Student blogs

Do you want to balance your studies with fun, meaningful activities? Then this blog is for you. There are plenty of ways to get involved as a student and to make your academic years more exciting and eventful. Joining student organizations not only helps you meet new people and build a community, but also allows you to gain valuable and memorable experiences and transferable skills that will benefit you long after graduation. Below, I’ve listed some of the student organizations you can join and become part of. Keep in mind that most of them recruit during the fall semester, so they may not be accepting applications right now. The goal of this blog is to give you an overview of student-led organizations — what they do, and how you can get involved, so you can plan ahead and apply either in the next semester, next year, or once you start at KI.

Medicinska Föreningen (MF)

MF is KI’s official student union that represents students across all KI programs. Under MF, there are 12 different sub-sections, each representing a specific program or group of programs. Each section focuses primarily on educational matters, student welfare, and internationalization related to its members’ studies. The section’s members elect their own board, which leads the section’s work and appoints student representatives. For example, the public health section represents Bioentrepreneurship, as well as Health Informatics, Public Health, Global Health and Health Economics. They also organise different networking and socialising events, as we workshops.

Additionally MF’s works are conducted by commitees operating under the MF board. Each committee has a different focus area. Here are few committees students can be involved in :

• Business Committee

The business committee builds connections between students and the life science industry. They organize networking events, workshops, and company collaborations that help students explore careers beyond academia. Their flagship event is CHaSE, one of the largest student-led career fairs in Sweden.

• International committee

The international committee focuses on supporting international students and promoting cross-cultural exchange. They organize educational and social events such as language classes, cultural activities, and social dance evenings

• Sports Committee (Idru)

IdrU promotes health and well-being through sports and physical activities. They organize sports days, ski trips, and weekly activities throughout the year to engage students who enjoy movement, fitness, and fun. During Sports Day at KI, IdrU teams up with other organizations to offer exciting activities. This year students got to try out for example padel, go-karting, and laser tag.

You can read more about MF’s various sections and committees on their website.

Students Nobel Nights Cap

Students Nobel NightCap (SNNC) is the legendary formal afterparty that follows the Nobel Banquet on 10 December, jointly organized and run by student volunteers from universities across Stockholm. The event gives Nobel laureates and their guests a chance to unwind after the formal celebrations, while also offering students a rare opportunity to take part in the Nobel Week festivities. Each year, SNNC welcomes laureates, academics, and other distinguished guests, making it one of the most unique student-led events in Sweden.By joining SNNC, you get the chance to build the event from the ground up — whether you’re part of the communications, HR, decor, or entertainment team.

It’s an incredible opportunity to gain hands-on experience, collaborate with peers, and be part of a historic celebration. Julia, one of the digital ambassadors, took part in SNNC and has shared her experience in her blog post — I highly recommend giving it a read if you want to know more about what happens behind the scenes!

TED x KI

Are you a big fan of TED talks? Well, here’s a chance for you to join KI’s independently run TED event. Every year students volunteer to curate the TED event held at Aula Medica. This organization has multiple teams you can join depending on your interests. Whether you’re into marketing, finance, event planning and logistics, event planning, or speaker scouting, there’s a place for you to contribute and grow.

In the previous TED event, I was part of the finance team and had a great experience learning how the event is constructed. I gained a lot of valuable skills, met cool people and heard inspiring stories from the speakers. If this piques your interest and you would like to take part, there is an opportunity to join as a volunteer closer to the event!

Synapse

Synapse is a non-profit organisation that organise events and workshops to help bridge the gap between academia and industry. These events help connect students who are curious about careers beyond academia to connect with professionals, expand their network, and develop valuable skills for the future. Synapse is not affiliated to a specific university, so the Stockholm hub is open to all students studying in Stockholm. I’m also a part of this organization, and it’s been such a rewarding experience. I’ve had the chance to collaborate with like-minded students, gain new perspectives, and help others discover exciting career paths

Fun fact: Synapse originally started in Denmark, and every year they host the Synapse Summit at the Copenhagen hub, which is a great opportunity to meet students from across Europe, exchange ideas, and grow your international network.

180 Degrees Consulting

Are you curious about consultancy? 180 Degrees Consulting (often abbreviated 180DC) is a student-led consultancy that offers pro bono consulting services to nonprofits, social enterprises, and other socially driven organizations. Its core idea is to equip students with real consulting experience and expose them to real cases, while helping mission-driven organizations by providing them solutions to their challenges. Their Stockholm branch situates in Stockholm School of Economics and students from SSU, KTH, SU and KI can apply to be a part of this organisation as a consultant.

How to apply?

If any of these student organizations or committees caught your attention, keep an eye out for their recruitment periods! Most groups open applications at the start of the fall semester, while some also recruit again in spring. Its good to follow their social media pages or check their websites to stay updated on upcoming opportunities.

Getting involved is one of the best ways to make your time at KI more exciting, build connections, and develop skills that will stay with you long after graduation. So, when the next opportunity appears — go for it!