FAQ for prospective students affected by the war in Ukraine
Due to the war in Ukraine, we are receiving a lot of questions from affected students about the possibilities to apply to studies or continue their studies at Lund University. To address these questions, we have compiled an FAQ list that will be updated as we receive new information. Please note that we currently do not have answers to all questions and that some might change over time.
Lund University does not have a common process for transfers. In most cases, you need to apply to start from the beginning of the programme. A few programmes do, however, offer the possibility to transfer through an application to a later semester of the programme. Please note though, that we may not offer your subject in English and that proficiency in Swedish may be required to be eligible for the programme you are interested in. This means that your options vary depending on the subject you are studying.
If you are admitted to any programme or course at Lund University, you may apply for validation and transfer of your previous studies.
You can also apply for studies in our international application rounds. Applications for autumn studies are open from mid-October to 16 January. There is also an application round for spring studies which is open from early June to 15 August. However, please note that there are only a few programmes offered in the spring round.
See a list of Lund University degree programmes and stand-alone courses
The international application round for autumn 2023 studies was open for applications from 17 October to 16 January 2023. The next international application round will be for spring studies, which is open from early June to 15 August. However, please note that there are only a few programmes offered in this round.
Visit the links below to see when to apply for studies at Lund University and to see what programmes and courses we offer.
You can find all the ways in which you can currently prove your English level via the link below.
About English language requirements at universityadmissions.se
There are a few other options besides taking IELTS or TOEFL tests. If possible, you can also take the tests in other countries. We have a national application system in Sweden and we follow rules decided at the national level. Therefore, in order to make any new exemptions or conditions for applicants, we need a change at the national level. We are currently reviewing the options together with other Swedish universities. If we can offer any newly approved tests or new exemptions in the next application round, we will of course update our websites with this information.
We have a national application system in Sweden and Lund University follow the rules decided at the national level. Therefore, in order for Lund University to make an assessment of your qualification, you need to submit the required documents stated at University Admissions, e.g. officially issued diploma and transcript. Diploma and transcripts that are officially issued by your university are accepted. If the documents are issued in Ukrainian, they must be translated into Swedish or English by an official translator. The documents can be translated in Sweden or any other country, as long as it is done by an official translator, for example, a translation company or a person who works as a translator.
In case you have no or very few random documents, the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) may evaluate/validate foreign post-secondary qualifications, even if you are missing documentation. This kind of evaluation will however take some time and effort and is not possible to do within the timeframe of applying for studies.
If your home university had formally nominated you for exchange studies, please contact your coordinator here at Lund University. If you have not been nominated by your home university, but wish to study a few stand-alone courses, please follow the regular application process for studies. See the answers to the application question above.
It depends. If you are covered by the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive and left Ukraine after 30 October 2021 and come to Sweden and get a permit here on the basis of the Directive, you will be exempt from paying tuition fees during this permit period. However, if you are not covered by the Directive, you are normally required to pay tuition fees as a non-EU/EEA student.
You will find general scholarship information for international students who wish to study at Lund University by clicking the link below.
Scholarships and awards for students applying to Lund University
Also, note that students from Ukraine who are covered by the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive and get a permit in Sweden on the basis of this Directive would be exempt from paying tuition fees for their studies during the permit period.
Yes. Lund University welcomes applicants from all countries and the selection for our studies is based on academic qualifications. Nationality is not a factor when selecting students for admission.
However, please note that as collaboration has been suspended with state institutions in Russia and Belarus, we cannot currently receive exchange students from these institutions. Read more below.
Regarding the war in Ukraine – Information for students, staff and other
Please see our general information below about PhD studies and how to apply. We will update the information on our website, should any special arrangements be decided at the national level for PhD candidates coming from Ukraine.
If you are admitted to PhD studies at Lund University, you may apply for validation and transfer of your previous studies.
Although PhD students are normally not considered, we still want to recommend that you also register at Scholars at Risk. The network Scholars at Risk protects scholars by offering temporary research and teaching positions.
Questions relevant to newly-admitted students
These questions and answers relate to questions you may have if you were offered admission to Lund University.
Go ahead with the regular pre-arrival steps with regards to accepting your place, applying for housing, etc. However, depending on whether or not you are covered by the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive, your residence permit process may be affected, as well as your tuition fee status. If you are covered by the Directive and choose to come to Sweden and are approved for a temporary residence permit on the basis of this Directive, you will not be liable to pay tuition fees for your studies during that permit period. If you are not covered by the Directive or choose not to apply for a temporary permit on the basis of the Directive, you would, as a non-EU/EEA student, follow the regular process regarding paying tuition fees and applying for a residence permit for studies.
Please note, that if you are admitted to studies at Lund University, you need to be aware of the deadline to pay tuition fees for your studies. If you have problems paying the tuition fee by the deadline or if you are covered by the EU´s Temporary Protection Directive and will apply for a temporary residence permit based on this Directive when you arrive in Sweden, you need to contact Lund University before the deadline in order to apply for an extended payment deadline or register your new residence permit status.
Lund University's admissions process is strictly regulated by law and according to the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100) the general entry requirement for a Master's programme is a complete first-cycle qualification (Bachelor's studies) comprising at least 180 credits or a corresponding qualification from abroad. The Swedish Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100) does not allow Lund University to make any exemptions for a student with an incomplete first-cycle qualification.
