Education planning and administration handbook - Chapter 12

Last changed: 03 September 2025

Programme syllabuses and programme instances

12.1 Programme syllabuses
12.2 Programme instances
12.3 Temporary freeze on admissions
12.4 Withdrawing a programme syllabus

Shortcuts to other parts of the handbook

12.1 Programme syllabuses

National regulations

The Higher Education Ordinance contains course and programme regulations:

'Courses may be combined to create study programmes.
A study programme shall have a programme syllabus.
The programme syllabus shall indicate the courses that the study programme comprises, specific entry requirements and other regulations required.'

SLU rules

SLU follows the recommendations for programme syllabuses issued by SUHF (the Association of Swedish Higher Education):

Programme syllabuses must state:

the courses included in the degree programme;
the main structure of the degree programme;
the prior knowledge requirements and other stipulations other than general entry requirements that apply in order to be admitted to the degree programme (specific entry requirements);
when the programme syllabus or changes to it will apply and the necessary transitional regulations and rules.

The following applies to programme syllabuses for degree programmes at first-cycle and second-cycle level at SLU:

One programme syllabus comprises one degree programme.
Prior knowledge requirements (specific entry requirements) in order to be admitted to the programme must be listed.
Degree programme objectives must be listed.
The content and structure of the programme must be stated. The schematic overview must contain the programme courses and their level, specialisation, main field of study and scope. Professional programmes must state whether the courses are compulsory.
The specific requirements needed in order to receive a certain qualification must be listed. They must be connected to the document Lokal examensordning – regler för examina på grundnivå och avancerad nivå vid SLU (SLU’s examination procedures for first cycle and second cycle level – only in Swedish), which contains internal qualification regulations.
A preliminary programme syllabus must exist when establishing a new degree programme.
Programme syllabuses for new degree programmes are approved by the SLU Board of Education. See Annex 2: Annual cycle for course and programme planning.
The Board of Education has delegated decisions regarding certain revision of existing programme syllabuses to the programme board in question. See Who is responsible for what? and Annex 2: Annual cycle for course and programme planning.
Swedish must be used by public authorities in Sweden. Therefore, programme syllabuses must be written in Swedish. There must be an English translation to put into the course database.

Headings in an SLU programme syllabus

Xxx - programme syllabus, xx credits

The decision must contain the programme code, date the syllabus was established, the board that made the decision, the date as of which the syllabus applies, responsible programme board, SLU ID, etc.

Admission and entry requirements
Learning outcomes
Degree
Content and structure (schematic overview)
Transitional provisions and other regulations
Additional information

Who is responsible for what?

The Board of Education approves programme syllabuses.
The programme board decides on certain revisions of a programme syllabus.
Decisions to revise content under the headings “Content and structure”, “Transitional provisions and other regulations” and “Additional information”, as well as clarifications of the programme name, maybe taken by the programme board in question by delegation from the Board of Education.
The Board of Education takes decisions on changing the name of a programme (unless it is only a clarification), scope (credits), entry requirements, learning outcomes, purpose and degree requirements.

Instructions

Annex 2: Annual cycle for course and programme planning includes, among other things, joint timeframes for planning and decisions on programme syllabuses. Also see the instructions for programme syllabuses under Links for more information.

Developing a programme title

See Section 11.4 Principles for naming degree programmes.

Programme codes

The vice-chancellor approves a new programme → the Board of Education decides on a new programme syllabus → new programme code in the course and programme database. See Section 11.3 Proposing a new degree programme.
The vice-chancellor discontinues a programme → the Board of Education decides to withdraw the programme syllabus → programme code remains stored in the course and programme database. See Section 11.6 Phasing out a degree programme.
The Board of Education decides on a new syllabus for an existing programme → new programme code in the course and programme database. The previous programme is phased out, see Section 11.6 Phasing out a degree programme. The SLU Board decides to withdraw the previous programme syllabus → programme code remains stored in the course and programme database.
The programme board decides on a syllabus for an existing programme → new version of the programme syllabus → the existing programme code is kept but the version number is updated.

To make it clearer what changes a programme goes through during its lifespan, a short summary will be added to the syllabus for each new version.

The faculty office or other unit supporting the body taking decisions on a programme syllabus is responsible for submitting the approved syllabus for archiving.

12.2 Programme instances

Important concepts

A programme instance is a programme period and start date.

Policy

Potential students must be provided with information in good time. Therefore, both the programme syllabus and programme instance must be decided in good time before the application period begins.

SLU rules

A decision of which degree programme will be available for the coming academic year must be made by 1 July.

Who is responsible for what?

Every year, the vice-chancellor decides on the range of degree programmes offered at first- and second-cycle level (SLU Board's delegation of authority).

Instructions

Annex 2: Annual cycle for course and programme planning includes, among other things, joint timeframes for planning and decisions on range of programmes and courses offered.

