NIMM stands for Nordiska Institutet för Manuell Medicin (the Nordic Institute of Manual Medicine). It brings together Naprapathögskolan (the School of Naprapathy), Kiropraktorhögskolan (the School of Chiropractic, formerly Kiropraktorakademin) and Osteopathögskolan (the School of Osteopathy) in a shared education and research environment for manual medicine in Stockholm.
We train the naprapaths, chiropractors and osteopaths of the future, with a focus on clinical competence, practical skills, science and professional responsibility in meeting patients. The programmes have been offered since 1970. Today NIMM is the largest college of manual medicine in the Nordics and the only one in the world that brings together naprapathy, chiropractic and osteopathy in a single, cohesive educational environment.
Naprapathögskolan is part of NIMM. Under the name NIMM – Nordiska Institutet för Manuell Medicin – three schools are today brought together: Naprapathögskolan (School of Naprapathy), Kiropraktorhögskolan (School of Chiropractic, formerly Kiropraktorakademin) and Osteopathögskolan (School of Osteopathy). The three programmes share premises, teachers and a student clinic, and a common foundation during the first three years, while the fourth year is profession-specific.
At NIMM you can study the Programme in Naprapathy, the Programme in Chiropractic or the Programme in Osteopathy. All three are four-year, full-time programmes in manual medicine leading to a Degree in Naprapathy, a Degree in Chiropractic or a Degree in Osteopathy respectively.
The first three years give the programmes a shared foundation covering, among other things, anatomy, physiology, medical subjects, pain, diagnostics, manual treatment, rehabilitation, scientific method, professional development and clinical training. The fourth year is profession-specific and provides in-depth study in naprapathy, chiropractic or osteopathy.
All three programmes are four years of full-time study and comprise 240 credits, where 60 credits correspond to one academic year. The fourth year, 60 credits, is at a level corresponding to advanced level.
Theoretical and practical teaching mainly takes place at NIMM's premises at Kräftriket 23 A in Stockholm – a scenic setting close to both city life and green spaces. Campus Albano is right next door, which places NIMM in the heart of Stockholm's academic centre, with student housing, restaurants and a lively campus life.
Clinical teaching takes place at NIMM Clinic, Observatoriegatan 17 near Odenplan in central Stockholm, as well as through external placements.
No. The programmes are taught on site in Stockholm. There are some digital elements, but the programmes are built around physical attendance, practical skills training and clinical work with patients.
The language of instruction is Swedish. Lectures in English may occur, and course literature is both in Swedish and in English.
Yes. NIMM is a private institution and the programmes charge tuition fees. NIMM awards its own professional qualifications – a Degree in Naprapathy, a Degree in Chiropractic and a Degree in Osteopathy – and works with curricula, course syllabi, examinations and quality assurance according to higher-education principles. The programmes are not part of the Swedish state higher-education system, so you apply directly to NIMM rather than through antagning.se (Sweden's central admissions system).
NIMM awards its own professional qualifications: a Degree in Naprapathy, a Degree in Chiropractic and a Degree in Osteopathy. With a Degree in Naprapathy or Chiropractic from NIMM, you can apply for licensure with the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) and the Norwegian Directorate of Health (Helsedirektoratet), after completing the required practical service. NIMM's long-term goal is for the programmes to be offered with an academic degree, either through validation by a foreign higher-education institution or through degree-awarding powers within the Swedish higher-education system.
Yes. NIMM is under state supervision, with the Swedish Higher Education Authority (Universitetskanslersämbetet, UKÄ) as the supervisory authority. All three degree programmes have been reviewed by UKÄ in recent years, and UKÄ has assessed that they meet the quality requirements that apply to programmes at universities and university colleges: the Chiropractic Programme in 2022, the Naprapathy Programme in 2024 and the Osteopathy Programme in 2026. In the review of the Naprapathy Programme, the programme received a pass result – graded satisfactory – on all assessment criteria: the programme itself, staff, learning environment, resources, governing documents and the assurance of learning outcomes. Read UKÄ's decision and the assessment panel's statement, as well as UKÄ's decisions on the Chiropractic Programme and the Osteopathy Programme, or read more under Kvalitetsarbete (Quality Assurance).
