3. Education in Sweden

3.1 The Swedish School System

The Swedish public school system is divided into compulsory and non-compulsory schooling. Compulsory schooling includes regular compulsory school, Sami school, special school, and programs for pupils with learning disabilities. Non-compulsory schooling includes the preschool class, upper secondary school, upper secondary school for pupils with learning disadvantages, municipal adult education, and education for adults with learning disadvantages.

All education in the public school system is free. There is usually no payment required from students or their parents for teaching materials, school meals, health services or school transport. The regular school year begins at the end of August and runs to the beginning of June the following year.

There is a 9-year compulsory school program for children between the ages of 7–16. If the parents wish, a child may begin school one year earlier, at the age of 6. The most recent curriculum for compulsory education (Lpo 94) took effect in 1994.The curriculum states the school's fundamental values and basic objectives and guidelines. There are also nationally approved syllabi for the various subjects. Each municipality has to decide on a local school plan showing how the schools in that municipality are to be organised and developed.

Almost all compulsory school pupils continue straight on to upper secondary school. Every municipality in Sweden is required by law to offer all students who have completed compulsory school an upper secondary education. There are 17 national programs, all of which lasts for three years. The various upper secondary programs can be seen as preparation for further studies, vocationally-oriented, or a combination of the two. All programs provide a comprehensive general education and make students eligible for studies at the university or post-secondary level.

People have the right to enrol in a regular upper secondary school until they are 20 years old. After that there are various forms of adult education organised by many different operators, from national and municipal adult education, to labour market training, in-service training and skills enhancement in the workplace. Adult education organised by the municipality (known as Komvux) includes basic- and upper secondary education, as well as continuing education programs.

For more information, visit the map of the Swedish Education System (http://skolnet.skolverket.se/polopoly/utbsys-eng).

3.1.1 The Swedish National Agency for Education

The Swedish National Agency for Education, is a central administrative authority for the Swedish public school system for children, young people and adults, as well as for activities of pre-school children and the child care for school age children. Government and Parliament specify goals and guidelines for pre-school and school through the Education Act, curricula etc. The task of the Agency is to work actively for the achievement of these goals. The Agency steers, supports, follows up and evaluates the work of municipalities and schools with the purpose of improving quality and the result of activities to ensure that all pupils have access to equal education.

The Agency has carried out two national evaluations on career guidance (2005 and 2007). As a result of the evaluations, general guidelines on career education and guidance have been developed. The purpose of the general guidelines and comments is to contribute to the improvement of career education and guidance in all kinds of schools so that the work is of equally high quality throughout the country (www.skolverket.se/publikationer?id=2227).

On the web pages of the National Agency for Education (www.skolverket.se), there are statistics, translations of leaver’s certificates, school addresses and information about education for students with a non-Swedish background.

3.1.2 The Swedish Schools Inspectorate

The Swedish Schools Inspectorate (www.skolinspektionen.se), shall inspect and supervise the school system in Sweden. The curriculum, national objectives and guidelines for the public education system are laid down by Swedish Parliament and Government. Within the objectives and frame-work established by Government and Parliament, the individual responsible authority – a municipality or a board of an independent school – may determine how its schools are to be run. The task of the inspectorate is to determine whether – and how well – a school or activity is functioning in relation to the regulations set out in the Education Act, school ordinances, national curricula and other national statutes. This involves auditing and assessment at both municipal and school level, focusing on the quality and legal aspects of the operation.

The purpose of the inspection is three-fold:

Asserting the right of each individual to knowledge and personal development
Asserting national equivalence
Contributing to higher national educational standard

3.1.3 Utbildningsinfo.se

Utbildningsinfo.se is a Website for students, parents and professionals in the field of education. The site collates collected, current and neutral information about education in Sweden, which is financed or supervised/monitored by the state. The Website consists of different parts: a search tool for educations in Sweden, a web-based career guidance tool, a description of the Swedish school system, a personal folder and a special section for guidance practitioners. (www.utbildningsinfo.se).

