Learning Swedish
Learning some Swedish can help you feel more at home in Sweden.
With English alone, you will manage well in Sweden. At the same time, learning some Swedish can make everyday situations easier, whether you are ordering a coffee, reading signs or joining small talk at work. You do not need to be fluent to notice the difference. Even a few words can make it easier to settle in.
How you can learn Swedish
Once you live in Sweden, a range of courses and local language activities are available. If you want to start before you arrive, you can use language apps or take university courses abroad.
This is a free beginners’ programme for adults who have moved to Sweden. It is offered across the country and focuses on practical, everyday language. You apply through your municipality.
Some workplaces, often larger ones with international teams, offer language support during onboarding or as part of professional development. The format varies and may include access to digital tools or short workplace-focused sessions.
If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen moving to Sweden for work, you may be eligible for financial support for Swedish language training through the EURES Targeted Mobility Scheme.
Many regional welcome services and International Houses offer introductions to Swedish, as well as conversation groups or language cafés. Similar activities are arranged by municipalities, libraries and local organisations, and you can usually find information about these activities on their websites. These are usually free of charge.
If you prefer to start before you arrive, several universities outside Sweden offer Swedish through their language departments.
The Swedish Institute (Svenska institutet) provides a list of universities around the world that offer Swedish studies. The page is in Swedish, but the list is easy to navigate and works well for finding universities in your current country.
Why some Swedish can be useful at work
Many Swedish workplaces use English for meetings, documentation and collaboration. Even so, parts of the working day may be in Swedish. Internal tools, safety instructions, schedules or briefings may be written in Swedish, and some informal communication may take place in Swedish as well.
Basic knowledge can make it easier to follow these situations and take part when Swedish is used, even if English is your main working language.
