What you need to know about living and studying in Uppsala – Sweden’s Oldest University
Living and studying in Uppsala is definitely a unique experience. The city dates back to the 3rd century and is one of Sweden’s oldest cities. It is also the fourth largest city in Sweden and is home to Sweden’s oldest university that was founded in 1477.
The city has cold winters but warm summers. During the summer solstice it is known to have 18 hours of sunlight and during the winter solstice it has under 6 hours of sunlight! This is due to its northerly location. We interviewed Alex, founder of @lostinacup, to share his experience on living and studying in Uppsala. He tells us how he was:
“Fascinated about how things work and the midnight sun”2
He explains how it is a different experience than living and studying in the UK.
Who is Alex?
Alex, currently lives in Uppsala and is a passionate coffee lover, student and entrepreneur, originally born in London and grew up in Sardinia, Italy. He speaks English, Italian and Swedish.
Uppsala is one of Sweden’s oldest cities and is a popular day trip from Stockholm. It’s known to be calm during the day, but lively at night, mostly due to its large student population of 45,000. Alex is one of those students; he originally went to Uppsala for the Erasmus program whilst studying at the University of Manchester. After graduating, he returned to do his masters in Sweden after ‘falling in love with the country’.
What is different to studying in the UK?
Sweden’s university system is different to the UK and Alex explains how he sometimes made the most of the flexible deadlines. His priority was reaching other goals, whilst studying and not to complete it within the expected timeline. This means you can get fully involved in student life and embrace Swedish culture. What some people may not be aware of is how if you’re a university student from the EU, you do not pay tuition fees. That’s correct. Free Masters anyone?
What should you do whilst studying at Uppsala University?
As mentioned, Uppsala is the oldest university in Sweden and in the Nordic countries and with that comes history and well-established traditions. The interesting aspect is as a student you get the ‘opportunity to join, get active, volunteer, socialise and have fun’.
Alex recommends joining one of the ‘Student Nations’, which are 13 student organisations similar to colleges in Oxford and Cambridge. It is a good place to meet people but also to delve into the Swedish language. Which as I understand he has become pretty good at. Alex explained that Swedish is grammatically easier to learn than English. The difficulty he finds is that the Swedes are excellent at speaking English and want to practice at any opportunity.
How did you set up a business?
He took advantage of the range of courses the university has to offer and also studied entrepreneurship, where he set up Lost in a Cup and networked with other start-ups. He explained how entrepreneurship is high up on the Swedish agenda so it is easy to get support with your idea, ask for advice, take different courses and attend specific events.
With a passion for Italian coffee, and disappointed with the price of cappuccinos in Sweden (you pay €5 for a cappuccino and nobody wants that) he decided to dive into the world of coffee by importing coffee from Sardinia and registering his own company. He is still working to test and improve the concept of his startup gaining knowledge and friends through this experience. His ultimate aim is to focus not so much on selling coffee but rather ‘to promote cultural conversations’ connecting the world of academia to the general public through debate inspiring events in cafés.
What are the biggest challenges of living and studying in Uppsala?
Living in Sweden can present some challenges and the biggest differences he finds are the seasonal changes. The contrast between winter and summer and the length of the days. People stay at home a lot in winter with cosy candlelight evenings and then in summer it’s all about BBQs, going to the lake and enjoying the outdoors.
‘Euphoria is associated with the longer days, more energy and more socialising.’
What advice would you give to someone?
If you’re interested in studying in Sweden, Alex’s advice is to do your research on the course you are interested in. Two years is not a long time in the grand scheme of things but just make sure you buy a ‘heavy winter jacket and be prepared for -10 degrees during the winter nights’. Find a balance, enjoy student life, and understand your goals and the opportunities available to you.
Alex describes a dramatic picture of when he first arrived in Sweden as an exchange student; he was searching for his student house, walking through a cemetery at 4:30pm in -10 degrees and pitch-darkness. As we are speaking, it’s 20 degrees so I’m struggling to picture what that feels like but I can certainly agree that experience might put someone off.
Another difference he points out is understanding social cues. It’s not the same ‘openness’ as the Italian culture and you have to adapt. People tend not to voice their opinions in the same way. There is sometimes a ‘cultural clash’, and it takes a while to understand the social norms. Decisions take a long time and that can cause frustration’ it’s all about finding general consensus and knowing what way to voice your opinions.
What can’t you miss when living and studying in Uppsala?
Alex recommends you visit in spring or summer and that you should experience the following:
A visit to Old Uppsala (Gamla), to see the Viking mounds where human sacrifices allegedly took place. Discover a museum on Viking history as well as the sight where the first Catholic Cathedral in Scandinavia once stood. It is definitely an interesting place to visit and learn, dating back to the 6th century. During summer months, there are daily guided tours in English at the museum. On these tours you can learn about the myths of the area’s tremendous past.
Gustavianum – Uppsala University’s Museum. It’s housed in the university’s oldest building (from the 1500s) and explains the history of the university. It is also home to many original artefacts, including archeological finds from the Viking period and Egyptian mummies. Unfortunately for tourists right now, the building is currently being renovated until 2023. However, they are working on preserving the artefacts for the future and expect to open again as a world class museum.
Visit the 16th century pink Uppsala Castle for impressive views over the city. See the University, the Botanical Gardens and the Cathedral in all their glory and appreciate the picturesque value of the city. There is also the option to go on a guided tour of the castle, where you can learn about history and art. However, this is only available in the summer months.
A visit to one of the oldest cafes in Uppsala ‘Ofvandahls Hovkonditori’ should be on your list. Established in the 1800s, it’s a typical Swedish café with cakes and free coffee refills. Astrid Lindgren wrote her famous novels including Pippi Longstocking in this café. Therefore, it’s an Uppsala must for a unique experience. Indeed, there are still poetry and reading events held at the cafe and it attracts well-known authors. Despite management’s request that you don’t study at the tables, the timeless cafe remains a popular spot for Uppsala’s University students.
What’s next?
Alex is not ready to give up the Uppsala dream, after falling in love with the culture and the atmosphere of the city. He does say he hasn’t ruled out moving back to the UK. Once he has enough contacts, experience and knowledge, retiring in Sardinia and ‘living longer’ isn’t out of the question. Follow Alex’s journey on his website and Instagram @lostinacup. To discover more about what it’s like to live, work, study and start a business in Sweden.
If you are thinking of living and working abroad don’t forget to check our our blog for 7 things you should consider before you go. This is part of our mini-series on unique travel stories.
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Photo Credit: Averagelives.com and unsplash
This was interesting. We will have to visit Sweden one day…in the summer!