3.2 Swedish Folk High School

Folk High Schools have come to be a popular, important and established part of the Swedish adult education system. Today there are 150 Folk High Schools all over Sweden. 107 of these schools are run by various popular movements, organisations and associations (NGO’s), whilst the remaining 43 are run by county councils or regions.

All Folk High Schools give general courses (Allmän kurs) 1–3 years. They are suitable for those who have not completed their secondary education or for those who want to qualify for higher education.

The majority of the Folk High Schools also offer a wide range of special courses. Examples of such courses include the aesthetic courses (art & design, painting etc), music, environmental studies and studies concerning the developing countries. Some schools provide vocational training, some of them on a post secondary level, such as youth- and recreational leader and journalist.

Many of the Folk High Schools are boarding schools. Living at the place of study is an important part of the plan in many of the Folk High Schools. Studying and living at school creates a sense of community, gives possibilities of close companionship and the chance to exchange views outside of class.

All tuition is free of charge at the Folk High Schools. Board and lodging costs about 4.000–4.500 SEK per month and students (Swedish students and non-Swedish nationals who have been living in Sweden for a number of years) can apply for a grant to cover part of the costs.

For more information visit the common website for Folk High Schools. (www.folkhogskola.nu) or the website for the Swedish National Council of Adult Education (Folkbildningsrådet) www.folkbildning.se.

3.3 National Board for Youth Affairs

The Swedish National Board for Youth Affairs is a government agency that works to ensure that young people have access to influence and welfare.

The agency foremost focus on the non-formal and informal learning, as it enables young people to acquire essential competences and contributes to their personal development, social inclusion and active citizenship – thereby improving their employment prospects. In an international context the agency gives municipalities and organisations (NGO’s) the opportunity to realize their own youth projects within the EU-programme Youth in Action.

Learning activities within the youth field provide significant added value for young people as well as for the economy and society at large.

Some of the tasks undertaken by the agency:

producing and communicating knowledge about young people's living conditions;
following up the objectives set for national youth policy by the Riksdag (the Swedish Parliament) and the Government and supporting municipalities in their youth policy work;
distributing funds to the civil society in the form of support for organisations, projects and international cooperation. All the support the agency distributes is given on behalf of the Swedish government.

There are over 1,5 million children, young people and young adults aged between 13 and 25 in Sweden. The Swedish National Board for Youth Affairs make studies on their living conditions, their health and what they do. This is done by compiling statistics from several government authorities on how life is for young people in Sweden. In the Agency's attitude and values studies young people's perspectives are compared with those of older generations, on things like work, housing, health, education, democracy, influence and leisure. The Agency analyses the situation for young people in neighborhoods marked by social exclusion, and the health situation for young homosexual, bisexual and transgender people and which factors that enhance their health. The Agency also analyses how municipalities organise and finance activities for young people who are neither working nor studying.

Target groups for the National Board of Youth Affair are decision-makers, civil servants and organisations working with young people, women, homosexuals, bisexual and transgender people, national minorities, ethnic minorities, etc.

3.4 Higher Vocational Education, YH

On 1 July 2009 the Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education was established to develop and oversee a new form of publicly funded vocational education in Sweden, YH. The role of the National Agency for Higher Vocational Education is to set up a common framework agreed on and followed by vocational education and training providers. Another task is to evaluate the quality of the YH courses. The agency is also responsible for coordinating and supporting a national structure for validating competence and to be the national coordinating body for EQF – the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning.

3.4.1 What is YH?

YH is a form of post-secondary education designed to meet current competence needs in working life. YH emphasizes learning in the workplace, known as LIA (Lärande i arbete, learning at work). In contrast to the traditional traineeship period, the “LIA” is active workplace learning and problem-solving in an overall educational context. The courses are based on close collaboration between enterprises and various course providers (higher education, upper secondary schools, municipal adult education and companies). Courses which receive the Agency's approval are intended to correspond to the actual requirements of the employment market. However, there are no restrictions on the enterprises regarding in which sector YH is to be provided. The courses will be open both to those who have recently finished upper secondary school and to people who are already employed and wish to develop their skills within a specific area.

