Details

• Sweden
• MAWiRe-21
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months

1. Preparation

The preparation was pretty straightforward. From the very beginning, you’re basically guided through the whole process by WU and Uppsala University. Once you get the confirmation from WU that you’ve been nominated for a place in Uppsala, you still have to “apply” to Uppsala in spring, but it’s really just a formality since you’re accepted anyway if WU has nominated you. You can already check out all the courses on Uppsala University’s website well in advance, and then you choose your courses via an online tool in spring. I didn’t really make many other preparations, except finding a place to live, but even that was super easy because the university works together with the Uppsala Housing Office and offers accommodation to every exchange student.

2. Accommodation

Finding accommodation is really not a problem, because the Uppsala Housing Office can offer a room to every exchange student. This is done easily via an online tool in the middle/end of the semester before your exchange. I would definitely recommend it, because otherwise it can be quite hard to find a place in Uppsala. The Housing Office mainly offers corridor rooms where you live with other international students. I lived in Flogsta (Sernanders Väg), which has a bit of a bad reputation because the buildings are quite old. However, I was happy with my room (with my own shower and toilet), and the shared kitchen was also fine (after some group cleaning sessions). Most importantly, I got along really well with my international flatmates, which made the whole experience much nicer. The vibe is also cool because thousands of students live there and the area is very green. And of course, the daily Flogsta Scream is legendary! Some friends of mine lived in Rackarbergsgatan (Rackis), which is a bit more modern and closer to the city center, and that was also a nice place to live.

3. Academic life at host university

Uppsala University, as the oldest university in Scandinavia, has a very good reputation, especially in the natural sciences, where it is one of the leading universities. The law faculty is also well respected within Sweden. The university is spread all over the city, and the law buildings are right in the city center. Because of that, campus life is a bit scattered, but students usually meet in the Nations (student associations) anyway. At the law faculty, you usually only have one or two courses per semester, each worth either 30 or 15 ECTS. I had one course from September until early November and then another one until mid-January. This is quite nice because you can really focus on one topic at a time. However, you do have to work continuously, since the teaching style is similar to WU PIs and includes class participation and presentations.

5. Every day life in the host country

I bought a bike in my first week in Uppsala and rode to uni every day. It took about 15 minutes from Flogsta. In January there was too much snow, so I got a bus ticket instead, which was also really convenient since the buses run often and are usually on time. I always felt very safe in Uppsala and never heard of anything bad happening while I was there. Student life in Uppsala is all about the Nations (student associations). They’ve been around for over 300 years and organize pretty much everything students need (and a lot of ways to meet people): cheap lunches, bars, clubs, sports, game nights, etc. At the beginning of the semester you join one Nation, and after that you can take part in activities at all of them.

6. Testimonial

Uppsala is the perfect student city: not too big, and the whole city is shaped by the university and its students. The Nations are amazing for having the full student experience, and living in student housing really makes you feel like part of a big community. I would definitely recommend Uppsala to anyone as a destination for an exchange semester.