Be careful to book in advance! (At least 6 month in advance) I used to live in one of the several university accommodations named PAX from UAC (University Accommodation Center AB): high quality residence, up to date and practical. They provide, for 3450 SEK (=crowns) (= 391,14€) + 2000 SEK (=226€) deposit), a huge room with a single bed, a big table, two chairs, two or three wardrobe. The room includes a big bathroom, (very easy to clean) with a mirror, a shower, a toilet and a radiator to dry the towels. You get two keys: a key to open your room and some cupboards in the kitchen and a magnetic key that opens the common kitchen and allows you to book the laundry and the sauna of the residence. Pax residence is divided into two parts: Pax 1 and Pax 3. In average there are 10 people per floor and 9 floors.The quality of the kitchen is not equal between the two floors...

Indeed according to your floor mates, the kitchen will be more or less maintained. Anyway you can find in the kitchen 4*2 electric burners, two ovens, two microwaves, two freezers and two fridges. You can sometimes find a toaster and a kettle.

The residence is located in the suburb of Stockholm named SOLNA. From central railway station (=T-centralen) you have to take the underground for 10 minutes (the blue line towards Akalla or Hjulsta, spot named Västra Skogen). You can find the residence 200 hundred meters from the underground. The name of the street is Emmylundsvägen 17172, try to Google it to see :)

I was glad to live in that residence, furthermore very close to the center (10 minutes by subway) The price is quite OK J (3450 SEK); indeed it’s Stockholm!!

Every day life

You will have to buy as soon as possible the “SL card” that allows you to use the public transports (subways= Tunnelbana, some boats, suburb trains=Pendeltog…). The SL card is expensive but is far less expensive once you have said and proved that you are a student.

My advice is that you reload it every 3 months (3 month is about 1600 SEK for a student). Be careful not to throw away your receipt, keep it safe in your room, it can be useful if you lose your SL card. You can also write your SL card number (written on the back of the card) somewhere it can avoid you to repay 200€ if you lose your card. Buses are always on time or even 1 to 3 minutes in advance: Be careful!

Some department stores: COOP (very expansive) (one next to PAX residence), ICA, Lidl, Pricextra, O and B and so on. Most of the time they are open until 9pm

Contrary to France, selling alcohol is not allowed in department stores. You’ll find some special shops dedicated to alcohol named: “System Bolaget” (logo green and yellow). They are everywhere in Sweden. Open hours are restricted: From Monday to Friday: From 9am to 6 pm, Saturday from 9am to 3pm!! And CLOSED on Sunday.You can buy beer in department stores but the alcohol contain will never be more than 3,2%...

The first word you need to learn in Sweden is “FIKA” that mean’s a brake. It’s a very popular word every Swed loves that. The most popular cake during a “FIKA” is Kannelbulle cake (with cinnamon). At the hospital coffee, chocolate or tea is FREE for medical and non-medical staff! :)

The touristic center of Stockholm is named Gamla Stan (= old town). Sightseeing of this area is amazing (at least the first time, sometimes it can be too much touristic), it’s got a special atmosphere :)

For shopping I suggest the big streets close to T-Centralen (Drottninggatan for example) or close to Slussen. You can find the most popular shops like H&M, Alhens, Raw, Björn borg, Stadium, Ginatricot and more.If you prefer a short walk in nature I suggest you to go on one of the 14 islands named Djugarden. It’s very closed to the center. You can achieve it by boat from Slussen (free with your SL card). There are a lot of museums there and some paths to go for a walk just by the water or in parks. It looks like countryside but in fact you are in the city center.

As other capital cities Stockholm provides trendy bars, nightclubs, concert halls, opera, theater, cinemas, museums, shopping and so on.Should you like carousels and Attraction Park, you will love the one on Djugarden-island (open in summer only). Its name: GRÜNA LUND (Tivoli). Very expensive (40€ a whole day unlimited) but super to spend time with friends. Located not far from the middle of Stockholm, you can’t miss it!

