Category: Okategoriserade (Page 1 of 22)

When I first moved to Uppsala, I had a pretty good idea of what Swedish student life would involve: lectures, fika, nations, and eventually learning to pronounce my best friend’s field of study, “sjuksköterska” without embarrassing myself.

What I didn’t really anticipate was how much of my life here would somehow end up involving sport. 

I should probably begin by making  it clear that I never moved to Sweden with plans of becoming a particularly sporty student. Yet somehow, I have returned to horse riding after a five-year break, run multiple 10Ks, become increasingly invested in university hockey, organised kubb and ice skating events for international students and learnt that the Swedish phrase “det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder” (“there is no bad weather, only bad clothing”) is less of a cute saying and more of a genuine national philosophy. 

Some of these activities required actual applications. Others required nothing more than trainers, friends or, in the case of kubb, several wooden blocks and a group of people becoming far more competitive than anyone expected. 

But they have also become some of my favourite ways of experiencing Uppsala outside of university itself. 

Apparently, Uppsala University can put you back on a horse 

Horse riding was actually the familiar part. 

I grew up riding, but by the time I was studying in Uppsala I had been out of the saddle for around five years. Riding is also not exactly the cheapest hobby to casually decide to return to on a student budget, so I assumed it would stay firmly in the category of “something past-Orla used to do”. 

Then I discovered the Uppsala University riding grants. 

Yes, this is a real thing. 

Uppsala University has had organised riding instruction since 1663, making its riding institution the second oldest in the world after the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. Even better, the tradition has survived in a slightly more student-budget-friendly form: every semester the University awards riding grants consisting of 32 free lessons over 16 weeks at Akademistallet in Kvarnbo (about a 15 minute bus ride from the center of Uppsala). 

You can find the current application dates and requirements on the University’s scholarship and riding grant page. For autumn 2026, ten grants were offered, including places for both experienced riders and some reserved spots for beginners. 

After five years away, applying felt slightly ambitious. Fortunately, it turns out muscle memory is real. Unfortunately, so is the pain in muscles you had forgotten existed. 

Getting back into riding became one of the most unexpectedly special parts of my time in Uppsala. There was something really nice about having a part of my life that had nothing whatsoever to do with readings, essays or whatever deadline I was pretending not to think about that week. 

It also taught me something that I now tell other students all the time: actually read the weird university emails. 

Scholarships are not only enormous academic awards with terrifying personal statements attached. Uppsala University has more than 500 different scholarships and grants, and some of them are wonderfully specific. Sometimes university funding is for research. Sometimes, apparently, it puts you back on a horse. 

And for any fellow horse-girls wondering whether studying abroad means sacrificing half of your checked luggage allowance to riding gear: I borrowed a helmet and safety vest at Akademistallet when I started. Sweden is also very good at second-hand everything, so Facebook Marketplace and hästloppis (basically second-hand markets specifically for horse equipment) are your friends. 

Save the suitcase space. You’ll need it later. 

Hockey, beyond Off-Campus 

Horses were at least familiar territory.  Hockey was… less so.  I should probably disclose that part of my university hockey education before moving to Sweden came courtesy of Elle Kennedy’s Off-Campus books rather than any meaningful study of NHL rulebooks. As it turns out, there is considerably more “icing” involved than Book-tok novels led me to believe. 

Uppsala does, however, have actual university hockey. UU Hockey represents students from across the University and competes against other Swedish universities in the Swedish University Hockey League. Their home games are played at Gränby (again about a 15 minute bus ride from the center), and, in a development that has done absolutely nothing to discourage my enthusiasm, they won the Swedish Student Championship in 2026. 

You can find more information about the team through the Uppsala Student Union’s UU Hockey page. 

One thing I like about university sport here is that you don’t necessarily have to be good at the sport to get involved with the culture around it. You can go to a game. You can bring friends. You can learn what “icing” actually is. Progress comes in many forms. 

There are even opportunities to try hockey yourself. Earlier this year, UU Hockey teamed up with Campus1477, the Student Health Service and Uppsala Student Union’s Buddy Programme for beginner-friendly sessions at Gränby where students could borrow equipment. 

So yes, I am pleased to confirm that university hockey exists even when Garrett Graham is not involved. 

Kubb: sport is a generous description, but I am including it anyway 

Then there is kubb. 

For anyone who has somehow managed to live in Sweden without being handed a wooden baton in a park, kubb is a traditional lawn game in which you throw pieces of wood at other pieces of wood until someone becomes unexpectedly emotionally invested in knocking over the king. 

I have organised kubb activities for international students, and honestly, I think things like this are an underrated part of “student sport”. 

Not everybody wants to join a competitive team. Not everybody wants a gym membership. And when you have just moved to another country, the invitation to “come play this slightly inexplicable Swedish game in the park” can be much less intimidating than “come sit in a room and make small talk with fifteen people you have never met”. 

The barrier to entry is basically zero. 

Friends + grass + wooden blocks + questionable throwing ability. 

That’s it. 

It is also one of the things I have come to really like about Uppsala student life. Being active here doesn’t necessarily mean committing yourself to a sport three nights a week. Nations, unions and student associations are constantly organising random things to try, and some of the best ones are precisely the activities nobody takes very seriously. 

Until somebody gets competitive about kubb. Which they always do. 