Yes. NIMM conducts its own research and collaborates with other higher-education institutions and research groups, including Sophiahemmet University and the Institute of Environmental Medicine at Karolinska Institutet. The research is interdisciplinary and concerns primarily manual medicine, musculoskeletal health and sports medicine, but also education, epidemiology and public health science.
The research is linked to teaching. As a student you have access to research-trained teachers, including through the recurring forum "Forskarverkstan" ("the Research Workshop"), and you carry out an independent research project in year three and a final thesis in year four. Read more under Forskning (Research).
DN stands for "Doctor of Naprapathy" and is a historical class-year designation at Naprapathögskolan, where the first class enrolled in 1970 was DN1. The corresponding designations DC ("Doctor of Chiropractic") and DO ("Doctor of Osteopathy") are used for the chiropractic and osteopathy classes respectively. The class-year codes are used only for administrative purposes and do not affect the content of the programme, the degree, or the licensure process.
Manual medicine is a field in which the examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of conditions affecting the muscles, joints, nerves and musculoskeletal system is central. Treatment is often carried out with the hands – for example through manipulation, mobilisation, soft-tissue treatment, rehabilitative exercises and advice.
A naprapath examines, diagnoses, treats and prevents conditions affecting the muscles and joints. Naprapaths often work with the back, neck, shoulders, hips, knees, sports injuries and strain-related complaints.
Treatment can include manipulation, mobilisation, trigger-point therapy, soft-tissue treatment, stretching, rehabilitative exercises and advice. The goal is to reduce pain, improve function and help the patient return to everyday life, work or sport. Read more about naprapathy.
A chiropractor examines, diagnoses, treats and prevents conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system, often with particular focus on the spine and the body's joints. Within the Chiropractic Programme, students also specialise in areas such as diagnostic imaging and laboratory testing.
Chiropractors use manual techniques such as joint adjustment, mobilisation, soft-tissue treatment and rehabilitation. Modern chiropractic is based on clinical reasoning, patient safety, evidence-based methods and a person-centred approach. Read more about chiropractic.
An osteopath works with manual medicine with a focus on the whole person and on the interplay between the body's structure, function and movement. Osteopaths primarily assess and treat conditions related to the musculoskeletal system, and combine manual techniques with health advice and support for self-care. The programme also emphasises the relationship between different body systems, clinical reasoning and person-centred care.
At NIMM, osteopathy is developed as a modern, evidence-informed field of study in which osteopathy's historical roots are combined with current knowledge in musculoskeletal health, pain, clinical method and patient safety. Read more about osteopathy.
The similarities are greater than the differences. All three examine, diagnose and treat conditions in the muscles and joints using a broad range of manual techniques – such as joint manipulation, mobilisation, massage, trigger-point therapy and individually adapted rehabilitation. The differences that exist relate mainly to different professional identities, profiling and professional cultures that have developed over time, with different emphases in explanatory models and clinical focus – and to how the professions are regulated.
During the fourth year at NIMM, students specialise in their own profession:
Regulation differs between the professions. In Sweden, naprapath and chiropractor are licensed professions. This means they are subject to healthcare legislation and supervised by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen). Since 2006, both "naprapath" and "chiropractor" have been protected professional titles. Naprapathy has a particularly strong Nordic foundation and has also been a licensed profession in Norway since 2022.
Chiropractic is represented globally by the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC), with member organisations in over 90 countries and official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO). Chiropractic is today regulated in 20 European countries.
Osteopath is not yet a licensed profession in Sweden, but the profession is regulated in Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway. Internationally, osteopathy is represented by the Osteopathic International Alliance (OIA), which has had official relations with WHO since 2018. There are around 89,000 registered osteopaths worldwide, and the profession is recognised as a healthcare profession in 16 countries and regulated by law in 15. In Europe there is also a common standard for osteopathic care, EN 16686.
No. Naprapath, chiropractor and osteopath are distinct professions within manual medicine, not medical degrees. The programmes include substantial blocks of medical science, but do not grant the right to prescribe medication. A key part of professional competence is recognising conditions that need further investigation and referring the patient to a doctor or other healthcare provider.
Naprapath and chiropractor are licensed professions in Sweden and are supervised by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen). Osteopath is not currently a licensed profession in Sweden.
Yes. Naprapath and chiropractor are licensed professions in both Sweden and Norway. In Sweden, licensure was introduced for chiropractors in 1989 and for naprapaths in 1994, by decisions of the Riksdag, and since 2006 both have been protected professional titles. In Norway, chiropractors have been licensed since 1989 and naprapaths since 2022.