Links

Degree programmes on the SLU web:

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12.3 Temporary freeze on admissions

Policy

A predictable programme offering is important for students. For this reason, SLU must strive not to freeze admissions without valid reasons and sufficient advance warning.

SLU rules

Any changes to the published programme offering must be made before admission to the subsequent semester. Currently, decisions to freeze admissions to a programme must be taken no later than:

1 March for second-cycle programmes taught in English starting in the autumn semester;
1 June for other degree programmes starting in the autumn semester;
15 November for other degree programmes starting in the spring semester.

A degree programme with a freeze on admissions for five consecutive years must be phased out, see Section 11.6 Phasing out a degree programme.

Who is responsible for what?

A temporary freeze on admissions is by decision of the vice-chancellor.

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12.4 Withdrawing a programme syllabus

Policy

A predictable programme offering is important for students. For this reason, SLU must strive not to withdraw or revise programme syllabuses without valid reasons and sufficient advance warning.

Withdrawing a programme syllabus must be done with existing students in mind.

If a new syllabus, with a new programme code, is established for a programme, a decision to withdraw the previous syllabus should be taken within a year of the last admission under the syllabus to be withdrawn.

National rules

Established programme syllabuses are legally binding, and a higher education institution is obligated to follow them. A student who has been admitted and subsequently registered on a programme has far-reaching rights when it comes to the possibility to complete their studies.

SLU rules

A decision to withdraw a programme syllabus also involves establishing transitional provisions. Such provisions must be documented in the programme syllabus that is being withdrawn and be published on the SLU student web, see Section 12.1 Programme syllabus and the instructions for programme syllabuses.

Valid reasons for withdrawing a programme syllabus include the following:

The vice-chancellor has decided to phase out the programme. See Section 11.6 Phasing out a degree programme.
It needs to be replace by a new syllabus because the programme’s name, scope, entry requirements, local qualification requirements or purpose has changed.

Note that withdrawing a programme syllabus does not automatically mean that the courses included in the programme are discontinued. If the courses are to be discontinueed, this must be done in a particular order, and the decisions to do so must comply with the applicable delegation of authority. See Chapter 6, Course syllabuses och course instances.

Withdrawing a programme syllabus means it ceases to apply after the period stated in the transitional provisions. The transitional provisions should reflect the duration of the programme unless there are specific reasons for a shorter or longer period.

Who is responsible for what?

The responsible programme board proposes transitional provisions.
The Board of Education takes the decision to withdraw a programme syllabus, and to establish transitional provisions, usually after deciding on a new syllabus or after a decision by the vice-chancellor to phase out a programme.
The responsible programme director of studies (or a person appointed by the programme board) is responsible for informing the students concerned.

Instructions

Decision to withdraw a programme syllabus

A proposal to withdraw a programme syllabus (with a programme code) must contain the following:

a short justification
a proposal for transitional provisions.

The reason(s) for withdrawing the syllabus must be stated in the decision. The following must be added to the programme syllabus in question:

The date the decision to withdraw the syllabus was taken.
Transitional provisions detailing how students who are already registered but have not yet completed all components can fulfil the qualification requirements.
The final phase-out date, i.e. the date as of which the programme syllabus ceases to apply.
Any decision on transitional provisions must comply with the instructions for programme syllabuses at SLU.

Information to the students concerned

Students must be informed in writing, and the information must be entered in the register. The information must also be posted on the programme’s page on the student web. See Section 11.6 Phase out a degree programme. The following must be included:

The date the decision to withdraw the programme syllabus was taken and the phase-out date, i.e. the date as of which the syllabus ceases to apply.
When the final course instances will be offered under the existing programme syllabus.
Students who are not actively taking the programme but who wish to start studying again should be encouraged to contact the programme director of studies or a study advisor. This is done to, if necessary, set up an individual study plan and/or apply for exam resits (equivalent).
Information explaining that students risk missing the opportunity to complete the programme and fulfil the qualification requirements if they contact the university too late.

If it is not possible to offer programme courses to students who return from approved leave from studies, or students with an adapted study pace, they must be offered either an individual study plan or another way of fulfilling the qualification requirements.

'Students concerned' means:

active programme students (registered on a programme courses during the current academic year);
programme students who have been granted deferment of studies or leave from studies (with a guaranteed place);
programme students who have been registered on a programme courses in the past five academic years (including the current academic year) without having applied for non-completion and who have not completed their degree.

Study advisors can help other students, e.g. students with longer periods of approved leave from studies without special reasons, with advice on options for fulfilling the qualification requirements.

The programme syllabus in the administrative education systems

When a decision is taken to withdraw a programme syllabus (with a programme code), the following applies:

The decision date and the transitional provisions are added to the programme syllabus in the course and programme database.
No more programme instances can be created for the programme.
No more new students may be registered on the programme after the final programme instance. However, students may be admitted to latter parts of the programme as long as courses are offered in accordance with the programme’s course schedule.

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