Month: March 2024

It is no secret that students are short on money, and I am no different. Coming to a country that is known for being expensive, I was a little apprehensive of not being able to see a lot of things because they could potentially cost a lot, and while some things are expensive, there is no dearth of activities and sights that are inexpensive or even free. So here is a little “beginner’s tourist guide” of sorts that I’ve put together with some of my favourite things to do in and around Uppsala!

In Uppsala

1: Saturday Concerts at the Uppsala Cathedral
This might be the most obvious thing on this list, but it’s one you really should not miss out on. The cathedral is the tallest one in Scandinavia and is incredibly majestic both on the outside and the inside. It even houses the beautifully decorated tombs of past kings as well, which you will see as you take a round of the cathedral. There are usually a number of free concerts in the summer, as well as weekly classical concerts on Saturday afternoons which also have free admission and sound absolutely magical with the acoustics of the church!

2: A Little Art Outing at Bror Hjorths Hus
Bror Hjorth was a Swedish painter from Uppsala, and there is a little art museum dedicated to his works in the city that is free to visit! His home and studio in Uppsala have been converted into the museum it is today, and there is even an extension to the building where the museum hosts temporary exhibitions for other artists. I absolutely loved visiting Bror Hjorths Hus and I think it is my favourite museum that I’ve visited in Sweden so far. It is quite small compared to a lot of other museums and galleries, considering that it is literally in his old house, and they’ve retained a lot of his old shelves and books, along with so many of his sculptures, paintings, and murals. His artwork is so vibrant, and has such a distinct, bright style that it makes the space feel very positive as well. If you see closely, you will even find an artwork in which he has painted himself in the background!

3: Exhibitions and Contemplation at Uppsala Konstmuseum (Uppsala Art Museum)
I know this is the second art museum in a row, but I am a student of Aesthetics, so I am quite biased towards art! But Aesthetics student or not, the Uppsala Art Museum is lovely, with a large number of really interesting and thought-provoking artworks. They also have frequent exhibitions (of which I have visited a couple) that have fascinating themes (otherworldliness, humans vs nature, among others). The art museum is also free to visit, unless an exhibition mentions otherwise, and is also right next to Uppsala Castle if you’d like to pair the two for a convenient visit. It is also on a bit of a higher point in the city, and gives you a nice view of the cathedral come snow or sunshine.
I know this is the second art museum in a row, but I am a student of Aesthetics, so I am quite biased towards art! But Aesthetics student or not, the Uppsala Art Museum is lovely, with a large number of really interesting and thought-provoking artworks. They also have frequent exhibitions (of which I have visited a couple) that have fascinating themes (otherworldliness, humans vs nature, among others). The art museum is also free to visit, unless an exhibition mentions otherwise, and is also right next to Uppsala Castle if you’d like to pair the two for a convenient visit. It is also on a bit of a higher point in the city, and gives you a nice view of the cathedral come snow or sunshine.

4: A Summertime Day Trip to Gamla Uppsala
Gamla Uppsala or Old Uppsala is a not-so-long bus ride away from the main city, and you can definitely make a little day trip of your visit there– something that I’d definitely recommend doing in the summertime. Not only do they have a museum showcasing the history and significance of Uppsala, they also have several huge burial mounds from the age of the Vikings. At specific times of the day, they even take little groups out to climb the burial mounds with a tour guide, which you do not have to pay extra for. While the “tour” is super short, it is the only way for you to get close to and climb the burial mounds and for that reason I would say it is worth it. The ticket to the museum does cost 100 sek, but the card you get is valid for the whole year, and you can come back several times for free.

Along with the museum and the burial mounds, there are also several trails, an old church, an open-air museum depicting an old Upland village from the 19^th century (only in the summer), and a cute little old-style café and restaurant. The sprawling grounds at the base of the burial mounds are also a nice place to soak in the sun, read, or have a little picnic with your friends!

Around Uppsala

1: History and Art at Västerås
Västerås is another city in Sweden that is 1.5-2 hours away from Uppsala by bus. The tickets aren’t super expensive, and if you already have a monthly bus pass, you have nothing to worry about since the journey is included in your ticket.

Västerås is a smaller city than Uppsala, but still has a bunch of stuff to see and do. The Västmanland County Museum is very immersive and interactive, and almost makes you feel like a child again. It is housed in the same building as the Västerås Art Museum, and yes, they both are free to visit! The city also has a cathedral, and you will even see some art pieces and installations as you walk around the city centre. There is also a historical landmark, Anundshög, situated a short bus ride away from the centre which is considered Sweden’s largest burial mound that is also a must-see.

2: Strolling Around Enköping
If you’d like to visit a little town that almost seems to be stuck in a time of the past, I would recommend a little trip to Enköping. It is not that the town lacks modern infrastructure, but some parts of the town’s centre can only be properly described as “quaint.” It is much smaller and quieter than Uppsala, with an old, quaint church looking upon an old, quiet cemetery. The storefronts in the town also emanate a feeling of being transported into the past, and walking around the town at sunset in the autumn evokes a very specific feeling that is hard to describe to anyone that has not already experienced it.

If you’d like to visit a little town that almost seems to be stuck in a time of the past, I would recommend a little trip to Enköping. It is not that the town lacks modern infrastructure, but some parts of the town’s centre can only be properly described as “quaint.” It is much smaller and quieter than Uppsala, with an old, quaint church looking upon an old, quiet cemetery. The storefronts in the town also emanate a feeling of being transported into the past, and walking around the town at sunset in the autumn evokes a very specific feeling that is hard to describe to anyone that has not already experienced it.

