Erasmus Experience in Lund, Sweden by Faustina

Why did you choose to go to Lund, Sweden?

Lund has a very international student culture and it's basically a massive student campus. I chose Lund because I wanted to study Scandinavian welfare policies and Sweden boasts that it has one of the most comprehensive welfare systems among the other Nordic models.

I wanted a different experience for my exchange, a break from the crowded and busy city life I grow up in. And Lund offers me the exact experience. It has a rustic charm with small little houses and beautiful cathedrals, cobbled streets dotted with cafes and bars.

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

1 semester, offered by my home university for this exchange. It's 10, 000 Swedish Kroner.

Costs of living here is pretty high, everyone cooks most of the time. Everyone packs lunches or sandwiches to school and heat them up in microwaves. Most schools do not have a cafeteria and cafés are not very cheap. A sandwich costs about 50-60 SEK in cafés. It's a refreshing experience for me, coming from a country where food is cheap and convenient and almost everyone eats outside these days.

What is the student lifestyle like in Lund?

In the words of my Swedish corridor mate, "study-gym-party". The international student life in Lund is very vibrant and lively, especially at night. For anyone coming to Lund, I would strongly recommend renting an International Corridor - it's so much fun meeting and mixing with young people from all over the world! You get to sit down for dinners together and hold parties and basically, do stuff together like a family. It's really cool. Lund is also famous, and somewhat notorious, for its' corridor parties. It's a cheap way to party, though try to stay sober enough to bike home! There isn't any bus service after certain hours.

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

Definitely! Lund is a beautiful, charming little city with lots of student activities organized by the International Desk in Lund. There will never be a moment of boredom here so long as you are willing to take the first step forward. I encourage those who are coming to Lund to come with an open mind and actively participate in all orientation activities and subsequent activities organized by the school. There's something for everyone here, regardless of your interest and passion.

What is the food like?

It's actually pretty hard to pin down any authentic Swedish dish since everyone cooks here and people seldom eat out. Most of my Swedish corridor mates eat pasta and pizza because they are convenient.

Swedish food I've tried so far are the signature meatballs, crayfish, lingonberry jam, Swedish pancakes, kanelbullar (cinnamon buns), saffron buns and Glogg (hot mulled wine spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon, drunk during Christmas with grapes and almonds). Swedes usually eat game meat with lingonberry jam. Lingonberry jam taste in between cranberry and strawberry. It has a tart flavour and is less sweet compared to strawberry jam. If you are coming during fall, do pick your own fruits and have fun experimenting recipes with them!

The kanelbullar aka cinnamon buns are really awesome! Do try to make them yourselves with your new friends when you are here. Do it the swedish way! The cinnamon buns are unlike the American/Canadian version with glazing on top. They are filled with aromatic spices and are sweet. You will hear the word "fika" all the time. Fika is the Swedish tradition of having coffee/tea with sweet buns/desserts while catching up with your friends or just people watch. Every country has their own version of fika I think. I think it's pretty cute that the Swedish have a name for having coffee/tea with your friends and family.

The Swedes have an assortment of breads, and flatbreads called knäckebröd, which I really liked. Knäckebröd taste like wheat biscuits, feels really healthy and you can pair them with anything! Spreads, cheese etc. Knäckebröd is much healthier than bread according to my Swedish neighbors as they contain lesser calories and fats than the normal brown bread.

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Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Lund?

Nope. My home university had an agreement with Lund and I got a very nice little apartment. If you have trouble finding housing in Lund, do try these websites, they are pretty useful: BLOCKET and BOPOOLEN.

Lund has got facebook groups for events, parties, buying and selling second-hand items and housing too!

Do check out these pages:

• Lund Apartments for rent: FACEBOOK
• Sell/Buy stuff in Lund: FACEBOOK
• International Students Lund University: FACEBOOK
• All parties in Lund: FACEBOOK or EVENTMASTERSGROUP

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

There are basic Swedish language courses called SUSA that are available for exchange students. Most people here can speak fluent English anyway given that it is a student town. That said, learning some basic Swedish is always the first step to break barriers, as it is with any other country.

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

By plane to Kopenhagen for example and then take a train to Lund. Or fly to Stockholm and take a bus or train to Lund.

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

Unless you have exams, you should get out there, socialize and have fun! You don't have to party if you don't like parties. There will be dinner or board games or even movie nights organized by the international committee in Lund and they are often at night. It is really really very safe in Lund. I am a girl, I have ridden on my bike alone at 3 and 4am. There wasn't anyone, no cars either.

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

Underground Street Food (that's the name of the restaurant) for some middle eastern/fast food/pizza that is very budget friendly. Students always hang out there after school for a quick bite and they love the onion sauce. It is located just opposite the public library (Stadsbiblioteket) and is beside two bars, one of which is called Bishop Arms. The restaurant has a staircase that goes down leading to the restaurant. There is a hairdresser beside the restaurant. For 50 SEK, you get a huge pizza, salad and free flow of coffee. You can share this meal with a friend if you are a small eater, and your friend gets free coffee too.

St Jacobs is also another very popular cafe. I am visiting the cafe after this post. It's located at Klostergatan 9.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Kulturen, Lund Cathedral, Botanic Gardens, basically, do try to visit all museums. The International desk organizes free tours in English for students monthly for different museums so do keep a look out for them!

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

Come with an open mind and a willing heart to actively participate. It's not everyday you get to be a student in a foreign land, surrounded by other students so try to make the most of everyday.