Swedish Language Courses for International Employees at Stockholm University

The courses are designed to give a basic comprehension of the Swedish language and culture to foreign employees working at Stockholm University, in order to enhance every day communication in the academic environment. The courses are concluded with a final test.

People walking in Studenhuset in a haste (blurry pic). Photo: Eva Dalin

Photo: Eva Dalin

The six courses A, B, C, D, E and F teach practical skills in Swedish as a foreign language and the participants will acquire a basic knowledge of Swedish grammar, vocabulary, phonemes and pronunciation. The writing of narrative and descriptive texts is also part of the course.

The courses don't give any higher educational credits in Ladok, but all participants receive a diploma upon completion. Course registrations are only made in the learning platform Athena.

Broschure Swedish Language Courses for International Employees at SU pdf, 654.3 kB. (654 Kb)

  • All lectures, seminars and examinations are given on campus only. 

  • The courses consist of 30–40 contact hours distributed once a week during the semester.
  • The study group will take 20 to 30 participants with classes in the late afternoon or evening (usually at 16:30–19:30).
  • Each study group usually has a fixed weekday for their seminars. 
  • Seminars will cover practical exercises in listening, reading and speaking, as well as writing functional texts used in every day working situations.
  • The participants are expected to do assignments outside classes.
  • Attendance is not mandatory but highly recommended. 

  • Spring semesters: Opens on 15 December.
  • Autumn semesters: Opens on 1 May.

Please see headers below for more details.

Due to a limited amount of spaces we accept students on a first come first serve basis.

Application

  • Before you fill out your application, make sure to inform your supervisor/head of department that you intend to participate in the courses.
  • Please note, the application will only be accepted when you have confirmed that your participation has been approved by your supervisor/head of department (within the application form).

Registration

  • If you are a true beginner or if you have taken/passed one of the courses during a previous semester, this is where you sign up for the courses.
  • Registration for the courses in the autumn semester 2026 is open between 1 May and 7 September 2026.
  • Registrations on the courses are made continuously until they start. You will eventually be able to see the Swedish course you signed up for/ended up in according to the placement test in the learning platform Athena.
    Athena

E-mail confirmation

  • When you submit your application and placement test you will not receive a confirmation e-mail directly.
  • The confirmation e-mail with information about your course level, start date, how to select group and links to the schedules will be sent only a few days before the courses start.

  • If you have not taken/passed one of the student or employee courses before and have previous knowledge of Swedish, you need to take a digital placement test which also works as your application. 
  • The placement test for the courses in the autumn semester 2026 is available between 1 May and 7 September 2026.
  • Registrations on the courses are made continuously until they start. You will eventually be able to see the Swedish course you signed up for/ended up in according to the placement test in the learning platform Athena.
    Athena

E-mail confirmation

  • When you submit your application and placement test you will not receive a confirmation e-mail directly.
  • The confirmation e-mail with information about your course level, start date, how to select group and links to the schedules will be sent only a few days before the courses start.

"The best way to learn Swedish is to use the language in many different situations". Roger about Swedish for international employees

Swedish is best learned by participating in language skills training courses as well as being active talking Swedish outside the courses – you need to find different situations where you are able to speak Swedish, says Roger Cattaneo, PhD student in Physics at Stockholm University.

In Swedish: Bästa sättet att lära sig svenska är att använda språket i många olika situationer

Eva Nobel, teacher and Roger Cattaneo. Photo: Vendela Blomström.

Last updated: 2026-03-30

Source: Department of Swedish Language and Multilingualism

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