In Sweden, licensure requires a completed four-year programme followed by one year of supervised practical service. You then apply for licensure with the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen). In Norway, you apply for licensure with the Norwegian Directorate of Health (Helsedirektoratet). Chiropractors who have not completed their practical service in Sweden do one year of turnus in Norway with a licence (lisens) from Helsedirektoratet. If you are a naprapath, Helsedirektoratet decides whether you need to complete practical service.
No, not at present. Sweden is the only Nordic country where osteopath is not a regulated profession – it is regulated in Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway.
The question is, however, a live one. The government inquiry Strengthened Patient Safety through the Right Competence (SOU 2025:63) assesses that osteopaths meet several of the criteria for licensure, but that there is no Swedish higher-education programme with a scientific foundation. NIMM's Osteopathy Programme has been developed to meet exactly that need, and in 2026 UKÄ assessed that the programme meets the quality requirements that apply to programmes at universities and university colleges. No decision to introduce licensure has yet been made.
Both work with health, function and rehabilitation, but the focus of the programmes differs.
Within manual medicine there are three professions: naprapathy, chiropractic and osteopathy. At NIMM these are four-year programmes in which manual medicine is the core subject throughout the programme. Students are trained early and continuously in examination, diagnostics, manual treatment, clinical reasoning and patient encounters.
Physiotherapists are trained through a three-year university programme and work broadly with function, exercise, rehabilitation, disease-related conditions and return to activity. Some physiotherapists pursue further training in orthopaedic manual therapy (OMT) and then work more specifically with manual methods.
Neither is better than the other. They are different professions with different educational pathways, traditions and roles in healthcare.
Read more in our comparisons Naprapath or physiotherapist?, Chiropractor or physiotherapist? and Osteopath or physiotherapist?
The difference lies mainly in the emphasis of the programmes. The Programme in Naprapathy at NIMM takes four years, with manual medicine as the main subject throughout, while the physiotherapy programme in Sweden takes three years and is more broadly focused on movement, function and rehabilitation.
Naprapaths examine, diagnose and treat mainly problems affecting the muscles, joints and musculoskeletal system, such as back and neck pain, overuse injuries and sports injuries, using manual treatment and rehabilitation. Physiotherapists, formerly known in Sweden as sjukgymnaster, work with many patient groups, including people with neurological and other disease-related conditions.
Both are licensed professions in Sweden and Norway. Read the full comparison of naprapaths and physiotherapists.
The difference lies mainly in the emphasis of the programmes. The Programme in Chiropractic at NIMM takes four years and focuses on neuromusculoskeletal diagnosis and manual treatment, with particular depth in the spine and the body’s joints, while the physiotherapy programme in Sweden takes three years and is more broadly focused on movement, function and rehabilitation.
Chiropractors examine and assess musculoskeletal problems, make differential diagnostic judgements and treat with methods including joint mobilisation, manipulation, soft tissue treatment and rehabilitation. Physiotherapists, formerly known in Sweden as sjukgymnaster, work with many patient groups, including people with neurological and other disease-related conditions.
Both are licensed professions in Sweden and Norway. Read the full comparison of chiropractors and physiotherapists.
The difference lies mainly in the emphasis of the programmes. The Programme in Osteopathy at NIMM takes four years and focuses on the examination, assessment and manual treatment of problems affecting muscles and joints, with a person-centred, holistic perspective, while the physiotherapy programme in Sweden takes three years and is more broadly focused on movement, function and rehabilitation.
Osteopaths combine manual techniques with advice, movement and rehabilitation. Physiotherapists, formerly known in Sweden as sjukgymnaster, work with many patient groups, including people with neurological conditions and heart and lung disease.
Physiotherapy is a licensed profession in Sweden and Norway. Osteopathy is not currently a licensed profession in Sweden, but has been one in Norway since 2022. A Swedish osteopathy degree does not, however, automatically lead to a Norwegian licence. Read the full comparison of osteopaths and physiotherapists.
Choose NIMM if you want a four-year programme in which manual medicine, practical skills training and clinical patient work are the core from the very start.
Choose the Naprapathy Programme if you want a clear profile focused on muscles, joints, sports medicine, manual treatment and rehabilitation, with broad practical training.
