Choose the right study programme

Which study programme suits you depends on your situation and goals. You can read here about different study pathways, finances while studying, and how to find a programme that strengthens your chances on the labour market.

Study programmes and courses for jobseekers

If you are a registered jobseeker at Arbetsförmedlingen, you may be able to participate in labour market training to improve your chances of getting a job. We also offer courses and career guidance to prepare you for studies. The labour market training are offered by different providers on our behalf. They are held throughout the country and you receive financial support during this time.

Improve your chances of getting a job with labour market training

A labour market traning can be a quick route to a new job. The training course alternates theory with learning at a workplace, and provides you with in-demand skills.

All about labour market training

Have you not completed upper-secondary education, and do you feel a lack of motivation to start studying again? As a registered jobseeker, through the Public Employment Service, you can take a class at a folk high school (folkhögskola) in study motivation. The class strengthens motivation and equips you with study tools. You also receive basic skills in Swedish, English, maths and social studies. The goal is for you to be better equipped for a study programme.

Study motivation class at folk high school

If you are in the introduction programme (etableringsprogrammet), then through the Public Employment Service, you can take an introduction class at a folk high school. You will study Swedish, often alternated with study visits, work experience and other initiatives to prepare you for continued studies or work.

Introduction class at folk high school (folkhogskola.nu) (in Swedish)

Do you need to learn the type of Swedish used in the vocation you want to work in or train for? Occupational Swedish is a study programme for anyone who wants to improve their Swedish in order to work or attend vocational training. To participate, you need to know what vocation you want to focus on or which study programme you plan to take.

Occupational Swedish

If you are a registered jobseeker, you are eligible for individual guidance from a study and career counsellor with one of our suppliers. Together, you will map your interests and skills and make a career plan for your path forward.

Career guidance supported by a study and career counsellor

If you are registered and have a disability, you may be able to receive educational support when participating in some of our programmes, supplemented with assistive devices if needed.

Individual educational support during a study programme

Jobseekers with an academic degree may supplement their degree with courses in various contract education programmes. The purpose is to make it easier to get a job in the occupation or to improve your chances of passing a knowledge test in a regulated profession.

Contract education for degree-holders

If you are a jobseeker with a degree, there is a preparatory study programme that we call the Academic Fast Track (Akademikertjänst korta vägen). This programme prepares you for a job that suits your academic background or for continued academic studies.

Preparatory studies – Academic Fast Track

Study programmes and courses for everyone

There are many ways to continue your education as an adult. You might want to complete upper-secondary school, increase your job opportunities, develop in your current career, or change career paths. The study programmes vary in length, might be full time or part time, and may be possible to participate in remotely.

  • Primary, lower-secondary and upper-secondary education
    Most jobs require you to have a minimum of an upper-secondary education. If you do not have basic or upper-secondary education, you can complete this at a municipal adult education (komvux) facility or folk high school. If the right study programme is not available where you live, then in some cases you may be able to apply to go to a municipal adult education facility in a different municipality.
  • Swedish for Immigrants (SFI)
    If you are new to Sweden, you may need to learn Swedish. Swedish for Immigrants is available from your municipality. Contact the municipal adult education facility in your municipality for more information. Some folk high schools also offer SFI.
  • Vocational training
    If you want to enter the labour market quickly in an occupation with good job opportunities, then vocational training may be right for you. At a vocational college, you can find post-secondary vocational training programmes that are often 1-2 years in duration. Municipal adult education facilities and folk high schools also offer some vocational training programmes. If you are registered as a jobseeker, then the Public Employment Service has employment training in occupations with a shortage of workers.
  • College and university
    At college and university, you can learn more about a subject, develop theoretical knowledge and practical skills, or study in programmes that lead to research and advanced studies. You can choose between individual classes or longer study programmes. Requirements for admission vary depending on the study programme.

If you have a disability, you can receive support for studies at university or college, for example adapted literature, extra assistance, or an interpreter.

Support and adaptations during studies (studera.nu) (in Swedish)

Adapted courses at folk high school (folkhogskola.nu) (in Swedish)

Search classes and study programmes

In the Swedish National Agency for Education’s (Skolverket) study guide, you can find study programmes and classes at folk high schools, municipal adult education facilities, colleges, universities, and higher vocational education (yrkeshögskola).

Find study programmes (utbildningsguiden.skolverket.se) (in Swedish)

Finances while studying

For most study programmes, you can apply for student finance from the Swedish Board of Student Finance (Centrala studiestödsnämnden, CSN). CSN’s various forms of student finance:

  • student aid – grants and loans for studies in Sweden or abroad.
  • student finance for transition and retraining – grants and loans if you have worked for a longer period of time and want to strengthen your position on the labour market.

About student finance (csn.se)

When you participate in one of these study programmes, you can receive financial support through the Public Employment Service:

  • employment training
  • municipal adult education at the upper-secondary level
  • municipal adult education at the basic level
  • general course at a folk high school
  • Swedish for Immigrants (SFI), for example in combination with another municipal adult education study programme
  • municipal adult education as adapted studies, i.e. adult education for people with an intellectual disability or acquired brain injury.

And you must either:

  • be registered with the Public Employment Service and completely unemployed
  • participating in the job and development programme (jobb- och utvecklingsgarantin)
  • participating in the introduction programme
  • participating in the youth job programme (jobbgarantin för ungdomar), but in that case, you are only eligible for financial support from us if you are studying SFI.

When participating in the job and development programme
If you are participating in the job and development programme, then you can also receive financial support via the Public Employment Service for higher vocational education, college, university, or post-secondary studies at a folk high school.

First we will assess whether the study programme is necessary to improve your chances of getting a job. Then you apply to the study programme yourself. You can study for a total of one year, full time, with financial support from us. In certain specific circumstances, it can be up to two years.

When participating in the introduction programme
If you are participating in the introduction programme, then you can receive financial support via the Public Employment Service for higher vocational education, college, university, or post-secondary studies at a folk high school. You must have an upper-secondary education as a foundation. Some programmes also require you to have taken specific upper-secondary courses for admission. Often, you also need sufficient Swedish and English language skills. If you want to continue your studies after the introduction programme, you may apply for student aid from CSN.

About financial support from Arbetsförmedlingen

You can receive activity support (aktivitetsstöd), development allowance (utvecklingsersättning), or introduction benefit (etableringsersättning) while studying. This could involve participating in an entire study programme or beginning studies with activity support, development allowance, or introduction benefit and then later studying with student aid.

Arbetsförmedlingen assesses whether you may study with financial support in order to help you get a job.

Activity support and development allowance

Introduction benefit

Contact a study and career counsellor in your municipality

A study and career counsellor in your municipality can help you with questions about choosing a study programme and occupation. You can schedule a single meeting.

This information is only available in Swedish.

Get grades and certificates

Do you have experience from an occupation in Sweden or another country, but no certificate? Or do you have a degree from another country and need to have your knowledge formally recognised? Then you can apply for validation of competencies.

About validation of competencies

If you have a transcript from a university, college, or higher vocational education from your home country, you should submit it to the Swedish Council for Higher Education (Universitets- och högskolerådet, UHR). UHR will assess your education and respond with a statement. You can also use their digital assessment tool to see what your study programme corresponds to in Sweden. If you have worked in health care, then you send your transcript to the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) instead. If you are a teacher or pre-school teacher, it is possible to apply for teaching certification from the Swedish National Agency for Education.

UHR’s assessment of foreign qualifications (uhr.se)

The National Board of Health and Welfare on licenses in health care (socialstyrelsen.se)

Swedish National Agency for Education on teaching certification (skolverket.se)

Next steps

What career suits you?