Running Uppsala (literally) 

Running has been the least administratively complicated chapter of this story. 

No scholarship application. No team selection. No equipment loan. 

Just trainers, an increasingly questionable Spotify playlist (Norwegian rap anyone?) and the decision to voluntarily run ten kilometres (I still don’t quite grasp the metric system). 

I have run a few 10Ks while living here, and running has turned out to be one of my favourite ways of actually getting to know Uppsala. A city starts to feel different once you know it beyond the route between your apartment, campus, your nation and ICA. 

There are paths along Fyrisån, plenty of green spaces and routes where the city very quickly starts turning into countryside. You also don’t need to be somebody who considers running alone “relaxing” (I am aware that this concept remains suspicious). 

Campus1477’s free Student Sports programme includes several different running options, including regular running sessions, social long-distance running, slower-paced running and “Run for Fun”. 

Their Student Sports page is worth bookmarking generally, because running is only a tiny part of what they organise. 

Which brings me to one of the best student tips I somehow did not know immediately. 

Campus1477 has free stuff. A lot of it. 

Most students in Uppsala know Campus1477 as the student gym. 

What I didn’t initially realise is that you can become a Student Sports Member for free, even if you don’t have a normal paid gym membership. 

The free membership gives you access to selected activities and sessions organised through Campus1477’s student sports programme. At the moment that includes things like badminton, running, pickleball, table tennis, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, yoga, social cycling and other activities. 

A small but important disclaimer before everyone cancels their gym membership on my recommendation: this is not a free Campus1477 gym membership. It gives access to the activities specifically marked as open to Student Sports members. 

Still, free is free. 

You can find out how to join on the Campus1477 Student Sports Membership page, and their events calendar is worth checking regularly because the one-off activities change throughout the semester. Most of their student sports events are free. 

Basically: before deciding that a new sport is too expensive to try, check there first. 

Then winter happens 

Eventually, of course, Uppsala gets cold. 

Sweden’s response to this appears to be that once the temperature drops below zero, everybody should simply find colder sports. 

Honestly, I respect it. 

One of the easiest winter activities to try is ice skating. For the HT26/VT27 season, students can use the public skating hours at Studenternas on Sundays from 17:00–20:00 for free, with no advance registration required. You just turn up with skates. 

“But Orla,” I hear the hypothetical international student who arrived in August from somewhere considerably warmer asking, “why would I own ice skates?” 

Excellent question. 

This is where Fritidsbanken enters the story. 

Fritidsbanken might genuinely be one of my favourite Swedish ideas. Imagine a library, except instead of checking out books, you check out sports equipment.  Anyone can borrow equipment, it is completely free, and the normal lending period is up to 14 days. What is available depends on what has been donated to your local branch. 

There is a Fritidsbanken in Industristaden in Uppsala, among other locations, and you can find the details through Fritidsbanken’s website. 

For an international student who understandably did not prioritise packing alpine skis for their move to Sweden, this is incredibly useful. 

And yes, you can go skiing 

Which brings me naturally to skiing. 

Uppsala itself is not exactly known for its majestic mountain range. This does not appear to have stopped Uppsala students. 

Campus1477, Uppsala University’s Student Health Service and Upplands Academic Sports Federation have organised student ski trips to Romme Alpin in Borlänge. The February 2026 trip was open to all students and cost 515 SEK for the return bus journey and SkiPass, with discounted ski and snowboard rental available as an extra. There were spaces for 150 students. 

I would not assume that the exact same trip or price will run every year, but this is exactly the kind of thing worth watching the Student Health Service events calendar and Campus1477 pages for once winter approaches. 

They have also organised beginner-friendly cross-country skiing in Uppsala itself, and students without their own equipment were specifically directed to borrow skis, boots and poles from Fritidsbanken. 

And look beyond the University itself. Nations, unions and student associations organise their own trips too. Uppsalaekonomerna, for example, runs an annual January ski trip to the Alps for its members. 

The moral of this section is apparently: never underestimate Swedish students’ determination to locate snow. 

So, do you need to become a “sporty person”? 

Absolutely not. 

Four years into living in Uppsala, I still wouldn’t describe sport as the defining feature of my personality. I am still considerably more qualified to discuss fictional hockey players than analyse a power play. 

But when I think about the things that have made Uppsala feel like somewhere I actually live, rather than simply somewhere I go to university, a surprising number of them have involved being active in one way or another. 

Getting back on a horse brought me back to something I had really missed. 

Running gave me a reason to explore parts of the city I otherwise might never have seen. 

Hockey gave me another way into Swedish culture (BookTok education notwithstanding). 

And something as stupidly simple as throwing wooden blocks around a park has helped me meet and bring together people from all over the world. 

So I don’t think my advice to new students is “join a sport”. 

Instead, keep one thing you already love and say yes to one thing that sounds a little ridiculous. 

Apply for the oddly specific scholarship. 

Borrow the skates. 

Run the 10K. 

Go to the hockey game even if your knowledge of university hockey begins and ends with Off-Campus. 

Keep an eye out for the ski-trip application. 

And if somebody hands you a wooden baton in Ekonomikumparken and starts explaining something about a king, just go with it. That’s Uppsala. 

