UQ Program: Masters of Environmental Management
I was enrolled at the University of Queensland in the Masters of Environmental Management program in my final year when I went on exchange to Stockholm University in Sweden in January 2011.
I took two courses at Stockholm University for the final semester of my Masters. The first one was Management of Aquatic Resources in the Tropics, while the second was International Environmental Issues. I had one compulsory subject left to do and it difficult at first finding a subject that UQ approved, and that Stockholm University were happy with in terms of prerequisite requirements and having the subject taught in English. After some correspondence, I finally got acceptance for both of these subjects.
The international environmental issues course involved a fieldtrip to Latvia for a week. It was expensive, but well worth it. I got to know all of my classmate so much better, and got to see another country from an insider’s perspective.
Sweden is known for being expensive, but once your rent is paid for, you can get by on very little. Stockholm University organises student accommodation for you which is fantastic, and you realise how beneficial this is once you get to Stockholm and find out rental accommodation is both expensive and difficult to find.
My five top tips:
- Get involved with as many university activities as you can! It’s a great way to meet people. I was one of the co-ordinators for a campus waste audit for earth Week. It was fun and I met a lot of new people from many different backgrounds. The student union at Stockholm University rocks! There is always something happening.
- Sweden has great secondhand shops! My favourite was Myorna – you don’t need to spend a lot of money on new clothes, shoes, books or stuff for your place or even go to Ikea. Get to one of these secondhand places and you’ll find everything you need for so little.
- If you are there in spring/summer, get a secondhand bike. It’s the best and cheapest way to get around, the bike paths are excellent, and there are always cheap bikes for sale for around 200SEK.
- Take the free Swedish classes Stockholm University offers and learn as much as you can. The Swedes appreciate it even though their English is superb.
- If you are getting there in winter, make sure you have a good pair of waterproof boots or shoes. I turned up there with a pair of felt boots from Brisbane on my first day. Trudging around in the snow with all of my luggage for a few hours was not fun!