After SFI: SVA, Komvux and Swedish for university

You passed SFI D. What now?

Passing SFI course D is a real milestone. It means you can handle everyday life and familiar work situations in Swedish, roughly at B1 level, and the grade is one of the ways to show Swedish for citizenship. For many people it is where formal Swedish study stops.

But SFI D is a starting point for working life in Swedish, not the end of the road. Many jobs, almost all Swedish-taught university programmes and most professional training need more. The public system has a clear next step: svenska som andraspråk (SVA, Swedish as a second language) at municipal adult education, Komvux. It is free for those entitled, it runs at different paces, and its highest level gives the Swedish you need for university.

This guide explains the route from SFI D to university-level Swedish, the alternative of the Tisus test, how long each step takes, and how to fit it around work. If you have not finished SFI yet, start with SFI explained and the SFI national test.

The route at a glance

Svenska (Swedish) and svenska som andraspråk are parallel subjects at the same level, and both count for university entry. Most people who learned Swedish as adults study SVA.

Step 1: SVA at basic level (grundläggande nivå)

SVA at basic level corresponds to Swedish as a second language in Swedish compulsory school. At Komvux it is divided into four parts (delkurser), so you can start at the part that matches your Swedish. Your municipality assesses where you belong, and people with a strong SFI D grade sometimes skip ahead.

What you work on: longer texts, both factual and literary, more advanced grammar, writing texts with a clear structure, and discussing and presenting in Swedish. The step from SFI D to basic SVA is noticeable mainly in reading and writing. SFI focuses on getting by; SVA expects you to read, summarise and argue.

Who it suits: almost everyone who wants to continue after SFI D, and anyone who needs a compulsory-school grade in Swedish, for example for a vocational programme at Komvux.

Step 2: SVA at upper-secondary level, levels 1 to 3

Upper-secondary Swedish was reorganised on 1 July 2025. The old courses Svenska som andraspråk 1, 2 and 3 were replaced by Svenska som andraspråk nivå 1, 2 and 3 (levels 1 to 3). Each level is 100 points and builds on the one before. If you passed one of the old courses before the change, your grade still counts; ask your study counsellor how it maps onto the new levels.

• Nivå 1 builds on compulsory-school Swedish. In upper-secondary school, vocational programmes generally end their Swedish at this level.
• Nivå 2 builds on level 1, with longer and more demanding texts, more writing and more oral presentation.
• Nivå 3 is the most academic of the three. A pass at this level meets the general Swedish requirement for university entry.

Adults who lack the general entry requirements for higher education have a legal right to Komvux at upper-secondary level to reach them, provided they meet the entry requirements for the courses. Like SFI, Komvux is applied for through the municipality where you live, and the residence rules are similar.

How long does each step take?

Komvux measures courses in points, and full-time study is 20 points a week. A 100-point course therefore takes about five weeks at full pace or ten weeks at half pace. In practice, many providers run courses over a term or a fixed period, and you will need more time if you are working at the same time.

The four parts of SVA at basic level together make a much larger block of study than one upper-secondary level, so the basic level is usually the longest single step, unless you are placed directly in a later part.

The arithmetic is the floor, not the promise: real schedules depend on when courses start, waiting times between them, and whether you pass first time. Your municipality's study and careers counsellor (studie- och yrkesvägledare) can tell you how courses are scheduled where you live. Ask them early; they also know about combined Swedish and vocational programmes.

Studying alongside work

Most adults who go from SFI to SVA 3 do it while working or caring for a family. Some practical advice:

• Choose the format that you will actually finish. Komvux is offered on site, in the evening, as distance courses and as flexible blended study. Distance courses suit people with irregular hours, but they need discipline.
• Take one course at a time. A steady 50 per cent pace is better than a 100 per cent pace you abandon.
• Check study finance. Komvux students can often get study aid (studiemedel) from CSN for studies at 50 per cent or more. Check csn.se for your situation.
• Use your job as a classroom. Read the internal newsletter, write the meeting notes, take the phone. Our guide to Swedish at work and learning Swedish while working have practical routines.
• Keep a daily habit outside class. Twenty minutes of reading or listening every day carries you through the courses. At this level, Swedish podcasts, the news on SVT and Sveriges Radio and novels you choose yourself are the best material. See Swedish TV, podcasts and easy news.

