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No documents from your foreign education?

If you’ve completed your education programme with a degree but are missing documentation of this (education document such as transcript and diploma), UHR may still be able to assess your qualification. You need to submit other documents and information to us. This applies to post-secondary foreign qualifications.

If you haven’t previously applied for an assessment

  1. Complete the form "Background Paper - Description of foreign qualifications" (PDF). If you're not familiar with certain terms or expressions, it’s fine if you describe things in your own words.
  2. Be sure to complete the entire form and save it to your computer.
  3. Go to www.uhr.se/en/recognition/application and create an application.
  4. On the application, fill in your personal data and information about your qualification. You can also upload your required documents. 
  5. Upload the following documents:
    - passport or other document with your personal data
    - education documents (if you have them)
    - the form for a background paper that you completed (step 1)
    - other supporting documents that are required instead of education documents, for example: certificate from studies and/or work experience; photographs; academic papers/degree projects; membership cards from student organisations; or other documents that show you've studied. 

If you already have an account and have submitted an application

  1. Complete the form "Background Paper - Description of foreign qualifications" (PDF). If you're not familiar with certain terms or expressions, it’s fine if you describe things in your own words.
  2. Be sure to complete the entire form and save it to your computer.
  3. If you've received an email from us requesting that you complete your application, you can log in to the e-service and go to 'My pages'. You'll find a button with the text 'submit documents' where you can upload what's been requested.
  4. If you haven't received an email from us, you can always submit your documents by email to utbildningsbedomning@uhr.se
    - passport or other document with your personal data
    - education documents (if you have them)
    - the form for a background paper that you completed (step 1)
    - other supporting documents that are required instead of education documents, for example: certificate from studies and/or work experience; photographs; academic papers/degree projects; membership cards from student organisations; or other documents that show you've studied.

For whom does this apply?

This evaluation of foreign qualifications is an alternative for you if you are missing the education documents that UHR usually needs in order to process your application.

We can assess your education even if you don’t have complete documentation if:

  • You have a completed post-secondary education from a country other than Sweden at a recognised higher education institution/education provider.

  • You cannot obtain your formal education documents, such as a degree certificate and transcript.

  • You have good reasons for why you can’t obtain your education documents. This could be for example because you’re a refugee or that you completed your education in a country at war.

  • You’re prepared to put a lot of time into describing your education in a detailed manner based on the form and other documentation, according to instructions.

Please note that if your application is incomplete, or if the information you provide doesn’t match the knowledge we have, your case can be closed without you receiving a description of your qualification.

Difference between a background paper and a recognition statement

The assessment can lead to a recognition statement for your qualification or a description of your qualification. This depends on what documents and information you provide in your application, as well as UHR’s knowledge and reference material on education from the country where you studied.

With a recognition statement of a foreign qualification, we’ve assessed at least one official education document and recognised your degree with information on what it is comparable to in Sweden. With a background paper, we haven’t been able to review all official education documents, but we can describe your qualification from the information we do have. A description of your qualification contains information on what Swedish qualification the education your supporting documents say you have is comparable to.

Here is example of a recognition statement and description of a foreign qualification (in Swedish) 

You can use a recognition statement and a background paper as a basis for applying for a job, continuing your education or before an eventual validation of your skills.

Last updated: 8 February 2024