Recognition of prior learning

Applicant who does not meet the formal entry requirements - First cycle

Applicant who does not meet the formal entry requirements - Second cycle

Applicant who does not meet the formal entry requirements - First cycle

You can apply for recognition of prior learning/exemption if you do not have the formal qualifications and grades needed for the general entry requirements and/or any specific entry requirements. This is based on the Higher Education Ordinance ch. 7 section 3, paragraph 5 and local regulations at Stockholm University of the Arts.

Prior learning

Prior learning can be knowledge equivalent of knowledge from upper secondary education, required thorugh other studies or work experience. To apply for recognition of prior learningen you need to submit a letter (with you application to universityadmissions.se) where you state how you have the knowledge equivalent of the general and/or specific entry requirements, even though you don't have the formal merits and grades required for the education that you apply to. You also need to submit documentaton of studies and/or work experience. SKH will make a comparison between the entry requirements and your studies and/or work experience.

Individual assessment

Application

If you do not meet the criteria above, after the last day of application, SKH will make an individual assessment of the application and the documents you submitted in your application. The assessment will be made according to the SKH's specific criteria for recognition of prior learning. 

Test

If you have applied to a programme and we can not assess from your application if you are qualified through prior learning, you will be invited to take an online prior learning-test. This test is part of the individual assessment. If you need to do the test, you will receive more information on how the test will be done. SKH will assess your prior learning from how you demonstrate that you can use your skills in comparison to the entry requirement. We make the assessment by using SKH's specific criteria for recognition of prior learning. We will make an overall assessment of your letter, the merits you show in your CV and how you have solved the tasks given to you.

Exemption

If SKH can not grant you recognition of prior learning we will assess whether or not we can grant exemptions from the entry requirements. SKH can only grant exemptions from the entry requirements if we estimate that you will be able to manage the studies. When we assess whether or not you should get the exemption, we look at the same documents as for the decision on recognition of prior learning.

Which documents to submit 

When you apply for recognition of prior learning/exemption, you should submit with your application to universityadmissions.se:

• A letter in which you apply for recognition of prior learning and where you justify why you think that you will manage the studies even though you do not have the formal qualifications and/or grades needed for the programme or course.

• A CV which has to be detailed and supported by attachments. You can support your CV with certificates from employers, or others who you have worked with, programmes, reviews, or similar. The CV should contain your professional experience within the art field, but also other professional experience that can provide the skills contained in the entry requirments. Trainings and/or courses are also important.
   
• Grades from the Swedish Upper Secondary School (if you have any).

Please note thay in some cases you will be invited to participate in the process before you have recieved notification about whether or not we have found that you have the necessary prior learning. That does not mean that we grant you recognition of prior learning.

The required prior learning

In upper secondary school one learns subject knowledge and generic skills, namely, how to put the subject knowledge to use. The generic skills are especially important for studies at the university level. One example of a generic skill is to be able to find and assess information. When we read your application for recognition of prior learning/petition for exemptions from general entry requirements, we will, in particular, assess that you show that you can:

• formulate, analyse and examine assumptions and solve problems
• reflect upon your experiences and your own way of learning,
• critically examine and evaluate statements and conditions, and
• solve practical problems and tasks

Applicant who does not meet the formal entry requirements - Second cycle

You can apply for recognition of prior learning, or exemption, if you do not have the formal qualifications and grades needed for the general entry requirements (a Bachelor's degree from an internationally recognised university) and/or specific entry requirements for a Master programme, or a freestanding course at second cycle level. This is based on the higher education Ordinance ch. 7 paragraph 3 of section 28, as well as on local regulations at SKH.

Prior Learning

An applicant may be considered to have acquired skills equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree, by other studies than university studies and/or by work experience.

Individual Assesment

Application

If you do not meet the criteria above, after the last day of application, SKH will make an individual assessment of the application and the documents you uploaded in your application. The assessment will be made according to the SKH's specific criteria for recognition of prior learning.

Test

If you have applied to a programme and we can not assess from your application if you are qualified through prior learning, you will be invited to take an online prior learning-test. This test is part of the individual assessment. If you need to do the test, you will receive more information on how the test will be done. SKH will assess your prior learning from how you demonstrate that you can use your skills in comparison to the entry requirement. We make the assessment by using SKH's specific criteria for recognition of prior learning. We will make an overall assessment of your letter, the merits you show in your CV and how you've solved the tasks given to you.

Exemption

If SKH can not grant you recognition of prior learning we will assess whether or not we can grant exemptions from the entry requirements. SKH can only grant exemptions from the entry requirements if we estimate that you will be able to manage the studies. When we assess whether or not you should get the exemption, we look at the same documents as for the decision on recognition of prior learning.

Which documents to submit

When you apply for recognition of prior learning/exemption, you should submit with your application to universityadmissions.se:

• A letter in which you apply for recognition of prior learning and where you justify why you think that you will manage the studies even though you do not have the formal qualifications and/or grades needed for the programme or course.

• A CV which has to be detailed and supported by attachments. You can support your CV with certificates from employers, or others who you have worked with, programmes, reviews, or similar. The CV should contain your professional experience within the art field, but also other professional experience that can provide the skills contained in the entry requirements. Trainings and/or courses are also important.

Please note thay in some cases you will be invited to participate in the process before you have recieved notification about whether or not we have found that you have the necessary prior learning. That does not mean that we grant you recognition of prior learning.

Specific entry requirements

Some programmes have specific entry requirements, for example work experience or proficiency in English and/or Swedish.

Proficiency in English

If the course or programme that you are applying to has English as an entry requirement you have to show that you fulfill the entry requirement. One way of showing this is if you have this qualification as part of you upper secondary studies. You are therefore advised to include your certificate from your upper secondary school. If you don't fulfill the entry requirement in English through your certificate from upper secondary studies, there are other ways of showing that you meet the English language requirement.

Proficiency in Swedish

If the course or programme that you are applying to has Swedish as an entry requirement you have to show that you fulfill the entry requirement. You can show that you fulfill the entry requirement through upper secondary grades. There are other ways of showing that you meet the Swedish language requirement.

The required prior learning 

The skills that you should show are listed below and are based on the expected learning outcomes for a Bachelor's degree. When we read your application for recognition of prior/petition for exemptions, we will in particular assess if you show that you can:

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the art field where you have been active, including knowledge of the theoretical and practical foundation in your art field, and knowledge and experience of the methods and processes in the art field as well as specialised study within the field,
• demonstrate ability to describe, analyse, and interpret the design, techniques and content within your art field as well as to reflect critically on your artistic approach and that of others,
• demonstrate ability to, within your art field, create, realise, and express your own artistic ideas and carry out creative tasks within given time frames,
• demonstrate the competence and knowledge required to work autonomously in the professional environment,
• demonstrate ability to make assessments, in your art field, on artistic, social and ethical aspects.