Erasmus experience in Umeå, Sweden by Marcos

Why did you choose Umeå, Sweden as your destination?

I was keen to have the experience of living in such a remote and peculiar place in Europe. I was very drawn to it by the natural environment as well.

Umma, Sweden

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How long was your schoolarship for? How much money did they grant you?

10 months. 830€ per semester. It is far too little for how much money is needed here.

How is student life in Umeå?

It is more vibrant than what I was expecting. There is somewhat of a division - not too much though - between the Swedish and the international students, the latter organizes a lot of parties and activities with a very good vibe between us.

The campus

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Would you recommend the city and the University of Umeå to fellow students?

Yes. It is a tranquil small town, nothing like Madrid (where I have lived) when it comes to that. It is a very nice place, and if it is lacking something, there is an Ikea. The University is also amazing when it comes to its facilities. The professors aren't bad either.

How was the local food?

You can find a lot of things on the supermarket, and it is not that different. But it is impossible to eat like you would in Spain (where I am from), I miss certain foods, but you also can find things that you can never see at home.

Was it difficult to find accommodation in Umeå?

No, when registering for the University you have the option to reserve a room in some of the neighborhoods which have student residences, and the University themselves arrange everything.

The university

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What's the cost of living like in Umea?

Yes, Sweden is expensive, what were you expecting? With all the expenses you might end up paying in the supermarket 20% more than you would in Spain. It is not like you are paying double in order to live, and not everything is crazy expensive but it is noticeable that the living standards are higher here. After exchanging euros for crowns you start getting the hint...

How was the language? Did you go to any courses offered by the University?

No. I got by through talking in English up to now, with no problems at all.

What is the cheapest way of getting to Umeå from your city?

SAS (Scandinavian Airline in Spain) does sometimes offer relatively cheap flights. I also know of people from Spain that travelled with Ryanair to Skelleftea (a city a little in the north) or with Norwegian Airlines and Malmö Aviation, but unless you travel with SAS not all flight paths are offered al year round. You can get here by paying 50€ if you find a good deal, or you can end up paying 600 in high season... I would say that the average is between 150-300€

Which places would you recommend for a night-out in Umeå?

Alidhem, it's the main student street, where Lokal is, a bar/club that is pretty big and quite cool, but keep in mind that it can be a little bit expensive if you go in on Fridays and Saturdays, and let's forget about the drinks... (5€ for a small bottle of beer). There are more places in the campus area, like E-puben and Origo, and in the centre of Umea there are some other small clubs (Rex, Five)

And what about eating out? Could you tell us your favourite places?

The kebab place in Alidhem Centrum. Cafeterias on campus (they can be cheap). Some Sundays they serve cheap vegetarian food in Hamnmagasinet, in the city centre, on the shore of the river, and it is a kind of youth hub. There are normal restaurants as well in the city centre, some Greek, Chinese and Italian cuisine which are all pretty good.

Any tips for students coming to Umeå?

I've been here for 4 months. Time flies.

When it comes to the weather it hasn't been as extreme as I thought it would (the lowest temperatures I've seen have been -13ºC, and you can go out if you wrap yourself up warm like you would for -5ºC). I haven't experienced the Spring term yet, which supposedly is very harsh. It needs to be said that there are few hours of sunlight in a day, which starts in November, and is a bummer.

The pace of the subjects, at least in Social Sciences, is pretty calm if compared to Spain.

If you don't go crazy when it comes to the expenses and you know how to shop, you can survive just fine. By the way, distilled alcohol is veeery expensive, I would suggest wine.

Students in Umea

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It would be rare not to have anything to do during the weekend and trips to Laponia and Russia are organized pretty frequently. You could also organize a trip on your own with some friends, rent a car and get lost in a cabin into the woods.

Totally would recommend.

Go for it because the experience is not bad at all!