affärsprogrammet

Affärsprogrammet, or the business program, was a national upper secondary school program in Sweden that focused on business, economy and administration. It belonged to the group of gymnasieutbildningar designed to prepare students for professional work in commerce, industry and public administration as well as for further studies. The program was commonly offered at Swedish municipalities through various secondary schools.

The curriculum of affärsprogrammet combined theoretical studies with practical application. Typical courses covered ekonomisk förståelse, företagande, företagsekonomi, redovisning, kalkylering, marknadsföring, juridik and languages, together with core subjects such as svenska and engelska. Many programs also offered internships or arbetsplatsförlagt lärande (APL) to give students real-world experience. The program aimed to develop skills in analysis, problem solving, communication and entrepreneurial thinking, preparing students for a range of business-related careers.

In the history of Swedish upper secondary education, affärsprogrammet gradually evolved and, in many contexts, was superseded by the Ekonomiprogrammet (Economics Programme) as part of reforms to standardize and modernize the programs. While some schools historically used affärsprogrammet as their name for the business track, the concept and content often migrated to the Ekonomiprogrammet, with adjustments to requirements and course combinations. Nevertheless, the legacy of affärsprogrammet persists in how the economics and business education is structured in contemporary Swedish upper secondary studies.

Graduates typically obtained a gymnasieexamen and, depending on course choices, could qualify for högskolebehörighet (university eligibility), enabling admission to higher education in economics, law, business administration and related fields. The program also prepared students for entry-level work in accounting, sales, administration and entrepreneurship.