UQ Program: Bachelor of Economics
I did my semester abroad at Lund University in Sweden. Why Lund? For two really simple reasons: 1) The city looked beautiful and 2) This may sound anti-climatic, but it was one of the few universities in Europe which offered the courses I needed to complete my Bachelor of Economics in Natural Resources and Environment program (and in English too!).
But Lund certainly did not disappoint, I ended up getting much more than I expected. The international mentoring programme is fantastic, they not only pick you up from the train station on arrival day, but they organise activities throughout the semester to ensure exchange students enjoy their stay and don’t feel lonely. During orientation week you can sign up for a crash course in Swedish for free. They don’t just teach you simple words and phrases but also the very important things like Swedish drinking songs, which you’ll find really useful during the semester!
Luckily I went there with the intention of taking electives because they have heaps of interesting courses just for exchange students like ‘Viking Age Scandinavia’, ‘Gastronomy’ and ‘Crusades: Fact and Fiction’. So make sure to save some electives for your semester abroad.
One thing different from Australia is that courses in Lund don’t run in parallel. So you could have 2 classes in the first half of the semester and another 2 in the second half. Classes in Lund are pretty spaced out and you’ll find yourself with lots of free time and long weekends which you should of course spend on travelling and exploring! Lund is really close to 2 airports, one in Copenhagen and the other in Malmo, so the rest of Europe is right at your doorstep.
Lund really encapsulates the phrase of ‘Study hard, play hard’. It was a great experience and I enjoyed myself immensely in Lund. I wish I had stayed for a year instead!
Tips:
• Get a bike! Cycling is a really good way to get around Lund. The market for used bicycles in Lund is pretty good, you can buy a bike for 600-1000 SEK and sell it for the same price when you leave. Although I hear that you can get it cheaper in Malmo, if you don’t mind cycling an hour back.
• Join a Student Nation. Nations are large student organisations, and each nation has their own vibe/atmosphere. They organise many activities including comedy nights, theatre, parties, clubs, live music and sports. You can even volunteer at the restaurant or pub of a nation, which is a really fun experience! Nations are also one of the cheapest places to get food and drinks in Lund.
• Register early for housing through the International Housing Office for a stress free arrival.
• Exams in Lund last 5 hours, remember to bring nourishment! (You don’t need 5 hours to complete the exams, but it’s a nice relaxing change)
• Bring a raincoat or waterproof jacket, especially in Spring.
• Be wary when travelling. Europe has many thieves and pick-pockets, especially in tourist dense destinations. No place is entirely safe, I got pick-pocketed while sleeping on a train in Poland.
• Be prepared to google translate everything at the supermarket! Although most Swedes speak perfect English.
• DON’T FORGET YOUR CAMERA! Have I mentioned that Lund is beautiful?