Mobility specification

Country:Sweden

Institution:Mid Sweden University

City:Östersund

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Education / Department of Special and Inclusive Education

Study level abroad:Bachelor

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?neutral

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?At the Swedish university there is sometimes too much openness in what we have to do. Teachers once gave us a work to do a presentation, but we had to come up with the topic ourselves.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Sweden is a whole different level in student life and events. Every faculty has a club that comes up with a lot of events during the semester. Also, they have now newly opened a student pub in Sundsvall, which makes a lot of events easier and generally possible. The university here isn't the biggest, so it's generally easier to get to know each other because, especially at events, you meet the same people all the time.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories
Interpretation services
Special aids and technologies (e.g., text-to-speech software, hearing aids)
Special examination conditions (e.g., extended time, quiet rooms)
Crisis intervention
Support for LGBTQ+ students (e.g., safe spaces, counseling services)

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:14000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?I didn't stay in the dorms directly, but the Swedish coordinator for erasmus stays sent us a link to a company that accommodates all foreign students in the same place. At times it was difficult to communicate with the company, but if you put forth a little effort, you will reach your goal.

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?I was surprised that June and July accommodation is free where I am living. As far as prices are concerned, Sweden is, as I expected, more expensive. But a pleasant surprise were for example the prices of ski passes or pool passes, which are less than in Czech.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?For me, the best way to save money is definitely to buy in bulk + I recommend visiting Coop or Willys stores, which are cheaper than Ica, which is more accessible around town. One more tip regarding transport - sometimes trains in Sweden are so expensive that if you're travelling in large numbers, I definitely recommend renting a car which works out better in the end.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?perfectly

How does public transport work in the city?mostly fine

And what about transport outside the city?neutral

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?I used the Din Tur app for buses and the SJ app for trains, and Stockholm has its own SL app where you can find all the transport the city has to offer. All tickets can be bought physically through the app as well, but for Stockholm and trains it's worth buying it in advance, on the bus I usually bought it directly from the driver.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?The university alone is worth a walk as it offers a beautiful example of what Nordic architecture looks like. Then there's the local Kulturmagasinet, where I recommend checking out the museum, which is free to enter. Next, take a walk to the Norra berget lookout or to Lake Sidjon, which is beautiful in both winter and summer.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Be sure to keep an eye out for a trip to Lapland, because it's well worth it. Next to the island
Alnön near Sunsvall, which has lots of beaches and beautiful sea views. And since Norway and Finland are also close by, try to plan a trip there as well.

Share your best experience:During my stay I have collected a lot of experiences, but I must definitely highlight when we took a cruise from Stockholm to Tallinn. We constantly had some kind of program, a party in the evening, sightseeing the next day when the weather was good, just everything amazing.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?no

How did you get to the place?Bus

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?If you're flying into Arlanda Airport, it's great to be able to walk straight to the station from the airport. But the train from there tends to be more expensive than from Stockholm, which is further away from Sundsvall, which I found very interesting/absurd :D

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?Be sure not to forget your swimsuit and, like me, your warm-ups. Also think about the fact that during the spring semester it is not only cold in Sweden, but one day summer will come, so take a spring jacket and boots. And skirts or dresses can come in handy at some events too.

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?Erasmus should be compulsory, because so many experiences and emotions in such a short time are irreplaceable.