I think visiting Enköping was one of the most unique and unexpected experiences I’ve had in Sweden, and I would suggest a little day trip to see for yourself if you agree with me! Enköping is just a one-hour bus ride away from Uppsala and requires the same kind of ticket as Västerås, which isn’t very expensive!

These are my recommendations to you for now, and I hope to add to this list with the time I have left in Sweden. Happy exploring to those of you that are going to make your way to Uppsala, and I hope you enjoy these places and experiences!

So, you’ve eagerly awaited the verdict on your application, and finally, the moment of truth has arrived. But as you look at your Notification of Selection Results, you may find yourself confused with the terms and information.

Fear not! Let’s unravel the mysteries together.

Your Notification of Selection Results serves as your compass, guiding you through the outcome of your admissions application. Here’s what you can expect to find:

🔍 Which courses/programmes you’ve been offered a place in
📜 Which courses/programmes have placed you on a waiting list (reserve)
❌ Courses/programmes that have been deleted
📝 Special instructions from the university
📞 Contact and other pertinent information
⚖️ How to initiate an appeal, if necessary

But hold on! Before you jump to conclusions based on your application status, let’s decode some common questions:

🔍 “Qualified” Status: Does this mean I’ve been accepted?

Not quite. While being “Qualified” signifies that you meet the prerequisites for the programme, it doesn’t guarantee admission. Think of it as passing the initial stages; now, it’s onto the next phase—selection.

🎯 More about Selection:

Selection is where the real magic happens. Universities assess candidates based on academic achievements and other criteria to determine who secures a spot. This process is competitive, with only a fraction of applicants securing admission.

In this website you can see statistics of past years: (only in Swedish)

❌ “Unqualified” Status: What does this mean?

If your status reads “Unqualified,” it means you haven’t met the general entry requirements or submitted complete documentation by the deadline. Don’t lose hope! You can still rectify this by providing additional documentation, albeit after the admission results have been disclosed.

🤞 “Conditionally Placed on Reserve”: What’s next?

Congratulations, you’re on the waiting list! This status indicates that you may still snag a spot, provided you fulfill certain conditions—such as paying tuition fees or submitting requested documentation—upon receiving an offer.

🔍 Haven’t Received Results: What should I do?

If you’re anxiously refreshing your inbox to no avail, don’t panic. Reach out to University Admissions for assistance. Sometimes, technical glitches or communication mishaps may occur, but rest assured, help is at hand.

So there you have it, a comprehensive guide to deciphering your admission results. Remember, regardless of the outcome, your journey doesn’t end here. Embrace the process, stay resilient, and keep striving for your dreams.

Best of luck!

Your future awaits! 🌟

For more information don’t forget to check University Admissions

When I was barely 16 years old I came to a scary and troubling (at least for me at that time) realization. I understood that I am not exactly like all my friends around me getting into their first relationships and thinking about their future. Barely 16 I came to the conclusion that I am in fact queer and there was no going back.

Now the obvious question – why would it be scary, why would it trouble me in such a way. The answer is quite simple. Where I grew up it was not really accepted to be any way different from the accepted normal. Latvia at that time and even now has no legal protection to same sex couple which follows from the undeniable neglect from the general public, which logically follows from the history of the country, more specifically, 50 yearlong soviet occupation just last century. 10 years ago it was quite hard to be openly queer in public, in your workspace or even to your family. And you can imagine what it felt like being surrounded by teenagers in high school. Terrifying.

It was quite tough trying to understand who I was while trying to keep it on the down low so my classmates or teachers would not find out. And at that time all I hoped for was to have a place where I could be who I was unapologetically and just live without being in fear. I always thought it would be the university for me. Moving away from my little town and to the big city of Riga, getting to know new people who have no previous idea of who I am and reintroducing myself. However that did not work how I intended. I did of course tell more and more people about myself but it always came after a long consideration and partly shame.

But it did however change quite a lot when I finished my bachelor’s degree, gained courage and moved from Latvia to Sweden. When I arrived to Uppsala and started looking for friends I was still quite careful with what I say and how I present myself, quite reasonable I think since I had spent around 20 years of my life surrounded by people telling me how gay people are evil, it is not right etc. Anyway when I started being active in my nation I met a lot of people who were just like me. Not necessarily queer or traumatized by the views of their society while growing up, but interested in the same type of music, same movies and the same kind of activities. Soon I was surrounded by people that I like a lot and I had found myself into this wonderful bubble where everyone is exactly who they want to be and it is totally normal and acceptable.

The most surprising part of getting to now so many new people here was that nobody ever cared about things like sexuality or gender. And not in the weird ignorant kind of way, more like everyone was allowed to be whoever they want and express themselves however they please. That was such a charm! People here are not defined by what their sexuality or gender identity is like they were back home and it is so incredibly wonderful.

This might seem a little weird for people who come from Western Europe but just seeing people in Sweden hold hands publicly and hang out together even if their relationship does not follow the traditional sample whatever that must be. It made me so emotional seeing two queer people sit on a park bench, holding hands and chatting while everybody around them paid no mind in any sense whatsoever. What a privilege to live in a country where no matter who you are, you are allowed to love freely and live in peace with themselves.

As well as that, the amount of queer events and activities around Uppsala is incredible. There are queer clubs, pubs, book circles, movie nights, fikas and so on. Everywhere you look there are events for us to hang out and get to know our community better and let me tell you – it`s marvellous.

Here I have collected some of the biggest groups for queer students in Uppsala:

• The Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Rights
• Queer research group
• Queer book club
• SFQ Uppsala
• And nation events found on the specific nation sites!