The Newbie Guide to Sweden

We explain Sweden

Swedish as a second language, SAS

Swedish as a second language in the context of learning Swedish, is called Svenska som andraspråk in Swedish and shortened to SAS. It is a continuation of the SFI teaching and consist of four courses. The  content in the three last courses is equivalent to the Swedish students learn in high school.

All Swedish as a second language courses are free of charge and you’re also entitled to student aid – CSN while taking SAS. The successful completion SAS will make you applicable for higher studies in Sweden (in the same way the TISUS exam does).

Good to know about SAS

  • The quality of the teaching can vary between the schools and the municipalities. Don’t give up if you end up in a course that doesn’t suit your learning type. Try to speak to a study counsellor (studievägledare) to see if he or she can advise you on what course or school would be better for you.
  • Most SAS courses are taught at KOMVUX (a secondary education institution for adults) and there are many different types of courses (full-time, part-time, flex and distance learning).

Frequently asked questions about Swedish as a second language – SAS

We have received many questions about SAS and here we answer the most common ones. Feel free to contact us if you have further questions.

1. Which are the requirements for participating in SAS?

  • You need to be registered – folkbokförd in Sweden and have a personal number – personnummer.
  • You must successfully finish all the SFI levels or in some other way reach an equivalent Swedish level. You generally need to take a level test if you have acquired your Swedish skills outside of SFI.

2. Is Swedish as a second language – SAS – free of charge?

Yes, the SAS education is free of charge. You only have to pay for the books that are used in the teaching. Note, some SAS courses are provided by private as well as state-owned schools, but all are free of charge.

3. Am I eligible for student aid while coursing SAS?

Yes, you are generally entitled to student aid (called CSN in Swedish) while studying SAS (as opposed to SFI where you are not entitled to student aid). Your SAS school can help you with the application and advise you on how to proceed.

4. How do I apply for SAS?

  • You apply to SAS School in your municipality. However, it is possible to take a SAS-course in another municipality if there is no suitable offer for you in your own municipality.
  • The actual application is generally made online. However, we recommend you to check the school in real life before applying online and if possible speak with a study counselor – studievägledare at the school, to make sure that the school and the teaching are suited for you.

5. What do I learn at SAS?

SAS education consist of four courses:

  • Svenska som andraspråk grundläggande (Swedish as a second language basic)
  • Svenska som andraspråk levels 1, 2, 3. (Swedish as a second language 1, 2, 3)

What you learn in the three last courses is equivalent to what Swedish students learn in high school. The main aim of SAS is to make you eligible for higher studies in Sweden. Taking all four courses takes about 1 – 2 years depending on the pace you choose. Note, that you can also write the TISUS exam if your intention is to study at a Swedish university.

6. Which SAS course can I take?

There are different types of SAS courses: part-time, full time, flex and distance courses. Not all courses are offered at all schools and municipalities. However, the distance SAS courses can generally be coursed regardless of your location. Try to choose the type of course that is best suited for your learning and contact a study counselor if you feel unsure about which course to choose.

Check out the different options

Further reading

We have a lot of information and blog posts from newbies about learning Swedish – or not to learn Swedish. Enjoy!

E-learning course: Your Swedish learning options

Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed about The Swedish stuff? Where can you learn? How does it work? Can you join the different options if you don’t have a Swedish personal number? We know how tricky it can be to figure everything out and so here is a digital course with all the information you need to make a good decision. You will learn about:

  • The different study options to learn Swedish in Sweden.
  • The differences between study alternatives.
  • How much Swedish (and other things) you need for other educational paths in Sweden as well as to work in Swedish.

After finishing this course, you will be able to make an educated study choice and you will learn the most important key words and phrases for studying Swedish in Sweden. Hopefully, Swedish will start making sense!

Sign up to your course here

Missing something? Or does something feel unclear? Contact us and help us improve.