Choose the Chiropractic Programme if you are drawn to the spine, joints, neurology, biomechanics, diagnostics and evidence-based chiropractic care.
Choose the Osteopathy Programme if you want to work with manual medicine from an integrative perspective on structure, function, wholeness and person-centred care. Bear in mind that osteopath is not currently a licensed profession in Sweden, and that the Osteopathy Programme is not currently eligible for student financial aid.
Not sure? Book study and careers guidance.
To become a licensed naprapath in Sweden, a four-year naprapathy programme is required, followed by one year of supervised professional practice with a licensed provider, and then licensure from the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen). For the Programme in Naprapathy at NIMM you apply with basic eligibility for higher education – so you do not need to have taken a science programme in upper secondary school.
Chiropractor is a licensed profession in Sweden. The path there goes via a four-year chiropractic programme, one year of supervised professional practice with a licensed provider, and an application for licensure with the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen). For the Programme in Chiropractic at NIMM you apply with basic eligibility for higher education.
Osteopath is not currently a licensed profession in Sweden, so there is no state-regulated educational requirement. The Programme in Osteopathy at NIMM is four years of full-time study and leads to a Degree in Osteopathy. You apply with basic eligibility for higher education. If you want to work as an osteopath in another country, you should check the requirements that apply there.
Applicants with Swedish grades need basic eligibility for higher education. Applicants with Norwegian grades need general study competence (generell studiekompetanse).
If you have grades from other countries, you need a statement on your foreign education from Universitets- och högskolerådet (UHR, the Swedish council for higher education). Swedish as a Second Language 1–3 and English are required. Read more under Behörighet och urval (Eligibility and Selection).
No. You need basic eligibility. The programmes do, however, contain a great deal of anatomy, physiology, medicine, pain science and clinical reasoning, so an interest in the body, health and natural science is a clear advantage.
Yes. Selection is based on grades from upper secondary school, Komvux (adult education) and folk high school, and you can attach grades from any of these in your application. If you have taken the högskoleprovet (the Swedish university aptitude test), you can upload your result. If you lack a complete upper-secondary transcript, there is also an alternative selection route based on practical competence (reell kompetens), which requires at least a pass in Swedish, English, mathematics and social studies at basic level, plus a valid högskoleprovet result. Read more under Behörighet och urval.
NIMM operates rolling admissions. Places are allocated on an ongoing basis among applicants who meet the basic eligibility requirements, and admissions close once the places are filled. Applicants are placed in quota groups depending on whether their grades are from Sweden, Norway or other countries. In addition to grades, merit points ("meritpoäng") can play a role – and since admissions are rolling, when you apply also matters.
NIMM has its own system of merit points. This means that certain study and work experience can earn extra points that are added to your grade average. Merit-earning experience can, for example, include relevant upper-secondary subjects, higher-education studies, practical experience with a naprapath, chiropractor or osteopath, training in health and fitness, or a massage therapy course of at least two weeks. If you want to know how many points you have, our student advisor can help you work it out.
No, it is not a requirement. A massage course of at least two weeks is, however, merit-earning. Regardless of prior knowledge, you start from scratch with manual technique.
You attach grades from upper secondary school or equivalent. In addition, you can upload grades from folk high school, Komvux or foreign education, your högskoleprovet result, a certificate of practical experience with a naprapath, chiropractor or osteopath, a certificate or diploma from training in health and fitness, a certificate from a massage course of at least two weeks, and a personal letter. Supplementary documents are sent by email to linda.ladenstedt@nimm.se.
The personal letter is at most two A4 pages and is about you. Please describe why you want to become a naprapath, chiropractor or osteopath, and what expectations you have for your studies. Also reflect on practical matters such as housing and finances, and on being in good health to manage the programme.
Apply early, make sure your application is complete, and attach relevant certificates right away. Since places are allocated on an ongoing basis, an early application can increase your chances of getting a place. Merit-earning experience such as practical experience with a naprapath, chiropractor or osteopath, or a massage course, can also strengthen your application.
Applications for the autumn semester 2027 are open. Admission decisions are sent on an ongoing basis by email, and admissions close once places are filled.
If you accept within 14 days of receiving an offer of a place, the place is secured, provided you meet the basic eligibility requirements. If you wait to respond until the final response day, the place is no longer guaranteed. Read more and apply under Ansökan (Application).
