grundnivå

Grundnivå is a term used in Sweden and other Nordic higher education systems to designate the first cycle of higher education, commonly equated with undergraduate studies. It encompasses programs that usually last about three years and amount to 180 ECTS credits. Upon completion, students are awarded a bachelor’s degree. The concept is anchored in the Bologna Process, which standardizes first-cycle education across many European countries.

In Sweden, grundnivå is defined in the Higher Education Act and the Higher Education Ordinance. Programs at grundnivå typically require 180 credits and lead to the degree of kandidatexamen (Bachelor’s degree). Some professional programs deliver a professional bachelor’s degree with a specific title, but they still constitute grundnivå education. After finishing grundnivå, students may continue in avancerad nivå (the second cycle) to pursue masterexamen (Master’s degree), licentiatexamen, or other advanced qualifications. Doctoral studies (doktorsexamen) come after completing advanced-level study and research training.

Beyond Sweden, the term is used in similar ways in other Nordic countries to indicate the first cycle of higher education within their national degree structures, aligned with the Bologna framework. Grundnivå serves to distinguish undergraduate studies from the more research-oriented, second-cycle education that follows, and it helps define credit requirements, program length, and degree titles within the European higher education landscape.