Here are answers to frequently asked questions about degrees. If you can´t find what you are looking for, please use the contact form on this page.
Why should I apply for my degree, and how do I do that?
The degree certificate shows the degree you have obtained at Umeå University. It is a valuable document for the future if you want to continue studying or do research. For many employers, a degree certificate is also a requirement when you apply for work.
You need to apply for your degree yourself. Read here about how to apply for the degree certificate.
Can I submit my application before I finish my last course?
You can apply for the degree when all courses that will be included in your degree are completed and the final grades are reported in Ladok. In Ladok for students under the tab “My education” you will see which of your courses are completed under the heading "Completed".
How do I change my temporary identity number in Ladok to my new Swedish personal identity number (personnummer)?
If you were not registered in the Swedish Population Register when admitted to the university, you automatically received a temporary identity number in the admissions system and in the study documentation system Ladok.
This temporary identity number will be printed out in the degree certificate.
If you now have been registered in the Swedish Population Register and received a Swedish personal identity number (personnummer), you must apply for a change from the temporary identity number in Ladok to the Swedish personal identity number. Your completed studies will then be registered correctly with your Swedish personal identity number and the change will also be updated at other Swedish universities that uses Ladok. If you apply for this change, your Swedish personal identity number will be printed out in the degree certificate instead of the temporary identity number.
You need to send us the form before you apply for your degree. The address is given in the form.
Do I need to attach any documents to my degree application?
Normally, you do not need to attach any documents. If we need any certified copies, we will contact you when the application has been received and the processing has begun.
Can I include courses from other Swedish universities in my degree?
If you have studied one or more courses at other universities in Sweden, it may be possible to get them included in your degree at our university. It depends on the degree requirements that apply to the degree you intend to apply for. When you apply, you select all the courses you want to include in your degree. When your degree application is under process, a decision will be made about which courses can be included in the degree.
The degree is issued at the university where you have completed your education (taken the last course). This does not apply if the universities concerned have agreed otherwise on the case in question.
Can I include credits transferred from my previous studies or professional experience, in my degree?
If you have previous studies or professional experience, you may have the opportunity to get credits transferred to courses at Umeå University. Depending on what degree you are planning to apply for, it may be possible to include transferred credits in your degree.
If you have completed academic studies abroad that you want to include in your degree, they must always be assessed by applying for transfer of credits.
Contact a study counsellor at your department if you need help with your study planning and what transfer of credits you should apply for.
You need to receive a decision on the transfer of credits before submitting your degree application.
Read here about how to apply for transfer of credits.
Can I get more than one degree?
Yes, if you fulfil the requirements for another main field of study or a different specialisation. You must make an application per degree.
What is stated in a degree certificate and what is a Diploma Supplement?
In your degree certificate, it is stated the title (for example Degree of Bachelor of Science) and the courses included in your degree. If the degree has a main field of study and/or a specialisation, that will also show in the degree certificate.
The degree certificate will be written in both Swedish and English and is free of charge.
When you receive a degree certificate issued by a Swedish university you will automatically receive an appendix written in English, a so-called Diploma Supplement. The Diploma Supplement shortly describes the education and the Swedish higher education system. The appendix aim to facilitate recognition and credit transfer for a Swedish degree when you are about to get employed or for further studies abroad.
How should I apply for a course certificate?
You don't need to attach course certificates when you apply for your degree.
Course certificates are issued by the department where you have studied your course. No information about your degree will show in a course certificate.
Contact the department if you want a course certificate.
How will I know that my application has been received and is being processed?
Once you have submitted your application and you are logged in to Ladok for students, you can click the "Degrees and certificates" tab to see that the application has been received. Your application will be found under the heading "Cases" where you can see, for example, the case number and when the application is being processed.
When the case is completed, you will receive an e-mail which either contains information about your degree or a rejection of your application. If the degree has been issued, you will be able to download the degree certificate from Ladok for students under the "Degrees and certificates" tab (applies only if your degree has been issued after 1 January 2024).
How can I add information or change my degree application?
