Implementation of the education

The duration of the academic year at KTH is 40 weeks. The academic year is divided into four periods.  Each period lasts approximately seven weeks with at least 33 days of study. Each period is followed by an examination period. In addition to the four regular examination periods, there are four re-examination periods: at Christmas, in March, June and August, immediately before the start of the academic year. Teaching activities may, if necessary, be scheduled outside the academic year. Details about the structure follow the general rules stated by KTH.

At least 90 university credits worth of courses must be taken. Of these, courses worth 30 credits are mandatory for all students of the programme. For each track there is an additional ca 30 credits worth of courses that are mandatory for that track. The remaining ca 30 credits are obtained by taking optional courses. The optional courses can be chosen freely if they are at the advanced level given by the department of mathematics, or if they have a strong connection to applied mathematics.  A list of such optional courses is included in appendix 1. To some extent, other choices of courses are also possible. In particular, upto 15 credits can typically be non-technical ("teknikkomplementära") courses.

Note that the choice of optional courses must always be approved by the programme director.

Courses in the first and the second cycle are graded on a scale from A to F. A-E are passing grades, A is the highest grade. The grades pass (P) and fail (F) are used for courses under certain circumstances.

The grades pass (P) and fail (F) are used for thesis works.

Before the second semester each student must select one of the four tracks: computational mathematics, optimization and systems theory, statistical learning and data analytics or financial mathematics. At least 45 credits worth of course work must have been finished during the first year (including the re-examination period in August) to be allowed to move on to the second year of the programme.

For students starting their education from the autumn semester 2018, previous promotion requirements have been replaced with special admission requirements to each course. Admission requirements are specified in the course syllabus. 

Course application

As a student at KTH programmes you have to apply for semester courses. The application is done via www.universityadmissions.se

Course registration

Students admitted to an educational programme at KTH must register for the courses they intend to study. Course registration is required for the examination and means that the student is active.

Under certain circumstances, and in agreement with the programme director, credits for previous studies can be received according to the local policy of KTH.

Students have the opportunity to spend one semester at one of KTH’s partner universities abroad.

For more information and recommendation on the appropriate semester for exchange studies refer to the International coordinator.

A 30-credit Master’s degree project is carried out at the end of the educational programme (usually the fourth semester). The purpose of the degree project is to develop the student's ability to perform independent project work, as well as to apply and deepen the skills obtained from the courses of the programme. The project may be carried out in an academic or industrial environment in Sweden or abroad.

The student must actively search for a suitable degree project; however KTH can provide some assistance with information on suitable points of contact. The choice of project must be approved by the master thesis responsible for the selected track.

To be allowed to start a degree project, a student must have accumulated at least 60 credits of the total course work, and enough depth within the selected track.

The degree project is graded with P/F.

A Degree of Master of Science is obtained after completing the degree programme.

Passing grades in all courses which are included in the student’s study plan are required.  The study plan must comprise 120 higher education credits which include a degree project consisting of 30 higher education credits.

KTH’s local degree ordinance can be found at KTH's website, www.kth.se.

Application for degree certificate

When the studies at KTH are completed the student can apply for a degree certificate. Application is done through the “personal menu” at www.kth.se