By October the days start getting shorter and shorter. I knew it would happen, but it somehow still took me by surprise. I was never sure which sunny day would turn out to be the last one, so I spent all of them outside. Until one day I was wearing my shorts and biking to uni and midway it started to get chilly; not enough to bring out my mammakorv (wait for the blog about that) but enough to bring out that wool sweater that was still lying in the suitcase. And fall had just started.

Sweden’s weather is mostly unpredictable and asks you to be ready for wind, rain, sun, and even snow (especially if it’s April). Maybe that unpredictability may be why Sweden makes such good outdoor gear, but it is also why Swedish homes are the way they are. The weather forces you to be inside at least 4 months and maybe that is the reason why Swedes have become the experts at the art of home décor and setting the right atmosphere.

For instance, I have never seen so many candles in my life since I arrived in Sweden (and I am not talking about Lucia festivity). But more about how candles are present in daily life, according to Sverige Radio, more than 300 million tealights are used per year in Sweden. And it makes total sense, lighting a candle means having a little light in your home, particularly important if the sunset is at 3pm. Later in the year, you also have the adventsstjärna, a star that is placed in almost all windows and that illuminates the streets. Suddenly everyone has a blanket to put on your lap, a candle lit besides you and a coffee or tea in your hands.

Coziness is part of the experience of Sweden, when you go to a café that is nice to sit at or that has good décor that makes you feel at home, a Swede will describe it as cozy. If there is a relaxed hike, with snow and a hot chocolate pit stop people might describe it as a mysig vandring, and even if a person is easygoing and just nice to be around, they could also be described as cozy.

When I first started listening to what at the beginning might seem like an overuse of the term cozy, I thought it was interesting and maybe it was because we were all speaking our second language. But soon I realized it is not necessarily an overuse of the word, but more a sort of lost in translation nuance that mysigt covers while cozy stays short. Cozy is an adjective, is something you have, while in Swedish it can also be a verb mysa, something that is. For example you can have a höstmys, feeling of enjoying autumn.

For me that tells us a lot about the core values of Swedish culture. The value of going slow, the importance of beauty in a physical space and of being comfortable and relaxed. When you stay four months indoors, you start valuing that nice couch with a warm blanket more than you would expect.

My name is Katlyn, and I am from the United States. I am a first-year Global Health student at Uppsala University. Though I have not been in Sweden very long, I wanted to share a few things to hopefully make your transition as an international student a bit more meaningful and manageable.

Budget Extra Time for Everything

It is important to be mindful that you are navigating a new city in a new language. Swedish is the primary language spoken and written in day-to-day communication in Uppsala. Though Swedish people typically speak fluent English, it is important to realize you will be navigating some of daily life in Swedish. Road signs, bus stops, construction and safety information will be in Swedish most of the time. Pharmacies and grocery stores sell a majority of products and medications labeled in Swedish. Of course, you can always ask someone for help translating something, but I also suggest having a translation app readily available on your phone. It is nice to be able to quickly scan signs or grocery items with your phone and perform a quick translation so that you are not missing key information. Translation services can, of course, be incorrect, but I have found that they have been very useful for basic words or phrases.

It is also important, if you plan to stay in Sweden, to commit to learning the language. At the least, I suggest learning to recognize the daily phrases and signs you see around Uppsala so you can walk, bike, and commute safely. Of course, with the additional time to translate and relearn what was once familiar at home, small tasks will take longer, and over the course of weeks and days, what used to be small tasks add up. This is why I suggest you always budget more time than you think you need. I especially suggest this when you are trying to find your buildings and classrooms. In my opinion, you should plan to go to the building the day before your class to find the classrooms without the added stress of a time crunch. Though the organization of Swedish classrooms is very sensible, you will be navigating buildings with names and layouts that are likely very different from those in your home country.

Kindness Is Different Across Every Culture

It is likely you are coming into Sweden already being exposed to opinions and content from social media or other sources. Maybe you have heard differing opinions about the difficulty of making friends in Sweden, or about the culture at large and whether it is friendly or not. Social media often speaks in generalizations about people and the places they come from, and I would strongly encourage you to avoid social media for opinions about these things.

Every culture expresses respect, kindness, and friendliness differently. If you treat all people with respect, they will, in turn, treat you the same. In my short time in Sweden, I have been met with over-and-above kindness and hospitality from strangers. I have found you can walk up to almost anyone and ask for help, and you will be met with an abundance of care and concern.

Come into a new culture without expectations, be willing to learn new ways of communicating, and be open to receiving kindness from strangers in ways you may not expect. My best advice

when entering a new culture is to assume positive intent. Don’t automatically assume someone is being rude if they are being reserved; that may just be a way one culture actually expresses kindness. Be kind, and be yourself. Making friends is only difficult if you don’t put yourself out of your comfort zone. Say hi first, and always be the one willing to help others.

Embrace Who You Are

You are in a new culture, and while that is a beautiful way to learn and grow in cultural competency, it is important that you don’t lose who you are. As you make new friends, you will have the opportunity to share parts of your culture and background, and I hope you embrace that. You being here makes Uppsala University a better place because it becomes a more diverse place.

While I suggest you try new things, you don’t have to conform to every aspect of a new culture. You don’t have to stop embracing and practicing the comforts and traditions of home. What I mean is this: try Swedish food, but don’t stop making your mother’s recipes. Watch Swedish media, but don’t stop listening to music in your native language. You are unique, and you don’t have to change who you are to fit in. Be kind, be willing to embrace people of all backgrounds, and you will find those who embrace you right back.