Yes, if you have been admitted you can apply for a deferral. Submit your request as soon as possible to linda.ladenstedt@nimm.se. The decision on deferral is made by NIMM and cannot be appealed.
NIMM has a maximum of 120 study places per academic year, distributed across the Naprapathy Programme, the Chiropractic Programme and the Osteopathy Programme.
Yes, following an individual assessment. If you have fully or partially completed education within healthcare – for example as a doctor, physiotherapist or nurse – you may be able to get credit for parts of it. If you have taken an individual course that corresponds to one of NIMM's courses in content and scope, you can also apply for credit transfer.
The application is submitted in writing to the head of studies with transcripts, course syllabi and reading lists, preferably well ahead of the semester start. Note that a credit transfer can affect your study plan and your entitlement to student financial aid.
It may be possible, but is assessed individually. NIMM reviews your previous studies – content, level, scope and relevance – against the curriculum. Contact our student advisor to discuss your specific situation. Read more under Studievägledning (Study and Careers Guidance), call +46 8-16 01 20, or email linda.ladenstedt@nimm.se.
Yes. You can book a conversation with NIMM's student advisor and get answers to questions about eligibility and selection, financing, teaching and curriculum, working alongside your studies, housing and future prospects. Read more under Studievägledning, call +46 8-16 01 20, or email linda.ladenstedt@nimm.se.
Yes. If you are pursuing elite-level sport, you can apply for HEP – Högskola med Elitidrottsanpassat Program (a higher-education programme adapted for elite athletes). This requires a certificate from Riksidrottsförbundet (the Swedish Sports Confederation), in which your sport's federation confirms your elite commitment. HEP means you get an individualised study plan, under which you can, among other things, swap clinic shifts and practical sessions, and sit an exam that clashes with competition as a resit while it still counts as your ordinary attempt. You apply for HEP as part of your application to our degree programmes.
For the start of the autumn semester 2027, the tuition fee is SEK 56,800* per semester. The total tuition fee for the four-year programme is SEK 454,400*. The fee is the same for the Naprapathy, Chiropractic and Osteopathy Programmes. Read more under Studiemedel och avgifter (Student Finance and Fees).
*NIMM reserves the right to change fees in response to cost developments beyond the college's control. NIMM is exploring the possibility of international validation. Fees for such validation may be payable in addition to the stated tuition fee.
The tuition fee includes teaching, the loan of certain course materials, and electronic access to course materials and scientific articles. Ordinary examinations and resit examinations are also included. Course literature and clinic attire are extra, as is the fee for any additional resit outside the scheduled occasions.
The fee is paid per semester. You receive a payment plan at the start of the academic year, and it is possible to spread payment quarterly or monthly for an additional charge. Late payment is subject to interest on arrears.
The Programme in Naprapathy and the Programme in Chiropractic are eligible for student financial aid in Sweden, Norway and Finland. Swedish students apply through CSN, Norwegian students through Lånekassen, and Finnish students through FPA/Kela. Students can apply for student grants, allowances and loans, as well as a supplementary loan for the tuition fee.
The Programme in Osteopathy is not currently eligible for financial aid. NIMM has applied for the Programme in Osteopathy to become eligible for financial aid, and in June 2026 UKÄ assessed that the programme meets the quality requirements that apply to programmes at universities and university colleges. The decision is made by the Swedish government.
For the Programme in Naprapathy and the Programme in Chiropractic, CSN's supplementary loan covers 100% of the tuition fee*. Swedish students can apply for the supplementary loan, which for 2026 is at most SEK 3,788 per study week. This corresponds to at most SEK 454,656 for 240 weeks of full-time study and is enough to cover the entire tuition fee. In addition to the supplementary loan, you apply for ordinary student financial aid for your living costs. The amounts are set every year, so check the current amounts and conditions with CSN.
NIMM reports the tuition fee directly to CSN, so you do not need to provide information about it yourself. If you start in the autumn, you should apply for financial aid for the whole academic year; otherwise your application is assessed on a per-semester basis.
The Programme in Osteopathy is not currently covered by CSN.
*NIMM reserves the right to change fees in response to cost developments beyond the college's control. NIMM is exploring the possibility of international validation. Fees for such validation may be payable in addition to the stated tuition fee.
