Sports Programme
Engelska (ENG)
National sports upper secondary schools (riksidrottsgymnasier, RIG) and nationally recognised sports programmes (nationellt godkända idrottsutbildningar, NIU) make it possible to combine upper secondary education with elite sport.
At both RIG and NIU, you combine studies in a regular national upper secondary school programme with sport.
The programmes have a clear elite sports character. For this reason, only national sports upper secondary schools and nationally recognised sports programmes are allowed to offer the subjects of specialised sports and training and competition theory.
Specialised sports and training and competition theory must make up 200 credits of programme specialisation and 200 credits of individual options. If the headteacher of your school allows, you may also study these subjects as an expanded programme of 300 credits. Pupils in these programmes can study 500 credits in the subjects specialised sports and training and competition theory.
To offer a sports programme (RIG or NIU), the school must be approved by the Swedish Sports Confederation (Riksidrottsförbundet, for RIG) and the relevant specialised sports federation (specialidrottsförbundet, for NIU), and have been granted authorisation from the Swedish National Agency for Education.
Admission to RIG and NIU
National sports upper secondary schools recruit nationally, which means that pupils from all over the country can apply to them and be admitted under the same conditions.
The nationally approved sports programmes are local/regional. If you do not live in the area where the programme is offered, you will be admitted as second priority, i.e. if there are places available.
Admission to RIG and NIU programmes is based on two application processes: one sports-related and one school-related. The pupils deemed to have the best chances of benefiting from the programme will be offered a place.
Admission officers look at your sports, sports psychology, social, organisational and academic abilities.
How to apply to RIG and NIU
Application to RIG
You apply to RIG via the respective specialised sports federation for sports-related admission. The application form can be found on the website of the relevant specialised sports federation. You then apply to the school to be admitted to an upper secondary school programme.
Specialised sports federation with RIG programmes (PDF).
Application deadlines vary from one federation to another.
RIG application deadline (PDF).
Application to NIU
You apply to NIU via the respective specialised sports federation for sports-related admission. The application form can be found on the website of the relevant specialised sports federation. You then apply to the school to be admitted to an upper secondary school programme.
A list of all specialised sports federations with NIU programmes can be found here (PDF).
Application deadlines vary from one federation to another.
NIU application deadline (PDF).