Don’t Be Alarmed When It Is Hard

If things feel hard, and they will at times, remember that is sort of the whole point. You picked an ultimately harder road to become an international student, but it is likely because you knew how rewarding it would be at the end of the journey. You picked Uppsala University because of its outstanding reputation internationally, and you made the brave decision to leave what was familiar in pursuit of something different and excellent.

Things are going to happen. Hard things. At times, you will feel lost, confused, and maybe even misunderstood due to linguistic or cultural barriers; however, hard does not mean you made a mistake. Hard does not mean pack up and go home; it means you have started the growth process. Not every day will be hard, of course. There will be lots of joy along the way, and when you find those moments, keep them in mind. But when you feel it’s hard, let those moments teach you something. Let the experience make you more resilient, more cultured, and more educated. But don’t let it make you give up on yourself.

You can do hard things. That is how you got here to begin with.

I hope you enjoy your time at Uppsala University. I hope you know we are all rooting for you! Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team with any questions via our Instagram: @Studyatuu. We are here to support you.

It was the 24th of August 2025. I packed my life into two suitcases and boarded a plane from Sri Lanka to Sweden.

As a new bachelor’s student at Campus Gotland, unlike many other international Uppsala University students heading to Uppsala, my destination was the small medieval town of Visby on the island of Gotland.

Although I had been preparing documents, arranging accommodation and planning the journey for months, nothing would actually prepare you for the real situation. Looking back, my first couple of days in Sweden was a roller coaster with a couple of mistakes and unexpected friendships. If you are arriving this

Arriving after one day of travelling

I had travelled for almost one entire day by the time I landed at Visby airport in Sweden.

Between flights, airport waiting times and travelling all the way from Sri Lanka, it had been a very long journey. After travelling for 19 hours to Stockholm Arlanda airport, I chose to fly directly to Visby rather than taking the ferry because fast tracking to my new home was important for me over money.

Before arriving, I had booked a taxi with Taxi Gotland, Gotland’s main taxi service (you won’t find buses running every 5-10 minutes here!). The driver welcomed me warmly, helped me collect my keys and drove me straight to my new home.

That’s when I ran into my first challenge.

I was standing outside the building with two heavy suitcases, completely alone in a new country. Data roaming didn’t work for some reason, I couldn’t make phone calls and despite
having the keys, I couldn’t figure out how to open the door. I came from a tropical South Asian island, and we were used to open the doors outwards not inwards! Looking back, it sounds stupid, but my brain had fried after that long journey.

Fortunately, another student arrived a few minutes later and helped me get inside. He showed me my room, helped with my luggage, and even gave me a quick tour of the facilities.

The first thing I did then was connect to the Wi-Fi and call my family back home. However, even after all that long tired journey, I was so excited that I still had so much energy to explore my new neighborhood.

Shopping in Sweden is expensive

The same student was heading to campus and invited me to come along. He showed me the way to campus and some grocery stores nearby. So, I decided to get some essentials for my room and stopped at Coop Öster (the green grocery store inside the city wall). I bought a lot of groceries, brand new kitchen utensils, pans, knives and a mug for 70 kr!

What I hadn’t realized was that I did my first student shopping trip to the most expensive supermarket in town.

Coming from Sri Lanka, I thought every exact grocery item was priced the same in any supermarket. The next day, after visiting Willys and Lidl, I quickly learnt I was wrong. If you are doing grocery shopping, I definitely recommend comparing stores before buying everything at once. Willys and Lidl are budget-friendly supermarkets but are located a bit far from the main city. Same is ICA Maxi and Stora Coop. If you live closer to Mejerigatan, ICA Atterdags is a better
option since its closer even though it is slightly expensive than ICA Maxi but still cheaper than ICA Nära and Coop Öster.

The other thing I learnt from this experience was that unlike in Sri Lanka, you do not have to buy everything brand new.

I had already heard about Sweden’s fascinating secondhand culture before I moved but was not very keen on it. I had found a store called 4Home Gotland on Instagram and decided to check it out the next day, just in case and I understood my second mistake. Many previous students donate items that are still in excellent condition and are available for fraction of the original price. Therefore, I strongly recommend checking secondhand stores before buying new furniture, kitchen equipment, household appliances, deco, bedding or even clothes, especially winter essentials. For more information about second hand stores in Visby please see: Second-Hand Shops/ Thrift Stores in Visby – By: Valentine – study at uu.

However, if you still want to buy new furniture or bedding, JYSK is worth checking. Dollarstore is another perfect place to check for affordable deco, storage, kitchen utensils and other everyday items. Visby also now has an IKEA Plan and Order store, and you can order there as well.

Opening a Swedish Bank Account Takes Time

On my second day, I visited Campus Gotland to collect my welcome package and complete my course registration. The bag includes a Lyca Mobile SIM card with free 8GB data, so you do not have to rush on buying a new SIM. Lyca Mobile is also one of the most affordable network providers, has good connectivity and I still use it today.

