Education planning and administration handbook - Chapter 7

Last changed: 03 September 2025

Before and when a course starts

7.1 Early course information
7.2 Course application
7.3 Course admission
7.4 Start of a course
7.5 Course registration
7.6 Non-completion of a course

Shortcuts to other parts of the handbook

7.1 Early course information

Policy

In order to give students good conditions to carry out their studies with good results, it is important to provide them with clear information early on. This is particularly important for students with disabilities.

SLU rules

Course literature

The reading list must be available on the course page at least eight (8) weeks before the course starts.

Overall timetable

The overall timetable must be available on the Canvas learning platform at least four (4) weeks before the course starts. The timetable must include:

the timeframes for scheduled activities – especially compulsory elements, field exercises, study trips and similar – but the other content does not need to be specified;
dates, times and locations for scheduled exams;
the date for the first resit.

If the course includes study trip (or equivalent) costs, this must be stated four weeks before the course starts, at the latest. See Section 3.8 Student costs and reimbursements.

Grading criteria

Grading criteria must be available in Canvas no later than when the course starts.

Information must also be given on the exam timeframes and whether a student must complete the course within a certain time to receive a higher than pass grade.

See Chapter 8. Assessment (exams) and compulsory components.

Who is responsible for what?

The responsible department must:

ensure that the reading list, timetable and grading criteria are available before the deadline;
archive information about each course instance in accordance with the rules on archiving;

The course coordinator must approve the reading list and timetable, unless the responsible department has decided something else.

The examiner must decide the grading criteria. See Section 4.5 Examiners. Grading criteria for independent projects are discussed in Chapter 9. Independent projects (degree projects).

To the start of the chapter

7.2 Course application

National regulations

'A person seeking admission to first or second-cycle higher education shall apply within the time prescribed and in compliance with the procedures laid down by the higher education institution.' (Higher Education Ordinance (1993:199), Chapter 7 Section 4)

The Swedish Agency for Higher Education Services (UHR) coordinates higher education applications in Sweden. The application deadline for each semester can be found at www.antagning.se or www.universityadmissions.se.

Applications can be made at:

SLU rules

Normally, programme students must apply for programme courses for the coming semester. When no application is necessary, this must be stated in the programme information on the SLU web.

Late application

A programme or course may be open for application after the deadline if there is a possibility of getting a place. It is possible to start a programme or a course no later than two weeks after it starts, unless otherwise notified by the programme board (for programmes) or by the department director of studies/equivalent (for courses) to antagning@slu.se. It is possible to apply for course instances for independent projects throughout the course period.

No merit rating takes place, instead, eligible applicants are ranked in order of application.

Who is responsible for what?

Students must apply before the set deadline. However, certain courses allow late applications if there are places available.

During the second week of a course, there must be a check of which students are actually taking the course. See Section 7.5 Course registration. Students who wish to take a course but have forgotten to apply must submit a late application in order to be admitted and registered, provided there are places available.

Instructions

Applications can be submitted at www.antagning.se or www.universityadmissions.se, depending on whether the course language is Swedish or English. There are special course application channels for incoming exchange students.

Links

Application and admission

www.antagning.se

www.universityadmissions.se

To the start of the chapter

7.3 Course admission

National regulations

Central admission is handled by UHR by direction.

'Any specific entry requirements imposed shall be totally essential for a student to be able to benefit from the course or study programme.'

Exceptions

'A higher education institution shall waive one or more entry requirements if the applicant has the capacity to benefit from the course or study programme without meeting the entry requirements.'

Conditional admission

Students who do not meet the entry requirements when the decision on admission is made can still be admitted. However, they will need to fulfil the entry requirements in order to be registered on a course.

Reply to a decision

Students who are admitted will be sent an admission decision. If the admitted student is required to reply to the admission decision, it must include:

a deadline and
whether the applicant must reply via www.antagning.se, www.universityadmissions.se or in another way.

An applicant who has been admitted to a course and accepted it, but who does not intend to take the course, must decline as soon as possible at www.antagning.se or www.universityadmissions.se.

SLU rules

The SLU Board has approved admission regulations for education at first-cycle and second-cycle level at SLU. See Links.

SLU follows UHR guidelines and SUHF recommendations relating to the area.

Canvas access for conditionally admitted students

Conditionally admitted students are also granted early access to the Canvas course room. However, this does not mean that they have a right to be registered on the course. Before they are registered on the course in Ladok, all students who are conditionally admitted must prove that they fulfil the entry requirements.

Admission from waiting list

A student can see if they have a waiting list number at www.antagning.se or www.universityadmissions.se. If the student is given a place in the course, the responsible department must notify them via email. After receiving an offer to take the course, the student must reply within 24 hours.

Late admission

Normally, all course instances are open for late admission for two weeks after the course starts, provided there are places available. Late admission is then closed, unless the department director of studies (equivalent) at the responsible department request an exemption. Independent project (degree project) courses are generally exempt from this rule. For these courses, classified as EX, students can be put on the waiting list if admission takes place within two weeks of the course starting. The course coordinator in question then decides whether the student can take the course.

Who is responsible for what?

