Application Suggestions

Here are some suggestions that may be useful if you are thinking of applying to a Master's program here at the KTH. These suggestions are my own ideas, and have come out of many applications and emails I have received from students, with a lot of the same sort of questions and issues that you might be facing. Hopefully these notes will be helpful as you go though the application process. They are only my own ideas, and do not necessarily reflect official KTH policy or anyone else's ideas, or in any way establish a set of rules. They are just suggestions. If anything said here seems to conflict with official KTH policy, then the official KTH policy is correct.

How and when to apply

All application information, instructions, and necessary forms are on the internet. You can find them easily by going out to the KTH Master's Program web pages. Be sure to submit your application before the listed deadlines. There are two sets of deadlines. One is for students who are applying from within the EU, and the other for students applying from outside the EU. The deadline for students applying from outside the EU is earlier. Late applications can sometimes be considered, but that generally is only if there is room in the programs you are applying to. If the programs you are applying to are very popular, then that lowers the likelihood that there is room and that a late application would be considered.

Questions and who to contact

If you have questions about a program, you should definitely ask them and get answers. The important thing is to know who to ask. For questions about the curriculum, specific classes, or course requirements, then you should send email to the person listed as the contact person or director for the program. However, for questions about the admissions process, scholarships, or about application requirements, then you need to contact the KTH admissions office. The KTH admissions office is responsible for establishing and publishing the admission requirements. For questions about your application status, and whether or not you have been accepted into a program, always start by asking the admissions office. Note that the KTH admissions office is the only entity that can officially accept you into a KTH Master's program. The program contact person or director cannot by themselves officially accept you for study at the KTH, so it is not useful to email to these individuals a direct request to be admitted into a KTH Master's program.

Important components of an application

One of the most important things is to submit a complete application containing all required components. Incomplete applications cannot be processed, and so are usually rejected. Be sure to provide every item the application instructions call for. Another area that students often wonder about is, among all the required components, what are the most important with respect to getting accepted into one of the programs. The answer to this varies from program to program, and so is hard to answer. Speaking only for myself, I have the following suggestions. Certainly the courses you took and the grades you got in them, where you did your undergraduate work, and your English proficiency exam scores, if they were required, are all important and will have an impact on the success of your application. But by the time you are applying to a KTH Master program most of those data items are established, and there is not much you can do about them. However, there are a few areas where, if you put effort into them, it may make a difference. They all have to do with how you can be distinguished from other applicants.

Your CV is important and you should spend time writing a good one. A CV is an outline of facts that reflect your academic and professional life, as well as other important events such as awards, publications, and other relevant accomplishments. It should not just be a list of courses you have taken, as that information is available from your transcripts. There are a number of excellent guides to writing a good CV available on the internet, and it would be worth your time to read one or more of them. Be sure that your CV mentions all practical work experience you have had including internships or other employment. This includes volunteer work as well. A typical CV will be about 1 or 2 pages long, and should give an honest outline of who you are, and will help the reader understand why you are unique.
Your letter of motivation is extremely important. To me, it is possibly the most important component of your application. A good letter of motivation will explain why you want to be admitted into the Master's program you have selected, and why you to want to pursue further study in your chosen area. The motivation letter should also explain what skills you have, and what you can do. It should help the reader understand why you think you will be successful in the program. This is important because simply stating that you are a good student, or extolling other personal virtues do not in themselves show what is driving your interest in a program, or why you will do well in that program. There are a lot of good students out there, so it is important to convey what skills you have, and what you know how to do that will help you succeed in the program. Your letter should be well thought out, completely honest, and focused on the program. Most students will be applying to several programs at different schools, so there is a temptation to write a very general letter that can be sent to all the schools with appropriate wording changes. I suggest that you don't do this, but instead put the effort into writing a focused letter for each program and school you are applying to. Do not copy content from the internet into your letter, or put anything else in it that you did not write entirely yourself. A typical letter of motivation is about one page long.
Reference letters can be a help if you get them from the right people. A good reference letter is an honest assessment from another person that explains why you should be accepted into the program. The best letters will be written by people from your school or from a place you have worked at, and who know you and your abilities well. The person writing the reference should be specific and honest in explaining why they think you should be accepted, and should give examples of situations that support the reasons they are giving. The rank or status of the person writing the letter is not important. What is important is that they are not related to you, and really know something about you and what you can do that is relevant to your potential success in the program. Your best choices are instructors you have taken several classes from, and who know you well, or from job supervisors you have had who are familiar with your abilities and performance.

If you are accepted

If you are accepted into a program, and if you are not a resident of the EU or Sweden already, you should immediately go about applying for your student visa, and if appropriate, applying for a place to live when you arrive at the KTH. Both the visa and the housing process can be very time consuming, so don't wait to do them. Also, look out on the KTH website also for good advice on what you should do when arriving in Sweden, such as getting a person number.

If you are not accepted

If you are not accepted into a program, you should be able to find out the reasons for which you were rejected. It's important that you find out what the reasons are so that, if possible, they can be corrected and you can apply again at the next opportunity. One thing to keep in mind is that many different people take part in the application process at the KTH. If you feel that you have been mistakenly or unfairly treated, there are procedures to address your situation, but they need to be coordinated from the KTH admissions office.

Finally

Wherever you go to graduate school, have fun doing it!