Meritvärde

Meritvärde is a numeric measure used in the Swedish education system to quantify a student’s achievements in upper secondary education (gymnasieskolan) for admission to higher education. It represents the sum of grade-based points from completed courses, weighted by the courses’ credits or points (poäng). In practice, each course contributes a product of a grade value and the course’s assigned poäng, and all counted courses are added together to form the meritvärde.

Calculation and scope: The calculation relies on a national mapping that converts a student’s grade in each course to a numeric value, which is then multiplied by the course’s points and summed across eligible courses. Only courses and grades recognized by the national system count toward meritvärdet, and some programs may weight certain courses differently due to their subject requirements or level of study. The maximum meritvärde varies with the curriculum and individual course selections.

Use in admissions: Meritvärdet is a central component in the admissions process to Swedish universities and many higher education programs. It is used to rank applicants and determine eligibility for admission. Depending on the program, meritvärdet may be the sole criterion or combined with other selection components, such as results from national admissions tests or program-specific requirements. The exact rules and weightings can differ between institutions and over time.

Limitations and context: Meritvärde focuses on academic grades from secondary education and does not capture all aspects of a student’s abilities or potential. As such, it is one element in a broader admissions framework that aims to assess applicants fairly while accommodating variations in schooling and course choices.

See also: Betyg, Gymnasieskola, Högskoleprovet, Antagningssystemet, Universitets- och högskolerådet, Skolverket.