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 😉

If you’re reading this, then you probably want to learn Swedish. Whether it’s to increase your chances of landing a job in the country after your studies, to read signs in Swedish on campus or in the city, or to better connect with people who speak the language, having some degree of proficiency in Swedish can be beneficial for an international student in Sweden. It takes a lot of time and effort especially if your native language is linguistically far from the North Germanic group, so you might as well have fun while learning it! I still have a long way to go before I reach fluency, but after a year and a half of learning the language, I can now at least hold a basic conversation in Swedish, understand announcements on the pendeltåg, and put elementary Swedish as one of my skills in my CV! Here are the top 5 ways I learned (and continue to learn) Swedish as an international student at Uppsala University:

1. Attend Swedish classes at the university or SFI

When it comes to learning a new language, a good starting point is to receive structured, formal education on the basics of grammar, sentence structure, and phonetics of the language you are learning. It’s also a good way to make new friends in a new country since you meet a lot of people with whom you already share at least one common interest – learning Swedish.

Uppsala University (UU) offers Basic Swedish classes to exchange and international students enrolled at the university as well as Swedish for Academics courses for those employed at UU. Students from the EU and UU employees can participate in said courses for free, while international students who are not from the EU have to pay tuition to attend the class and be given the corresponding credits for it. It is, however, also an option for non-EU students to audit the course without paying fees. Although this means that they won’t receive credits for taking the Basic Swedish course, I still think that auditing the course to be able to actively learn the language is worth it, especially if your main objective at the end of the day is to achieve some degree of understanding of the basics. For more information, you can check out this page or contact basic@nordiska.uu.se if you have specific questions.

Swedish for Immigrants (SFI) is another option if you were not able to secure a spot at any of the courses offered by UU. For more information on SFI, you can check these pages for those living in Uppsala and Gotland.

2. Use Duolingo and maintain friend streaks

I’ve heard a lot of people say that language learning apps are not effective ways to learn a new language. On their own, yes, it can be difficult to pick up the necessary concepts and you can’t expect to be fluent in a language solely by reaching a 100-day streak on Duolingo. However, if you use these apps not just as a daily habit, but alongside attending formal classes and using the language in your daily life, they actually help a lot with vocabulary retention and with working on your pronunciation. It’s important to also take your time while completing the lessons to properly take in new words and figure out unstated grammar rules instead of just breezing through the lessons for the sake of extending your streak (I’m sorry if you feel called out by this; I am also calling myself out!). If you have friends who are also learning a new language, you can even start friend streaks with each other to keep you motivated!

3. Watch TV shows in Swedish

I ironically started watching Love is Blind Sweden last summer when all my Swedish labmates would talk about it over lunch. After one season, I actually do think it helped me learn the language faster. Think about it: watching with subtitles (and of course, audio), you get to efficiently train your Swedish reading and listening comprehension, and you do all this while getting entertained by interesting plot lines! Additionally, you also familiarize yourself more with Swedish slang or its use in informal contexts, which is equally important as learning the academic/professional form of the language. Another alternative is to watch series or movies you’ve seen before with Swedish subtitles. It’s also a great way to familiarize yourself with everyday expressions.

4. Listen to Swedish music

Listening to songs in Swedish (and eventually singing along to them) is a good way to practice your listening skills and pronunciation. Music is also always a good conversation starter, so you can ask new Swedish friends for song/artist recommendations if you don’t know where to start. For me, these are some Swedish songs I currently have on repeat:

• Gå för Glory (Axel Boman remix) – Håkan Hellström
• Skriker Mitt Namn – Victor Leksell
• Blåser Min Rök – Näääk, Nimo

5. Use the language in daily life

A big part of accelerating the learning curve of developing proficiency in a language is integrating it into your daily life. A lot of people (myself included!) are scared of making grammar mistakes or pronouncing foreign words weirdly, but over time, I’ve found that it really isn’t as big of a deal as it seems if you mess up. After all, the best way to learn is to make mistakes and learn from them. Since then, I’ve started saying restaurant orders, asking questions, and texting a friend in Swedish. You could also join språkcafes (language cafes), which nations, university departments, and other institutions organize around the city. It’s a chill way to practice your Swedish skills while enjoying a fika!