Yes. Norwegian students apply via Statens lånekasse, and Finnish students apply via FPA/Kela. Always check the current terms with the relevant authority.
There are no scholarships or funds directly linked to NIMM's programmes. However, there are external scholarship databases where you can apply for support yourself.
A discontinuation of studies must be reported in writing to the head of studies. You pay the tuition fee for the period your studies have been ongoing, up to the end of the week in which your written notice was submitted. If you wish to resume your studies later, a place is offered subject to availability, and the fees applicable to the new academic year will then apply.
The programmes follow a 3+1 model. In the first three years, all students follow a shared foundation, and the fourth year is profession-specific. Theory, practical skills training and clinical teaching run in parallel throughout the programme.
Teaching is problem-based and varies between lectures, seminars, group work, practical exercises and clinic.
It means that students on the Naprapathy, Chiropractic and Osteopathy Programmes share a common foundation in manual medicine during the first three years. This gives a broad understanding of the whole field and an early cross-professional understanding. In year 4 you specialise in your own profession.
The fourth year is profession-specific and is at a level corresponding to advanced level. You deepen your knowledge, skills and clinical reasoning within naprapathy, chiropractic or osteopathy, undertake observation placements in healthcare settings outside NIMM, and write your final thesis.
Regardless of programme, you study, among other things, anatomy, physiology, neurology, orthopaedics, pathology, pain science, pharmacology, diagnostic imaging, rehabilitation, exercise science, sports medicine, scientific method, professional development and manual medicine.
A great deal. NIMM's programmes are practically oriented. Theoretical lectures are combined with practical sessions where you train in examination and treatment, and with clinic work where you meet patients from the second semester onwards.
It depends on the type of teaching. At the clinic, in the practice-based training, full attendance applies. For practical sessions, at least 80 percent attendance is normally required. For theoretical lectures there is no general attendance requirement, unless the course syllabus states otherwise.
Through written examinations, practical skills tests, clinical examinations and written assignments. Courses are graded Pass or Fail. The programme concludes with a final theoretical, practical and clinical examination, plus a thesis.
You get to retake it. Each examined component can be attempted a maximum of five times – the ordinary attempt plus four resits. Resits are usually scheduled within the same semester. The ordinary exam and resits are included in the fee.
Yes. Scientific development runs throughout the whole programme. In year three you carry out an independent research project, and in year four a final thesis worth 15 credits. The thesis is usually written in pairs, can be written in Swedish, Norwegian or English, and is defended orally. The purpose is to develop your ability to search for, evaluate and use scientific knowledge in clinical practice.
The timetable for the autumn semester is published four weeks before the semester starts. For the spring semester, the first eight weeks are published four weeks before the semester starts, and the rest at the start of the semester. This means you can plan your studies, work and training well in advance.
Yes, many students at NIMM take on extra work. How much you can work is individual, since the programme is full-time and requires attendance, independent study and practical training. The timetable is published well in advance of each semester, which makes it easier to plan.
Yes, by agreement with the head of studies. For a leave of absence you book a meeting with the responsible head of studies, and the financial arrangements are settled in consultation with the finance officer. Instead of a leave of absence, you can also study part-time or follow an individual study plan drawn up together with the head of studies.
If you have a medically documented, long-term disability – for example dyslexia or a neuropsychiatric disability – you can apply for special educational support. Support can include, for example, extended writing time, adapted examination, adapted course literature via Legimus, note-taking support and help with study planning.
You apply to the responsible head of studies and attach medical documentation. We recommend applying as soon as you are admitted, so that support can be in place from the start. You can also apply at any time during your studies.
Yes. After the first year, once you have passed all courses, you receive a diploma as a massage therapist and personal trainer. You then have the option of becoming certified as a massage therapist through Branschrådet Svensk Massage (the Swedish massage industry council) and applying for a personal trainer licence through FRISK – Almega Friskvårdsföretagen. Certification and licensing follow the requirements and terms of the respective organisation.
Yes, the programme involves a lot of practical work in which you stand, examine and treat. For this reason, ergonomics and working technique are part of the programme from the start. You learn to use body weight and leverage instead of pure muscle strength, which is the foundation for a sustainable working life.