Don’t hesitate to visit ARCHIPELAGO. It is a group of 80 islands North-east of Stockholm. You can reach them by boat or by bus or …by both!Also visit SIGTUNA (first settlement in old Sweden), GÖTEBORG (large industrial South-West of Sweden), MALMÖ, LUND and the south of Sweden that you can reach by train (look at he SJ railways company’s web site)Have a look to UPPSALA, a student town 40 km north of Stockholm: don’t miss the spring party, named “Valborg”, when the students celebrate their “graduation”.

Take the ferry for a tour to visit other Scandinavian countries (Finland with Helsinki, Norway with Oslo, Estonia with Tallinn, Latvia with Riga, Lithuania with Vilnius, Russia with St Petersburg)Viking line, Tallinn line, St Petersburg line are the main ferry lines.Stay up to date with the students’ parties week-end that take place on board: a must !If you book in advance the price for a round trip with cabin (beds) might be as cheap as 10€. Good, isn’t it?

- Money: In Sweden you can pay with crowns: Swedish crowns!! 1 SEK = 0,113€ 1 euro = 8,82 SEK

There are a lot of cash machines everywhere like in every big town. It could be interesting to open an account directly in Sweden; indeed in that case it’s tax-free! Some banks offer something like an “international option” or “European option” just for 6 or 7 Euros per month. It avoids taxes when you pay by card in a shop for example. Ask your bank!

Swedish life is quite expansive compared to other countries in Europe. Don’t be surprised. One advice: Spare some money before your trip you’ll need it!

- Health: Are you insured abroad? Ask your insurer. Anyway in Solna-campus there is a « student health center » which can help you if needed.

- Telecommunication: I suggest you to get a Swedish phone. It’s really easy. Jump to a Phone house and ask for a SIM card (“comviq”) and a credit (20€ for example) and that’s it. You can reload it at every “Pressbyrån shop”* in town it’s very easy. Every one in Stockholm (even in all Sweden) gets one. You can also ask for a Smartphone package (if you want internet and so on).

* One shop is very important to know: it’s name is “Pressbyrån” it’s a kind of Kiosk/Grocery where you can find bus tickets (for your visitors), reload your SL card, buy some food, cigarettes’, snuzes, stamps and so on.

I am very happy with my Swedish experience. It is a wonderful town, neither too small nor too big. It has a lot to offer.My stay in the different hospitals and other medical structures was very interesting and fruitful, both from the human and professional point of view.

This exchange gave me the opportunity to keep on with my medical studies as well as to discover a new culture, a new language but also a new medical environment and approach in very good conditions. It allows me to change my routine and to open my mind.

I very much appreciate to be well coached before and during my stay. I never met any big difficulties. The French university provided us the accommodation (I was glad because it is very difficult to find one in Stockholm), the training are scheduled in advance. Everything is planed which is good and comfortable. I never heard of any problem even for the students in previous years. Should I have to do it again, I will do it again for sure but I will learn more English or Swedish before ! The financial scholarship is essential, in particular to cope with the accommodation rent. C)

SUGGESTIONS:

- Stay longer!!!

- Get more in touch with Swedish students (the schedule for Swedish student are different from ours, so we don’t meet them very often and tend to stay among foreigner students)

« Enjoy your trip, it’s just amazing »

Difficulties: at the beginning the foreign language (but English becomes rapidly more fluent and every body speak English, including old people :)

As far as Swedish is concerned, this is something else! But the KI University offers free Swedish lessons if you want.The first week is always a little hard, time to discover the town, public transports, shops, department stores, …

I spent my Erasmus in different hospitals. I guess it won’t be the same for every student who spends some months in Sweden; it depends on what your studies deals with. Anyway the campus in Solna is really cool with restaurants, snacks, library, conference room, fitness, beach volley fields…and more. It’s very easy to find a sport club or sports’ lessons (any kind) just ask! In the library you can find several workrooms, with or without computers or printers, restrooms and a lot of English books.