Erasmus Experience in Umeå, Sweden by Zuzana

Why did you choose to go to Umeå, Sweden?

I was looking for English courses and based on the previous experience of Erasmus students from my home university I learnt that Sweden is a perfect place for English studies because almost everyone can speak excellent English there and many English teachers are native English speakers. I found Umeå very interesting also because of its location. Frankly, I can go to the South of Sweden sometime again in the future but going to the northern parts is once in a lifetime opportunity!

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

I studied in Umeå for five months. As I learnt, the grant varies from one country to another. I received some of it before my departure and the rest after I came back. All in all it covered most of my expenses (monthly amount of the grant was 600 euros and my monthly expenses were around 750 euros).

What is the student lifestyle like in Umeå?

Students usually need 5 courses in order to get enough credits and studying (including classes, essays, projects and exams) takes a considerable amount of time but there is still enough time for having fun with friends, parties, trips, going clubbing, and a lot more. You can join a buddy group, which I recommend, because that´s another way to meet people and plan things together. The International Office also arranges some events for international students which are usually a lot of fun! Based on my experience I can also say that students especially enjoy fikas during the day when they can just chat and relax.

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

I would definitely recommend it! The university is very modern, the campus is big, the city is full of students and the people who live there are very friendly! Moreover, you are surrounded by the beautiful Swedish nature! You can even see northern lights if you are lucky (as I was! ) and experience long days in the spring term with light almost all day!

What is the food like?

The supermarkets provide a nice range of food and I didn´t have troubles finding anythings unless it was something typical only for my country. I would recommend that you try classic Swedish köttbullar, blodkaka and semla to get a better cultural experience.

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Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Umeå?

The international Housing Office provided me with the accomodation options and the whole procedure for booking and paying for my room.

How much does it cost to live in Umeå?

Being a student I had to think twice what to spend my money on and there were moments when I couldn´t buy something or go on a trip because I couldn´t afford it but that´s a part of the student´s life everywhere. My monthly expenses were around 750 euros.

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

I took Swedish course offered by the university although I didn´ t know about it before my departure. I highly recommend that you sign up for it before or as soon as you arrive to Umeå to avoid being put on the waiting list. The course was very helpful and a good place to meet some more international students. Everyday life situations helped me with getting to grips with the language but my Swedish was still only basic when it was time to leave.

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

I travel from Bardejov (Slovakia) to Budapest (Hungary), then flew to Stockholm and changed there for another plane to Umeå. From Stockholm to Umeå it´s around 1 hour by plane and 9 hours by train. I recommend plane.

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

It´s been three years since my stay in Umeå so I don´t really remember the names of the pubs but there are some on the campus and many good places downtown.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

I would say downtown itself but I also recommend taking a trip to Jokkmokk to see Sámi people and their traditional market and reindeer race in winter, stopping on the way at the polar circle. Basically anything that is typical for Sweden is worth going to such as dog sledding or elk farms (if you weren´t lucky enough to spot them roaming freely).

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

Just do it! It was one of my greatest adventures ever!