Moving to Gothenburg with children
Education for Children and Young People in Gothenburg
Moving to a new country is an exciting journey, and we are here to support you and your family in finding the right educational opportunities in Gothenburg. Sweden offers a well-structured education system that supports children from early childhood through preschool to compulsory school, upper secondary education, and beyond.
Children’s safety is a top priority. All staff working with children undergo mandatory background checks and must be approved to work in educational settings.
Below is an overview of the different stages of education available in Gothenburg.
Children 0–5 years old — Preschool
Öppen förskola (Open Preschool)
Öppen förskola is a free and welcoming meeting place for parents, guardians and children from birth until school age.
You and your child can come and go during opening hours. No registration is required, and participation is completely free.
Children can play, sing, paint and take part in creative activities together with others. Activities are led by qualified preschool teachers, who can also offer guidance and support to parents.
Öppen förskola is a great opportunity to meet other families, share experiences and build new friendships. Families from all backgrounds are welcome. If you are new in Sweden, this is also a place where you can practice Swedish, learn more about life in Sweden and get to know the local community.
Find Öppen förskola (in Swedish)
Förskola (Preschool)
Förskola is available for children from the age of one until they start school. It provides a safe, caring and stimulating environment where children learn through play, exploration and social interaction.
Activities follow the Swedish national curriculum and support children’s language development, social skills and overall well-being. Förskolan is led by qualified preschool teachers and childcare staff who work closely with families.
Children spend time both indoors and outdoors every day and are served healthy, cooked meals and snacks.
Fees and hours
Förskolan is partly funded by the municipality. Families pay a low, income-based fee.
Fees for preschool and educational childcare (in Swedish)
Preschools are generally open during daytime hours, Monday to Friday. Attendance can be full-time or part-time, depending on your family’s needs.
How to apply
For municipal preschools, applications are submitted through the e-service provided by the City of Gothenburg (Göteborgs Stad).
- The municipality is obliged to offer a place within four months of your date of application date.
- If you apply more than 120 days before your desired start date, your child should be offered a place close to that date.
- You can list up to five preferred preschools, in one or several city districts.
You do not need a Swedish personal identity number to apply, and you can submit an application before moving to Sweden. However, your child must be registered as a resident in Sweden (folkbokförd) before starting förskola.
If you do not yet have an address in Gothenburg, you can enter “Gothenburg” as a temporary address and update it once your address is confirmed.
There are also independent (private) förskolor in Gothenburg. Applications to these förskolor must be sent directly to the provider, not via the municipal e-service.
For families who are new in Sweden, förskola is also an important introduction to the Swedish language and everyday life. Staff support children in learning Swedish while respecting each child’s home language and cultural background.
Children 6–15 years old — Compulsory school
All children registered as residents in Sweden have the right to attend.
- Förskoleklass (Preschool class). You start preeschool class at the age of six. It serves as a bridge between förskolan and primary school. The school day lasts a maximum of six hours.
- Grundskola (Compulsory school). From the age of seven children attend grundskola which runs from Year 1 to Year 9.
- Anpassad förskola (Compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities). From the age of seven there are schools for children with intellectual disabilities or acquired brain injuries. It runs from year 1 to year 9.
Education is free of charge and includes textbooks, school meals, public transportation and school health care. Both förskoleklass and grundskola are mandatory for children registered as residents in Sweden.
Children who are new in Sweden may receive additional support in learning Swedish as a second language. Native language education is also offered from the first year of school.
- In Gothenburg all municipal schools teach in Swedish and follow the Swedish national curriculum.
- There are independent schools that teach in English, either following the Swedish curriculum or an international curriculum.
How to apply
Municipal school
If you want to attend a municipal school, you go through Mottagningsfunktionen (The reception function). They welcome students who have never attended a Swedish school, as well as those who have previously attended a swedish school but have lived abroad for more than two years.
During your first meeting you will talk about
- your child's educational background
- your child's interests
- your expectations of the school
They will help you with choosing a school for your child. You will also learn more about the Swedish school system. To initiate the process you go to Mottagningsfunktionens website and fill out a form.
Independent school (fristående skola)
For independent schools, applications must be sent directly to the provider.
Find independent school (in Swedish)
Fritids (After-school care)
If you are working or studying, your child can attend fritids before and/or after the school day. School education is free, but fritids is partly funded by the municipality, and families pay a low, income-based fee. You will get more information about fritids from your school.
Children 16–20 years old — Upper Secondary School
Gymnasium (Upper Secondary School)
After completing grundskola (Compulsory school), students can continue to gymnasium which is non-compulsory.
At gymnasium there are 18 national programmes, both academic and vocational, preparing students for higher education or working life.
How to apply
- Språkslussen – your way in. If you want to study in Swedish or English following the Swedish curriculum, please contact Språkslussen.
- If you would prefer an education in English and International Curriculum (International Baccalaureate, IB) there are two schools in Göteborg offering IB: The international High School and Hvitfeldtska gymnasiet.
- If you are younger than 20 years old and hold a High School Diploma from your home country there is an education option called Sprintus. Please contact Språkslussen about Sprintus.
Higher Education and Adult Learning
Gothenburg is home to universities, university colleges and a wide range of adult education programmes (vuxenutbildning).
Adults can complete or continue their studies, train for a new profession, or improve their language skills through Swedish for Immigrants (SFI). Universities and colleges offer both Swedish and international study programmes.
Frequently asked questions
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What’s the organisational difference between municipal and independent schools?
When a school is run by the municipality, that municipality's education department or education committee is the accountable authority of the school. Most compulsory schools are municipal, and pupils usually attend a municipal school close to their home.
Independent schools are run by an organiser (owner) other than the municipality. The organiser of an independent school is the school board or similar. Anyone wishing to establish an independent school applies for authorisation from the Swedish Schools Inspectorate (Skolinspektionen). Independent schools are open to everyone, and the teaching must be on par with that provided to pupils in municipal schools.
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When does the school year start and end in Sweden?
The school year normally starts in the middle of August and ends in the middle of June.
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What happens if we move to Gothenburg during the school year?
If you move to Gothenburg during the school year, your child can start school once a place has been offered. Students join the ongoing teaching and follow the same curriculum as the rest of the class. Schools support new students in settling in and assess their needs to make sure they can follow the education.
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What language is spoken at preschool?
The main language used in municipal preschools in Gothenburg is Swedish. Children develop their Swedish language skills through everyday activities, play, and interaction with other children and staff.
At the same time, preschools work to support children’s home languages. Staff encourage children to use and develop all the languages they speak, as multilingual development is seen as an important resource in learning.
In some cases, children may also receive mother tongue support, depending on availability and the child’s needs.
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Is förskoleklass and grundskola mandatory?
Yes, if you are a resident of Sweden both förskoleklass and grundskola are mandatory.
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Is gymnasiet (Upper Secondary School) compulsory?
No, after completing grundskola, students can continue to non-compulsory gymnasium.
City of Gothenburg Contact Centre
Our Contact Centre can help international families with information in English about preschools, schools, and the Swedish education system.
Öppettider
Telefon och e-post
- Telefon
- 031-365 00 00 (Göteborgs Stads kontaktcenter)
- E-post
- goteborg@goteborg.se
- Kontaktformulär
Postadress
404 82 Göteborg