Yes. Clinical practice is a central part of all three programmes. Practical teaching mainly takes place at NIMM's premises in Kräftriket, and clinical teaching mainly at NIMM Clinic near Odenplan. The clinic has 47 treatment rooms and around 30,000 treatments per year. Years three and four also include placements at an external clinic, and year four includes observation placements ("auskultation") in healthcare settings outside NIMM.
VIL stands for "verksamhetsintegrerat lärande" (practice-integrated learning) and is the collective term for the parts of the programme where teaching takes place in real clinical practice. VFU stands for "verksamhetsförlagd utbildning" (practice-placed education) and is the part of VIL where you, as a student, treat patients at NIMM Clinic under supervision. Year four also includes observation placements, where you follow the work in healthcare settings outside NIMM.
As early as the second semester. At that point you have one to two clinic shifts a week at NIMM Clinic, continuing throughout the programme until the eighth semester. You are supervised by licensed naprapaths and chiropractors. Clinical training is built up progressively: you start with soft-tissue treatment and, as your knowledge grows, take on increasingly complex conditions and more advanced treatment methods. The goal is for you to develop confidence, judgement and responsibility before working independently.
Yes, under supervision. At NIMM Clinic you treat patients as part of your clinical training, supervised by licensed healthcare providers. The clinic is registered in the Swedish register of healthcare providers, and NIMM has taken out patient injury insurance covering all treatments performed by students.
Yes. NIMM Clinic accepts patients, and you can book an appointment online via nimm.se/klinik or by phone at +46 8-31 19 19. It's a good way to see how the clinical training works in practice.
As a smaller, specialised college, you get a close-knit community where students, teachers and clinical practice meet. Here you quickly become part of the environment, both in the classroom and outside your studies.
A large part of the community is created through the student union, founded in 1975, which organises everything from formal dinners and parties to sports activities and other events throughout the year. Stockholm is also a fantastic city to study in, with a vibrant student life and plenty of activities.
Yes. You can join the Facebook group NIMM-student, sign up for Student for a Day, or contact the student union.
NIMM Student is a Facebook group for prospective, current and former students at the School of Naprapathy, the School of Chiropractic and the School of Osteopathy at NIMM – Nordic Institute of Manual Medicine.
Here you'll find tips and recommendations along with information about events, buying and selling, and job offers. The group is also a good forum if you're looking for housing, have a room to rent out, or simply want to put a prospective student in touch with someone.
Yes, and we recommend it. Sign up for Student for a Day and join in the teaching, or book a conversation via Study and Careers Guidance. Upcoming events can be found in NIMM's calendar.
Start looking well in advance. Many students find housing through student housing providers, while others sublet, live as lodgers, or buy a home.
You can book a digital appointment with a licensed psychologist via Mindler, and NIMM covers the cost of the appointment. You can also turn to your head of studies or the student union.
After four years of completed studies you receive a Degree in Naprapathy. In Sweden, you then complete one year of supervised practical service and apply for licensure with the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen). In Norway, you apply for licensure with the Norwegian Directorate of Health (Helsedirektoratet), which also decides whether you need to complete practical service. Read more about the Naprapathy degree and career prospects.
After four years of completed studies you receive a Degree in Chiropractic. You then complete one year of supervised practical service, in Sweden or as turnus in Norway. If you complete your practical service in Sweden, you apply for licensure with the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen). With Swedish licensure, you can also apply for licensure in Norway. If you want to do turnus in Norway, you apply to the Norwegian Directorate of Health (Helsedirektoratet) and receive a licence (lisens) for your turnus year. After your turnus, you apply for licensure. Read more about the Chiropractic degree and career prospects.
After four years of completed studies you receive a Degree in Osteopathy from NIMM. Osteopath is not currently a licensed profession in Sweden, so there is no Swedish licensure to apply for. In Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway, osteopath is a regulated profession. In Norway, you need to have worked as an osteopath full-time for at least one year within the last ten years, in addition to holding your degree, to be entitled to licensure. If you have not, the Norwegian Directorate of Health (Helsedirektoratet) assesses your application individually. Read more about the Osteopathy degree and career prospects.
In Sweden, it takes around five years: four years of full-time study leading to a Degree in Naprapathy or Chiropractic, followed by one year of supervised professional practice with a licensed provider. After that you apply for licensure with the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen).
Yes. Naprapath, chiropractor and osteopath are licensed professions in Norway – chiropractors since 1989 and naprapaths and osteopaths since 2022. Your application is assessed by the Norwegian Directorate of Health (Helsedirektoratet).
