School Immersion in Sweden – 16 -18 years old – 3 months to 1 academic year

Our high school programme in Sweden is aimed at all students aged 16 to 18, who are motivated to study for 3 months to 1 academic year in this unique and fascinating country , and have an unforgettable experience!

You will attend a Swedish high school and share the daily life and lifestyle of your host family. This programme offers a real linguistic and cultural immersion in the heart of Swedish life.

No previous knowledge of Swedish is necessary (beginners accepted), but a good level of English is required.

Sweden is the ideal destination for nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts and anyone who wants to experience something different and off the beaten track!

Why study in Sweden?

  • Excellent education system, encouragingcritical thinking and individual reflection
  • A high quality of life – A clean and safe environment
  • Diversity andequality are fundamental values of Swedish society
  • Environmental protection and sustainable development are an integral part of the Swedish way of life
  • Swedes are friendly, respectful, dynamic and cultured people who have a very close relationship with nature. They enjoy spending time outdoors in all seasons
  • Everyone speaks English

Sweden

  • population: 10.1 million
  • Capital city: Stockholm
  • 70% of the country is forested and nature is omnipresent even in the largest cities
  • Economic dynamism – internationally renowned companies: IKEA, H&M, Spotify, Tetra Pak…
  • Cultural characteristic: the famous “Fika” break or “the art of the social coffee cup
  • Spectacular scenery, northern lights
  • Excellent public transport network

Placements can take place anywhere in Sweden, although the majority are in the south of the country. The student can be placed in a large city as well as in a more rural area.

All Swedes speak English, but lessons in high school will be taught in Swedish. It is therefore highly recommended that you prepare for your stay by taking online Swedish courses before you leave.

You attend a gymnasiet, which is the last three years of secondary school (1st, 2nd and 3rd or 1:year, 2:year and 3:year in Swedish). The choice of school depends on where your host family lives.

You will be placed in 1st or 2nd grade depending on your age, level and availability (no placement in 3rd grade which is an exam year). The choice of class is determined by the school director. You will be taught in a class of 20 to 30 students, allocated for the year. You can make friends with your classmates, whom you will see every day.

The school year is divided into two semesters: usually August to December and January to June. Classes run from 8.00/9.00 to 14.00/15.00. All courses are taught in Swedish, with the exception of the language courses.

Students generally take 9 subjects (the same subjects throughout the year). Some subjects are compulsory, such as maths, English and physical education. The others are chosen according to your language level, your academic orientation, your school results and your availability.

The choice of subjects is varied: foreign languages, Swedish, history, social sciences, economics, business, technology, natural sciences, etc.

The most common foreign languages taught besides English are Spanish and French. More rarely, Latin and Chinese.

Sports generally played in Scandinavian countries: football, hockey, handball, floorball, skiing

Swedish language courses

It is strongly recommended that you start Swedish language courses before your departure and continue them on the spot to make integration easier. Your host family and local contact will be able to advise you on the best options.

In Sweden, schooling is compulsory from the age of 6 to 16. From 16 to 20, young people attend a gymnasiet (the equivalent of the lycée in France or the last three years of secondary school in Belgium). The gymnasiet prepares students for university. It offers several courses of study:

  1. ekonomiprogrammet, where economic and legal knowledge is acquired
  2. estetiska programmet, which leads to an artistic education
  3. humanistiska programmet, a literary programme
  4. naturvetenskapsprogrammet, a scientific programme
  5. samhällsvetenskapsprogrammet, economic and social studies
  6. teknikprogrammet, technical programme

Foreign students most often attend courses in the literary and economic streams.

The Swedish education system is renowned for its excellence and encourages critical thinking and individual reflection. It also gives students a lot of freedom. Teachers are generally very open and relaxed, and the relationship between teachers and students is much more informal than in Sweden, based on mutual respect and trust. On the other hand, this freedom implies a greater responsibility on the part of the students who have to self-discipline to hand in their assignments on time, without strict supervision.

Extra-curricular activities and hobbies are not practised in schools, but in sports clubs, organisations or independent associations. We recommend that students take part in at least one activity outside the classroom and their host family. This is a good way to meet people and gain a better understanding of Swedish society.

The school holidays are as follows: 1 week in October/November, 2 weeks at Christmas/New Year, 1 week in February, 1 week in April.

The host families are perhaps the most important element of the programme. That is why we attach great importance to their selection.

Swedish host families are volunteers. They choose to host students because they want to share their way of life and culture, and because they want to learn more about the young people they host and their country.

The family will choose you based on the description of yourself in your application and whether they feel you will fit in well with their way of life.

You will be considered a full member. Families often have children and it is not uncommon for one of their teenagers to be on a school programme abroad at the same time.

The typical Swedish family is usually very busy during the day (work, school and various activities). They usually get together for dinner and enjoy sharing their free time. Parents give their teenagers a lot of freedom. Education encourages autonomy from an early age and the parent/child relationship is based on trust.

