Before You Arrive to Sweden
> Education Recognition
If you are coming from outside of the EU is recommended to apply for study recognition by the UHR_Swedish National Agency for Higher Education. This accounts for all professions, but this is not a mandatory process, required to enter the job market for the architect profession.
Visit the UHR website to check how to get the recognition of your diploma. A form should be filled out and submitted with all diplomas and other certifications. Keep in mind that sometimes the process can take long (approximately 6 months) so it is good to plan ahead.
* Sometimes the English version of the websites is not complete and has less information than in Swedish.
> Is English enough to work in Sweden?
English is not an official language in Sweden, but most of the Swedish excel at speaking English. It is possible to find a job without having Swedish knowledge, but Swedish knowledge would be very helpful. A lot of companies have swedish knowledge as a requisite in the job advertisement. Furthermore considering that very few offices have international commissions, Swedish comes out as important, while dealing with Swedish regulation, documentation for permit application, management and coordination of the project with the design group, investor and other stakeholders.
*If you plan to stay in Sweden we recommend you start learning the basics of the language ASAP. You can use Babbel and Duolingo to get the language basics. Some Swedish Knowledge will help you not only in the professional.
> Applying for / questions about further studies
If you are a citizen of the ECCA you have the right to study in Sweden for free. If you are an international, but you have a residence permit in Sweden for other reasons than studies, you could enroll in specific bachelor/master courses or programs for free.
There is a possibility of getting financial support and a loan from the state called CSN (The Central Study Committee) for both of the above-mentioned categories but fulfillment of specific criteria is required. As these criteria have been changing recently, we suggest to refer to their webpage for more information if you can qualify for CSN studies.
* The deadline for application for bachelor and master programs non-EU and non-EEA is the 15th of January, and otherwise 15th of April.
> Finding a job in Sweden
- CUSTOMIZE YOUR RESUME
Customize your resume, your portfolio, and your cover letter to the Swedish standards. There are many articles on the web where you can read about what is highly valued on the Swedish market.
If you are completely new to the industry, it is especially important to put together a professional and distinctive portfolio. References should be attached to prove your skills and experiences.
- BIM SOFTWARE
Most Swedish offices use ArchiCAD or Revit. Try to learn one of these. It does not matter which program you make yourself comfortable with, most Swedish offices consider them equal to each other, and you will also continue learning BIM software at the workplace.
- WHAT INTERESTS YOU?
When you start out looking for jobs, it is a good idea to give some thought to where you would like to work. What kind of architecture do you find interesting? Would you like to work at a big or small office? In small offices, there is generally more opportunity to take responsibility, whilst larger offices allow more space and time for development and offer a wider range of projects. This will make it easier for you when you start applying for jobs.
- SEND OUT APPLICATIONS
In addition to applying for advertised positions, send your resume, portfolio, and cover letter to companies that you find interesting, even if there are no advertised jobs. Describe why you want to work with that specific company, or with that specific type of architecture
*Please see our JOB HUNTING' section for additional information.
> Where can you study?
Sweden has several Universities in different cities and regions. The most well-known for architecture, urban planning and design and landscape architecture are:
Lund Technical University, Lund, Skåne;
Chalmers Technical School, Göteborg, Västra Göteland,
KTH Kungs Tekniska Högskola, Stockholm, Stockholm Region;
University of Agriculture and Landscape (Uppsala and Alnarp).
Several other universities offer architectural or related architectural education. Please refer to University.se for a full list.
* Please see our 'COURSES & EDUCATION' section for additional information.
> LinkedIn
Using LinkedIn is popular in Sweden and is a good way to keep in touch with the people you have met and build up a contact base whilst you are looking for a job. It will also increase the chances of an employer finding you among his or her own contacts.
> Architecture Licensing / Titles
Architect’ is not a protected professional title in Sweden, unlike in most other countries. This means that anyone can call themselves an architect. Therefore, it is important to become part of Sverige Arkitekter (Architects Union) and apply for the respective titles:
Membership Title : A person who has completed an architectural education of at least 3 years (bachelor's degree) and who is active can become an active member and is entitled to use the membership title:
Architect MSA;
Interior Architect MSA;
Landscape Architect MSA;
Planning Architect MSA.
Professional title : A member with a completed vocational degree (5 years) or a candidate and a master's degree (total 5 years) and 2 years of professional experience as an architect can be granted a professional title:
Architect SAR / MSA,
Interior Architect SIR / MSA;
Landscape architect LAR / MSA;
Planning architect FPR / MSA
> Accommodation
Finding accommodation in Sweden can be a bit difficult and expensive. If you already have a job, you can ask the company you are working for if they could help you.
In Sweden, the residences are managed by Residential Associations and to get a first-hand rental contract you need to enter a queue system where you get points based on your income, the time you have been part of the system, etc.
Despite this, there is a second-hand market where it can be sometimes easier to find accommodation. It is a good idea to join Blocket and different Facebook groups like “Lagheneter i Malmö” or “Find room/roommate in Malmö”.
We recommend you meet with the landlord and visit the accommodation before you decide to rent. It’s also very important to write a lease contract and to never pay the deposit before the contract is signed. Contracts in Swedish and English are available for purchase in every bookstore
> Settling Down / ID Number
Some practical information is helpful. Once you enter the country you have to register in the Swedish Population. This process is done at the Taxation office (Skatteverket). To get an ID number and be part of the registry you have to demonstrate that you will live in Sweden for more than one year.
> Learning Swedish
Once you have entered in the system and have gotten your ID number you qualify to attend free courses offered by the regions/commune(city) where you live.
*Please see our 'LANGUAGE & JARGON' section for additional information.
- SFI (Swedish for immigrants)
Provides basic knowledge of Swedish and knowledge about Swedish society. Several schools provide SFI courses. You can take the course in the city where your residence is registered. The courses can be intensive, running 5 hours daily from Monday to Friday, daytime as well as Flexible running twice per week (3 hours) in the evenings.
- SIFA (Swedish for academic professionals)
Arranges Swedish for engineers and architects running only in Stockholm. You need to have a bachelor’s degree and documented English knowledge.
The course teaches relevant professional vocabulary, communication in the workplace, and interview training. Further, there are different organizations that try to help people to mingle and have conversations in Swedish.