Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

STUDYING IN SWEDEN

Erasmus: What I learned after a semester abroad in Stockholm

The Local's new intern, journalism student Gearóid Ó Droighneáin, shares his insights after completing a semester abroad in Stockholm.

Published: 13 February 2024 16:29 CET
Erasmus: What I learned after a semester abroad in Stockholm
One benefit of arriving in Stockholm by plane is the aerial views of the city. Photo: Ola Ericson/Stockholmsfoto/imagebank.sweden.se

Studying Journalism and Law at the University of Galway in Ireland allowed me the chance to take part in an Erasmus programme at Stockholm University. Over the course of five transformative months, a single semester, I found myself immersed in the vibrant tapestry of Stockholm’s culture, academia, and community.

Reflecting on this unforgettable experience, here are some insights and practical advice for fellow students considering their own Erasmus adventure in the Swedish capital.

Accommodation

There are two options when looking for accommodation, on-campus and off-campus. If you are successful with your Erasmus application, then the university will send you an acceptance letter and details as to how to apply to the on-campus accommodation. However, not everyone who applies for this type of accommodation is guaranteed a place.

In my case, that is what happened, so I had to search social media and online websites to find accommodation. I eventually found my accommodation through a Facebook group. International students are often the target of scams and fraud, so make sure you view any potential apartments before making a payment.

Getting to Stockholm

There are numerous transportation options available for travelling to Stockholm. Depending on where you might be departing from, you have the option of ferries, trains and planes. Stockholm has four airports: Arlanda, which is the biggest airport in Sweden, Bromma, an airport used mainly for domestic flights, Västerås Airport, located about 110 kilometres from the capital and finally, Skavsta Airport, located approximately 150 kilometres from Stockholm.

One benefit of flying which struck me when I arrived in the city was the magnificent aerial views of the trees, lakes, houses and all the colours which was a sight to remember.

I arrived at Arlanda Airport and from there the Arlanda express train offered the quickest and most convenient way of getting into the city from that airport. Local buses, direct inner-city buses and taxis are also available.

If you have the option to land at Bromma Airport I would recommend going with this option, as it is only 9 kilometres from the city centre.
Once in the city, the easy-to-use app from SL, Stockholm’s public transport service, gives you access to all modes of public transport, including buses, metro trains, trams and commuter trains.

Academic and Cultural Exploration

When comparing the academic side of things, there were not many differences from my home university. Notably, the first difference was that my home university has a fixed semester schedule, with modules consistently occurring at the same time each week. Stockholm University’s schedule changed from week to week.

The second main difference which I noticed was that the evaluation at my home university often involved multiple exams or assignments, with varying weightings determining the overall grade. In contrast, many of the modules I completed in Stockholm University only had one exam or assignment which determined the overall grade. Finally, studying at another university is also a great opportunity to take modules your home university doesn’t offer. Here is a list of courses available at Stockholm University.

As an Irish individual, I did not experience any significant culture shock when I moved to Stockholm. As someone who is proficient in English, there was no language barrier. Everyone who I had any contact with spoke English with ease.

I also found it useful to take a beginners’ Swedish language course, where I learnt some of the language alongside cultural topics, like the Law of Jante. It refers to a set of social norms or attitudes that discourage individual achievement and emphasise moderation, compliance, and equality.

Cost of living

Coming from Ireland, the cost of living in Stockholm is similar, but if you’re from a comparatively cheaper country it’s worth knowing that prices for goods and services in Sweden are above the EU average, so budget accordingly.

As a student you can avail of discounts to stores, restaurants and services through the Mecenat and Stuk.co apps. Those apps also function as your student identity card. You will need this in order to be eligible for the reduced public transport fares.

Nevertheless, getting the chance to move to a different country, adapt to the new culture and living independently was an enriching experience to embrace.
The weather in Stockholm can be cold and during the winter months there is a high possibility of snow. During this time as well, there is limited daylight. So, be prepared with a good warm jacket and waterproof boots.

Integration and Social Life

The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) Stockholm, a student organisation, was a fantastic opportunity to meet new people from all over the world, through the activities they had organised. These included night’s out, going to an ice hockey game, bowling and they also planned trips away to Lapland, Iceland and the Norwegian fjords to name a few.

Another way of creating a social circle was through joining Facebook groups where links to WhatsApp groups were posted. You can find those groups by searching Stockholm University and the year that you are attending or by searching other terms such as Erasmus in Stockholm or international students Stockholm. Those groups then tend to break down into smaller groups for various activities and interests.

Adapting and Settling In

If you are someone who enjoys travelling and experiencing new cultures, then Erasmus would definitely suit you. I am someone who enjoys those things and from that I settled in very well. I would also recommend joining a group or organisation which connects your home country and Sweden, in my case this was the Irish Chamber of Commerce in Sweden. This is a good way to network and to also have a connection to home, especially if you feel homesick.

By networking through the Irish Chamber of Commerce in Sweden, I explored opportunities to do my work experience and I was fortunate enough to secure an internship in Sweden at The Local, extending my stay for a further three months.

Another way to connect with other students is to tag along with fans of sports. For example, I watched the Rugby World Cup with other exchange students. This brings together students from all those countries involved in the sport, and it offers the chance to make international friends.

