Details

• Sweden
• MAECO-22
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months

1. Preparation

Preparation was very well-organized and straightforward. I highly recommend attending the info session provided by both WU and SSE. The list of courses offered by SSE is published well in advance, so there is plenty of time to select your courses and coordinate with the credit transfer office. If needed, I found that switching courses later on was an easy process. Specifically for the second-year Master of Economics classes, there were always enough spots, but in more popular classes, spots could fill up very quickly. Something to note is that at SSE the semester is divided into two separate periods, meaning there will be two exam seasons, one around end of October and one in December/January.

2. Accommodation

I had accommodation arranged with SBS and stayed at Campus Star, in Spanga. I found the process to be very easy, as I did not have to deal with looking for an affordable apartment in the private market. The Campus is located right outside of Stockholm, and it is serviced by a commuter train that takes a bit less than 15 minutes to the city center. Door to door, I could make it to campus in 30-35 minutes. The apartments were not fancy, but they were affordable, with a fully equipped private kitchen and private bathroom. One advantage is that many exchange and full-time students of the SSE also stay at Campus Star, which was helpful, as you basically never have to do the full commute alone. There is a large Coop and Lidl right across from the apartments and in general, I felt very safe to walk around the neighborhood. One thing to note is that, depending on the contract, you may need to rent (and specifically request) some furniture, such as a chair, table, microwave, etc.

3. Academic life at host university

I had a great academic experience at the SSE. I especially liked the smaller class sizes and that courses usually had two professors per class, which made it very easy to ask questions and engage with the content. The two-period semester meant that each course only lasted 8 weeks, but I found that to be very helpful, as you could fully focus on one or two areas at a time. I found that the course difficulty was very similar to the courses at WU, but the grading was slightly harsher, as some courses have limits on how many "excellents" can be awarded. A personal recommendation is the course Reading the Economic Humanities, that is available for both Masters and Bachelor students, and which goes through many authors and thinkers that are often neglected in more practical economic courses. The university campus is quite small, and sometimes lacked study spaces as the library was under renovation. Interestingly, almost every room and hallway of campus is filled with art pieces, many from Swedish artists. On Tuesdays, the art committee of the student association gives art tours around campus, which I highly recommend!

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport tickets were quite expensive, but there are student discounts available. Trains, metros, and busses are very reliable, and Arlanda Airport is very well connected, especially to destinations in Scandinavia, for cheap fares. I felt safe throughout the entire city, but I was told by locals to avoid certain neighborhoods at night (Rinkeby, Tensta, etc.), although during the day, even these regions felt safe. SSE takes safety very seriously, and you need an access card to reach almost anywhere on campus. Social activities were organized by SASSE (the student association) and were frequent and diverse. A staple is the trip to Swedish Lapland, where exchange students can go well into the arctic circle and explore the North of Sweden.

6. Testimonial

My exchange to Sweden was a great and meaningful experience. I visited some of the most beautiful places and met amazing people. Stockholm is an amazing city to live in, and I will always cherish it. Academically, I really enjoyed my time at SSE, my courses and my professors. I could not recommend it enough!