How to Begin Teaching in Sweden

Hiking, camping, cycling, skiing, boating, fishing are all major Swedish pastimes

Frozen wastelands, cosy cottages, virgin forest, rocky islands, reindeer herders and Viking lore.

Home to Vikings, smorgasbord and Abba, Sweden is the third-largest country in the EU but the one with the lowest population. It’s known as the Land of the Midnight Sun because from late May to mid-July the sun never sets. If you are familiar with the Millennium Trilogy films, based on the bestseller novels by Stieg Larsson, then you will recognise the vast, snowy landscapes of Sweden, the many city islands and the thick pine forests.
While the number of daylight hours varies greatly at different times of the year (from 6 to 18 hours), Sweden is much warmer than other countries at this latitude and so outdoor activities are popular. In winter you can go skiing, skating and bear watching, while in summer you can stay in a cabin in the mountains and go for hikes with the possibility of not seeing another person for days.
If you’re looking to spend your money, Stockholm and Gothenburg are the places to go for shopping and nightlife. If you’re interested in gastronomy, Sweden is home to some of Northern Europe’s (and the world’s) best restaurants, or you can decide to spend your hard-earned Kroner staying in the Ice Hotel in Lapland.

Teaching Opportunities

There isn’t a high demand for English lessons in Sweden, as the quality of English is high: almost 90% of the population can reportedly speak English. This is definitely a destination that is better suited to those with some experience. Having said that, you should be able to find jobs in the bigger cities of Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo.
The Folkuniversitetet system (literally: community university) provides English lessons to Swedes, and many people would rather make use of this system than pay more for private lessons. This is where you will want to find a position as this is where most foreign teachers are employed. As another option, there are a few private language schools that provide lessons, mostly for professionals.

Teaching Requirements

Degree Requirement	Typical Contract Length	Peak Hiring Seasons	Visa Info	Typical Students	Average Monthly Cost of Living in £ GBP & Local Currency	Average Monthly Salary in £ GBP & Local Currency

BA/BS required

9 Months

July, August

Work visa/ EU passport

Adults, professionals

SEK 10 000 – SEK 20 000 (£775 – £1 500)

SEK 18 500 – SEK 23 000 (£1 400 – £1 800)

Degree Requirement

BA/BS required

Typical Contract Length

9 Months

Peak Hiring Seasons

July, August

Visa Info

Work visa/ EU passport

Typical Students

Adults, professionals

Average Monthly Cost of Living in £ GBP & Local Currency

SEK 10 000 – SEK 20 000 (£775 – £1 500)

Average Monthly Salary in £ GBP & Local Currency

SEK 18 500 – SEK 23 000 (£1 400 – £1 800)

Your TEFL journey starts here! Fancy teaching English as a foreign language around the world?

Great! You’re in the right place. The TEFL Academy provides the very best in accredited TEFL courses, meaning your qualification is recognized throughout the world . The TEFL Academy is the world's leading TEFL course provider. We can help you acquire the skills needed to teach English as a foreign language, whether it be through our specialist online TEFL course or our combined TEFL course. Unsure which is the best TEFL option for you? See our TEFL courses compared page for an instant breakdown of course specifics.

How TEFL works >