My appointment at Skatterverket to apply for a personal number was on the 3rd day. I had already notified my move to Sweden which can be done online on their website and booked an appointment early on. Starting the process early helped me a lot in the administrative process later till getting a Swedish bank account, Bank ID and Swish which is essential for many day to day activities in Sweden. Read more about the process and how long it took here: My Timeline from Applying to Study in Sweden to Getting Bank ID – By: Shakya – study at uu.

And then started the arrival activities organized by the university. I joined almost every one of them including orientation events, guided tours, and Lamningen. I highly recommend you not to miss them as it helped me learn my way around Visby, understand the university culture and more importantly made me meet some of the strongest friendships I built over time which collectively made Visby feel at home to me. Find a more detailed blog about arrival days here:
Getting Welcomed by Uppsala University: The Campus Gotland Edition – By: Shakya – study at uu.

Looking back, my arrival wasn’t perfect. I couldn’t get into my building, had no network connection and accidentally bought all my kitchen essentials from the most expensive store in town.

But those small mistakes became part of the experience.

If you’re arriving this August, don’t worry if everything isn’t sorted on day one. Attend the welcome activities, explore your new city, and give yourself time to settle in. Talk to people and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Every new student is looking for new friends so it’s the best time
to create your strongest friendships.

Before long, the place that feels completely unfamiliar when you first arrive will start to feel like home!

Lately I have been reflecting on spare time. What we decide to do when we are not doomscrolling till our head hurts; maybe it’s crafts, maybe it’s being in nature, whatever it is I feel like I am relearning what a hobby is.

In Swedish it is called fritid, spare time. There is an after-school program for kids called fritidshem where children learn while playing, particularly for those kids whose parents are working. There is also Fritidsbanken, where you can loan equipment for your hobbies, daytrip backpacks, hiking stuff, even skis. There is even an app called Piffl! where you can find little boxes in the middle of the parks to loan a frisbee or volleyball to play with your friends.

The incredible part is most of these things are free, they encourage you to connect with others and nature without spending a dime. In a moment where it seems like third places are disappearing and life has become so unaffordable, it is refreshing to live in a society that has other hobbies and spare activities than spending money while walking around a mall.

However, this search for hobbies might also come from the availability of spare time. In the end, do hobbies even exist without spare time? When I arrived in Sweden, I had a sensation that everything was slower, people working until 5 pm (for real) and having more hours for themselves felt like a dream. But when I had all the spare time that being a student here grants, I felt like I was losing my mind. I enrolled in a gym, attended congresses, Nation activities, hiked, I was trying to do everything but resting. It is not only the environment; you also need to change internally, to allow yourself to slow down.

But sometimes hobbies don’t work that way, it is not about doing everything to not be there, it is more about doing what connects you to yourself, your friends and the space you are living in.

Hiking was not new to me, it is something I have always done and has become my weekend ritual, that granted me some sanity. However, I stopped water color painting when I was 13. After that I have done it sporadically but it has always been something I truly enjoyed. Now, I am painting again, not because I suddenly have the ambition of becoming a recognized artist, more because it is a space where I can connect with the things I like and be present without being anxious about jobs, visas and adulthood.

If Sweden is noble enough to allow you to pause, what else can I do but to honor the rhythm and to allow myself to find the little activities that bring me joy.

We’ve almost made it to summer, and the days are only getting longer! A few months ago, I was leaving campus in the dark, checking my phone to see what time it even was, and convincing myself that 3:45pm was not, in fact, bedtime. Now I’m sitting outside with friends, no jacket, no rush to go home, and wondering how this is the same place.

Everyone kept telling me that Swedish summers are special. People talk about them all the time, like they’re something you earn after getting through winter. But it’s only now, as everything starts to shift again, that I’m beginning to understand why. Here are a few things that I couldn’t be more excited for!

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1. Biking and Hiking Trips

One of the first things people told me when I moved here was that you don’t need to go far to feel like you’ve left the city. I didn’t fully get that in winter, but now it’s all making sense.

Fjällnora is an incredible hiking and swimming spot, only an hour by bus out of Uppsala. There’s a huge lake, red cottages you can rent out, campfire spots and tons of hiking trails. All summer, you’ll see people swimming, barbecuing, or just lying in the sun doing absolutely nothing, the best way to spend the day.

The lake just south of Uppsala is also only a short bike trip away on a summer afternoon. It’s one of those places you don’t really plan for. You just check the weather, send a quick message to your friends, and then jump on your bike. I’ve started to realise that a lot of summer here works like that. You don’t need to organise anything big. The best days tend to be the ones that happen a bit last minute.

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2. Fikas Move Outside

Fika doesn’t disappear in winter, but it definitely gets even better once the sun comes back! The second the weather allows it, terraces fill up. Chairs are dragged out, tables spill onto the pavement, and suddenly everyone is outside at the same time. You’ll see people sitting in the sun for hours with a coffee and something sweet, fully committing to not being indoors any longer than necessary.

Coming from Australia, I thought I understood outdoor café culture, but this feels different. Maybe it’s because it’s not taken for granted here. There’s a bit more intention to it. People make the most of it while they can. You go out for a quick coffee and somehow end up staying for two hours, just talking and watching the city move around you.

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3. The Sun Never Sets

I’m still having to get used to this one! After months of planning your day around the two hours of daylight, summer flips everything. You look at the time, expecting it to be mid-afternoon, and it’s already 21:30. You head out for a walk after dinner and realise it’s still properly bright.

