (K, M, L, D from 2008; CX from 2012)
• Örebro Universitet (K, M, L, D from 2004; KK from 2015)
• Stockholms Universitet (K from 1999, M from 2009, L from 2004, D from 1993)
• Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet (K from 1999, CX from 2012, M from 2009, L from 2004, D from 1993)
• Umeå Universitet (K from 1999, CX from 2012, M from 2009, L from 2004, D from 1993)
• Uppsala Universitet (K from 1999, CX from 2012, M from 2009, L from 2004, D from 1993)

Application in decisions

An immigration officer must verify that the applicant’s qualification and awarding institution appear in the relevant tables and that the qualification was not excluded by the notes [S-sweden]. The officer must also confirm that [S-sweden]:

• The academic award certificate is in the original language; translations alone cannot determine the degree name.
• The qualification was completed in Sweden, not at an overseas campus.
• The programme does not contain cross-credited courses or papers.
• The qualification is not an initial teacher training degree.
• The qualification was awarded before 2019 (all qualifications awarded after 2018 require NZQA assessment).

If the above conditions are satisfied, the qualification is exempt from NZQA assessment for SR residence and WI work visa purposes. If any condition fails, or if the applicant claims a higher level than shown, an International Qualification Assessment by NZQA is required [S-sweden].

Interpretation & edge cases

• Post-2018 qualifications: All Swedish qualifications awarded after 2018 must be referred to NZQA, regardless of whether they otherwise appear in the tables [S-sweden].
• Cross-credited and overseas study: Any qualification involving cross-credited courses or study completed at an institution outside Sweden (including overseas campuses of listed institutions) must be assessed by NZQA [S-sweden].
• Initial teacher training: All initial teacher training degrees require NZQA assessment, even if listed [S-sweden].
• Honorary degrees: Always require NZQA assessment.
• Magisterexamen and Konstnärlig Magisterexam: These qualifications are not exempt; they always require NZQA assessment.
• Name and language: Decision-makers must rely on the original-language award certificate, not translations, to identify the qualification and abbreviation correctly [S-sweden].
• Points for residence: The table lists points previously assigned under SMC. Under SR, points are awarded according to the NZQCF level and qualification type, but the NZQF level remains the same. The list does not guarantee comparability to any New Zealand qualification and is for immigration purposes only [S-sweden].

Citations

• S-sweden — Sweden