Living near the Arctic Circle Past Review
By Reid J (Architecture., The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 01/15/2015 to 06/08/2015 with
KTH Royal Institute of Technology: Stockholm - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
It was my first experience living abroad, and that was one of the most exciting things. Stockholm was undoubtedly a great place to do that. The whole experience was totally worthwhile, and KTH is such an international university, that I was not only able to meet Swedish students, but also students from all over the world.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The amount of hours in class were much higher than a typical UT semester, but work beyond class time was very minimal. I was in the School of Architecture, and used to a pretty heavy course load, but even studio courses were relaxed and not overly intense. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
KTH is extremely efficient and considerate in making sure all foreign exchange students needs are taken care of! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in Lappis, one of the student accommodation communities about a 10 minute metro ride from campus. Somewhat cooperative set-up, with shared kitchen/ living room, but private bedroom/ bath. Very international set up, with international students from every corner of the world living there! |
| * Food: |
Restaurants in Stockholm are pretty expensive. International students tended to cook meals together most of the time, which is quite an experience in itself, learning about everyone's background and dishes from their home country. However, Herman's in Sodermalm is a fantastic deal for students, half-price buffet on Mondays. Swedish food is also quite mild (except for the canned fish), but Stockholm is a very international city with grocery stores where (f you want) you can find just about anything you'd expect in the US. Sweden seems more Americanized in that way compared to continental Europe. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It wasn't difficult to integrate, however international students tended to bond together more so than integrate with the Swedes. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The high proficiency of English in Sweden makes this much less stressful. I never had any emergency or dire need to go to the doctor, however whenever I needed something at the pharmacy, the attendant was highly helpful and knowledgable. |
| * Safety: |
I felt safer in Stockholm than I do in the US. Was always warned about pickpockets in the touristy areas of town, but I actually lost my wallet at one point and the finder tracked me down and returned it. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
It really depends on your lifestyle. It's easy to avoid being a constant consumer in Stockholm, as things like eating out everyday, etc... aren't really manageable. The city has so many great public spaces, that you can be out and enjoying the city without the pressure to spend money. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Rent was $600/ month. And I could usually make about $50 worth of groceries last. Alcohol completely blows the budget, with $10/ beer being pretty standard at most bars. Public Transportation (the SL) is about $200 for a 3 month pass. I believe that is with the student discount too. The Metro is expensive, but its crucial in getting around the city, and Stockholm easily has one of the best (and most beautiful) public transits in Europe. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Think twice about how much alcohol you buy when at the bars. The prices can be unexpectedly outrageous depending on the place. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I can't think of anything crucial that was difficult to learn along the way. Maybe arrive early( and early in the day), so you have time to get all the bedsheets/ comforter, etc... for the apartment. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
