Exchange Report

Since Sweden is part of the European Union, the overall preparation for my stay was relatively straightforward and uncomplicated. There were no major bureaucratic obstacles, which made the process much easier compared to non-EU countries. One of the first practical steps I took was opening a Revolut bank account. For a small monthly fee of around three euros, the subscription allows currency exchanges of up to 3,000 euros per month, which was more than sufficient for everyday expenses. I used this account for almost all payments during my stay. In general, Sweden operates almost entirely as a cashless society, credit and debit cards are accepted everywhere, and cash is rarely used. I booked my flights through Skyscanner approximately one month in advance. Prices were still quite reasonable at that point. Finding accommodation in Stockholm proved to be one of the biggest challenges. The city is very expensive, especially in central areas, and it is difficult to find affordable housing for several months in the more central districts. Shared flats (WG's) are uncommon compared to many other European cities, so this option can largely be ruled out. I stayed in a student residence called Allihoop in Stockholm Spånga, which in hindsight was not the ideal location, as it was quite far from the city center. However, due to the high rental prices within Stockholm, the available options were limited, and student housing often remains the most realistic solution. Regarding the preparation at WU and the course selection process, this part was somewhat challenging. The number of courses that can be chosen and recognized for credit is quite limited, which requires a lot of planning and flexibility. My fellow students and I had to go through several attempts before we managed to match all the mandatory third-semester courses at WU with suitable courses offered in Stockholm. Therefore, future outgoing students should start this process early and be prepared to adjust their study plan. When selecting courses at Stockholm School of Economics, it is important to keep in mind that the registration process follows a first-come, first-served principle. Course selection typically opens at 12:00 a.m., meaning that students should be prepared to register immediately in order to secure a spot in their preferred courses.

As already mentioned earlier, finding accommodation in Stockholm can be quite challenging due to the high rental prices, especially in the city center. I personally found this to be one of the most stressful parts of preparing for my semester abroad, as affordable options for a limited period of time are very rare. The Stockholm School of Economics offers a list of suggested housing providers on its website, which helped me a lot when starting my search. One of these options was Allihoop Spånga, where I eventually decided to live during my stay. Allihoop is a modern student residence that offers different living options, including shared apartments as well as private studio apartments for students who prefer more privacy at a higher price. This flexibility makes it suitable for different preferences and budgets. The residence is located in Spånga, a bit outside of central Stockholm. My daily commute to the university or into the city usually took around 30 to 40 minutes by commuter train. While the distance was sometimes inconvenient, the area itself felt very safe and quiet. From my experience, I would strongly recommend first trying to find an apartment within the city or close to the city center. Living centrally makes a huge difference when it comes to experiencing the city properly, being spontaneous, and fully enjoying everyday life abroad. I believe that location plays a key role in making the most out of an exchange semester. If finding housing in central areas turns out to be difficult, whether due to limited availability or high prices, as it was in my case, Allihoop can still be a very good alternative.

The Stockholm School of Economics is a relatively small university with only around 1,500 students. As a result, the campus itself is also quite small. In fact, it mainly consists of one larger main building, which can best be compared to a high school rather than a large university campus. During our semester, study spaces were unfortunately limited. Since the building is not very large and the library was under renovation at the time, it was sometimes difficult to find a quiet place to study, which could be a bit frustrating. However, there are several additional SSE buildings located around the main campus that can also be used for studying, which helped to some extent. The academic culture at SSE felt more elite and somewhat more closed compared to what I was used to in Vienna. The teaching style was partly similar but also different in some aspects. Most of our courses were very literature-based, meaning that we usually had to read and understand several academic papers in preparation for each class. Especially during the first period of the semester, the courses felt more demanding than those at WU. Nevertheless, they were still manageable with consistent effort. From my personal experience, however, I would not recommend the course Market Shaping, as the grading of this course felt not fair from my perspective.

Public transportation in Stockholm works very well overall. The metro network is extensive and reliable, and commuter trains run frequently and on time. Even with a student discount, public transport tickets are relatively expensive, but there is essentially no real alternative. Ticket purchases and inspections are fully digitalized through the SL app, which makes the system very convenient to use. In terms of safety, most parts of Stockholm feel very secure at all times. In the areas where students and tourists typically spend time, there were no issues at all. While the city does have certain so-called no-go areas that should be avoided, exchange students usually have no contact with these neighborhoods. Regarding social life, Stockholm offers a wide range of activities and attractions, including a lot of water, major sights, and many museums and a nice country side. However, during winter, some of these experiences are naturally limited due to the cold weather and early darkness. Personally, we often went out in the evenings, as Stockholm has a very lively bar and club scene. In addition, SSE regularly organized social events and student gatherings, which made it easy to meet new people and stay connected. One of the highlights of my exchange semester was the opportunity to travel with my exchange friends, both within Sweden and to nearby countries. Due to Scandinavia’s good flight connections, many destinations were surprisingly affordable and perfect for short trips. We took a spontaneous day trip to Gdańsk, as flights were extremely cheap and the city is perfect to explore within a short time and was a great destination for a quick getaway. Another unforgettable experience was our trip to Tromsø and Lofoten in northern Norway. The nature was absolutely breathtaking, with snowy landscapes, fjords, and a true Arctic atmosphere. It was by far one of the most impressive places I have ever visited. We also spent a few days in a small cabin about two hours outside of Stockholm, experiencing typical Swedish countryside.

Overall, my semester abroad in Stockholm was a positive and enriching experience that helped me grow both personally and academically. Studying at a new university and finding my way in a new environment challenged me in a good way and pushed me out of my comfort zone. I really enjoyed living in the city, especially because of the many waterways, the beautiful buildings, and the calm Swedish lifestyle. Stockholm has a unique atmosphere that made everyday life feel special. At the same time, winter was something to get used to. From around October, it became dark very early and much colder, which was sometimes challenging. This is definitely something to consider when choosing Stockholm. Overall, however, I would still recommend the experience.