At first it feels a bit strange, but then it becomes something you start to lean into. Evenings stretch out in a way they never did before. There’s no rush to head home, no sense that the day is “ending” in the same way. I’ve noticed how much it changes the energy of everything. Conversations last longer, plans feel more relaxed, and there’s always this feeling that you still have time.

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4. Swedish Midsommar

Midsommar is one of those things I’d heard about so many times before actually being here. But I’ve been reassured it’s nothing like the movie (let’s hope…)! Flower crowns, dancing around a maypole, songs that everyone seems to know except you. It sounded a little chaotic, and honestly, it will be, but in the bestest way!

For the celebrations, people leave the city, gather with friends, and spend the whole day outside. There’s food, music, and a lot of traditions that you might not fully understand at first, but that doesn’t really matter. You just follow along, copy what everyone else is doing, and somewhere along the way it starts to feel natural. By the end of the day, you’re not questioning it anymore, you’re just part of it.

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5. Time to Slow Down (Outside)!

Winter taught me how to slow down indoors. Summer feels like learning how to slow down again, but this time outside. People spend more time in parks, by the river, or just sitting somewhere with friends. You don’t need a full plan for the day to feel like you’ve done something meaningful. One of my favourite parts is wandering through town at lunch time, and watching everyone in Uppsala flooding out onto the streets and basking in the sunshine!

I’ve noticed it in myself as well. I’m less focused on filling every gap in my calendar, and more okay with letting things unfold. Going for a walk without a destination, staying out longer than I expected, ending up somewhere I didn’t plan to be. Taking my Kindle out, and finding the perfect sunny spot to relax in.

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A few months ago, I was learning how to live with the dark. Now I couldn’t be happier to be back in the light again. It truly feels like a completely different version of Uppsala to the place it’s been these past months, and I love the smiles returning to people’s faces!

So congratulations to those who’ve made it through a year of university, or to those preparing for the move here in the fall. Remember to slow down, bask in the sunshine and enjoy yourselves!

Moving to a new city and a new country is very exciting! Daydreaming about your new life, being curious about your new favourite coffeeshops, parks, or clubs is becoming a new hobby! But before that dream can become true, one of the most crucial steps needs to be taken: find your new home.

This can be a very stressful activity, and can feel veryyyy overwhelming! Advertisements are popping up everywhere, your whole Facebook feed might be full of possible places and people who are looking too…., and panic might start too…

But no worries, I’ve gathered all the tips&tricks, and have collected your most asked questions in this blog.

First of all, use the university website, as it provides a lot of information already!

Secondly, the university offers rooms to fee-paying students through the housing office.

There are 2 different streams:

1. Fee-paying students

2. Non-fee-paying students

Fee-paying students (you are a citizen of a country outside the European Union, European Economic Area, or Switzerland) can take advantage of the housing guarantee. This means that the Uppsala University’s Housing Office will provide you with a student dormitory room, as long as you apply and accept the offer on time.

Non-fee paying students (you are from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland), need to find their housing on themselves. It is their responsibility.

Different student neighborhoods – Uppsala

1. Flogsta

• Iconic flogsta scream at 22:00 and flogstaparties
• Close to Ica Väst (hero as it stays open till 23:30)
• Close to nature
• Not as central – bike really recommended!

2. Nation housing

• Very central and close to the nations
• Mostly cheaper in rent
• Different nations have different types of housing!

3. Klostergatan

• Very central
• Own kitchen + big common kitchen

4. Kantorsgatan

• Not as central
• Close to nature
• Big kitchens

5. Rackarbergsgatan

• Between city center and flogsta
• Corridors, close to ekonomikum

6. Privat housing

• Can be anywhere!
• Maybe a possibility for pets
• Be aware of scammers!

Student’s favourite sites:

Heimstaden

• First serve, first place: check the site regularly!
• Flogsta housing

Uppsala Bostadsförmedling

• Pay for the queue as soon as possible!!
• A lot of rooms in different neighbourhoods!
• Personalize your preferences to get personalized emails

Housing

‘How much is the rent?’ Very important question, but this can vary a lot! You can find housing for 4500kr, but also 10000… A tip: use the filter on the website to stay in your budget!

‘Do I need to pay during June-July?’ This really depends from place to place… I, for example, needed to pay during those months (room with a pentry in Flogsta), while my friends living in a corridor in Flogsta didn’t need to.. It is always mentioned in your contract whether to pay it or not!

‘When should I start looking for a place?’ Preparations are key! Try to use the university’s website to get familiar with the most used sites, and sign up in the queue as fast as possible!!

Tip: I sent out emails to the biggest websites to ask when their rooms will be put on the site, and even automated my preferences. So I knew exactly when to look online and how their queuing system worked, and was less stressed beforehand. Also, if you want a room through ‘Uppsala Bostadsförmedling’, pay for the queue already! I did that right after I knew I got accepted, and was still in place 20 at the beginning of June….

‘Can I rent without a personal number?’ Yes! You might need to prove that you are a student, for example, your admission letter.

‘Do I need to start to rent a house in May, even though I’m only arriving in late August?’ Short answer: NO! You can perfectly find a room that starts in August; most contracts do start the first of the month, but you don’t need to start renting a place a few months in advance!

