19. Childcare and education

19.1 Daycare and nursery services (12 months–5 years)

Before preschool class and compulsory school, children may attend preschool.

Preschool (including daycare and nursery services, leisure-time centres and equivalent forms of education) are provided at cost price. Based on their statutory rights, EU/EEA citizens pay a reduced fee. Parents apply for placement at a preschool in the municipality where they live. The child is offered a vacancy based on that municipality's queue and admission rules.

Municipal preschools
Stockholm County is divided into several different municipalities. Children who reside in one municipality but wish to attend preschool in another may face some administrative obstacles. It is advisable to contact the education department of the relevant municipality to resolve any issues that may arise.

For information about queues and admission to preschool, please contact the municipality where you reside.

Stockholm Daycare/Nursery - external website,

There are alo a number of private preschools. More information is available via the Stockholm city website.

Stockholm City

19.2 Preschool class (age 6)

Preschool class begins for children at the age of 6. Children of members of foreign missions have a statutory right to education in preschool class at the same grant-aided price as Swedish nationals.  

In most cases, parents must apply for a place at a school in the municipality in which the family reside, and the child is offered an available place based on the school's queue and admission rules.

Information on preschools:

Tha National Agency for Education - external website,

Under the Language Act (2009:60), all preschools must be able to support children in the Swedish language and will therefore have some Swedish-speaking staff even in schools where Swedish is not the main language. 

19.3 Compulsory school (ages 7–16)

Children of mission staff have a statutory right to compulsory school from Years 1–9.

Most compulsory schools in Sweden municipal, but there are also independent compulsory schools, which are open to all pupils.

Classes at municipal compulsory schools and independent compulsory schools normally follow the Swedish curriculum, and instruction is generally in Swedish only.

However, there are many international schools and schools that instruct in a language other than Swedish. 

List of every international school in Stockholm - external website,

Compulsory schools are free of charge, as all compulsory schools in Sweden – including the international schools – can apply for, and will receive, government grants that cover tuition costs, regardless of which country the child is from. However, international schools are allowed to charge tuition fees. Each school determine its own fees. For information about the fees of a specific school, please contact the relevant school. 

For information on admission to compulsory school, contact the school directly.

Please note that Stockholm County is divided into several different municipalities. Pupils who reside in one municipality but wish to attend school in another may face some administrative obstacles. It is advisable to contact the education department of the relevant municipality to resolve any issues that may arise.

19.4 Upper secondary school (ages 16–19)

After compulsory school, most students attend upper secondary school, which is preparatory for higher education. Alternatively, they may enrol in a higher vocational programme. Adult education is available at municipal schools, as well as at folk high schools, which are independent adult education colleges.

Upper secondary schools are free of charge for students who are EU/EEA citizens, as all upper secondary schools can apply for, and will receive, government grants that cover the tuition fee. The municipality does not receive government grants for children of members of diplomatic missions who are not EU/EEA or Swiss citizens. These pupils are therefore referred to international schools. Please note that international schools are allowed to charge extra fees in addition to the tuition fee. Each school determine its own fees. For information about the fees of a specific school, please contact the relevant school. 

For general information on admission to upper secondary school in Stockholm:

Upper Secondary Schools Admission Office in Stockholm County  - external website,

International schools promote international education, either by following an international curriculum such as the International Baccalaureate curriculum, or by following a modified version of the Swedish curriculum. For more information on the Swedish National Curriculum, follow the link below.

Curriculum for Compulsory School - external website,

Generally, a preparatory year precedes the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, and so the full Diploma Programme comprises three years of study. However, for international pupils it is also possible to join the programme at the beginning of the second year. For more information on the International Baccalaureate Curriculum follow the link below. 

International Baccalaureate - external website,

Upper secondary schools are free of charge for pupils who are EU/EEA citizens, since all upper secondary schools can apply for, and will receive, government grants that cover the tuition fee. The municipality does not receive a government grant for children of members of diplomatic missions who are not EU/EEA or Swiss citizens. These pupils are therefore exclusively referred to international schools. Please note that international schools are allowed to charge extra fees. Each school determine its own fees. For information about the fees of a specific school, please contact the relevant school.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs does not recommend specific schools or comment on the quality of education at a specific school.

19.5 University education

Swedish universities throughout the country offer a wide range of courses and study programmes in English, to which non-Swedish residents may apply.

University education is free of charge for students who are EU/EEA citizens. University education for all other students is generally provided at cost price. However, the student may apply for a scholarship that covers part or all of the cost.

For general information on admission to universities in Sweden and tuition fees, follow the link below.

University Admissions  - external website,

For general information on scholarships for Swedish universities, follow the link below.

Study in Sweden: Scholarships - external website,

19.6 Swedish language courses

Swedish language courses for members of diplomatic missions and their spouses are offered by some institutions in Stockholm. Those registered with diplomatic status in Sweden are not entitled to study in Swedish for Immigrants programmes, but are instead referred to other available Swedish courses.

Below you find links to the websites of some schools offering Swedish language courses but there are severel others.

19.7 Useful links

Contact

Protocol Department
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Visiting address Gustav Adolfs torg 1
Address 103 39 STOCKHOLM
email to Protocol Department

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