Education System in Sweden

Primary	Primary School	1–9	7–16	9	Basic - Grundskola: Certificate/diploma awarded: Slutbetyg Från Grundskola
Secondary	Secondary School		16–19	3	Gymnasium: Certificate/diploma awarded: Slutbetyg Från Gymnasieskola
Secondary	Upper Secondary- Folkhögskola (Folk high school)		16–19	3	Certificate/diploma awarded: Intyg om allmän behörighet (certificate concerning general eligibility for higher education) or "Intyg om särskild behörighet" (certificate concerning specific eligibility)
Secondary	Upper Secondary- Municipal adult school (Komvux)		16–19	3	Certificate/diploma awarded: Slutbetyg Från Komvux
Vocational	Higher Vocational Education			1–2	Yrkeshögskoleexamen and Kvalificerad yrkeshögskoleexamen - Higher Vocational Education Diploma and Advanced Higher Vocational Education Diploma. Represent 1-2 years of post-secondary non-university vocational education in a specific professional field. These programs are designed to prepare students to enter the workforce although credit may be applied to a related university program at the discretion of the receiving institution.
Tertiary	Associate			2	Högskoleexamen - 2 year Undergraduate Program
Tertiary	Bachelor (3-year)			3	Kandidatexamen- Bachelors 3 year Degree Program: After the completion of at least 120 credits (two years of full-time study). In the major subject, in-depth studies of at least 60 credits (three terms) are required, including an independent special project of at least 10 credits.
Tertiary	Tertiary- Higher Education
Tertiary	Professional Degree			3–5	Yrkesexamen - Professional Degree: Apart from the general academic degrees, there are some 60 professional degrees (Yrkesexamen) which vary in length between 40 and 220 points, depending on their character and field of study. They include the degrees of Doctor of Medicine, Master of Science in Engineering or in Agriculture, as well as the Bachelor of Education for the Compulsory School.
Tertiary	Gymnasielärarutbildning - Training of secondary school teachers				Teacher training for upper secondary schools (Gymnasielärarutbildning) is based on a combination of subjects within often one and the same field, e.g. Mathematics-Natural Sciences, Languages, Humanities. A total of 180-200/220 credits including pedagogical training is required. These subjects are studied up to a level of 60 or 80 credits. Instead of this integrated model for teacher training, it is also possible to follow a consecutive route. In this case, the subjects are studied first at the university followed by a 60 credit education course (Kompletterande-Pedagogisk Utbildning, including pedagogics, teaching methods and teaching practice) at a teacher training institute/faculty.
Tertiary	lärarexamen- Teacher Training Primary				A new teacher training programme was introduced on July 1 2001. It includes a 60-credit course in pedagogics, special education and teaching practice that is common to all students. There is, in principle, only one teaching degree (lärarexamen) for the public school but with different specializations in terms of age groups, subject areas or other competences. The length of study for pre-school teachers and teachers at lower grades of primary/basic school is at least 140 credits. According to provisional regulations, students who started studying in teacher training programmes (to become e.g. grundskollärare) before July 1 2001 have the right to be awarded a degree according to the previous regulations until the end of June 2008.
Tertiary	Master			2	Magistersexamen- Master of:
Tertiary	Licenciate			2	Licentiatexamen: requires 80 points (two years of study and research) including a larger thesis, after completion of at least 120 points at undergraduate level. This degree can also be awarded as an intermediate degree towards the Doktorsexamen
Tertiary	Doctorate			4	Doktorsexamen - Doctors Exam- Postgraduate. which requires a minimum of four years' full-time study beyond completion of at least 120 points at the undergraduate level. Doctoral studies consist of seminars, reading and methodology courses, individual literature surveys and independent research. The thesis must describe and account for organization and results of research, be published and be publicly defended.

Primary Education

The Swedes take the education of their children seriously as is evidenced by their success rate in international learning competitions. Homeschooling is forbidden (except in very unusual circumstances) but children may enter pre-school from as young as one year old. At age 7 they enroll at primary school for a mandatory 9 year period, where curriculum choices during the first 6 years are limited through strict governmental control.

Middle Education

The final three years at primary school equate with middle school in that some subject choice is permitted depending on the school concerned. For instance, brighter students may opt for advanced maths, and more creative ones art or music. Sciences may be available too, while practical courses such as carpentry or electronics are also sometimes offered. All pupils must, however, at least receive a smattering of all.

Secondary Education

Secondary schooling lasting 3 years is not compulsory, although it is almost universally attended. Two broad main streams are offered (social sciences and natural sciences) which are further split into focus streams so that in all a range of 18 options exists. Six of these serve as entry levels towards further academic education, while the remaining 12 are more vocationally orientated. None deprive a young person of the right to go on to university though.

Vocational Education

Vocational training in Sweden is going through a process of adopting European norms and standards, while at the same time adapting to economic realities sweeping the world. That, together with a preoccupation with foreign languages during school will introduce an era of greater mobility for talented technicians across the nation’s borders.

Tertiary Education

Sweden Education Following secondary school those students who followed academic programs may apply to go to university directly, while their vocationally-minded peers may need to first complete two bridging years at college. Swedish universities offer a combination of general academic degrees, and technical degrees for example in engineering, medicine and law. This is all still free of charge for Swedish, European and Swiss citizens.

Uppsala University is the nation’s oldest having been established in 1477. It compares consistently in international rankings and the Swedes at least rank it among Europe’s best.

Resources:

Ministry of Education and Research