Folk high school

A folk high school accommodates a wide variety of people, ideas and interests. It can be used, for example, to qualify for higher education or train for a profession. Whatever your background or level of education, you can often find courses suited to the level you are at.

Different education providers

Folk high schools can be run by non-governmental organisations, non-profit organisations or regions. The schools have their own profiles, and each folk high school decides independently on the courses it organises and the profile of its school. The schools work according to their own operational plans. Folk high schools are funded through government grants and regional grants.

Programmes for basic qualification, professions and interests

At a folk high school, you can obtain basic qualification for higher education studies, train for a profession or delve deeper in a subject of interest.

Obtain basic qualification

If you missed all or part of your upper secondary education, you can take the General Course (Allmän kurs) at the upper secondary level to earn the folk high school equivalent of an upper secondary diploma.

The content and length of the courses are adapted to your prior knowledge and ambitions.

Sometimes a folk high school may decide that the applicant is not ready for the General Course at the upper secondary level. In such cases, the participant starts the General Course at the compulsory school level, at a folk high school that offers this.

Once the General Course is completed, the folk high school certifies that you meet the basic entry requirements for higher education. You can then go on to study at a higher vocational education programme, university college, or a folk high school post-secondary vocational programme. Alternatively, you can look for a job that requires an upper secondary diploma or equivalent.

Train for a profession

Folk high schools have many different vocational programmes. For example, you could train to become a journalist, youth recreation leader, addiction treatment assistant, health educator or sign language interpreter.

Some vocational programmes are at the post-secondary level, while others are at the upper secondary level.

Delve deeper in a subject of interest

Profile courses are only available at the folk high school and focus on a specific subject area. Courses can be specialised in subjects such as art, media, fitness, gardening and wellness.

Here you study to deepen your knowledge of a subject of interest. It can also be a way of preparing yourself for higher education studies in that specialised field.

Other courses at folk high schools

Many folk high schools organise courses in cooperation with municipalities and employment offices.

Some courses are designed specifically for adults who have recently arrived in Sweden. Examples of such courses are the introduction course for new arrivals, study motivating folk high school course, and Swedish for immigrants (SFI).

Who can study at a folk high school?

Folk high school is open to anyone aged 18 or over, or who will turn 18 in the year they begin their studies.

There are no requirements for previous grades to be admitted to a course at a folk high school. Each folk high school sets its own requirements, but the following applies to all folk high schools:

• you must be at least 18 years of age
• you need to know Swedish, as teaching is usually done in Swedish.

The school will usually ask you to submit your grades and certificates from previous studies or work. Your grades do not necessarily determine whether you will be admitted or not. This assessment is often based on other criteria, such as a personal letter or an interview where you tell the school about yourself, why you are applying, and what you want to get out of your time studying at the folk high school. Some artistic courses require one or more samples of your work.

If you do not meet the admission requirements

If you do not meet the admission requirements for a programme at a folk high school, but have other experience deemed equivalent, you may have a chance of being admitted. Contact the folk high school you want to attend and ask what their requirements are.

Studying at a folk high school

The folk high school will adapt the programme to suit your prior knowledge and experience. You shape your studies together with your classmates and your teachers. You learn by testing, discussing and reflecting.

At many folk high schools, you can rent a room in on-campus housing during your studies.

Costs and student finance

Studying at a folk high school will not cost you anything, but you may need to pay for expenses such as study literature, travel and lunch. The school will inform you of all costs before your studies begin.

Many folk high school programmes make you eligible for student grants and loans from the Swedish Board of Student Finance (CSN).

Would you like to learn more about folk high school?

Contact the folk high school you are interested in attending, or contact folkhögskola.nu for more information about folk high school as a form of education provider or for help finding a folk high school that suits you.

Finding folk high school programmes

About folk high schools, website for folk high schools and their courses