Depending on the subject of your studies it might be possible to complete your first cycle degree at Lund University. See the answer to the question “I am from Ukraine and was studying there, but cannot continue my studies due to the war. Can I transfer to Lund University?”.
If you are covered by the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive and are approved for a temporary residence permit based on this Directive you would be exempt from paying the tuition fee during the permit period, as well as receive additional financial support. You will find more information about the Directive on Swedish Migration Agency's website:
If you are not covered by the Directive or choose not to apply for a temporary permit on the basis of the Directive, you will generally need to pay tuition fees as a non-EU/EEA citizen, as well as show the Swedish Migration Agency that you have the funds to support yourself in Sweden when you apply for your residence permit for studies. The funding requirement is currently around SEK 9000 per month. Read more here about the Migration Agency requirements below.
Studying and researching in Sweden – migrationsverket.se
Please also stay updated on any new information about scholarships for students from Ukraine by visiting the link listed below, in case any such decisions are made shortly. We will also contact admitted students with any updates regarding this.
Scholarships and awards for students applying for studies at Lund University
In general, students from Ukraine (non-EU/EEA citizens) are required to pay tuition fees for their studies at Lund University. However, if you are moving to Sweden under EU's Temporary Protection Directive and get a residence permit in Sweden based on this, you would be exempt from paying the fees.
If you will be receiving your temporary Swedish residence permit based on the Directive after the tuition fee payment deadline, you need to apply for an extended payment deadline in order to not lose your place on the program. This will give you time to prove your tuition fee exemption once you receive your temporary residence permit.
The conditions are that students who are 1) admitted to Lund university 2) will start their studies by the semester as stated in the notification of selection results 3) and who will apply for a residence permit in Sweden based on the EU:s Temporary Protection Directive, are eligible to apply for an extension of the payment deadline.
Please note that you must actively apply for this extension and that the application must reach Lund University before the tuition fee deadline. Contact the Tuition Fee Office for more information and to receive the application form: tuitionfees [at] eken [dot] lu [dot] se.
The application period for the Lund University Global Scholarship has already passed. Please take a look at the external scholarships listed below that may be available for you.
Questions about migration to Sweden
As an admitted student, you should normally apply for a residence permit for studies for the duration of your stay in Sweden. Please see more information about this process on the Swedish Migration Agency's website. In order to be eligible for this permit, you must pay the first tuition fee instalment and show that you meet the funding requirement of around 9 000 SEK per month.
Studying and researching in Sweden – migrationsverket.se
If you have left Ukraine after October 30, 2021, you will also be eligible to seek protection, and residence, in Sweden under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive. This would mean that you would be eligible for a temporary residence permit in Sweden. The permit would be issued for one year at a time, up to a maximum of 3 years. In order to be granted the permit, you should visit the nearest Swedish Migration Agency office or apply online through the Swedish Migrations Agency's e-service. Please learn more about the EU Directive and the e-service below on the Swedish Migration Agency's website:
Apply for protection under the Temporary Protection Directive
The Swedish Migration Agency's information regarding the situation in Ukraine
In most cases, the Swedish Migration Agency requires that an applicant submits a passport in order to show their identity. There are some exemptions, but so long as the person missing the passport doesn’t fear contacting their home country’s authorities, and there are authorities operating to issue passports within and/or outside the country, (for instance at Embassies), the Migration Agency will likely require the applicant to renew their passport before applying. If this isn’t possible for you, we recommend that you contact the Migration Agency directly.
The Swedish Migration Agecny Contact information – migrationsverket.se
If you have left Ukraine after October 30 2021, you will be eligible to seek protection, and residence, in Sweden under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive. Learn more about the EU Directive by clicking the link below. In parallel with this, you can also apply for studies in Sweden. See the question above regarding applying for studies. If you are not covered by the Directive, you generally need to apply for and be admitted to studies first and then apply for a residence permit for studies based on that admission.
See the question above regarding applying for studies. If you are admitted to studies in Sweden, you will need to follow the regular pre-arrival steps, including paying your tuition fee instalment and applying for a residence permit for studies. If you are a third-country national or stateless person with permanent residence status in Ukraine as of 30 October 2021, who is unable to return ‘in safe and durable conditions to your country or region of origin’, you may be covered by the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive (more information below). If you are not covered by the Directive, you will need to apply for a regular residence permit for studies as an admitted non-EU/EEA student.
In the regular process of applying for a residence permit for studies, you must have an approved permit before entering Sweden. You apply for the permit once you have been admitted and paid your first tuition fee instalment. Note that the permit processing time can be several months. However, if you are coming to Sweden under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive, you can travel to Sweden at any time as long as this directive is active and apply for the temporary permit.
Questions about practical matters
Lund University has a housing guarantee for non-EU/EEA students who are required to pay tuition fees. If you do not have a housing guarantee, you can still apply for different housing options but are not guaranteed an offer. Read more about housing options and the housing guarantee below.
Information about housing via LU Accommodation and the housing guarantee
General information on housing for international students
If you are covered by the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive, you may be able to receive housing with the help of the Migration Agency and the municipality in Sweden where you are located if there is an urgent need. Please note though that they cannot guarantee housing in any specific location. Any further information will be published on the webpage listed below so please check back there for any updates.