Requirements to enter upper-secondary education
To enter a national program in upper-secondary education (gymnasium) in Sweden, you need to show that you meet the requirements to enter a vocational programme or a university-preparatory programme.
There is no public agency in Sweden who validates grades from compulsory school from abroad. However, a diploma from upper secondary school is possible to validate through another public agency called The Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR). Worth knowing is that a person who has completed the equivalence of an upper-secondary education in another country, cannot redo upper-secondary education in Sweden. Questions about studies at university level can be asked to The Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR). The UHR is also in charge of validating grades to enter higher education.
The Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) webpage
Regulations concerning the requirements to enter upper-secondary education
To enter a national program in upper-secondary education (gymnasium), you need to show that you meet the requirements to enter a vocational programme or a university-preparatory programme.
- The minimum requirements for a vocational programme are: grades in Swedish/Swedish as a second language, Mathematics, English and 5 other subjects. 8 subjects in total.
- For university-preparatory programmes the minimum requirements are: grades in Swedish/Swedish as a second language, Mathematics, English and 9 other subjects. 12 subjects in total.
For more details about the subjects required see the text Antagningsregler och meritvärde.
Fri kvot = free quota
If you do not have grades from the Swedish school system, it is possible to be accepted at a programme through something called “fri kvot” (free quota). Fri kvot means that a limited number of places must be allocated for those who come from school units whose grades or assessments cannot but be compared with the grades from the compulsory school. However, the requirement of a passed grade in the subject Swedish/Swedish as a second language cannot be overlooked.
The accountable authority decides
It is the accountable authority (huvudman) who decides on the number of seats to be allocated. In this regulation it is not defined how the grades should be validated. If they should be translated or not. It is up to the accountable authority to decide.
If you want to enter upper-secondary education it is a good idea to contact the study and career guidance at the school you have in mind. The career guide, (Studie- och yrkesvägledare, SYV) should be able to inform you more in detail about the Swedish school system, the requirements, fri kvot and how to apply.