Ashmitha
In the heart of Scandinavia lies Sweden, a country renowned for its innovative spirit, high-quality education system, and its natural beauty. Life as an international student in Sweden can be quite adventurous.
Curious about what life holds for international students in Sweden?Wondering whether you will survive the chilly Scandinavian winters? Will the language barrier pose new challenges? How about making new friends? And wait, VIKINGS? Well fear not, this article covers all these mysteries and adventures. Quite interestingly, the facts are based on my own experience as a former international student in Sweden. So let’s sail together!
Academic Excellence
Sweden offers a top-tier education system for students. It’s home to a number of prestigious universities, most of them being ranked in the top 100 universities in the world.
The Swedish education system encourages students to be innovative and creative. It gives students the freedom to be their own judges, hence universities don’t offer a GPA score or any other grade comparison system to rank students. It follows the famous saying in Sweden,” The competition should always be with yourself, not others around you”. I was very surprised to learn that I would not be getting a GPA score at the end of my degree. But the more time I spent being a student in Sweden, the more I understood how important this concept was to understand our capabilities and potential.
University Life in Sweden
Swedish Academic Quarter? What is it?
For me, one of the most interesting facts about University life in Sweden is linked to the ”Academic quarter”. The term “academic quarter” describes a custom that is followed in universities and other educational establishments in Sweden. The academic quarter provides for a 15-minute extra period after the stated start time, in contrast to the traditional concept of time, when meetings and classes begin on time and at the exact hour.
This custom, which has its roots in Swedish academic culture, is meant to help teachers and students who may require an extra minute or two to get around campus, change classes, or cope with unforeseen delays. It shows that people appreciate adaptability, empathy, and consideration for the time and circumstances of others. Needless to say, I was always too early arriving at the classroom before understanding this concept.
Teamwork makes the Dream work
In Swedish Universities, group projects play a significant role. As you begin your academic journey in Sweden, embrace the chance to flourish in a cooperative academic community by participating in group projects. You will find out that group assignments are not just an occasional thing, but an integral part of your education journey. During my bachelor’s degree, we completed more than 40 group assignments. As an international student in Sweden, this gave me so many opportunities to make friends and build my network.
Participating in group projects offers benefits beyond academic achievements. It helps the students to improve their communication skills and collaborative nature. During my first semester, I was a bit shy and hesitant to offer my suggestions and share ideas,however constantly engaging in group projects drastically improved my interpersonal skills.
Making Friends in Sweden as an International student
One of the stereotypes about Swedes is that they are typically reserved and introverted. Many believe it’s difficult to make friends as an expat in Sweden. Well here’s the secret: Swedes may value their privacy, But once you break the ice and show that you want to be friends, they become incredibly warm and welcoming. And the best thing is that most of the Swedes are great English speakers. So it’s very rare that the language becomes a barrier when making friends. They sure do love it when you show some effort to speak Swedish, and they would even offer you support to learn Swedish. But not knowing Swedish never becomes a problem in a friendship.
You might have to take the first step towards friendship, maybe with a simple Hello, and it can lead to a wonderful and meaningful connection. And Swedes do party a lot! So you might have to show some effort by showing up when they invite you to hang out. Another fun thing is that they don’t let the weather stop them from having fun. So yeah, expect to have parties even on the coldest winter days, or in heavy rain.
If you are wondering where to meet new people and make friends, I would suggest engaging in the things you enjoy. For example, I found my amazing Swedish friends through volunteering. Also, university accommodation provides a great opportunity to get to know other fellow students and spend time with them. You can also join the clubs at the University and student unions.
Accomodation for International Students in Sweden
How to find accommodation as an international student in Sweden? Well, this can be quite tricky. Because housing in University cities has a huge demand, you have to register in the housing queue in advance to find a place. As soon as you receive the university offer letter, you can register for university accommodation so by the time you arrive in Sweden, you might have accumulated enough points to rank up in the university housing queue.
The most common type of accommodation among students is university accommodation. I would say this is the best option for students not only because they are closer to the University but it can be a very fun experience to share an apartment with fellow students.
The shared apartments are often called ”student corridors”. A room in a student corridor with a private bathroom and shared kitchen costs around 4500 SEK and a one-room apartment with a private kitchen and bathroom costs around 6000 SEK.
Cultural Immersion
Life as an international student in Sweden is an exciting journey filled with unique cultural experiences. Picture yourself dancing around a maypole decorated with flowers in the Midsummer festival. Midsummer is celebrated on the longest day of the year and it’s truly a beautiful day!
And Swedish summers are on another level. One of my Swedish friends often said that Sweden has the best summers. And I do agree with that. The cozy summer weather which is not too warm nor too cold, is quite the comfort everyone craves for.
Then there’s Fika! Amazing Swedish culture of enjoying sweets and coffee with your friends, co-workers, or family.
For history lovers, the ancient buildings, museums, and Viking adventures can be a thrilling experience.
So of course, life as an international student in Sweden will be an experience you may never forget.
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