3.4.2 Contents of YH

YH education is post-secondary, in the sense that completed upper secondary education or equivalent knowledge is required for eligibility. The subject matter is taken from professional contexts, courses in higher education, upper secondary, supplementary and advanced courses. The aim is for the courses to provide a combination of practical orientation with in-depth theoretical knowledge. The interplay between theory and vocational practice at the workplace is important both for the quality of the courses and to adapt to the needs of both the market and the students. Courses may be divided into terms, or ongoing, with no division into terms. The student is entitled to financial support in accordance with the current regulations for higher education. The education period is a minimum of 6 months, participant progress and outcomes are assessed and recognized by a certificate/diploma that validates skills for employment.

3.4.3 Employment market links

The LIA periods are characteristic for a majority of the YH-courses. For parts of the course, students will be in the places of work, developing their analytical abilities, applying comprehensive and systematic approaches, and taking responsibility for work projects. If this process is to work properly, skilled supervision must be available. A further requirement is that the workplace itself should be organised in a way that makes learning feasible. The aim of training is to impart familiarity with an occupation or vocational area. The companies involved defray all expenses for the LIA period. YH cover a wide range of vocational areas, e.g., engineering, trade and tourism, agriculture or forestry, information technology and health care.

3.4.4 How to apply for YH

YH projects begin and finish all the year round. The entrance requirements are the same as for universities and university colleges, i.e. an upper secondary school diploma or equivalent degree. For more information please visit www.yhmyndigheten.se.

3.5 Higher Education in Sweden

In Sweden higher education is open to everybody. About half of the population will take part in higher education courses at some stage of their lives. Usually students in Sweden are aged from 20 to 25, but some are also older. About 60 percent of the students are female.

All higher education is offered in the form of courses. The duration of these courses may vary, but they usually last between 5–20 weeks. Several courses can be combined to form a degree programme. Students themselves are also able to combine different courses to make up a degree. The credit system is closely linked to ECTS, which states that one year of full-time studies will yield 60 higher education credits.

Higher education has become increasingly diversified. Many foreign students come to Sweden on various exchange programmes. More and more young people with foreign backgrounds are also participating in higher education.

3.5.1 University or University College?

Sweden has about fifty universities and university colleges – from Kiruna in the north to Malmö in the south. Most of them are run by the state, but nine of them are “independent course providers” who are entitled to award students with degrees. Independent means that they are not state-run. Being entitled to award degrees means they can offer a higher education qualification to students who complete one or more of their courses.

Whether an institution is referred to as a university or a university college has no effect on the quality of the courses and the degrees have the same legal status. The main difference is that the universities have a basic right to offer a postgraduate programme and award postgraduate degrees. University colleges can only do so once they have been authorised in one or more areas of research and postgraduate study by the Government.

3.5.2 How to Apply for Higher Education

Applications for most courses and programmes are administered by the Swedish Agency for Higher Education Services (VHS), in collaboration with the institutions offering higher education.

The Swedish National Agency for Higher Education is responsible for the web portal www.studera.nu. On the site, it is possible to search among the various programmes and courses offered by the higher education institutions, read about them and then apply for the ones of interest.

3.5.3 Entry requirements to undergraduate studies

Certain entry requirements have been laid down for admission to higher education, known as admission or entry requirements. These are divided into general admission requirements and specific admission requirements. The general admission requirements are the same for all higher education. In addition to the general admission requirements, most programmes specify some further requirements, called specific entry requirements.

3.5.4 Doctoral studies

A doctoral programme lasts for four years and leads to the award of a doctorate (PhD). After two years of study a student may apply for the award of a Licentiate degree. Postgraduate programmes involve both taught classes and the production of a thesis.

