Swedish as a foreign language is studied by much more people than the population of Sweden might suggest - there are around 40,000 active learners enrolled in courses outside Sweden at any time of the year.
If you would like to study Swedish in Sweden, you can choose from a number of options, depending on your needs. A number of study associations across the country offer Swedish courses at all levels. You may be eligible for university courses in Swedish, either full time or part time.
Various distance learning resources are available. Swedish is also taught at some 200 universities worldwide.
Swedish schools abroad include study associations and summer courses. Study associations in Sweden's cities and larger towns offer language courses in Swedish. A wide range of courses is available, of varying content, length and intensity. Some Swedish schools abroad provide board and lodging and organize social activities, while others only offer language instruction. Course providers issue their own certificates.
The courses are financed by fees. Courses that include board and lodging are more expensive. The larger language schools in Sweden offer courses all year round and you can usually register fairly close to the starting date if there are places left. You can focus on summer courses as well.
Note, that you will not be granted a residence permit to attend Swedish language courses in Sweden that are not part of an accredited degree program at a university or university college, and there are no scholarships available from the Swedish Institute for basic language studies.
Swedish schools abroad offer language courses for students who already have a fluent command of Swedish as well as for those who are only starting to learn the language.
The Swedish Institute organizes international summer courses. These courses, held in co-operation with independent adult education colleges known as Folk High Schools, are mainly intended for students already studying Swedish at university level in a country other than Sweden. Many Folk High Schools are located in the countryside, giving students an opportunity to immerse themselves in the language in a peaceful and genuinely Swedish environment.
Several academic Swedish schools abroad offer full-time programs in the Swedish language for students with no prior knowledge of Swedish, and some offer part-time courses. Students who already speak some Swedish can apply to advanced courses in Swedish as a foreign language.
Foreign students taking part in exchange programs (such as Erasmus) are often given training in Swedish by the host institution along with their regular studies.
Swedish schools abroad provide non-Swedish-speaking students with sufficient knowledge of Swedish and can satisfy the relevant entry requirements for studies at the university. They often feature lectures on different aspects of Swedish culture and society, study visits and excursions to places of historical and cultural interest as well as social evenings, film showings and other cultural events.