Basic skills in Sfi
If you lack basic skills in Swedish and are registered in the Swedish population register (folkbokföringen), you entitled to participate in Swedish language classes via Sfi (Svenska för invandrare – Swedish for immigrants).
Register through the municipality you live in. The municipality then has to offer an Sfi education within 3 months of your registration. Upon completion of the Sfi course you will receive a grade, which can be either Godkänt (G) [Pass] or Väl godkänt (VG) [Pass with Distinction]. Study habits and experience with other languages can vary greatly for those studying Sfi. If possible, try to be placed in a group with others having a university education.
You can also obtain a grade from Sfi without by just passing a special Swedish proficiency test. Contact your municipality for more information. For more general information on Sfi, visit www.skolverket.se/sb/d/389. (Info is in Swedish)
Another way to formal grades is to study Swedish at the upper-secondary level via Komvux (adult education centre). You can find more information on the website for the municipality where you live.
Swedish classes at universities and colleges
Some universities and colleges offer courses in Swedish. Courses given at Swedish colleges and universities often require that you meet the general higher education entry requirements. To do so, you generally must have the Swedish Agency for Higher Education Services recognition (evaluation and translation) of your grades from your home country. Read about this under Foreign education in Sweden.
Some courses or programs combine language studies with subject studies, while others are purely language courses. Some institutions also offer supplementary programs for individuals with a foreign degree that must be supplemented to be valid in Sweden.
If you cannot find what you need locally, you might want to see at what is offered in other areas. Your right to apply for a study program at a university or college is not affected by where you live. Pay attention to application deadlines. These are usually April 15 and October 15 each year. For more information on courses and how to apply for them, visit: www.studera.nu.You can also visit the website of the different universities to find courses that suit you.