The student must:

accept or decline their place (within 24 hours for admission from waiting list);
meet any admission decision requirements no later than when the course starts;
prove that they have met the requirements to the responsible department.

The head of admissions decides the following:

admission for courses or programmes at first-cycle and second-cycle, including conditional admission and
entry requirement exemptions.

The department/equivalent must, if necessary, do the following:

when the course starts, check that the student meets the admission decision conditions;
inform the student that course registration is not possible in cases where the requirements have not been met;
contact applicants on the waiting list in accordance with the NyA web.

Instructions

The applicant receives an email saying that their admission decision is available under My Studies at www.antagning.se or www.universityadmissions.se. If the student is given a place in the course through the waiting list, the responsible department must notify them via email.

7.4 Start of a course

Important concepts

Each course instance has some form of course start that introduces the course. The start of the course can be organised in different ways and on a different date than the start date of the course instance.

Policy

In order to give students good conditions to carry out their studies with good results, it is important to provide them with clear information early on.

SLU rules

When a course starts

The students are presented with the course objectives and grading criteria, which are available in written form. See Section 4.5 Examiners.
All the pass requirements are clarified for the course instance in question. See Section 8.1 Assessments and grading.
The complete timetable is available in written form. The timetable includes:
- dates, time and location for regular examinations (tests, including written assignments and equivalent);
- any deadlines for higher than pass grades – see Section 8.2 Assessments and grading;
- date for the first resit opportunity, in connection with the course.
Students are also provided with any bonus-giving assignments and how to carry them out. See Section 8.2 Assessments and grading.
If the course includes extra costs for the students, this must be stated. See Section 3.8 Student costs and reimbursements.
Previous course evaluations (outcome and measures) are presented.
Information is also provided on how course evaluations are carried out; this includes selecting a student representative. See Section 5.2 Course evaluation.

If self-registration is used – see Section 7.5 Course registration – students should be reminded to register for the course.

Who is responsible for what?

The examiner is responsible for providing information on examinations and grading. The course coordinator is responsible for other information and for making the course information above available within the specified time.

The responsible department must archive information about each course date in accordance with the rules on archiving.

To the start of the chapter

7.5 Course registration

Important concepts

By registering, the student confirms that they accept their place in the course.

Self-registration means that the student personally registers for the course in Ladok.

Continued registration is done every new semester when a course runs over several semesters.

Re-registration can be done when a student needs to study (parts of) a course once again. However, students do not need to re-register in Ladok to resit an examination, but they must register for the exam as usual.

Policy

Self-registration is the default, except for introductory courses on degree programmes, i.e. the entire first semester of a programme. There are some courses where the department, exceptionally, is responsible for registration.

SLU rules

Registration

Normally, self-registration is open 5 working days before the course starts and the day when the course starts. The responsible department can decide other self-registration times. However, courses with applicants on a waiting list should close self-registration when the course starts in order to contact the applicants and offer them places.

When the responsible department registers students (i.e. when self-registration is not allowed), the student must be registered in Ladok as soon as possible, no later than 3 working days after the course starts or 3 working days after the student began taking the course.

Lost course place

A student who does not attend the course when it starts and who has not self-registered may lose their place unless they have notified the responsible department beforehand stating why they cannot attend the beginning of the course. Accepted reasons are listed in Section 8.5 Special reasons.

Late start to a course

If a student has not lost their place on a course that has started, it may be possible for the student to join the course after it has begun.

Re-registration

Re-registration is done subject to available places.

Who is responsible for what?

The course coordinator must decide:

if an admitted student loses their place – they must be notified by email;
if it is possible to join a course after it has started, after 2 weeks a decision by the department director of studies (equivalent) at the department offering the course is required for late admission or late registration. See Section 7.3 Course admission.

You must be authorised to register students on courses and to work in Ladok.

Instructions

If a student has lost their place, the message can be formulated in the following way: “The course started today. You have not registered or participated in the start of the course. In addition, you have not notified us that you could not attend. This means that you have lost your place in the course. Your place will be given to an applicant on the waiting list.”

To the start of the chapter

7.6 Non-completion of a course

Important concepts

Non-completion of a course means that the student drops out of a course. The student must submit a written document stating that they will not be completing the course.

If a student wants to drop out of a course within three weeks after the course starts, this is called early non-completion of a course. If the student drops out early, they can apply for the course at a later date.

SLU rules

If a student wants to drop out of a course later than three weeks after the course starts, they cannot apply for the course again. If they still apply for the course, they will be encouraged to contact the responsible department for information on re-registering and resit opportunities.

Who is responsible for what?

The student must:

personally report that they are dropping out (within three weeks after the course starts) through “Ladok student” on the student web;
notify the responsible department (later than three weeks after the course starts) that they are dropping out.

The responsible department must:

Report non-completion in Ladok for the student who drops out of a course later than three weeks after the course starts.
Have follow-up procedures for monitoring students who drop out of a course three weeks after the course starts. However, the student must submit their non-completion in writing in order for it to be registered.

Instructions

The three-week check can be carried out by sending an email to students who have not participated at all or who have been frequently absent/inactive during the first three weeks of the course.

Links

Approved leave from studies and non-completion

To the start of the chapter

Contact

Loading…