The higher education institution offering a postgraduate programme decides who is to be admitted. Applications to postgraduate programmes are submitted to the institution at which they are offered. In order to be admitted an applicant must have:

an academic degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree,
the specific admission requirements laid down by the faculty board,
the capacity to complete the programme successfully,
and guaranteed financial support for the entire period of study.

The Handbook for Postgraduate Students, (www.doktorandhandboken.nu), is a website dedicated to information on research level studies in Sweden. Another useful Website for prospective doctoral students is Study in Sweden (www.studyinsweden.se). It contains comprehensive information about higher education in Sweden.

3.5.5 The Swedish National Agency for Higher Education

The Swedish National Agency for Higher Education is a government authority that deals with issues relating to higher education. Its tasks include providing information about studies in higher education and about the available institutions and what courses and programmes they offer. Another task is to evaluate the quality of the courses and programmes offered in higher education. The Swedish National Agency for Higher Education also performs studies that form the basis for improvements and changes in higher education in Sweden. In order to safeguard the legal rights of students the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education is also responsible for supervision of the higher education institutions in Sweden.

Learn more about higher education in Sweden at (www.hsv.se) – the official website of the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education. At www.hsv.se you will also find the addresses of all the higher education institutions in Sweden and information about how to contact them.

3.5.6 Study Destination Sweden

Higher education institutions are active partners in international cooperation and exchange. Sweden’s educational policy recognises that a multicultural student body is an important resource and provides a valuable talent base. In the academic year 2008/2009, more than 35.000 international students attended universities or university colleges in Sweden, taking part in either organised exchanges through their home university or studying for a degree.

The website www.studyinsweden.se is a comprehensive resource for information about higher education in Sweden, geared at prospective students from outside Sweden. The site incorporates a frequently updated database of English-taught programmes, an overview of the Swedish higher education system, practical information about visas and accommodation, scholarships, application procedures and pointers for learning Swedish as a foreign language. The site was created and is maintained by the Swedish Institute (SI).

3.6 The Swedish Study Aid System

The Swedish Board for Study Support (CSN),(www.csn.se), administrates the Swedish financial aid system and thus plays a significant role in Sweden’s national educational policy. The overarching educational objective is to make sure that Sweden is one of the world-leading nations in terms of knowledge, a nation able to offer high-quality education and lifelong learning with the purpose of stimulating growth and social equality. The financial aid system was set up in order to enable people to pursue their studies regardless of financial circumstances or any functional disabilities. The funding of studies by a state-run financial aid scheme is thus a way to reduce those different opportunities depending on private assets or functional disabilities. Public funded financial aid, which is administered by the CSN, is available in four basic types:

Study allowance (studiehjälp) is a grant intended to encourage more young people between the ages of 16 and 20 to study at upper-secondary school. Study allowance is only available during the period of the year when the pupil actually studies and consists of four components: student grant, boarding supplement, extra supplement and a daily travel grant.
Study allowance for people with disabilities (RG-bidrag) is a contribution towards the cost of education at a national upper-secondary school. The purpose of the grant is to enable more people who are hearing-impaired, deaf or functionally disabled to obtain an upper-secondary education by reducing obstacles caused by financial or geographical factors.
Student aid (studiemedel) is available for studies at folk high school, adult secondary education programme (Komvux), national adult education programme, or another compulsory or upper secondary school or post-secondary level. Student aid is made up of a grant component and a loan component.
Student aid is also available for studies at colleges and universities abroad. For studies at the upper secondary level and are younger than 20, you may be able to apply for a study allowance (studiehjälp) to attend schools abroad.

With the exception of student aid financial aid is paid in the form of a grant. Student aid includes both grants and loans.

In addition to student aid students may also apply for supplementary and additional loans. Supplementary loans are available for persons over 25 who have previously received income from work. Additional loans, another form of supplementary loan, are payable for certain extra costs incurred during the course of studies, e.g. the cost of double residency. The extra child allowance (tilläggsbidrag) is a grant for students with children.

