Swedish schools in Spain – fees, levels and comparison 2026

There are at least five Swedish schools in Spain approved by the Swedish National Agency for Education (Skolverket), concentrated on the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca. The two largest are Svenska Skolan Costa del Sol in Fuengirola (approximately 270 pupils, from pre-school year to upper secondary) and Skandinaviska Skolan Costa Blanca in Orihuela Costa (approximately 150 pupils, from pre-school year to Year 9). All follow the Swedish curriculum, award Swedish grades and have Spanish and English as compulsory subjects.

If you are planning to move to Spain with children, school choice is one of the most important issues. You have four main options: a Swedish school, an international school (British, IB or American), a Spanish state school or distance learning through Sofia Distans and Hermods. The right choice depends on the child's age, how long you plan to live in Spain and your budget.

This guide covers all the options — where the Swedish schools are located, what they cost, how the Spanish school system works, which international schools are available and how distance learning can complement the picture.

Which Swedish schools are in Spain?

Spain has more Swedish schools abroad than any other country outside the Nordic region. Skolverket lists seven approved Swedish schools abroad in Spain — all with the Swedish curriculum, Swedish grades and eligibility for state grants. Here are the most important ones.

Svenska Skolan Costa del Sol (Fuengirola)

Svenska Skolan Costa del Sol is the largest Swedish school abroad in Spain and one of the largest in the world. The school is located in Fuengirola and has been running since the late 1960s.

• Year groups: Pre-school (from age 3), pre-school year, primary school Years 1–9 and upper secondary (Economics, Natural Science and Social Science programmes)
• Number of pupils: Approximately 270 per school year — 20 pre-school places, 115 in primary and 120 in upper secondary
• Curriculum: Swedish curriculum with Swedish grades. Spanish and English from Year 1
• Fees: Registration fee €1,000 per family. Term fees vary by year group — see skolan.es for current 2025/26 prices
• Notable: Offers guest pupil places for families who want to try a term. Has a sports profile

The fact that the school offers the full upper secondary programme on site is a major advantage compared with most other Swedish schools abroad, where pupils have to switch to distance learning after Year 6 or Year 9.

Skandinaviska Skolan Costa Blanca (Orihuela Costa)

Skandinaviska Skolan Costa Blanca is located in Orihuela Costa, close to Torrevieja and La Zenia. The school was founded in 1999 and takes in Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish pupils.

• Year groups: Pre-school year to Year 6 (regular teaching). Years 7–9 via distance learning with on-site tutoring
• Number of pupils: Approximately 150
• Curriculum: Swedish curriculum, approved by Skolverket. Finnish pupils are taught in Finnish. Spanish and English from Year 1
• Fees: Registration fee €750 per family. Term fee approximately €2,700 (may vary — see skandinaviskaskolan.com for current prices). School meals are compulsory and included
• Notable: Accepts pupils for shorter periods. Small school with close contact between teachers and pupils

Svenska Skolan Marbella

Svenska Skolan Marbella is located on the Costa del Sol and offers regular teaching for the pre-school year to Year 6. Pupils in Years 7–9 study via Sofia Distans with tutoring from teachers on site, and upper secondary pupils study through Hermods with support from school staff.

• Fees: Annual cost €8,200–€13,000 depending on year group (2025/26)
• Notable: Combines Swedish teaching with local roots in the Marbella area

Other Swedish schools in Spain

In addition to the three above, there are further Swedish schools approved by Skolverket:

• Svenska Skolan Gran Canaria — Pre-school year to Year 6, with tutoring for distance learners in Years 7–9
• Svenska Skolan Teneriffa — Pre-school year to Year 6, with distance tutoring for higher year groups
• Colegio Sueco (Rocas Rojas) — A further approved Swedish school

All follow the Swedish curriculum and are supervised by Skolverket.

What do Swedish schools in Spain cost?

Swedish schools abroad are partly funded by state grants from Skolverket, but the largest share of the cost is paid by parents through term fees. Prices vary between schools.

On top of term fees, there are often costs for school meals (€100–€200/month if not included), school materials, school uniform (if required) and optional school bus.

How does the Spanish school system work?

If you are considering a Spanish state school — or simply want to understand the system your children's friends attend — it is worth knowing the basics. Spain's education system differs from Sweden's in several ways.

School levels and ages

Compulsory schooling applies to all children between the ages of 6 and 16 who are registered (empadronados) in a Spanish municipality — regardless of nationality. This applies to your child too if you move to Spain.

Term times and timetable

The Spanish school year begins in September and ends in June. Children have a longer summer holiday (mid-June to mid-September) but shorter holidays during the rest of the year. The school day is often split: teaching in the morning (9:00–14:00) with optional afternoon activities. Some schools operate a full-day schedule (jornada continua or jornada partida depending on the region).

Grades and examinations

The grading scale in Spain runs from 0 to 10, where 5 is a pass. Pupils who do not achieve a pass may need to resit in September. ESO ends with a final certificate (Graduado en ESO) which is required to proceed to Bachillerato. After Bachillerato, pupils sit the Selectividad (now called EBAU) — a national examination that determines university entrance.