If you have submitted your degree application and wish to change or add information, you shall leave a message to Infocenter. You can use the contact form on this page. The appointed degree officer will receive your message. Since your degree application is already being processed, you shall not submit a new application only to attach additional information.
Once the degree has been issued, an e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address you have registered in Ladok. You can change your e-mail address in Ladok before or after you have submitted your degree application. You shall not submit a new application to notify a new e-mail address.
How to change your email address in Ladok:
1. Log in to Ladok for students using your Umu-id. You can also log in with eduID or your account from Universityadmission.se.
2. Select “My pages”
3. Click on the “Change contact details” tab and enter the e-mail address you use
4. Click ”Save”
How soon can I get my degree certificate?
The processing time varies during the year depending on the number of applications received and the complexity of your application. If your degree application entails a decision on transfer of credits, processing time may be extended.
The processing time is normally within 60 days, but you usually get a decision earlier than that. Professional degrees with licence requirements from the The National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) are prioritised.
What happens if my application is not approved?
If your application for a degree is not approved, you will receive a rejection sent to you by e-mail.
You have the right to appeal that decision. The appeal must be in writing and sent to Umeå University within three weeks of the day you received the decision.
Learn more about how to appeal
How will I receive my degree certificate?
Once your degree has been issued, you will receive an e-mail with information about your degree and the degree certificate. The e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address you have in Ladok at the time the degree is being issued. Therefore, it is important that you check that you have registered the correct e-mail address in Ladok for students under the "My details" tab. When you are waiting to receive a decision on your degree, also check your spam folder in case the e-mail has ended up there.
If your degree is issued after 1 January 2024, you collect your degree certificate by logging in to Ladok for students and selecting the tab "Degrees and certificates". You can download the degree certificate as many times as you want. The degree is issued digitally and the degree certificate consists of an e-stamped PDF file. The degree is not issued on paper, which means that you will not receive a degree certificate printed and sent to you by regular mail.
Read about digital degrees and verification of e-stamped documents here.
If your degree was issued at Umeå University between the years 2019 and 2023, your degree certificate was sent to you as a PDF file in an e-mail message. Degree certificates issued before 2019 were sent on paper by regular mail. Only degree certificates from 2024 can be downloaded in Ladok for students.
What does it mean that my degree certificate is e-stamped?
Degree certificates issued at Umeå University after 1 January 2024 are e-stamped. An e-stamped degree certificate means that the recipient can control that it has not been changed since issued. The document is only valid with the e-stamp and verification can be done in Adobe or on Ladok's page for verification. The degree certificate includes an attachment with more information and link for verification.
Read about digital degrees and verification of e-stamped documents here.
I can't log in to Ladok for students, how do I get my digital degree certificate?
If your degree has been issued after 1 January 2024, you must collect your degree certificate yourself in Ladok for students. If you no longer have an active student account, you can instead log in with your BankID or Freja eID in to Ladok for alumni (you find the link at the bottom of the page). You can also use the contact form on this page if you want the university to e-mail you the degree certificate. Enter the degree in question and your name and date of birth (or Swedish personal identity number). The degree certificate will be sent to the e-mail address you have registered in Ladok.
If your degree was issued between 2019 and 2023, your degree certificate was sent to you as a PDF file by e-mail. This means that you cannot download it in Ladok for students or Ladok for alumni. If you want the university to e-mail you the degree certificate again, you can use the contact form on this page. Enter the degree in question and your name and date of birth (or Swedish personal identity number). The degree certificate will be sent to the e-mail address you have registered in Ladok.
Why is my previous degree certificate not available in Ladok for students?
If your degree was issued at Umeå University between the years 2019 and 2023, your degree certificate was sent to you as a PDF file by e-mail. Degree certificates issued before 2019 were sent on paper by regular mail. Only degree certificates from 2024 can be downloaded in Ladok for students or Ladok for alumni.
I need to prove that I have a degree, how can I do this?
