Teaching in Sweden

Teaching is a highly valued profession in Sweden. Regulations within the country ensure that all teachers are highly qualified and trained.

Surrounded by thousands of coastal islands, lakes, forests, and mountains, Sweden hosts a variety of activities to fill your weekends and holidays.

The vast majority of schools in Sweden are municipally run, although the number of independent schools that are publicly funded (also known as charter schools) has increased in recent years.

Teachers wishing to teach in Sweden’s public school system must have a Bachelor’s degree in Education, a teaching certification that certifies the teacher to teach specific subjects and grade levels and adequate proficiency in the Swedish language. Teachers with a foreign teaching certification can apply to the National Agency for Education (Skolverket) for a Swedish teacher certification.

Finally, teaching positions in Sweden are rarely advertised online, which means that you will likely have to begin your job search upon your arrival to the country.

Individuals without a teaching certificate may qualify for ESL teaching positions with a Bachelor’s degree and TEFL certificate. Private English language schools typically cater to the business English market, which can be highly competitive, as schools prefer their teachers to be highly qualified, with a business background and fluent in Swedish. Opportunities for inexperienced and unlicensed teachers in the country are slim-to-none, but not impossible if you have the right contacts.

It’s important to consider Swedish work visa eligibility. As with most EU countries, it will be far easier for an individual holding an EU passport to secure a work visa and employment than an individual with a foreign passport.

Register for a teacher account to apply for teaching jobs in Sweden.