Walking into a Swedish university classroom for the first time can feel surprisingly confusing. Professors insist you call them by their first name, seminars feel informal but still count as examinations, and no one seems particularly impressed by long-winded questions or dramatic academic performances.

For many international students, the Swedish system feels relaxed on the surface—but that informality hides a very clear set of expectations. Understanding these unwritten rules early can make the difference between feeling lost and feeling confident in seminars.

Below is a practical guide to how the Swedish classroom works: what seminars really are, how to interact with professors, and how to participate in a way that fits the academic culture you are stepping into.

1. Flat hierarchies: professors are not distant authority figures

One of the most striking features of Swedish universities is how flat academic hierarchies are. You address your professors by their first name, not by titles. There is no “Professor X” or “Doctor Y” in daily interaction.

In the beginning I couldn’t wrap my head around this concept, because I come from a very different education system where this would count as disrespect. But in Sweden, non-formality reflects a deeply rooted cultural value: knowledge is not something that places one person above another, but something that is shared and developed together. Professors are experts, yes—but they are also facilitators, discussion partners, and mentors.

That said, there is an important caveat. Because the general culture here is rather reserved, you might not immediately feel this openness or mentorship aura. Professors will rarely approach students proactively or single them out for guidance. But this should not be read as disinterest.

Once you take the initiative—by showing genuine curiosity about their research, or by asking an honest question about your academic or professional ambitions—walls tend to come down fast, and mentorship can emerge very organically. What matters is that the interest is sincere rather than opportunistic. 

So if I were to sum up my experience: you are expected to take the first step, but when you do, you will often be met with real generosity and engagement.

2. Non-formal, but not intimate: mastering the Swedish balance

Here is the twist though: flat hierarchies do not mean the absence of boundaries. One of the trickiest things for international students is mastering the balance between being relaxed and being too personal. The Swedish academic culture, in my opinion, is informal in tone but reserved in substance. You can joke and disagree openly—but oversharing personal details, assuming comfort with physical contact, or overstepping professional distance is still considered inappropriate.

I recently learned about the categorization of informal, non-formal, and formal education, and it really helped me situate the Swedish system. I would personally place it at the intersection of the formal and the non-formal category: interactions are friendly, approachable, and collaborative, but they still follow implicit norms and boundaries that guide academic engagement. 

3. Asking questions: clarity over performance

In many education systems, asking a question often comes with a long preamble:

“This might be a stupid question, but…” or “Based on my background and previous experience…”

In Sweden, this is unnecessary—and sometimes even counterproductive.

Questions are expected to be clear, concise, and unpretentious. You do not need to justify why you are asking. The question should speak for itself.

This is closely connected to something often referred to as the Law of Jante: a cultural norm that discourages self-promotion and performative displays of knowledge. You are not expected to show how smart you are by asking a question; you are expected to contribute to collective understanding.

A simple, well-formulated question is valued far more than an elaborate one designed to impress.

4. What is a seminar, really?

Seminars at Swedish universities—Uppsala University included—are usually examined moments within a course. They can sound intimidating in the beginning, but in reality they are very different from oral exams.

There is no single seminar format. It depends on the discipline, the level of the course, and the instructor. That said, especially in the social sciences and humanities, seminars tend to be:

• highly interactive
• discussion-based
• collaborative rather than competitive
• sometimes role-play oriented

The most important thing to understand is this: you are not expected to perform perfectly.

The key word is contribute. As long as you:

• have done the readings
• follow the instructions
• engage with the discussion
• say something meaningful at least a few times

you will almost always pass.

A seminar is not about being examined every second. It is about showing that you are intellectually present and willing to engage. Silence throughout the entire seminar is usually a bigger problem than saying something imperfect.

5. Peer review is taken very seriously (and it is a skill)

One thing many students underestimate—especially early in their academic career—is how much value is placed on giving feedback in academia.

I remember how in my school peer review was perceived by us as a tedious extra task, something teachers make students do to save their own time. Yet, it is only within the Swedish university system that I realized that feedback is actually a core academic skill.

You are not just learning how to write papers; you are learning how to evaluate scholarly work.

If you are assigned as a discussant on a paper, you are expected to engage with substantive questions, such as:

• Is the argument theoretically grounded?
• Is the analysis independent and critical?
• Is the methodology appropriate for the research question?
• Does the paper contribute something meaningful or policy-relevant?

Grammar, spelling, and structure matter only insofar as they affect clarity. Peer review is not editing. 

You become trained to be critical and constructive at the same time—something Swedish academia places enormous emphasis on.

Final thought

The Swedish classroom may feel relaxed, but it is not casual in its expectations. Respect shows up not through formality or hierarchy, but through preparation, clarity, and constructive engagement.

Once you understand that balance, seminars stop feeling intimidating—and start feeling like what they are meant to be: collective spaces for thinking out loud together.

Visby is the main city on the island of Gotland and home to Uppsala University, Campus Gotland. As Gotland is an island, transportation to and from the mainland is handled by ferries and flights. Within Visby, getting around is generally straightforward due to the city’s compact size. 

Transportation to and from Visby 

1. The Ferry 

There are two ferry stations in the mainland which connect to the ferry station in Visby.  

