Student abroad
Exploring the Swedish culture in Uppsala
Uppsala University ranks among the world’s 100 best universities in several high-profile international rankings. Also, it is a university with tradition — being founded in 1477. It has several programs for international students — they had more than 14000 Master’s applications from 163 different countries in 2016. No wonder why Uppsala University was placed on top of my list.
As a student at Uppsala University, I had 25 international colleagues from all over the world, including Russia, Alaska, Cambodia, China, Austria, Germany, and Turkey. The relationship with our teachers was relaxed. Our opinions and feedback were always heard. Our curiosities and questions were treated very seriously by teachers, while self-studying and debating on different matters on our field were a significant part of our master program. My colleagues were very inspiring, each coming from various backgrounds in fields such as Communications, Sociology, or Digital Media. We were encouraged to share our experiences and learn from each other.
Uppsala University is offering its students a comfortable studying environment. Its libraries are equipped with: several study spaces — for group projects, individual work, quiet rooms; up-to-date libraries — Carolina Rediviva is the main library, but there is a total of 11 subject libraries. 1932 seats are welcoming the students to study. 7489 articles and 6115 e-books are downloaded every day from the university’s online library.
However, being a student in Uppsala is not all about studying! The student life here is unique, offering an amazing experience for all the students — international or Swedish. Have you ever heard about Uppsala’s student nations? There are 13 in total, each named after a specific region in Sweden: Uplands Nation, Gothlands Nation, Västmanlands-Dala Nation, Gästrike-Hälsinge Nation, Göteborgs Nation, Kalmar Nation, Norrlands Nation, Smålands Nation, Stockholms Nation, Södermanlands-Nerikes Nation, Värmlands Nation, Väsgota Nation, and Östgöta Nation.
Each nation varies in size and character, providing a space for students to meet, socialize, and enjoy life outside of the classroom. Most of them have a cafe, pub and restaurant, club nights, formal dinners, balls, and different events. Students can pay a small amount of money per semester to become a member of one of the nations. With their membership they can enter any of the 13 student nations.
I am a member of Uplands Nation. Becoming a member of this nation was the second best decision I made, after choosing Uppsala University of course. In this place I worked, I had a lot of fun, I developed, I met wonderful and inspiring people, I grew, I became more responsible.
Working at Uplands Nation was a very revealing experience. It was both challenging and amazing, tiring and fun, hard and great. Uplands Nation was exploring my limits continuously personally and professionally. However, I always considered this place my second home. There is no doubt that Uplands enriched my Swedish experience. I’ve met amazing people from all over the world. They became my friends, with whom I shared all kind of experiences — trips around Sweden, cruises across the Baltic Sea, hard work, sauna parties, barbecue in the snow, and very cold winters. With our friendship, we connected the globe: France, South Africa, Germany, Egypt, Sweden, Slovenia, Ethiopia, America. The world seems smaller to me after I met them and my opportunities endless!
The student nations are like magic portals into the Swedish culture. Without them, I would have never known that Swedes are singing during the dinner, or how their traditional clothing looks like. The nations are organizing traditional Swedish dinners for students, called ‘gasks’ and elegant balls. The participants to these dinners have to dress up following a dress code — for example, during the balls, the ladies have to wear long dresses and the gentleman have to wear white tie (penguin suit). The whole dinner is very formal, and good manners are a must in such circumstances.
I will always recommend Uppsala University and Sweden for offering their students an exceptional education and for the fantastic student life that you can experience by joining the nations.
