I was lucky that my parents came with me to help bring my luggage over and get myself settled. I stayed in a hotel the first night with my parents, as I only arrived in the evening. It was a massive help to have them with me, otherwise I would have found getting food etc. alot more taxing. It was a shock the first few days when it was so dark and cold, I don't think I was really prepared for it. I think the induction day really helped to meet people. I soon had a group of friends to partying and sightseeing with. Although global friends did not meet me when I arrived, I did find their activities such as going to the pub after induction and the trip to djurgarden helpful to meet people and find things to do in Stockholm.

I really enjoyed living in a accomodation with so many exchange students from all over the world. I was happy with the accomodation in Pax. I apllied through UAC.

I went to 3 MF parties at KI including the welcome dinner for 1st year medical students. I also attended a course dinner at sodersjukhuset. I enjoyed them and found it a good way to meet people. I mainly socialised with other exchange students. I found swedish students friendly but they were not as keen to invite you to events etc. than other exchange students.

I applied to the exchange programme because I thought it was a great opportunity to live in another country and experience the culture and lifestyle of another european city, as well as studying in a different health system. I chose KI because it offered English speaking courses and because I found Stockholm appealing as a capital city that otherwise I may not have visited. I think it would have helped to have had more information about the courses offered before I originally applied for the exchange programme. I did not require any vaccinations but I was screened for MRSA. 

I had a fantastic time and I am very happy that I came to Stockholm. I really liked the city and enjoyed the activities Sweden has to offer such as ince skating and scandinavian saunas. I met a lot of amazing people from all over the world that I am hoping to visit. I enjoyed my clinical placements and felt I gained from them. It was a great opportunity that I am grateful to have had.

I attended some classes suggested at the induction day. I found the lessons helpful with pronounciation but I did not feel the lessons helped in the hospital environment. I found it a difficult language to try to learn. The lessons were also a bit long.

I undertook clinical rotations in obstetrics and gynaecology and surgery. I found both rotations to be very well organised. All the doctors and nurses were very helpful and happy to explain things in English to me. I found it more difficult to interact with patients due to the language barrier. I found clinical placements and the clinical practice in the majority similar to in England, although I was more dependant on the doctor to translate for me. Advantages to studying in Stockholm were that I was able to do alot more practical skills.

 

This course was very well organised. The teaching on the induction day was useful as a refresher. The case seminars were good to discuss interesting cases. I was encouraged to examine all patients I was involved with, I had previously had little experience in England of doing vaginal examinations. As the doctors in Sweden also regularly do transvaginal ultrasound scans, I was taught how to do this. I now feel much more confident in my practical skills within this area. I enjoyed being in a group with other exchange students.

This course was also well organised. I particularly enjoyed the week on anaesthetics where I gained a lot of new knowledge and practical skills. I was involved more in the patient’s continual management rather than the initial assessment, which although I would have liked to be involved in diagnosis, was also useful. For this clinical rotation we were required to sit a written exam. It would have been helpful therefore to have some structured teaching or case seminars within the rotation.