Chalmers only issues digital diplomas now but previously the diplomas were issued on paper. Which format you got depends on which degree was issued and when. The content of a certificate is the same regardless of whether it is digital or a paper certificate. Until the end of March 2024, all Chalmers diplomas were issued on paper, but thereafter diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's level are issued digitally. Doctoral and licentiate degrees became digital at the turn of the year 24/25.
Digital diplomas for degrees at all levels
All degree certificates at Chalmers are issued digitally. Instead of a paper certificate, you get a PDF that is easy to share and verify. This means fewer papers, faster and easier handling for both students, Chalmers and those who want to look at the degree certificates. Most Swedish higher education institutions issues digital diplomas.
Easier to manage and verify
That your degree will be issued digitally means that you receive your diploma in the form of a PDF file with an e-stamp instead of printed on paper. A digital diploma contains the same information as a paper diploma. When your degree has been issued, you will receive a notification via email and can then download your degree certificate as a PDF in Ladok for Students. The PDF file can be downloaded an unlimited number of times whenever it is needed in Ladok for students and therefore cannot be lost or destroyed as easily as a paper certificate.
The e-stamp enables the recipient to check that nothing has been changed since the download from Ladok. The degree certificate is only valid with the e-stamp and can be verified, by you or someone else, by uploading the file to Ladok's verification page or by opening it in an established PDF reader. The degree certificate contains an appendix with more information and a link for verification.
Verification of education and degrees
When did diplomas become digital?
1 April 2024 Bachelor's and Master's level
The first digital degree certificates on Chalmers were issued after the 1 April 2024. That only applied to first and second cycle qualifications, for example Bachelor of Science in Engineering, bachelor's and master's general degrees, degrees of Master of Science in Engineering and Master of Architecture, Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering and in Nautical Science, but not third-cycle qualifications.
1 January 2025 Doctoral level
Licentiate and doctoral degree diplomas continued to be issued on paper until the turn of the year 24/25. Between of 1 April 2024 and 1 January 2025 degree certificates at Doctoral level were still issued on paper while other certificates were issued digitally.
Difference digitally or on paper
If you have received a digital diploma, the e-stamped PDF file is the legal document. If you have had your degree issued on paper, the signed and embossed paper certificate is your legal document. Previously issued diplomas will not be replaced with digital versions.
However, if you have a paper certificate, you can share information about your degree digitally. You do this by retrieving a code in Ladok for students that can be verified by someone you shared the code with.
Verification of education and degrees
If you who have received a digital degree certificate want to make a nice printout as a memory, you can order it. However, such a printout has no legal value and cannot be verified. The same applies to the diploma from the graduation ceremony.
Paper printout of digital degree certificate
You got the paper original – we kept a copy
The degree certificate is a document of value and only one copy was printed. So there is only the one original that was sent to you. When the degree was awarded, a copy was taken of the original, which is kept in Chalmers’ archives. If you lose your original, you cannot get a new one, but you can get a copy of the copy we have on file. The degree can always be verified by the Office of Degrees.
The degree certificate sent by the Office of Degrees is the legal certificate of your degree. The diploma from the graduation ceremony has no legal value. A degree certificate issued on paper should also not be confused with printouts of digital diplomas, which also have no legal value.
