About high school in Sweden

As an exchange student in Sweden, you will have a unique opportunity to experience everyday life of the Swedish teenagers. The high school here is called “gymnasium” and lasts for three years.

Which year you will attend, depends on your age and previous experience. If you are placed in the third year, you will be able to join the high school graduation called “studenten” which is fun celebration all over Sweden.

Subjects and school activities

Swedish students choose between enrolling in several different high school programs. These may include Science, Social Science, Art or Business and Administration. In Sweden, it is not common for the students to choose the electives themselves, but you might get the possibility to choose one or two subjects for your school timetable.

Swedish high schools generally do not offer extracurricular activities, but some schools have football or basketball groups, where you get to practice your sport after school hours. Most Swedish teenagers play sport and have other interests for their spare time, so you too will be able to do that in clubs around town.

Semesters and breaks

The Swedish school year is divided into two semesters with a start in August and ending in June. There is a summer break for two months in between these months. In addition, the Swedish schools have a break for one week in October, usually three weeks over Christmas and New Year’s, a one-week break in February as well as a one week break over Easter. The school holidays are great for spending quality time with your friends and family, and to see more of Sweden on various excursions.

Your spare time in Sweden

Green forests, snowy hills, blooming rapeseed fields or cosy small towns. You may live up in the north, in Norrland, where you will find plenty of snow and skiing opportunities. There are beautiful cities along the coast such as Kalmar or Halmstad. You may also visit the medieval towns of Sigtuna, Skara or Visby, where you have the opportunity to learn more about Sweden’s fascinating history.

All of our exchange students’ experiences in Sweden are different, and you can be sure to have a unique experience of the country wherever you live.

Sports and “fika” breaks

Sweden’s climate creates excellent opportunities for you to stay active. It’s a perfect place if you like outdoor activities such as skiing, fishing or hiking, but there are also indoor activities instead. Due to Sweden’s chilly weather, there are gyms and indoor sports offered in nearly all Swedish cities. Popular indoor activities are floorball, gymnastics, and regular workouts at the gym.

Another popular activity in Sweden, which is quite the opposite of sports, is the Swedish tradition “fika”. The Swedes like to catch up with friends or family over a coffee or a tea and something sweet, often “kanelbullar” or “kladdkaka”. They see this as a wonderful way of taking a break, to enjoy themselves and it is an important part of the culture.

Staying with a Swedish host family

When staying with a host family, you will gain insight into the Swedish culture. It is the best way to become fluent in the Swedish language as well as experiencing the everyday life of the Swedes.

Swedish families may be a bit more withdrawn than perhaps more Southern parts of Europe generally are, which you may notice at family gatherings. Feel free to take initiative and start conversations yourself, both at home and in school – that will definitely help you connect with new friend and family. Once you understand Swedish culture, you can count on the Swedes being loyal and good friends.