Preschool
Preschool activities are designed for children aged 1 and up until they start school. Municipalities have an obligation to provide preschool activities for children whose parents work or study, or for children with a particular need for such activities. This obligation extends also to children of unemployed persons or persons on parental leave, for a minimum of 3 hours per day or 15 hours per week. A child shall be offered a place without unreasonable delay, i.e., normally within 3-4 months of the parents having requested a need for a place. A place shall be offered as near the childs home as possible.
Preschool class
The preschool class is a non-compulsory form of education within the public school system. Municipalities have an obligation to offer children a place in a preschool class from the fall term of the year the child turns 6 until the child starts compulsory school.
Compulsory School
In Sweden, all children between the ages of 7-16 must attend school. If the parents wish, a child can start school one year earlier, at the age of six. Municipalities have an obligation to provide a place for all 6-year-olds in a preschool class. Included in compulsory schooling there are the regular compulsory schools, Sami school, special school, and compulsory school for the learning disabled. Education is compulsory and free of charge. Normally, students or their parents are not charged for teaching materials, school meals, health services and transport.
Upper Secondary School
Every municipality in Sweden is required by law to offer all students who have completed compulsory school an upper secondary education. In principle, students also have a right to receive their first choice of program. Upper secondary education is free and a non-compulsory form of school.
The right to begin an upper secondary school program applies up to and including the calendar year in which the student turns 20. After that, there are various types of upper secondary programs for adults.
Swedish upper secondary school gives students the basic skills needed to live and work in the community, and prepares them for further study.
Adult education
Adult education in Sweden is extensive and has a long tradition. Adult education exists in many different forms and is organized by many different operators, from national and municipal adult education, to labour market training, in-service training and skills enhancement in the workplace. The public school system for adults includes municipal adult education (Komvux), education for adults with learning disabilities (Särvux) and Swedish for immigrants (SFI).
Municipal Adult Education (Komvux) includes basic- and upper secondary education, as well as continuing education programs. Komvux was established in 1968 to offer education to adults who lacked the equivalent of compulsory school or upper secondary school.
Swedish Higher Education
All undergraduate education is provided in the form of courses. These may be combined by the institution providing them to create programmes of education with a varying element of individual choice. Students themselves are also able to combine different courses into a degree. The extent of a programme of education or a course is measured in credits. One credit corresponds to one week's full-time study. An academic year normally consists of 40 credits, and is usually divided into an autumn term and a spring term. In addition, certain institutions of higher education give courses during the summer. One credit corresponds to 1.5 ECTS (the European Credit Transfer System). In the Degree Ordinance, the Government lays down which degrees may be awarded and the objectives for these degrees. Every course and programme of education has a plan decided by the institution of higher education in question. Degrees in undergraduate education are divided into general degrees and professional degrees.
