Stockholm university

Teacher Secondary School/Supplementary Teacher Education

Teaching is one of the most important occupations in society. It is a creative, developing and varied work where you make a difference for individuals and for society. Stockholm University offers several paths to become a teacher, the finest profession one can have.

Subject description

Stockholm University offers a wide range of programmes and courses that lead to teaching degrees. Students get the qualifications needed to work as a teacher within different subject areas, with different age groups and in a variety of educational organisations.

A large number of departments at the University contribute to the teacher education programmes in different ways, with each specialisation coordinated by the relevant department. 

If you want to work with children in the younger ages you can choose to educate yourself to preschool teachers, undergraduate teachers 1-3, 4-6 or undergraduate free time. They provide the skills you need to raise the curiosity of students and create the conditions for them to develop and learn. You will also gain broad subject knowledge through your education. 

If you are especially interested in some of the school subjects and want to work with older children, you can choose to become a subject teacher in grade 7-9 or in high school. To be able to do this, substantial subject knowledge is needed. There are several different subject combinations to choose from. 

If you already have a professional career in teaching behind you, you can educate yourself further to teach your field of work at high school or in adult education.

The teacher education programmes consist of three parts.

  1. Subject studies and subject didactics
    Contains areas of knowledge related to the type of school you have chosen to become a teacher in. You will gain concrete pedagogical and didactical expertise as well as subject knowledge.
  2. Educational science 
    Contains areas of knowledge central to the teacher and preschool teacher professions, and you will study school as a pedagogical and didactic environment for pupils and teachers.
  3. Teaching placement
    This means that you will participate in the everyday workings of a school/preschool/day care centre. You will have the opportunity to put your theoretical knowledge to practical use and train important skills in your role as teacher. In order to carry out the obligatory Teaching placement, you need to apply for a transcript of records from the police.

For our partner universities, we can offer opportunities for students and teachers within certain chosen courses to visit schools during their stay at Stockholm university. Another option for students is to do a regular Teaching placement.

More information for incoming exchange students

Career opportunities

As a licensed teacher, you can develop in your profession by becoming a master teacher, specialist teacher, special educator, principal, preschool director or researcher. As a teacher, you also have great opportunities to work abroad. There are many Swedish schools all over the world that are run with the support of the Swedish state.

A teacher with good pedagogical ability can be appointed a master teacher. They work to support other teachers and lead projects in order to improve the school.

Many teachers are also moving on to further educations to move forward in their careers. There is further education for those who want to become principal or preschool director, specialist teacher or special educator. The teacher education programmes set a foundation for further studies, this gives students the possibility of continue their education at masters or doctoral level. 

As a newly graduated teacher, it is easy to get a job in Sweden. There are more jobs than there are trained teachers. As the teacher's credentials were introduced, qualified teachers are requested.

Courses and programmes

Degree

The higher education and all degrees are divided into three levels; basic, advanced and postgraduate level. Each new level is based on the fact that you have studied at the previous level. In order to achieve a teacher's degree there are several ways to go. Read more about which degree a programme leads to under the section "education".

More information about degrees at Stockholm University

Research

An important goal for teacher education at Stockholm University is to build upon existing research and develop new relevant research to primary and secondary school activities. Since 2008, Stockholm University has focused on teaching and learning in mathematics, science, languages, social sciences, and the humanities. All of these fields now have their own research programmes.

The University’s research in teaching and learning has a long tradition and many leading researchers in educational philosophy, diversity, media, and comparative international studies of educational systems, to name a few. Preschool teachers and after-school teachers are trained at the Department of Child and Youth Studies by many prominent researchers in the fields of language development, children’s culture, diversity in school, etc. For the past five years, the Department of Special Education has conducted research on literacy development, inclusion, democracy, and fundamental values.