Daily tasks are shared equally between all family members. As a full member of a Swedish family, you will also be responsible for certain tasks (such as helping in the kitchen, cleaning, laundry, etc.) and you will have to tidy and clean your room.

The local correspondent is an experienced person who selects host families and keeps in regular contact with the students. As he/she is able to act quickly in case of problems, he/she is your main contact during your stay.

He or she will be there to answer any questions that may arise once you are on the ground and to assist you in all your dealings. Regular communication is maintained with your host family and the school to ensure that the experience goes as smoothly as possible.

Finally, you will be given an emergency number so that you can contact someone in case of an urgent problem.

An orientation course of 4 days/3 nights is offered at the beginning of the stay.

This course is an opportunity to prepare yourself for Scandinavian life and culture and to meet the other international students on the programme. Visits are also included in the programme!

The course will normally take place in Stockholm (it may be moved depending on any COVID restrictions that may apply at that time).

Accommodation is in a youth hostel in a shared room.

The course fee includes

  • 3 nights in a youth hostel
  • 3 breakfasts and 3 dinners
  • Guided walking tour of Stockholm
  • Entrance to Tivoli Park (but not to the rides)
  • Airport/youth hostel transfers
  • Pre-stay preparation sessions

It does not include

  • Lunch
  • Transport from Stockholm to the arrival airport in Sweden
  • Personal expenses

  • You must be between 16 and 18 years old at the beginning of your stay

If you leave in August: you must be at least 16 years old during the year, i.e. before 31 December, and at most 18 years old (you cannot celebrate your 19th birthday during the year of departure).

If you leave in January: you must be at least 17 years old during the year and no older than 19.

  • Have a good conversational level of English, if no knowledge of Swedish
  • Have good school results for the last 2 years
  • Demonstrate motivation, maturity, adaptability and open-mindedness which are the real keys to the success of the stay

Do you meet the conditions for participation?

  1. Fill in the registration form as soon as possible
  2. Upon receipt, we will send you a provisional confirmation, including the total amount of the stay, a request for payment of 100€ (for the language test and the motivation interview), as well as the complete registration file for the chosen programme. We will also ask you to send us a copy of your school reports for the last two years.
  3. We then invite you to come and take the language test and interview in our offices in Brussels or Paris. This costs €100 and is payable on receipt of the pre-confirmation. This amount is non-refundable, but can be deducted from the balance of the stay in case of final registration and acceptance to the programme. The first part of the file received must be completed and brought with you to the interview.
  4. We will confirm the result within 8 days after our interview
  5. If the interview is positive, we ask you to pay a deposit of 25% of the total amount of the stay (with a minimum of 1500€) and to complete all the elements of the file which includes letters of recommendation from your teachers and other information necessary for the study of your file on site. As soon as your application is complete and we have received your deposit, we will forward it to our partner.
  6. Final acceptance to the programme is given by our partner
  7. Once your application has been accepted, our partner starts the search for and selection of a host family and school

The deadlines for submitting complete applications to our partner are

  • 31/03 for a departure in August
  • 30/09 for a departure in January

Please note: late registrations will be accepted according to availability, but a supplement will be applied.

The online booking form must be received at least 3 weeks before the deadline for submission.

Medical assistance/accident/repatriation/individual liability insurance is compulsory. Easy Languages offers you a complete insurance, all information here.

We will inform you of the airport of arrival on receipt of the host family’s details.

The participant is met on arrival at the airport closest to the family’s place of residence.

For participants in the orientation course: a flight to Stockholm (Arlanda Airport) and a flight from Stockholm to the arrival airport in Sweden.

Dates

The dates below may change slightly

Dates of the Orientation Course: 17 to 20 August

  • School year: 20/08/2023 to 17-18/06/2024
  • Autumn semester: 20/08/2023 to 27/12/2023
  • Spring semester : 10/01/2024 to 17-18/06/2023
  • 3-month programme – 20/08/2023 to 15/11/2023

Fees 2023-2024

WPCS 42.0.3
Tuition, homestay & full board, registration fees included
DurationPrice
3 months€ 5.490
1 Academic Semester€ 6.890
1 Academic Year€ 8.490
Supplement
Orientation meeting (optional)€ 500

The above rates include:

  • Pre-application interview
  • School registration fee
  • Accommodation with a host family, half board during the week and full board at weekends and during school holidays
  • Assistance, support and follow-up from the local correspondent throughout the stay
  • Monthly contact and evaluation reports
  • Official certificate of participation
  • Reception on arrival and transfer from the airport closest to the family’s place of residence to their home

They do not include:

  • Travel to and from the airport closest to the family’s place of residence
  • Transport on site
  • Lunch in the school canteen
  • Pocket money: approximately 250/300€ per month
  • School books (it is often possible to borrow them)
  • School supplies and other school fees such as locker fees
  • Extra-curricular activities
  • Optional orientation course
  • Return transfer (often paid for by the family)
  • Any additional costs related to Covid, such as quarantine, PCR tests, antigens, self-tests etc. are at the student’s expense