About us

The Department of Swedish Language and Multilingualism consists of the units Centre for Research on Bilingualism, Institute of Interpreting and Translation Studies, Swedish as a Foreign Language, and Swedish / Scandinavian Languages. We are part of the Faculty of Humanities at Stockholm University.

Campus Frescati with greenary, Aula Magna and Södra huset, seen from above.

Our Department is located in Building D, the third blue high rise building from the left. Photo: Sören Andersson (drone picture).

Higher seminars and qolloquia

Research > Higher seminars and qolloquia

Conferences and seminars

Research > Conferences and seminars

History

The Department of Swedish Language and Multilingualism was established on 1 January 2013 through a merger of the Department of Scandinavian Languages, Centre for Research on Bilingualism and the Institute for Interpreting and Translation Studies (TÖI).

It all started with the Seminar in Scandinavian Languages in ​​1895–1960. It then changed to The Department of Scandinavian Languages 1960–2012. In 2013, the merger was completed into The Department of Swedish Language and Multilingualism.

The Centre started as a small department for research on bilingualism at the Department of Linguistics in 1981. In 1988, the department was transformed into a faculty-supported, independent research center directly under the Faculty of Humanities and remained in this organizational form for 25 years up to and including 2012. In 2013, the merger was completed into The Department of Swedish Language and Multilingualism.

Centre for Research on Bilingualism

TÖI was founded in 1986 at Stockholm University with a national assignment directly from the government to train interpreters and translators for Sweden's needs. In 2013, the merger was completed into The Department of Swedish Language and Multilingualism.

Institute for Interpreting and Translation Studies

Prizes and awards

Illustration of a big tree, Aula Magna, people walking, books and a couple of hands.

Teacher of the Year. Illustration: SaraMara

Employees at the Department have received prizes and awards over the years for good linguistic work. Please see our Swedish page:

Priser och utmärkelser

  • Erik Wellanders språkvårdspris (Erik Wellander's award for language planning)
  • Stockholms läns landstings pris för arbete mot främlingsfientlighet och rasism (Stockholm County Council's award for work against xenophobia and racism)
  • Svenska Akademiens Karin Gierows pris (The Swedish Academy's Karin Gierow Award)
  • Svenska Akademiens Margit Påhlsons pris (The Swedish Academy's Margit Påhlson's Award)
  • Svenska Humanistiska Förbundets pris (The Swedish Humanities Association's Award)
  • Årets lärare vid Stockholms universitet (Teacher of the year at Stockholm University).

The Department in figures

Research and Education

  • 5 main education subjects: Bilingualism, Swedish and Scandinavian Languages, Swedish as a Foreign Language, Swedish as a Second Language, Translation Studies (Interpretation and Translation).
  • 3 main research areas: Bilingualism, Swedish and Scandinavian Languages, Translation Studies (Interpretation and Translation).
  • 3 subjects for doctoral studies: Bilingualism, Scandinavian Languages, Translation Studies (Interpretation and Translation).
  • 125 research publications on average per year in the publication database DiVA.
  • 9 million SEK in financial turnover (in 2025).

Staff and Students

  • 160 people on staff in some form of employment, of which about 20 have a professorship (including emeriti), around 35 teachers are researchers / have a PhD, about 20 PhD students, around 30 assistant professors, around 15 adjunct teachers and around 20 in the technical-administrative group.
  • 5000 students on average per year: Bilingualism about 230, Interpretation and Translation Studies about 400, Swedish and Scandinavian Languages ​​about 2100 of which the Teacher Education in Swedish is about 900, Swedish as a Foreign Language about 1600, Swedish as a Second Language about 650 of which Teacher Education 120.
  • 3–6 floor: We are located on floor 3–6 in building D, Södra huset in Frescati.

Please see Contact for Please see Contact for adress, management, staff and other important functions at the department:

Contact

Faculty of Humanities

Last updated: 2026-06-24

Source: Department of Swedish Language and Multilingualism

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