SIFA are intensive Swedish courses for foreign born academics and professionals. These courses usually combine Swedish studies with specific content related to your professional and academic field.
There are two types of courses:
- one for foreign-born graduates in general,
- one for foreign-born professionals within certain work fields.
Swedish for academics
The Swedish for academics courses (Svenska för akademiker) are aimed toward foreign-born graduates in general and cover levels SFI C and SFI D. The study pace is high and a good portion of motivation is needed.
Many cities offer these sorts of courses (see link below for Stockholm) yet we recommend you to contact your municipality if you cannot find one course in your region/city. Some municipalities offer Swedish courses for academics, even though the lack of information about this online.
Note that many of these courses require general eligibility for higher studies (except from Swedish), meaning that you have a finished degree from a higher institution of learning as well as English level 6 in the Swedish educational system. Contact the school you are interested in to find out how you can prove your English level.
E-learning course: Your Swedish learning options
Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed about The Swedish stuff? Where can you learn? How does it work? Can you join the different options if you don’t have a Swedish personal number? We’ve got you covered. Over the years we’ve been repeatedly told just confusing this process can be so we created a digital course with all the information you need to make a good decision. Here you will learn about:
- The different study options to learn Swedish in Sweden.
- The differences between study alternatives.
- How much Swedish (and other things) you need for other educational paths in Sweden as well as to work in Swedish.
After finishing this course, you will be able to make an educated study choice and you will learn the most important key words and phrases for studying Swedish in Sweden. Hopefully, Swedish will start making sense!
Swedish for professionals
Swedish for professionals (Svenska för yrkesutbildade) are specialized Swedish language courses for professional newcomers in Sweden. The goal is to shorten the path through the educational system, and the time it takes before you can start working in your profession in Sweden. Some also trains you for a certain profession while teaching you Swedish as well. Usually, these programs teaches Swedish from beginner’s level all the way up to Swedish 3, which is the level you need to be eligible for higher studies and is equivalent to C1 in the CEFR. There are many different programs available, for example:
- Swedish for bus drivers
- Swedish for entrepreneurs
- Swedish for craftsmen
- Swedish for engineers
- Swedish for truck drivers
- Swedish for medical staff
- Swedish for educators
- Swedish for lawyers, economists and social scientists
- Swedish for IT programmers
Swedish for professionals in Stockholm
The municipalities in the region Stockholm has a joint website for Swedish for professionals, with information about Swedish courses for foreign-born graduates and professionals. The information comes in a number of languages.
If you are staying outside of Stockholm, contact your municipality to find out if there are special Swedish courses for foreign-born graduates and professionals in your city/region.
More support for foreign-born academics and professional
Learn more about the support you can receive as a foreign-born professional and/or academics.
Korta vägen
Korta vägen is an integration and training program for academic Newbies. The aim is to provide you with the skills needed to enter the Swedish labour market. Korta vägen is held at many different educational institutions in Sweden. The program is free and open for academic Newbies with at least three years of documented university studies. You need to speak to your contact person at Arbetsförmedlingen (the Swedish National Employment Agency) to find out if you are eligible and able to apply.
Sveriges Internationella Talanger, SIT
Sveriges Internationella Talanger is a network of foreign-born graduates. Their aim is to help Newbies find work in Sweden.
Join their LinkedIn group here
