My Erasmus Experience in Stockholm, Sweden - by Enrique

Why did you choose to go to Stockholm, Sweden?

For three main reasons: to discover the Swedish capital, due to the high quality of its universities and because of the cultural interplay between the city and the nature it's surrounded by.

How long did your scholarship last? How much were you paid?

In my case, my exchange lasted for ten months and I received around 300 euros per month. This was enough to pay my rent, but there wasn't much left over.

What's the student life in Stockholm?

There are areas and neighbourhoods where it's uncommon to see someone who's not a student, and these places are very lively. There's always a corridor or flat party. The atmosphere is more serious in KTH: the people living there do what they need to do and not much else. There are student societies, and you can always find one which offers something you enjoy doing.

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

Definitely. If you want to discover a new culture and new surroundings, it's the ideal place.

What's the food like in Stockholm?

Typical Swedish food is the stuff you'll find in the IKEA café - it's nothing special.

There's a lot of immigration to Sweden from countries around India and Pakistan, so there are now a lot of kebab shops, and these are definitely better than the ones in Spain.

Did you find it hard to find somewhere to live in Stockholm?

Yes. The university didn't find me a place to live, which they usually do if the sending university completes the paperwork within the right timeframe.

It's hard to find somewhere to live there, but after a month I managed it. There are plenty of websites, some affiliated with the university and some not, where flats are advertised. You have to validate your student status at your receiving university in Stockholm.

How expensive is living in Stockholm?

You generally need around 800-1000 euros per month, taking into consideration that the cheapest rooms you can rent normally cost around 300 euros a month. Your monthly public transport ticket costs 60 euros a month, food 200 euros a month and you spend the rest on partying, travelling, going out for meals... alcohol is very expensive here, and you'll get used to just drinking beer, as spirit bottles cost around 40 euros.

How are you finding the language? Have you signed up to a language class at the university?

There's (or there was) an intensive one month course in basic Swedish at the KTH.

To be honest, you don't really need to go to a course to learn how to say what your name is and where you live, since everyone here speaks English. I've never really needed to speak Swedish.

If you want to get with Swedish girls or boys though, then it could be an advantage knowing some Swedish...

What's the cheapest way of getting to Stockholm from your home city?

From Valencia, the best way of getting there is to fly from Alicante to Arlanda.

You can also get a connecting Ryanair flight from Valencia to Brussels or Milan, and then one from there to Skavsta. There's a one and a half hour bus from Skavsta to Stockholm.

What are the best places for partying in Stockholm?

Stureplan, Café Opera, and definitely the flat parties in Lappis.

What about eating out in Stockholm? What are your favourite places?

Three Bowls AB on Nybrogatan 16. It's an all you can eat Japanese buffet with delicious sushi for a great price.

What does Stockholm have to offer in terms of culture?

Get the bus to Vaxholm village, preferably in the summertime.

Do you have any advice for future students coming to Stockholm?

If you like ice skating, hire yourself some skates and you can enjoy kilometres of frozen lakes on the city's outskirts.