Erasmus Experience in Stockholm, Sweden by Deborah

Why did you choose to go to Stockholm, Sweden?

I decided to go to Stockholm because of their school system for young students. I heard it is very good. So I studied some courses at Stockholm University about Early Childhood. Also, I went there because Stockholm and Sweden, in general, are very beautiful.

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

Sadly, I could only stay for 3 months. But I did get a stipend with a little money. It was enough to pay for all the living cost throughout my time there.

What is the student lifestyle like in Stockholm?

In Stockholm University I got a timetable that isn't like the one I have at home. The courses are not every week or at the same time. Every week was different. What was also different from home is that some courses end in the middle of the semester and some start then.

Source

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

Yes, I would recommend Stockholm. The city is beautiful and nearly everything is also labeled in English. Nearly everyone speaks English.

In the University I felt welcomed. There were many exchange students and the University had a lot of programs to help us find orientation, friends, and information.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Stockholm?

Luckily I found my accommodation on this website.

I recommend you to look for accommodation as soon as possible because it is very hard to find something. If possible apply for accommodation in the student houses. Usually, they don't rent out apartments in Stockholm so they are very few of them. I think finding accommodation is the most difficult part of all my semester here.

How much does it cost to live in Stockholm?

I live in Switzerland and the cost is more or less the same here in Stockholm.

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

Swedish is a hard language. However, if you speak german you can guess some words when the language is written. Swedish is spoken very fast and for people new to the language it's not possible to understand something when they talk (it does ger better the longer you are there).

My university did offer a Swedish course and it did help me a lot.

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

The easiest way was to take a plane to Stockholm. (I don't know if it's the most economical way).

In Stockholm, I traveled by public transport. It was very easy and if you are a student you get a discount (if you have enough courses).

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

Make sure to get the student card from the student union. You can get it for 120 Swedish kronor. Afterward, you get discounts in many shops. Also if you have 22. 5 credits in one semester you get the discount for public transportation.

With the card, you can now go free on most of the University-Parties.

Make sure to pack enough warm clothes and jackets for the winter. It gets very cold.