Choosing upper secondary school
Upper-secondary choice is usually a programme choice first and a school choice second. Use Skolkoll to understand programme fit, admissions context and which schools actually offer the programme you are considering.
Find upper-secondary schools in a municipality
Municipality detail pages are still Swedish, but they remain the fastest way to inspect the full school list and filters.
The national programmes
Sweden has 18 national upper-secondary programmes — 6 higher-education-preparatory and 12 vocational.
Higher-education-preparatory programmes
- Business Management and Economics (EK) — Economics, entrepreneurship, law
- Arts (ES) — Visual arts, dance, music, theatre, aesthetics
- Humanities (HU) — Languages, culture, philosophy
- Natural Science (NA) — Natural sciences, mathematics
- Social Science (SA) — Social studies, behavioural science, media
- Technology (TE) — Technology, design, IT, product development
Vocational programmes
- Child and Recreation (BF)
- Building and Construction (BA)
- Electricity and Energy (EE)
- Vehicle and Transport (FT)
- Business and Administration (HA)
- Handicraft (HV)
- Hotel and Tourism (HT)
- Industrial Technology (IN)
- Natural Resource Use (NB)
- Restaurant Management and Food (RL)
- HVAC and Property Maintenance (VF)
- Health and Social Care (VO)
Timeline for the upper-secondary choice
- November–January
Open houses at upper-secondary schools. Visit the schools that interest you!
- February–March
The application period opens. You rank programmes and schools in order of preference.
- April–May
Preliminary admissions results. See whether you are admitted or wait-listed.
- June–July
Final grades from year 9 are reported. Final admissions after the summer.
- August
Upper-secondary school starts!
What should you check?
What do you want to work with? Which subjects do you enjoy? Are you planning to continue to university?
Check last year's scores as a benchmark. See admission scores
What share of pupils graduate within 3 years? A high graduation rate suggests good pupil support.
How do you get to school? Is there a travel card or student housing available?
A large school with many programmes, or a smaller school with a tighter community?
Talk to current pupils and teachers. Get a feel for whether this is a place where you would thrive.
Common questions
What are admission scores (antagningspoäng)?
The lowest merit value required to gain admission to a particular programme at a school the previous year. Used as a guide, but varies year to year.
How is my merit value calculated?
Your 16 best subject grades from year 9 are added together. A = 20, B = 17.5, C = 15, D = 12.5, E = 10. Maximum 320 points (340 with a modern language or mother tongue).
Can I apply to a school in a different municipality?
Yes, Sweden's free school choice applies for upper secondary. You can apply to any school in the country. Agreements between municipalities may affect whether your home municipality pays.
What happens if I do not get into my first choice?
You will be placed on your second choice (or further down your ranking). You can also be wait-listed and admitted if someone else declines their place.
Can I switch programme after I start?
It is often possible to switch during the first term, but becomes harder later. Talk to the study counsellor about your options.
Do vocational programmes give university eligibility?
Vocational programmes do not automatically give higher-education eligibility, but most schools offer the option to add eligibility through extra courses.
Understanding the key indicators
Graduation rate (examensgrad)
The share of pupils who graduate within 3 years. The national average for upper secondary is about 75%.
Keep in mind: A high graduation rate suggests the school succeeds in supporting pupils through the programme.
Higher-education eligibility (högskolebehörighet)
The share of graduating pupils who are eligible for university or college.
Keep in mind: Especially relevant if you plan to continue studying.
Average grade point
Average grades among graduating pupils. Sometimes used in university admissions.
Qualified teachers
The share of teachers with a licence and subject qualification. The national average at upper secondary is about 80%.