Erasmus Experience in Borlänge, Sweden by Tine

Why did you choose to go to Borlänge, Sweden?

Well, I always wanted to experience Scandinavia. I am fascinated by the nature and the people. However, if you are looking for a party exchange semester, then this is definitely not the right place. Although there is a student house where you can party weekly, not everyone can live there. For example, I did not get a room there but I actually don't mind at all. I did not come here to party. Borlänge is a quiet and small town. There is some stuff to do here and from here you can plan many trips throughout whole Sweden. And that's why I went here, I wanted to explore whole Sweden.

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

The money we get from Erasmus? I got €580 before I left... I think. Actually I am not sure how much I still get or when.

What is the student lifestyle like in Borlänge?

This depends on where you live. If you live in the student house it is quite busy and adventurous, I guess. Some people have a house somewhere else in Borlange, a more quiet option indeed. Many students subscribe for the gym. You can also go party in the city centre if you want. On Wednesday there is a Taco night at Lilian where a lot of people go. Besides that it’s pretty quiet and most of the students do weekend trips to other cities over the weekend.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Borlänge to other students?

Yes, I would. The university is nice and it is not that hard. You still have to study of course but you have enough time to explore Sweden if you plan your courses well. Only thing which I found difficult was to find a room here in Borlänge.

What is the food like?

Well the food is nice and not really different and exotic. It's just really expensive.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Borlänge?

It was quite tough... I payed 4000 skr which is around 425 euro. It was really difficult and you have to get in contact with the school pretty early.

How much does it cost to live in Borlänge?

Like mentioned above I pay 425 Euro euros per month. Others pay less, others pay more. The student house is very cheap though. It’s around 250 Euro.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

Yes, there are Swedish Beginner courses which are quite nice. I found it easy to learn because it has a lot of similarities with Dutch and German.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Borlänge from your city?

Airplane and then you need to take a direct train to Borlänge.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Borlänge?

Actually I did not go out in a club yet. I only went to student parties so I cannot say anything regarding this

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Borlänge?

• Lilian on Wednesday (Taco night, 5 euros)
• The Chinese buffet in the city
• The buffet next the school
• Ikea

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Cities around like:Säter, Gävle, Mora, Rättvik. There is a great national park 3 hours from Borlange. Stockholm and Göteburg.

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Borlänge in the future?

Just take care of your accommodation and choose your courses wisely so you can travel a lot.