The other route to university: Tisus

Tisus (Test i svenska för universitets- och högskolestudier, test in Swedish for university studies) is run by Stockholm University and recognised by all Swedish universities as proof of the Swedish required for general entry. It is aimed at the level of Svenska 3 and SVA 3, and it is mainly meant for people with upper-secondary education from abroad who want to study in Swedish but do not have a Swedish grade.

What you should know:

• Three parts: reading comprehension, writing and speaking. You need to pass all three to pass the test, and if you fail one part you can retake just that part.
• Pass or fail. The result is pass or fail. Tisus is not linked to a CEFR level, so the certificate does not state one.
• Twice a year. The test is held in spring and autumn at several places in Sweden and abroad. Registration has a fixed window, places are limited and there is a fee. Check su.se/tisus for dates and fees.
• It is demanding. Tisus sits well above SFI D. Most people take a preparatory course first, and many university Swedish programmes for international students end with it.

Should you choose Tisus or SVA 3? If you need other upper-secondary subjects too, such as English or mathematics, Komvux gives you everything in one place. If Swedish is the only thing missing and your Swedish is already strong, Tisus can be faster. A pass on Tisus also counts for the citizenship language requirement.

Some universities also offer Swedish courses for international students whose final level gives eligibility in Swedish. Our guide to learning Swedish as an international student has examples.

Do you need more than SFI D for citizenship?

Not for the language part. Since 6 June 2026, most adult applicants for Swedish citizenship must show knowledge of Swedish and of Swedish society. A pass in the highest SFI course, currently course D, is one of the ways to show Swedish, as are certain Komvux and school grades and Tisus. Knowledge of society is a separate requirement with its own ways of meeting it. Our citizenship language guide explains both, and the free B1 check gives a quick estimate of where you are. Always check migrationsverket.se for the rules that apply when you apply.

Is it worth continuing?

If you plan to stay in Sweden, usually yes. The jump from SFI D to SVA level 3 is the jump from managing in Swedish to working, studying and taking part fully in Swedish. It widens the jobs you can apply for, opens Swedish-taught university programmes and professional training, and makes everyday things such as parents' meetings, official letters and the news far easier. If your job is in English and you only want more confident everyday Swedish, a lighter routine of reading, listening and conversation may be enough.

FAQ

What comes after SFI D?

Swedish as a second language (SVA) at Komvux. You usually start at basic level, which corresponds to Swedish compulsory school, and can then continue to upper-secondary levels 1, 2 and 3. Apply through your municipality.

Do I need SVA 3 to study at a Swedish university?

For programmes taught in Swedish, the general entry requirement includes Swedish at the level of Svenska 3 or Svenska som andraspråk 3, now called level 3. You can also meet it by passing Tisus. Programmes taught in English do not require Swedish.

What is Tisus?

Tisus is the test of Swedish for university studies, run by Stockholm University and recognised by all Swedish universities as proof of the Swedish needed for general entry. It has three parts, reading, writing and speaking, and gives a pass or fail.

How long does it take to go from SFI D to SVA 3?

It depends on your pace and starting point. Full-time Komvux is 20 points a week, and each upper-secondary level is 100 points, but basic-level SVA comes first and is a much larger block. If you study part time alongside work, plan in years rather than months, and ask your municipality's study counsellor how courses are scheduled.

Is Komvux free?

Yes, Komvux courses are free for those entitled, like SFI. You may need to pay for or borrow some books, and you can often apply for study aid from CSN.

Is SFI D enough for Swedish citizenship?

Yes. A pass in the highest SFI course, currently course D, is one of the ways to show sufficient Swedish for citizenship under the rules in force since June 2026. You must also meet the separate requirement for knowledge of Swedish society.

Keep your Swedish moving

Between courses, your Swedish needs daily use. Lingolib's Complete Swedish is taught in English and goes from A1 to around B1, and our Literature course is for learners at B1 and up who want to read and listen to real Swedish texts. Season 1 is free in full at /lessons; membership opens Season 2 and the Literature course, see pricing.