3.6.1 Student Aid for Studies Abroad

There is a special program for financial aid for studies in foreign countries. Student aid for studies abroad can basically be divided into two categories:

Aid for studying abroad as an exchange student, which means that the period of study is included in the Swedish study program that a student is pursuing.
Aid for studies (degree/diploma/certificate) at a foreign university/higher educational institution.

Formal Requirements

There are some basic formal requirements, which must be fulfilled in order to get student aid for studies abroad:

The applicant must be a Swedish citizen. (In some cases citizens from the European Union and the European Economic Area who are permanently settled in Sweden may also receive financial assistance to study abroad after special assessment.)
Before beginning the foreign study period, he or she must have been a resident in Sweden for at least two of the last five years.
The duration of the course concerned must be at least 13 weeks and the studies must be pursued on a full-time basis (inside EU there are at present no requirements of full-time studies, and it is enough with three weeks studies).
The applicant must be admitted to a foreign school outside Sweden, and have the opportunity to earn a degree or take exams.

When it comes to the educational quality requirements for studies outside the Nordic countries, the regulations stipulate an acceptable standard. For implementation of regulations concerning acceptable standards, CSN and The National Agency for Higher Education (HSV) have set up specific guidelines.

3.6.2 Foreign Nationals

For foreign nationals, CSN first checks whether they meet the basic requirements for Swedish student aid. In order to be entitled to Swedish student aid, the applicant must have moved to Sweden for a purpose other than studying. He or she must also be Swedish resident and hold a permanent residence permit (PUT).

In the case of EU nationals without a basic entitlement to Swedish student aid, CSN will also consider whether the applicant can be treated as a Swedish citizen under the laws of the Community and thus qualify for Swedish student aid. If a person is a citizen of another EU/EEA nation or Switzerland and can be said to be employed in Sweden, he/she may be entitled to Swedish student aid if there is a relationship between his/her work in Sweden and the course of studies he/she is applying for. In other words, the studies applied for must entail some kind of further education or training with his/her vocational sphere in Sweden. In addition, relatives or next-of-kin of a migrant employee may be entitled to Swedish student aid. Persons with a right of permanent residence (PUR) and those granted status by the Migration Board as a third-country national permanently residing in Sweden may also be treated as Swedish citizens and thus be entitled to Swedish student aid.

3.7 Web addresses related to education in Sweden:

Ministry of Education and Research; www.sweden.gov.se

Map of the Swedish Education System: http://skolnet.skolverket.se/polopoly/utbsys-eng

The Swedish National Agency for Education: www.skolverket.se

Search tool for educations in Sweden: www.utbildningsinfo.se

Common website for Folk High Schools: www.folkhogskola.nu

The Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education: www.yhmyndigheten.se

The Swedish National Agency for Higher Education: www.hsv.se

The Swedish Agency for Networks and Cooperation in Higher Education: www.nshu.se

Search tool for programmes and courses offered by the higher education institutions: www.studera.nu

Information about doctoral studies in Sweden: www.doktorandhandboken.nu

Website for information about higher education in Sweden, aimed at students from outside Sweden: www.studyinsweden.se

The National Board of Student Aid (CSN), www.csn.se

National Agency for services to Universities and University colleges, VHS, www.vhs.se (Evaluation of completed foreign upper secondary education.)

National ENIC/NARIC centre www.hsv.se

Swedish National Reference Point for Vocational Qualifications, NRP; www.senrp.se

Swedish National Europass centre; www.programkontoret.se/europass

The National Centre for Swedish as a Second Language, SFI; www1.lhs.se/sfi/eng.html

Folkuniversitetet; www.folkuniversitetet.se/templates/PageFrame.aspx?id=3887 (Swedish as a foreign language)

Stockholm University, Department of Scandinavian languages; www.su.se/pub/jsp/polopoly.jsp?a=21255&d=1538; TISUS – test in Swedish for University Studies

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Education, Work, Guidance in Sweden