Once your home university has nominated you, we will send out further information about the application process. Usually, the information is sent out after our nomination deadline has passed. Therefore, the first contact from us can take a couple of weeks. 

You will receive a letter of acceptance as well as a course selection form which you are obligated to fill in and submit to us. The course selection form illustrates the available courses given by the Department of Human Geography in the semester relevant for your exchange. You need to choose at least 50% of the courses during your exchange at our department. In the form, you will also be given the option to submit interest in taking Swedish language courses. 

Once you have received your letter of acceptance, it is time to start preparing for your exchange.

The credit system at Stockholm University, “högskolepoäng” (higher education credits, in short HECs or credits), is compatible with the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credit system. Under the Swedish system, one academic year of full-time studies is equivalent to 60 higher education credits. 60 HECs equals 60 ECTS credits. One semester contains 30 ECTS credits and 1 HECs equals 1 ETCS credit.  

Academic calendar

The Stockholm University Academic Year always starts a Monday in the period August 28 – September 3 and contains two terms: the Autumn Semester and the Spring Semester. One semester runs for 20 weeks and is divided in four periods: A, B, C and D. For the exact dates relevant to your exchange, see the link below.

Term dates

Courses at the Department of Human Geography

Most of our courses are given as full time courses with a study pace of a 100%. A 7.5 credit course is given during about 5 weeks and a 15 credit course is given during about 10 weeks. 

The exceptions are Swedish Geography, 7.5 HECs – generally recommended for all exchange students at Stockholm University – and GIS and Spatial Analysis I, 7.5 HECs – two courses with a study pace 50%. These courses are possible to study parallelly.
The course Essay on Swedish Geography, 7.5 HECs is also a given with a study pace of 50% and can be combined with a course with 50% study pace given by another department.

During the Autumn Semester first cycle students are recommended to study the following three courses: KG1208 Swedish Geography, 7.5 HECs (given in period A–B), KG1209 Essay on Swedish Geography, 7.5 HECs (period C–D), and KG1304 GIS and Spatial Analysis I, 7.5 HECs (period A–B). 
Note that students have to pass KG1208 to start KG1209. KG1209 is a flexible module, i.e. much of the tuition is individual and the study tempo can be 50% during period C–D, about 80% period C and 20% period D, or about 20% period C and 80% period D.

During the Spring Semester first cycle students are recommended to study the following four courses: KG2307 Place, Identity and Migration, 7.5 HECs (period A) or KG2311 Gender and Geography, 7.5 HECs (period A), KG2312 Urban governance, 7.5 hp (period A), KG2310 Challenges for Planning in the Global South, 7.5 HECs (period B), KG2313 GIS and Spatial Analysis II, 7.5 HECs (period C), and KG2314 GIS and Spatial Analysis III, 7.5 HECs (period D). Note that students have to pass KG2313 to start KG2314. 

You must choose 50% (15 HECs) from the Department of Human Geography during your exchange. However, several other departments at Stockholm University accept exchange students coming through other departments. Hence, you are usually welcome to choose some courses from other academic departments.

Course eligibility 

Most courses have special compulsory pre-requirements. To be accepted to courses in the Second Cycle (SC) you usually have to have a degree from the First Cycle (FC); a bachelor degree or equivalent. SC students are welcome to study FC and SC courses. The Department will make individual assessments and inform you on acceptance or rejection to the chosen courses.  

The international coordinator will help you with the registration for the selected and approved courses before your arrival.

Some of our courses are given in Swedish. However, in the Department of Human Geography all second cycle courses are in English.  Under-graduate courses in Human Geography and in Urban and Regional Planning are available for students with a good knowledge of Swedish.

First cycle courses in Swedish

Grades at Stockholm University:
A Excellent.
B Very good.
C Good.
D Satisfactory.
E Sufficient.
FX Fail.
F Fail.

Grades are given for tests and for courses. A course grade is based on one or more tests (one or more exams) within a course. A course module can include one or more tests. For each test grade there is a written criteria, distributed at the start of the course or module. Students who have passed (got A–E or G) can not be examined again to get a better grade. The final grade on each course is an outcome of the individual results of the tests. In order to receive an aggregated grade it is necessary to have obtained pass grades (A–E or G) for all tests included in the course.

Stockholm University offers accommodation to some exchange students but there are no guarantees due to the shortage of student housing in Stockholm.

All admitted exchange students will receive information via e-mail on how to apply for accommodation through the Housing Office at Stockholm university. Read more about the housing offered by the university here:

Housing for international students 

Due to the general housing shortage in Stockholm, all exchange students are encouraged to search for housing on their own. This is a good place to start the search:

Finding housing on your own

Students from the EU/EEA and the Nordic countries do not need a visa or a residence permit to study in Sweden. However, EU citizens staying in the country for more than 3 months need to register with the Swedish Migration Agency no later than three months after entering the country. For information on how to register see the web site of the Migration Agency. It is advised that you bring a valid passport as well as an identity card for your stay in Sweden.

If you need a residence permit, please consult the Swedish Embassy or Consulate in your country for rules on visas and residence permits or contact the Swedish Migration Agency. You should apply for a residence permit as soon as you have got the letter of acceptance from Stockholm University.

If you are studying with a disability, inform the international coordinator. We will guide you on how to receive assistance during your exchange at Stockholm university and help you receive the support you need. 

Studying with a disability
 

All students in Sweden who are registered on a university course or programme are automatically covered by the personal injury insurance (the general student insurance) that is obtained on behalf of universities and colleges within the State insurance system by the Central Student Grants Committee. This insurance applies in Sweden during education hours and during travel to and from the location where education hours are located.

As exchange students at Stockholm university, you are also covered by the Swedish State Insurance for Foreign Students in Sweden (Student IN). 
For more information on the terms and conditions of the insurance, please visit the website of the insurance provider:

Kammarkollegiet 

If you are an EU citizen, bring your European health insurance card, which you can obtain from the social insurance office in your home country. This entitles you to public medical service on the same financial conditions as Swedish citizens.

In the beginning of each semester, the International Office at Stockholm university organizes welcome activities for newly arrived students. Through these activities you get an introduction to the university and campus, as well as Stockholm city and a possible to meet other new students.

Welcome activities including Orientation day

As a student at Stockholm University, you can also the Stockholm University Student Union. Membership comes with a fee and there are some benefits linked to the membership. Find out more on their web site.

Stockholm University Student Union

As a student registered on courses at Stockholm university, you are eligible to apply for a student discount card (Mecenat card). With this card you can receive student discounts usable throughout the city. The card generates eligibility for student discount on public transport (subway, trains e.g). However, for this discount to be valid the card has to have the logo of SL (subway) and SJ (train) on it. Visit the websites below for more information on the terms of the discount and how to apply for the card.

Stockholm University – Mecenat
Stockholm region public transportation tickets for students