Overview
Tisus (Test in Swedish for University Studies) is a qualifying Swedish test for university and college studies in Sweden. It is meant for people with an upper secondary diploma from another country who plan to apply for academic studies in Sweden and have no certificate in Swedish. Tisus is offered at test centres in Linkoping, Lund, Malmo, Stockholm, Umea and Uppsala, and also abroad.
Who can apply
Linkoping University says you should have completed, or be in the last year of, upper secondary education outside Sweden. It does not matter how you learned Swedish, and no particular course or reading list is required.
Exam pattern
Tisus has three sub-tests.
| Sub-test | Time | Content |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Reading comprehension | 75 minutes | General comprehension (five texts, 4 to 8 questions each, multiple choice or true/false), 50 minutes; search for information in one longer text (15 questions), 25 minutes |
| 2. Writing | 2 hours 30 minutes | One text of about 400 words with an introduction, a longer critical reasoning part and a conclusion, on a topic of general public interest |
| 3. Speaking (in Sweden) | About 30 minutes | A reasoning conversation (about 20 minutes) and an individual task (2 minutes of preparation, 2 minutes speaking per candidate) |
The reading and writing sub-tests are usually held in the morning of a Tuesday and take about four hours in total. The speaking test is done differently in Sweden and abroad, and in some places it is held on the Tuesday or Wednesday. In reading, no dictionaries are allowed. In writing, you may bring a Swedish-Swedish word book, but not a thesaurus or other dictionary.
Marking and results
Each sub-test is graded pass (Godkant) or fail (Underkant), and all three must be passed. The components are equally weighted. In reading, each correct answer gives 1 mark, and the passing score is tied to a set proficiency level so it can change with the difficulty of the test. Writing is read by at least two raters. If you fail one component you can retake only that component.
Important dates
Tisus is held twice a year, in spring and autumn. Test dates published by Stockholm University:
| Session | Test dates | Application opens | Last application date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn 2026 | 20 to 21 October 2026 | 3 August 2026 | 11 September 2026 |
| Spring 2027 | 11 to 12 May 2027 | 22 February 2027 | 2 April 2027 |
| Autumn 2027 | 26 to 27 October 2027 | 9 August 2027 | 17 September 2027 |
Dates for abroad differ in application period. Seats are limited and a centre can fill before the last application date.
How to apply
Fill in the web form (in Swedish) and pay the registration fee. The form differs for Tisus in Sweden and Tisus abroad. The amount of the fee is not stated here; check the Swedish-language fee page of Stockholm University.
Is there a numerical score?
No. Each sub-test is pass or fail, and all three must be passed.
What if I fail one sub-test?
You can retake that component only.