Teaching English in Sweden: Your Ultimate Guide

As the name suggests, the English Proficiency Index is a measurement used to attempt to rank which countries in the world have the highest English language skills. And while the Netherlands is currently ranked at the top of the tree, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden are all within the top six. Sweden itself was long-regarded as the best non-native English-speaking country in the world up until 2022. Because of this close-knit relationship, Scandinavian countries, and Sweden in particular, have become a popular hotbed for the emerging TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) market. Check out everything you need to know about teaching English in Sweden in this article.

You can make great friends teaching English

Why Are Swedes So Good At Speaking English?

There are several reasons why Scandinavian countries have always scored highly on the EPI, all of which are deserving of their own posts. However, the most succinct way we can put it here comes down to a concoction of high-quality education, a smaller and more manageable population (at least compared to other countries), linguistic similarities, and the embracing of multiculturalism.

How To Begin Teaching In Sweden

Sweden is the land of Vikings, Abba, and smorgasbord. It has some of the most welcoming inhabitants on the continent, a vibrant multicultural community, and some of the most breathtaking spots of natural beauty anywhere in the world.

So, no surprise as to why so many people want to teach in Sweden. But, how do you go about getting a teaching job abroad in the country? The first thing to note is that getting a job is not easy. Its English proficiency (85% of the population speaks English and 40% use it on a daily basis) means demand isn't nearly as high as in traditional TEFL markets such as China, South Korea, Thailand, or Vietnam.

The first major requirement a teacher requires is a TEFL certificate from an accredited course provider such as The TEFL Academy. In order to be accepted for a job, most employers will ask for at least 120 hours worth of accreditation and training. A work visa is required for non-EU citizens, and many postings will come with a requirement of a BA/BS degree or equivalent.

Where To Find Teaching Jobs In Sweden

Like most of the best countries to teach English abroad, the major cities are the likeliest place a TEFL teacher will find a posting; i.e., likes of Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmo. The Folkuniversitetet system (literally: community-university) is where most Swedes pick up their English skills, so that may be your best place to start.

Private tutoring represents a potentially more lucrative market for experienced TEFL teachers; however, these sorts of positions are far fewer and far between. The average monthly salary for English tutors in Sweden typically ranges between 18,500 to 23,000 SEK.

Of course, we are overlooking one other potential avenue of teaching English in Sweden: online. While Sweden does not officially offer a digital nomad visa like other European countries, a Schengen tourist visa will allow visitors to remain in the country for up to three months, with some freelancers able to apply for a two-year self-employment visa.

Teaching English online is one of the most popular jobs for digital nomads traveling on the road and, with Sweden possessing the sixth-fastest internet speed in the world, this represents an opportunity to mix a trip to the Scandinavian country with a career in teaching.

Key Facts For Teaching In Sweden

Popular locations for TEFL jobs: Stockholm, Malmo, Gothenburg, Lund.
Qualifications required: BA/BS degree, TEFL accreditation (120+ hours).
Fluency in Swedish: Teachers require a certificate from the National Agency for Education, which typically requires some knowledge of Swedish. International schools' rules may be different.
Average salary: 30,000 SEK - 50,000 SEK
Term season: Regionally dependent. Most are between August - June.

Summing Up Sweden

Overall, Sweden isn't one of the world's most popular TEFL destinations. Its English proficiency means that jobs aren't as plentiful as elsewhere in the world, and insistence from employers for BA/BS degrees, some knowledge of the local lingo (in some cases), and often prior teaching experience means that newcomer teachers are often forced to look elsewhere.

Nevertheless, there are still ample opportunities for nomads to blend their passions for teaching and travel together when trekking through the Det avlånga landet. The fast internet and gradual acceptance of coworking spaces point to a promising future being on the cards for those looking to take their classes with them on the go.