Basic eligibility for higher education through the Folk High School

The general course, Allmän kurs, at the Swedish Folk High Schools has been ascribed a specific rate of qualification by the state, without a centrally established curriculum being required on that account. On certain conditions courses at folk high schools may be equated with the upper secondary school, which means that these latter courses may qualify for higher education at university.

Basic eligibility for higher education attained at Folk High School:

A person who has completed a 1, 2 or 3-year course (1) of studies at Folk High School and who has achieved results corresponding to a Pass in 10 subjects at upper secondary school (2) shall be deemed to have basic eligibility for higher education. The length of the studies required depends on the extent of the student’s previous studies and work experience. (Certificate Eligibility for Higher Education and Higher Vocational Education)

1) The basic eligibility may be achieved by:

• three years of study at Folk High School,
• two years of study at Folk High School as a supplement to at least one year of study at upper secondary school level,
• two years at Folk High School after compulsory school and at least one year’s work experience or
• one year study at Folk High School as a supplement to at least two years of study at upper secondary school level.
Each academic year comprises at least 30 weeks of full-time study.

and

2) 10 subjects at the Folk High Schools (equivalent to subjects taught at upper secondary school):

• Swedish 1, 2 and 3 (or Swedish as a second language 1, 2 and 3)
• English 5 and 6
• Mathematics 1 a, b or c
• Civics 1a1
• Science studies 1a1
• Religion 1
• History 1a1

Basic eligibility for higher education attained at Folk High School (an old model, used for students at Folk High Schools until 2015):

A person who has completed a 1, 2 or 3-year course (1) of studies at Folk High School and who has achieved results corresponding to a Pass in the core subject courses at upper secondary school (2) shall be deemed to have basic eligibility for higher education. The length of the studies required depends on the extent of the student’s previous studies and work experience. (Certificate Eligibility for Higher Education)

1) The basic eligibility may be achieved by:

• three years of study at Folk High School; or
• two years of study at Folk High School as a supplement to at least one year of study at upper secondary school level, or compulsory school and at least one year’s work experience; or
• one year study at Folk High School as a supplement to at least two years of study at upper secondary school level.
Each academic year comprises at least 30 weeks of full-time study.

and

2) The core subjects taught at upper secondary school are:

• Swedish A+B (alt. Swedish as a second language A+B)
• Civics A
• Science studies A
• English A
• Religion A
• Mathematics A

Special eligibility attained at Folk High School

Any person having completed a course of studies at Folk High School who has achieved results corresponding to a Pass in subjects at upper secondary school shall be deemed to have special eligibility for higher education.

Study assessment

Students who so wish may be given an overall assessment of their aptitude for studies. This assessment is an appraisal of the student’s scholastic capabilities as a whole and is based on the assessments of all the teaching staff. Scholastic aptitude assessments are given only for those study courses which the school considers to be relevant.

The following seven grades are used:

• Excellent study skills (4)
• Very good to excellent study skills (3.5)
• Very good study skills (3)
• Good to very good study skills (2.5)
• Good study skills (2)
• Less good to good study skills (1.5)
• Less good study skills (1)

The following factors are taken into account when maiking the assessment:

• Knowledge and skills and development of these
• Capacity for analysis, processing and overview
• Ambition, endurance anf capacity to organise studies
• Social skills

To assist the determination of the assessment the Swedish National Council of Adult Education has approved special guidelines. The guidelines specify the criteria applicable for the assessment 'Excellent study aptitude'. The average of the study assessments set by the school during an academic year shall lie within the interval 2.7 plus/minus 5%. The average is computed on the basis of the numerical values stated above for the respective steps in the scale.

Students who finished their studies before 2014 has only four grades:

• Excellent study aptitude (4)
• Very good study aptitude (3)
• Good study aptitude (2)
• Poor study aptitude (1)