It can take a lot to learn a new language, but it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun while doing so. I hope these tips help you on your Swedish journey. If you have any other fun and effective ways to improve your Swedish skills, I’d love to read them in the comments or through messages in the @studyatuu Instagram page!

A practical guide for students at Uppsala University

Hello everyone, I’m Patrick, or some people know me as Longwei. I am currently in my last semester of my master’s program in Information Systems at Uppsala University. After more than a year of struggling find an internship. I finally got one in Stockholm. So today I would like to share my experience about how to find an internship in Sweden as an international student.

Finding an internship in Sweden as an international student can feel both exciting and confusing. Unlike some countries where internships are posted everywhere, Sweden often works a bit differently — networking, initiative, and timing matter a lot.

1. Start Early (Sweden Loves Planning)

One thing you’ll quickly notice in Sweden is that companies plan ahead.
Many internships, especially at larger companies, are recruited months in advance. A good rule is:

• Autumn internships → apply in spring

• Spring internships → apply in autumn

• Summer internships → apply in winter

So don’t wait until the last minute — starting early gives you a huge advantage.

2. Understand the Swedish Internship Culture

In Sweden, internships are not always advertised openly.

Many companies expect students to:

• Reach out directly

• Show initiative

Ask about opportunities even if no position is posted

This is normal, and sending a polite email is often appreciated.

3. Use University Resources (They’re Better Than You Think)

As a student at Uppsala University, you already have access to great support like Career Services. They can help with:

• CV feedback

• Interview training

• Career fairs

• Internship guidance

• Department Networks

Many internship opportunities are shared informally through professors, program coordinators, or alumni.

Don’t be afraid to ask: “Do you know companies that have hosted interns before?”

4. LinkedIn is Essential in Sweden

In Sweden, LinkedIn is one of the main tools for internship searching.

Make sure your profile is updated with:

• A clear headline

• Your program and skills

• What kind of internship you’re looking for

Swedes appreciate direct but polite communication.

5. Network (Even if It Feels Uncomfortable)

Many internships in Sweden come through connections rather than job boards.

Networking doesn’t mean being “salesy.” It can be as simple as:

• Attending events

• Talking to guest lecturers

• Joining student organizations

• Asking alumni for advice

A coffee chat (fika ☕) is often the first step toward an opportunity.

6. Apply Broadly — Not Only to Big Companies

Large companies like Spotify, Volvo, or IKEA are popular, but competition is extremely high.

Smaller companies and startups often:

• Have fewer applicants

• Offer more hands-on experience

• Are more flexible with international students

Look beyond the big names.

7. Learn Some Swedish (But Don’t Panic)

Good news: many internships are available in English, especially in tech, business, and research.

But learning basic Swedish helps with:

• Workplace integration

• Social life

• Showing motivation

Even simple phrases like “Tack så mycket” make a positive impression.

8. Know Your Work Rights as a Student

International students in Sweden are allowed to work while studying.

After graduation, you can also apply for a job-seeking residence permit, which allows you to stay and look for work or internships. Always check the latest rules from the Swedish Migration Agency.

9. Don’t Get Discouraged (It Takes Time)

Many international students apply to dozens of positions before landing one. For example, I applied for more than 100 positions (the data I tracked in the Sankey diagram is not complete) and only got 5 interviews. I got many rejections, but I never gave up! Rejection is normal — it’s not about your worth, but often about timing, language, or internal company needs.

Keep improving your approach, and don’t hesitate to ask for feedback.

Final Advice

Finding an internship in Sweden is absolutely possible — but it requires patience, planning, and initiative.

If you start early, use university support, build connections, and stay persistent, you will increase your chances greatly.

Good luck — and welcome to the Swedish internship journey!