Chiropractors: After graduating, you complete one year of practical service, in Sweden or as turnus in Norway. With Swedish licensure, you can apply for Norwegian licensure without repeating the practical service. If you want to do turnus in Norway, you apply to Helsedirektoratet and receive a licence (lisens) for your turnus year.
Naprapaths: You apply for licensure with Helsedirektoratet, which also decides whether you need to complete practical service.
Osteopaths: Osteopath is not a licensed profession in Sweden. For Norwegian licensure, you therefore also need to have worked as an osteopath full-time for at least one year within the last ten years.
The rules for naprapaths, chiropractors and osteopaths differ between countries. If you want to work in another Nordic country, or in another country in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland where the profession is regulated, your application is assessed under the EU rules on the recognition of professional qualifications. Since 1 February 2020, these rules have primarily applied between the Nordic countries as well. In other countries, each country's own rules apply, so always check the requirements in the country where you want to work.
The job market for manual medicine is broad. Naprapaths, chiropractors and osteopaths work in private healthcare, wellness, occupational health, sport, rehabilitation and their own clinics. Demand is influenced by factors such as pain and strain-related conditions in the population, growing interest in physical activity, work-related complaints, sports injuries and the need for rehabilitation.
Yes. Many naprapaths, chiropractors and osteopaths run their own clinic or combine employment with their own business. The barrier to self-employment is relatively low: above all you need your clinical competence, a treatment room, basic equipment, a records system, patient insurance, and working routines for quality, booking and finances.
This makes the profession flexible. You can establish yourself wherever there is a need – in a larger city, at a sports clinic, in occupational health, in collaboration with other providers, or in a smaller town. The programme at NIMM provides the clinical foundation, and health economics and leadership are also part of the curriculum. To run your own clinic you also need to take responsibility for running a business, marketing, record-keeping, insurance, patient safety and applicable laws.
Yes, it's a common path. Naprapaths, chiropractors and osteopaths work with everything from grassroots sport to elite teams, often alongside clinic work. Sports medicine is part of the shared foundation, and the fourth year of the Naprapathy Programme has a clear specialisation in sports medicine.
Income varies considerably and depends more on the form of employment, experience, patient base, geographic location and one's own establishment than on whether you are a naprapath, chiropractor or osteopath. There is currently limited reliable salary data for the individual professions.
Many work in the private sector, either as clinic employees or in their own practice. As a self-employed practitioner, income is affected by patient volume, pricing, costs and how well established the practice is. As an employee, salary is affected by experience, employer, workload and responsibility. During supervised professional practice, pay is typically lower, and over the longer term income develops with experience, specialisation and choice of working form.
As a student and practitioner you can become a member of the professional associations for your profession: Svenska Naprapatförbundet (SNF), Norges Naprapatforbund (NNF) and Finska Naprapatförbundet (FNF), Kiropraktiska Föreningen i Sverige (KFS) and Legitimerade Kiropraktorers Riksorganisation (LKR), as well as Svenska Osteopatförbundet (SOF).
You apply with general study competence (generell studiekompetanse) and apply for student finance via Statens lånekasse under their terms for studying abroad. Teaching takes place in Swedish, and the thesis can be written in Norwegian. As a chiropractor, you can complete your practical service in Sweden or as turnus in Norway and then apply for Norwegian licensure with the Norwegian Directorate of Health (Helsedirektoratet). As a naprapath, you apply for Norwegian licensure with Helsedirektoratet, which also decides whether you need to complete practical service. Different requirements apply to osteopaths – read more under ‘Can I work in Norway after the programme?’. Always check the current terms with Lånekassen and Helsedirektoratet.
You apply for student finance via FPA/Kela under their terms for studying abroad. If you have grades from a country other than Sweden or Norway, you need a statement from Universitets- och högskolerådet, and you need to be able to follow teaching and write examinations in Swedish. Always check the current terms with Kela.
Teaching is given in Swedish, and you need to be able to follow lectures, read course literature, write examinations and meet patients in Swedish. Applicants with grades from countries other than Sweden and Norway are required to have Swedish as a Second Language 1–3 and English. Some of the course literature is in English, and a few lectures may be given in English.
In the event of any discrepancy between the language versions, the Swedish text shall prevail.
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