What international schools are there?

International schools are a popular option for Swedish expatriates who do not live near a Swedish school or who want their children to be educated in a more international environment. There are over 30 international schools in the province of Alicante alone and a similar number on the Costa del Sol.

Costa Blanca

• King's College Alicante — British curriculum + IB. Ages 2–18. Fee €6,100–€13,950/year (2025/26)
• ELIS Villamartin — British curriculum near Orihuela Costa. Ages 3–18. Fee €7,100–€9,800/year. Compulsory school meals €1,750/year
• Sierra Bernia School — British and international curriculum. Ages 2–18. Fee €7,680–€16,000/year
• La Nucia British School — British curriculum near Altea and Benidorm. Ages 1–18. Fee €5,600–€13,500/year
• Altea International School (AIS) — International profile in northern Costa Blanca

Costa del Sol

• Aloha College Marbella — British curriculum, 900+ pupils, 50+ nationalities. Fee €8,600–€16,050/year (2025/26)
• Swans International School — IGCSE, ESO and IB Diploma. Approximately 700 pupils
• EIC Marbella — British curriculum, ages 3–18
• Atlas American School Estepona — American curriculum. Fee €8,600–€16,000/year

Most international schools charge a one-off registration fee (€1,000–€3,000) in addition to term fees. Sibling discounts are common — ELIS Villamartin, for example, gives 10–40% discount depending on the number of siblings.

Are Spanish state schools an option?

Yes, and they are also free. State schools (colegios públicos) are free of charge for all children registered in the municipality. You only pay for school materials, optional school meals (€50–€120/month) and voluntary activities.

Advantages of a Spanish state school

• Completely free tuition — no term fee
• Children learn Spanish quickly — most children manage well within 6–12 months
• Local integration — children make Spanish friends and take part in local community life
• Good quality in many areas — Spain invests in its primary education

Disadvantages to be aware of

• The language barrier — the first few months can be tough, especially for older children
• No Swedish grades — children receive Spanish grades which may need to be validated when returning to Sweden
• Cultural differences — different teaching methods, more homework, greater focus on rote learning in some subjects
• Swedish can fade — without active effort at home or through supplementary teaching, children risk losing their written Swedish

How does distance learning from Spain work?

Distance learning is an important supplement — especially for families living far from a Swedish school or for secondary school and upper secondary level, where several Swedish schools do not offer regular teaching.

Sofia Distans (Years 6–9)

Sofia Distans is Skolverket's designated provider of distance learning for Swedish pupils abroad in compulsory school. Teaching takes place digitally with qualified teachers.

• Target group: Pupils in Years 6–9 living abroad
• Fee: Approximately SEK 78,250 per school year (SEK 46,950 per term) for full-time studies. Swedish only: SEK 5,500
• Partner schools: Several Swedish schools in Spain (including Skandinaviska Skolan Costa Blanca and Svenska Skolan Marbella) act as partner schools where pupils receive on-site tutoring while studying through Sofia Distans

Hermods Distance Upper Secondary

Hermods offers complete upper secondary programmes by distance learning for Swedish young people abroad.

• Target group: Upper secondary pupils (ages 16–19) abroad
• Fee: SEK 35,826 per school year (SEK 17,913 per term) for full-time studies. Swedish/SVA only: SEK 4,102
• Programmes: Several national upper secondary programmes are available
• Partnership: Svenska Skolan Costa del Sol in Fuengirola offers the upper secondary programme directly on site, but Svenska Skolan Marbella and several other schools offer Hermods with local tutors

Supplementary Swedish

If children live abroad and attend an international or Spanish school, they can study supplementary Swedish through a Swedish school abroad. This means they receive teaching in Swedish, social studies and possibly science in accordance with the Swedish curriculum — usually a few hours per week. Skandinaviska Skolan Costa Blanca, for example, offers supplementary Swedish as a separate service.

How do you choose the right school for your child?

The choice depends on four factors: the child's age, how long you plan to stay, budget and where you live.

If you are staying 1–2 years

A Swedish school is the safest choice. Children retain Swedish grades, do not lose their written Swedish and can return smoothly to school in Sweden. Supplementary Swedish is a minimum if children attend an international or Spanish school.

If you are staying 3+ years or permanently

Then an international or Spanish school may be worth considering. Children become bilingual (or trilingual) and integrate better. Combine with supplementary Swedish if you want to keep the door open for Swedish education later.

If the children are under 8

Younger children adapt quickly. A Spanish state school works excellently — they learn the language within months and gain a natural social network. Supplement with Swedish at home.

If the children are 12+

Older children find language switching more difficult. A Swedish school or international school (with English as the language of instruction) usually works better. Starting in Spanish ESO without any knowledge of Spanish at age 13 is a major challenge.

What are the pros and cons of each school type?

Frequently asked questions about Swedish schools in Spain

Last updated: April 2026. Fees and regulations can change — contact the respective school for up-to-date information.