• Nynäshamn – the port in Stockholm which most of the students are likely to go through 

• Oskarshamn – the port in Kalmar, a bit more south of Sweden 

There are also two ferry companies which run ferries between these stations. 

a) Destination Gotland 

Destination Gotland is a ferry line based in Visby, Gotland which operates throughout the year connecting Gotland to the mainland. A round-trip ticket can start at around SEK 450 and increase depending on the season, availability, age, residency, whether you want to take your vehicle with you etc. Destination Gotland has special discounts if you are a Gotland resident or a student. Which means tickets for students studying at Campus Gotland are considerably lower than a normal ticket.  

Destination Gotland also has a boat bus that operates to and from Arlanda Airport, Uppsala, Stockholm Central etc to Nynäshamn in line with the ferry schedule.  

b) Viking Line 

Viking Line only operates during the spring and summer months and focuses on tourists. 

2. Flight 

The main airline that connects to Visby (VBY) airport is Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). Flights operate from both Arlanda and Bromma airports in Stockholm and take around a 50-minute flight duration. There are also direct flights from cities like Gothenburg and Copenhagen.  

Transportation in Gotland

1. Walking and Cycling 

You would see most people cycling and walking, especially students in Visby. The city is small, less crowded and most facilities lie within short distances. So its really nice to walk or cycle. 

2. Cars and other similar vehicles 

Cars are mostly used by residents. Tourists can also bring their car in the ferry to Gotland 

3. Public Transport 

I wouldn’t say Gotlands Kollektivtrafik (Gotland’s Public Transport) is very reliable. Since Visby is a small city and less populated, buses don’t run very often which makes it less convenient. 

Gotland also doesn’t have trains or trams. 

4. Taxi 

Gotland’s main taxi service is called Gotland Taxi. If you arrive outside the Arrival Days, it can be the most convenient option to use when you first land in Visby at the airport or ferry and your accommodation is not within walking distance. Other than that, it is generally expensive. 

Transportation in Visby is generally simple for students. While options to and from the mainland are limited to ferries and flights, daily travel within Visby is easy, with walking and cycling being the most practical choices.

Having survived two Swedish winters in a row (I’m still surprised all my fingers are on my hands, especially when the temperature hits -15°C),  gave me the exciting insight that it is actually better weather when the sun is shining while having -10°C than to brave the cold wind and rain at -2 degrees.

Staying warm is the key to survival, and yes, you can turn into a 100-layer fashion icon, but there’s another way: doing sports.
And I kid you not, I’ve learned so many new sports during the Swedish winter!

Spoiler alert: no need to buy new sports materials! Sweden has you covered, and you can rent out sooo many sports gear (like everything you might need and can imagine) at Fritidsbanken for 14 days.

I’ve made a list with all my favourite activities (and more!), so we won’t fall into a dark spot when winter is over!

Sledging

This might be the cheapest sport (even though materials can be rented out for free anyway), but just some fresh snow and trasbags, and you are ready to go!

Even though Uppsala is kinda flat, there are many hills where you can try this out!
The best spots are also very easy to recognise; just look for car tyres at the end of the hill, they prevent you from sledging on the road haha!

Just be prepared to look like a snow(wo)man afterwards! Thermals are recommended!!

– sledging with the most beautiful sunset
– really felt like a pinch-me moment,
and looking into the future: this is how I look with white hair!

Bandy

This is a new personal favourite, and after trying it during the first winter, I genuinely counted down the days to do it again!

Imagine football combined with hockey on ice, that is bandy!

The reason why I looked forward so much is that our university offers free(!) bandy classes, where we even have classes from the actual pros! One day, you are supporting them together with the hardcore fans, and the other moment, they are teaching you how not to fall on the ice!

After 4 very fun but chaotic classes, it is time for a game that, believe me or not, is even more chaotic but also more fun!

Ice hockey

Of course, this sport couldn’t miss a spot in this list! 
I haven’t tried it myself, but supporting our own Uppsala team is a must.
There’s a lot of atmosphere during the game, perfect for hanging out with friends, and lucky us, the tickets from the university games are really affordable too!

Skating

We’ve already talked about sport on skates, so ice skating is also a must-do!
When it is cold enough, Uppsala is an open-air ice rink!
There are many lakes where you can skate, but also a public free ice rink at Studenternas IP and the indoor ice rink at Gränby, so the possibilities are endless!
If you want to skate in nature, you can best check this link to see where it is possible. You can find more information about it here!

I promised you there’s a lot to do, so of course there are other sports too that don’t include ice skates;

Cross-country skiing

During summer, you use the bike, during winter, langlauf skies are the new vehicles!

I was so surprised to see people doing cross-skiing instead of walking, and honestly, it was one of my favourite things to see.

There are many paths where you can do this sport. You can find more information here!

Skiing

And of course, skiing is also a fun activity!
I haven’t tried it myself, because breaking my bones once during bandy was enough for me, haha.

But there are places outside Uppsala where you can ski, as Uppsala itself is too flat for it.

No worries tho! There are places close by that are easy to reach where you can try it out!

Also, sometimes ESN Uppsala and some nations are organising little ski-trips, so keep an eye on their Facebook and Instagram accounts to stay up to date!

Snow angel

Lastly, not really a sport but a must-do: making snow angels and building a snowman (including a snowball fight). It is amazing to find the child in yourself when seeing snow, and the best recommendation I can give is to follow you inner-child!

Just make sure to wear warm clothes 😉