Reflection

If you’re not sure about taking an Erasmus semester, I’d highly recommend it. It really contributed to my self-growth and individuality, allowing me to broaden my horizons, make lifelong connections and immerse myself in diverse cultures.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

STUDYING IN SWEDEN

What to expect in ‘freshers’ or welcome week at a Swedish university

Dressing up, silly competitions, gentle hazing, and, of course, excessive drinking. The welcome week or "freshers' week" at university in Sweden has a lot in common with those in other countries. Here's what to expect.

Published: 19 August 2024 06:47 CEST
What to expect in 'freshers' or welcome week at a Swedish university

In the first week of September in Sweden, you’ll see groups of nollor, or freshers, milling around every university town in Sweden, many of them dressed in overalls, white lab coats, or other costumes.

Lund University and Uppsala University, where the traditions, ancient societies, and outdated terminology rival what you might find in the older Oxford and Cambridge colleges, tend to have more elaborate and tradition-filled weeks, while new universities, like Malmö University, tend to have more stripped down affairs. 

What’s Freshers’ Week called in Sweden? 

Freshers’ Week in Sweden is called nollningen, which literally means “the setting to zero”, and has traditionally involved a process called nollning, where older students haze new students, sometimes in humiliating and quite extreme ways. 

Many universities have officially dropped the term nollningen, due to its association with bullying, calling Freshers’ Week something like Välkomstveckan, or “welcome week”, instead.  

At any rate, the welcoming events are normally nowadays just good-natured fun, with only occasional reports of abuse taking place. There are games and activities designed to break the ice and help new students meet older students, get to know the university, and get to know one another.

At the two oldest universities, Lund and Uppsala, and to a lesser extent at Stockholm University and Gothenburg University, there’s often different terminology used for Freshers’ Week.

At Lund, freshers are often called novischer (from novitie, the Latin word for a college freshman), the welcome week is called Novischveckan, and the group of older students organising the activities is called Novischeriet. 

At Uppsala University, at the law faculty at Stockholm University, and in parts Gothenburg University, meanwhile, the word recce is used, which is short for recentior, which means “a new arrival” in Latin. Göta studentkår, the student union at Gothenburg University, refers to Freshers’ Week as RePe, short for Recentiors Perioden, or “the new arrivals’ period”. 

What happens at Freshers’ Week in Sweden? 

Costumes vary depending on university and faculty. Freshers studying technical subjects, such as engineering,have to wear boilersuits in colours which indicate which course they are studying. Medical students have to wear white coats. Students studying other subjects tend to be given some kind of ad hoc costume, normally with a funny hat or a t-shirt printed with a slogan.   

At most universities events are primarily organised by faculties or by the student unions. For example, Stockholm University has a welcome fair with fika, speed dating, and an introduction to the various sports clubs. 

At Lund and Uppsala though, the events are more often organised by the “Nations”, the student societies that are responsible for much of student social life, and which also offer some accommodation.   

Freshers’ Week activities will normally be organised around a theme, allowing older students to let their imaginations run wild. 

Kalmar Nation in Lund, for instance, is this year setting it in a postapocalyptic world where Lund has been destroyed, setting the scene for a battle between vetenskapsmännen, lovers of science, who want to return the world to what it was, apokalyptikerna, who want to continue the choas, utopisterna, who want an ideal world of peace, and mullvadarna, the moles, who come from the underworld. 

They will also normally include a busy programme of events. At Lund’s Malmö Nation, for example, all new members are assigned a group, which combines freshers with two or three older students, who act as mentors (rather than tormentors as they might have done in the past). Events are then spread out over several weeks.  

They include a novischpub night, with food and quizzes, where freshers are introduced to what the nation is and how to sign up for various responsibilities and other activities. Then there are daytime activities with games and challenges arranged by the nation where the groups compete with one another.

The day is finished up with a fulsittning – a dinner party with fun outfits, simple food, and lots of drinks. After the dinner the Nation’s nightclub is open for all of the freshers. The novisch period ends with a large dinner at the student union, with white linen, silver cutlery, and formal attire.

At the dinner, nation members will be expected to sing snapsvisor (traditional drinking songs) and make and hear speeches and toasts. 

At Uppsala, this formal dinner, called recentiorsgasque, or reccegasque is held at the various nations. 

What about the more formal university business? 

It’s not all about the revelry. New students also have a lot of practical business on their plates in the first few weeks. Arrival Day for new students to come to Lund University this year is August 20th, and to Uppsala University is August 21st and August 22nd.

Stockolm University has its arrival service on August 24th and 25th. Gothenburg University has its arrival service on August 22nd or August 24th. 

On arrival, you will need to formally register, and check into whatever accommodation you have managed to arrange. If you haven’t received details on how to register, you should contact your programme or course coordinator for details. 

You will need a piece of photo id, such as a passport, and if your registration is conditional on completing a bacherlor’s degree or other exam, you may need to bring evidence that you have done this.  

Most universities arrange a busy schedule of orientation seminars, with a general welcoming meeting for all students, an introduction to the library, and seminars on study skills, health and wellbeig and Swedish culture. 

SHOW COMMENTS