A workplace course inside the vocational programme
APL is the workplace-based learning that every Swedish upper-secondary vocational programme must contain. Tasks are tied to the subject syllabus and graded by the vocational teacher against the national knowledge requirements.
An APL placement involves three parties: the student, the workplace and the school. The school provider is responsible for sourcing placements and the school appoints a supervisor at the workplace.
- Share of programme
- 15+ weeks
- Typical duration
- 15 – 50 v
- Regulator
- Skolverket
- Compensation
- Unpaid
See the status of every APL placement in one view
Placement breakdown
Live distribution of approved, rejected, pending and other placements per program, class and period. Catch a bottleneck the day it shows up, not at the end of term.
Search pressure right now
Track how many students are currently searching, waiting for approval, on an active placement or already done. Spot the students who need help before the placement window closes.
Volume over time
Trend graph for all placements, approvals and rejections across the selected period. Compare years and programs to plan capacity and sourcing for the next term.
Export and scheduled reports
Export any view to CSV or PDF, or schedule recurring reports that land in the principal’s inbox automatically. Audit-ready evidence for Skolverket and the board.
Three phases: before, during and after the placement
- 01 · Before
Sourcing and planning
The school provider sources APL placements that match the subject syllabus and capacity. The school appoints a supervisor at the workplace and confirms the work environment, including the rules for minors.
Read more - 02 · During
Supervision and follow-up
The student works at the placement under the supervisor’s guidance. The vocational teacher follows up via on-site visits or structured check-ins, and any deviation against the syllabus is logged.
Read more - 03 · After
Assessment and grading
The supervisor submits an appraisal of the student’s performance. The vocational teacher sets the final grade on the A to F scale and the documentation is archived.
Read more
Three parties, three responsibilities, one placement
Student
Responsible for attendance, active participation and following the workplace’s instructions and safety rules. Documents tasks against the syllabus and raises any deviation early.
Workplace
Provides a designated supervisor, a safe work environment and meaningful tasks tied to the syllabus. Submits an appraisal that supports the teacher’s grading.
School
The school provider sources placements; the vocational teacher owns the syllabus, follow-up and grading. The school also ensures supervisor onboarding and follow-up visits.
Graded by the vocational teacher against the subject syllabus
APL is graded on the A to F scale against the knowledge requirements in the subject syllabus. The grade is always set by the vocational teacher, never by the workplace supervisor.
The supervisor’s appraisal is an important input, alongside the teacher’s own observations during follow-up visits and the student’s documentation. Branch validation exists for some programmes as a complementary recognition.
- Grading scale
- A · B · C · D · E · F
- Grade set by
- Vocational teacher
- Supervisor role
- Appraisal, not grading
Frequently asked questions about APL
What is APL?
APL (arbetsplatsförlagt lärande, "workplace-based learning") is the workplace component of Swedish upper-secondary vocational programmes. It is regulated by the Education Act and the upper-secondary ordinance and is planned by the school provider together with the school.
How many weeks of APL must a vocational programme contain?
A vocational programme must contain at least 15 weeks of APL across the full programme. Apprenticeship variants contain a significantly larger share, normally at least half of the total study time.
Who is responsible for finding APL placements?
The school provider (huvudmannen) is responsible for sourcing APL placements for its students. The school appoints a supervisor at the workplace and ensures the placement matches the subject syllabus.
Who grades APL?
The vocational teacher grades APL against the knowledge requirements in the subject syllabus on the A to F scale. The supervisor provides an appraisal, but the grading decision always rests with the teacher.
Does the supervisor need a supervisor training?
There is no formal certification requirement, but Skolverket offers a free web-based supervisor training that is strongly recommended before APL begins.
Is the student insured during APL?
Yes, the student is covered by the school’s pupil and accident insurance during APL. The workplace is responsible for the work environment and for following the Swedish Work Environment Authority’s rules for minors.
