Some tips to prepare you for your time as a student in Sweden
A large number of students move to Sweden to become part of its wonderful, internationally renowned University system. Many universities from the country are regularly mentioned in the international rankings, such as Lund University, Uppsala University and Stockholm University. Not only that, the local culture, the thriving lifestyle and the picturesque landscape contribute to the already fantastic package offer you have signed up for.
But Sweden is a country, and that means that it has its own characteristics. There is no way you can understand and assimilate into its society in a matter of days. You will require research on all aspects of Swedish life in order to gain a dignified pedagogical experience. Let me help you prepare for your student life in Sweden with these few tips.
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Respect personal space
Cultures have different characteristics. Eastern societies, for example, are largely collectivist in nature, which means that they have a strong foundation for collective effort and a living. This is in contrast to individualism that is prevalent in America and Europe. Swedish society thus has its own characteristics. One thing that Swedes can not accept is the intrusion into their personal space. No matter where you come from, do not expect the locals to be overly friendly and welcome you to their circle immediately. They are respectful individuals but take time to get to know others.
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You do not need cash in hand
Many countries, including the most developed ones such as Japan, are cash-oriented economies. However, Sweden does not put too much pressure on cash. In fact, you will not find it necessary to use it often here. You may be surprised to know but many stores do not even accept cash anymore. All you need is a functional card loaded with money and you’re up and running. Going cashless is the Swedish way and you are expected to embrace it!
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It is forbidden to smoke in public
Well, you have a long day at university and want to smoke a cigarette. Well, no one stops you until you decide to smoke in a park. Keep in mind that Sweden has banned smoking in public places in 2019. You can smoke in bars and restaurants that allow smoking, but there are generally not many places that do. The mentioned ban was introduced to promote the country’s goal of becoming smoke-free by 2025. So think about where you smoke if you do not want to irritate the law enforcement authorities.
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The application process is simple
Sweden has a centralized application process that saves a lot of time in paperwork. You must keep an eye out for the application period; January is generally the last application day for the autumn term and August is the last application day for the spring term. That being said, the deadlines may differ from one university to another, so it is better to check the official websites of the universities concerned from time to time. One area where you can stop waiting a long time is the student visa. You should apply for it immediately after receiving your admission letter.
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Language may not be a problem
As long as you speak English, you should have no problem adapting here. However, it is always better to know the local language. The official language of the country is Swedish but people are taught English from a very young age. But if you still want to learn Swedish (which is actually a good idea), you should check if your university offers language learning programs; there are a lot of universities that do that.
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Work and study
International students in particular want to work part-time during their education to balance their finances. Sweden has, thankfully, a very generous policy on the same. However, it provides exceptional treatment to students coming from specific regions. If you belong to the EU or EEA region, you can stay after education and work in Sweden. Those who do not come from the above-mentioned regions must apply to stay in the country for one year after graduation. Another thing you should know is that there is no formal limit to the number of working hours, but you should only work limited hours because you also have academic commitments.
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