Student blogs

One of my core memories will always be the excitement and anticipation I felt when I received my acceptance to the global health programme at the Karolinska Institutet. As I got closer to my departure date, I tried to prepare myself for the move to Sweden. However, there are always surprises and challenges when it comes to moving to a new country. I want to share some of the experiences I had while settling in Sweden and what I wish I knew before moving! 

1. Transportation from the airport 

I felt very lucky that I was not alone as soon as I arrived in Arlanda airport because after baggage claim, I was greeted by a group of KI students. They guided me to the Flygbussarna, which is a bus that stops by KI. I had a lot of luggage, so this was the best option for me. However, some of my classmates that live in Stockholm took the train from the airport since they had less luggage.  

I paid for my ticket by credit card and was off to KI for the first time! Thankfully, there was also WiFi on the bus, so I could let my family know I had arrived in Sweden. Whichever option you choose, it is a great help having KI student representatives at the airport on specific arrival days to help guide you in your first moments in Sweden. 

2. Moving into KI housing 

As an international student, I qualified for housing through the Karolinska Institutet. I opted to live in the dorm Pax, which has been a convenient and enjoyable experience for me. In a future blog, I look forward to covering the different KI housing options in depth. In the meantime, I can reflect on the process of moving in which was a bit challenging.  

The key to my room was kept in a separate housing location on campus, KI Residence Solna and the Flygbussarna dropped me off somewhat close by. Yet, given all my luggage, I struggled bringing everything uphill. Thankfully, someone passing by kindly helped me bring my luggage to the building. I got my key but did not want to take a bus to Pax, so I again solicited the help of a building resident and used their Wi-Fi momentarily to order an Uber to Pax.  

Some of these initial move-in logistics are difficult to navigate when living off-campus in other KI housing locations, but it can be helpful to try and plan transportation options ahead of time. Again, do not hesitate to reach out to your new peers for help! Everyone I encountered was so kind in helping me get to where I needed to be. 

3. SIM plans and the personnummer  

Very soon after getting settled, I set out to buy a SIM card and a new plan. I personally bought mine from Pressbyrån, which is a common convenience store in Sweden. However, it is important to note that personal identification, such as the personnummer, is a common theme of life in Sweden. I learned this first when trying to buy a cheaper student plan for my SIM and was prompted to enter a personnummer before purchase.  

Since I did not have a personnummer, I later did more research and found the SIM company Lyca best suited my budget and did not require a personnummer to purchase the plan I wanted. There are many good options available, but I encourage you to keep such limitations in mind when buying a SIM and looking at plans!

4. Public transport and the Mecenat card 

You will hear this over and over because it is true – public transportation is amazing in Sweden! It is quick, efficient, and varies over train, bus, and even ferry. As a student, you are also eligible for discounted student plans for public transportation, which you can purchase through the SL app. However, to do so, the national student ID Mecenat card is needed. 

Upon arrival in Sweden, I followed the instructions in an email sent by KI to set up my Mecenat card through the app. Once you have your details, you can buy the student plan through the SL app. If you get checked by transportation authorities, make sure you have your Mecenat card ready to avoid being fined. Besides the transportation perk, the Mecenat card unlocks many other student discounts which are helpful for budgeting! 

Now that I have spent almost 2 months in Sweden, I can look back fondly on those first few exciting days of settling into life here and encountering a mix of successes and struggles. I am so excited for what is to come and cannot wait to take you all with me on this journey!