Exchange at Lund University in Sweden

Hej! It’s already been 2 months since I’ve arrived in Lund to start my exchange at Lund University. Lund is located in the south of Sweden, approximately 1 hour away from Copenhagen which is super convenient to fly out of for travelling during the semester. The town is charming & old with a vibrant student life. There are historical university buildings scattered all around town, adding to the cosy vibe. The university has 25 libraries on campus for students to use and study!

I’m studying within the Lund University School of Economics & Management using my free electives from UTS. I chose to use my free electives as I wanted to study subjects that were different to finance and marketing major back home. I am currently studying Innovation Management, Global Strategic Marketing, Global Business Responsibility and Project Management – A Business Perspective which are all very collaborative subjects that highly encourage free thinking and discussion rather than sticking to a textbook.

I also took an introductory Swedish language course which was heaps of fun to learn some common phrases to impress the Swedes. Everyone speaks English quite fluently but a simple ‘tack’ (thank you) always puts a smile on their face.
The classes are slightly different to UTS as lectures are not recorded and there are no tutorials. Having a lecture in a lecture hall for the first time was definitely a new experience as all my lectures at UTS were recorded. The semester is split into two periods so we only do two subjects at a time which is a very laid back system and there are retake exams?!

Being a student town, the social life is very extensive with events running almost every day organised by the 13 student nations. The nations are similar to a sorority or fraternity, I joined Göthenburg Nation and participated in their ‘Novisch period’ which is 2 weeks of events organised for new students. The events included a body pump session at the gym, a sports day, brunch and a lot of parties… It ended with a sittning which is a formal seated dinner with an afterparty, a Swedish tradition and a must do in Sweden! I met so many new people from all over all the world during this period and I highly recommend participating in any of the 13 nations’ Novisch period.

I’m currently living in a student corridor room which I was very lucky to get as housing in Lund is very competitive as the town is made up of mostly international students. I live with 9 other students, sharing a kitchen and living space which is a great way to socialise and make friends.

Tips if you are coming to Lund:

1. Buy a second hand bike: This will be your best friend for the 5 months you are here as it’s the easiest and fastest way to get around. Shop around the local stores for a decently priced second hand one or Facebook marketplace but beware of scams!
2. Join a student nation: The easiest way to meet new people in the first few weeks as there are always events on. Each nation has their own building to host events, lunches and dinners which are at a discounted price compared to normal town ones. They usually have lunch for around 45 SEK (around $7 AUD). Everyone is super friendly and welcoming even if you join a nation with mostly Swedish students like Göthenburg.
3. Plan your travels: It’s super easy to organise a trip to another country due to the close proximity of Lund to other European countries. Flights from Copenhagen are fairly cheap if you book early and at the right time. So far, I have had the opportunity to travel to Munich for Oktoberfest, Vienna, Estonia and Latvia! I’m planning to go to Iceland at the end of October and hopefully more. Classes are spaced out enough for travel on weekends or even a few days during the week.
4. Arrive on time for orientation week: Lund University organises a 2 week period before classes start for new students to settle in through events and activities. This is a great way of meeting people before classes start and just getting to know the town at your own pace.
5. Just say yes: Exchange is all about stepping out of your comfort zone and making the most of every opportunity presented to you. It’s normal to feel unsure about putting yourself out there in a new environment with no familiar faces. But just say yes to it, be open to new things and honestly you won’t regret it.

Overall, my exchange so far has been incredible and I definitely recommend it to anyone who is able to take this opportunity. It’s worth it and you’ll go home with unforgettable memories. I can’t wait to see what the rest of my exchange has in store for me!

Cathy Li
Bachelor of Business
Lund University
Sweden