Share information about your degree (verification)
Once your degree has been issued, is it possible for you to share information about your degree with any recipient, e.g. an employer. To do this, log in to Ladok for students, select the tab "Degrees and certificates" and click on "Share certificate". There you can retrieve a control code that you can share with the recipient. The recipient can use the code, together with your personal identity number, to see information about your degree and the courses included.
Read more about sharing of degrees here
Official transcript of records (result certificate)
An official transcript of records shows your completed courses and, if applicable, your degree at Umeå University and can for example be used to verify your study results for an employer. You can download an official transcript of records from Ladok for students under the tab “Transcripts and certificates” (include the option "Issued degrees/certificates" when the certificate is created). If you no longer have an active student account, you can instead log in with your BankID or Freja eID in to Ladok for alumni (you find the link at the bottom of the page). Certificates that you download yourself have a control code that confirms the authenticity of the certificates.
If you want the university to send an official transcript of records, please contact Infocenter. You can use the contact form on this page.
Verified copy of the degree certificate
If an official transcript of records or sharing information about your degree via the function in Ladok for students are not sufficient, the university can send a verified copy of the degree certificate that you have already received. The copy will be sent by regular mail. It may be possible to get the copy sent to you by e-mail. The copy will then be sent to the e-mail address you entered in Ladok. You can see and, if necessary, change your e-mail address in Ladok for students under the tab “My pages”.
If you want a verified copy of your degree certificate, please contact Infocenter. You can use the contact form on this page. Specify the degree in question, your name and Swedish civic registration number (if you don´t have one, please notify your date of birth instead), and the postal address you want it sent to.
If you order an official transcript of records or a copy of your degree certificate, this means that Umeå University will process your personal data. For more information, please read www.umu.se/en/gdpr.
Will my name be published in any newspapers?
We do not automatically send out information about issued degrees to newspapers. However, since the information is public documentation, names and degrees will be sent to the newspapers who request the information.
Can I get a new degree certificate if I have changed my name or Swedish civic registration number?
Normally, a new degree certificate will not be issued. This means that you can not get a new degree certificate if you have changed your first name or family name.
If you have changed your Swedish civic registration number ("personnummer") because you have been given protected personal data ("fingerade personuppgifter") by the Swedish authorities or have changed your gender affiliation, you have the right to receive a new degree certificate. If so, you need to verify this change with a certificate from the Swedish Tax Agency. You are welcome to contact Infocenter if you need more information.
Please note that if you received a degree certificate when you did not have a Swedish civic registration number ("personnummer") and the Swedish Tax Agency later provide you with this, you will not receive a new degree certificate.
Who can verify copies that I have made of my degree certificate?
By verifying a copy, someone other than yourself will certify that it is a true copy of the original. The certification need not be made by a representative of an authority (for example the university). The verification shall be written directly on the copy and include signature, printed name and phone number.
If you need Umeå University to send a verified copy of the degree certificate, please contact Infocenter. You can use the contact form on this page. Specify the degree in question, your name and Swedish civic registration number (if you don´t have one, please notify your date of birth instead), and the postal address you want it sent to. If you order a certificate for your studies, this means that Umeå University will process your personal data. For more information, please read www.umu.se/en/gdpr.
How can I get my degree certificate legalised?
A legalisation is a stamp that certifies that the signature on a document is genuine. If you need to legalise Swedish documents requested by or to be presented to a foreign authority you can contact a notary public (designated in Sweden by the County Administrative Board Länsstyrelsen) or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Government Offices of Sweden (Utrikesdepartementet/Regeringskansliet).
What requirements and main fields of study are established at Umeå University?
If you need guidance or study planning, you should contact the student counsellor at the responsible department (or equivalent).
Can I get my degree according to the Degree Ordinance of 1993?
If you have started your studies before 1 July 2007, you have the right to get a degree under the Degree Ordinance of 1993, but only if all the courses were completed at latest the 30 June 2015.
You also have the opportunity to choose a degree according to the Degree Ordinance of 2007 if you meet the requirements. If you need guidance or study planning, you should contact the student counsellor at the responsible department (or equivalent).