NEW STUDENT!

Housing

Getting accommodation can often be difficult at first, but it almost always works out in the end. If you are in the housing queue in Uppsala, the process becomes much easier, but that usually requires having planned several years ahead, which of course is difficult. Most new students find housing through Facebook groups, Blocket, personal contacts, or through a student nation. Keep in mind that many people move during their studies, so where you first live is probably not where you’ll still be living at graduation. In some cases, you may gain access to your housing after the semester has already started, but there’s no need to worry — mentors during the orientation period usually offer sleeping arrangements to new students who haven’t yet received access to their accommodation.

In Uppsala, the student nations have access to a large number of student housing options, both corridor rooms and private apartments. Generally, you need to be a member — and therefore a student — to join a nation’s housing queue, after which queue points are awarded each semester. However, there are certain nations where you can obtain housing through:

Stockholms nation
Gästrike-Hälsingland nation
Norrlands nation
Kalmar nation
Smålands nation
V-Dala nation
Uplands nation
Östgöta nation

If you want to register for a nation’s housing queue, you do so at the nation houses. We strongly recommend that you sign up for at least one nation’s housing queue when you begin your studies! Many nations offer priority to new students during the autumn semester.

Other websites or housing queues where you may find accommodation:

Studentboet
Heimstaden
K2A
Uppsala bostadsförmedling

I just got admitted, what now?

Starting university is a big change, and for many people the beginning of their studies can feel both exciting and a little overwhelming. You might be moving away from home for the first time, getting to know a new city, and at the same time adjusting to completely new studies. It’s a lot all at once, and it’s perfectly normal to feel a bit uncertain in the beginning. Fortunately, there is support available along the way.

Shortly after you have accepted your place, you will be contacted by senior students who can help you with practical matters before the semester begins, such as housing and course literature. If you already have questions, you are always welcome to contact the board via email or social media.

The most important thing at the start is to be present for registration. Information about when and where this will take place will be provided together with your admission notice. At the same time, you will also receive information about an introduction to student life held at the beginning of the semester. More details will be shared closer to the start.

The introduction is designed to make the transition easier, both practically and socially, and to give you the opportunity to meet other new students and ease into student life more smoothly. Participation is completely voluntary, and you decide what feels right for you. The focus is for you to feel safe, welcome, and to get a really good start to your time as a student.

Studentlife and Nations

Student nations are a central part of student life in Uppsala. To become a member of a nation, you need to be a student, and membership gives you access to all the nations in Uppsala. In addition to pubs and clubs, the nations organize many types of cultural and sporting events, and many offer jobs and scholarships. Some nations have choirs, others orchestras, some have football teams, and so on. In other words, there is something for everyone, and the nations are an excellent starting point for anyone who wants to get involved outside their studies! The nations are also a great meeting place for both domestic and international students.

Nations usually hold registration periods at the beginning of each semester, but they are generally quite flexible. During the orientation period (more on this below), the mentors also usually help new students with registration, so it’s nothing to lose sleep over. You can read more about the nations here.

Studies

Biology students mostly spend their time at the EBC (Evolutionary Biology Centre), but we also spend the well-known “chemistry semester” at the BMC (Biomedical Centre). EBC is full of great study spaces, and on campus we also have our own library!

As a student, you use the platform Studium to access course content and view upcoming assignments.

Course literature

There are mixed opinions about whether course literature is necessary or not. Some believe you can complete courses without buying any books at all, while others prefer to keep their literature as reference material, and still others like to read entire books as part of their studies. Which category you fall into is something you’ll discover during your time as a student.

Course literature can be expensive, and for that reason there is a broad second-hand market for books. Several companies sell used course literature (such as Studentapan, Campusbokhandeln, Amazon, and others), but the most common practice among biology students is to buy and sell within the programme itself. Older students are often more than happy to sell their old course books, and we can almost guarantee that one of your mentors will have books they want to get rid of. Much of the course literature among biology students is bought and sold through the Uppsala Biology Students Facebook group.

Shadow a student

Shadow a student. If you have questions about what it’s like to be a biology student, you can send an email to bio-soc@utn.se!

If you’re interested in shadowing a biology student — joining lectures and lab sessions for a day — you can email skugga-teknat@uu.se.

Very useful glossary

ak – Academic quarter (15 minutes), a fairly common time convention that originates from when students in Uppsala, unable to tell the time with pocket watches or mobile phones, relied on the cathedral bells. Fifteen minutes was considered enough time to get to the lecture hall, and the tradition lives on today.

Bladet – The Uppsala biology students’ magazine. Uppsala’s oldest section magazine.

BMC – The Biomedical Centre. A BIG grey building with high concentrations of pharmacy and medical students. Biologists and geoscientists do labs there from time to time.

BÄR – The Biological Subject Council. The biologists’ section.

BÄR-rummet – The biologists’ second home at EBC. There is also a small kiosk with frozen meals, candy, and drinks.

CSN – Loved, hated. Gives you money but wants it back.

Bicycle – An essential two-wheeled vehicle! NOTE: lock it very carefully, preferably with double or triple locks.

dk – Double quarter (30 minutes), see also ak.

Domkyrkan – Uppsala Cathedral, the tallest church in the Nordic countries. A great landmark if you get lost in town.

EBC – The Evolutionary Biology Centre. Home to many biologists.

Eftersläpp – A party after a gasque/formal dinner where even those who didn’t attend the dinner can join. Also called släpp.

Fadder – A fantastic person who takes care of new students (reccar).

Flogsta – Flogsta, the largest (and most classic) student housing area. High-rises, low-rises, and the beloved ICA Väst are here.

Flogstavrålet – A wild student tradition where students living in Flogsta open their windows every night at 22:00 and scream out their anxiety. Should be experienced in person, even if you don’t live there.

Flogsta Highway (Flogstaleden) – A long straight stretch between Flogsta and the city centre. Permanent headwind in both directions.

Forsfestivalen – A week of festivities before Walpurgis. During this time, all the rafts for the river race are built.

Forsränningen – An annual Uppsala tradition that takes place on Walpurgis. Students ride homemade rafts along the Fyrisån. The first dip in the water for many students.

Gasque – A student-style formal dinner, usually followed by festivities.

GB – Abbreviation for geoscientists and biologists in Uppsala.

Geocentrum – The geoscientists’ home base — cosy, welcoming, and rock-cool. Officially the Geocentrum.

GRUS – The Geovetenskapliga Rådet för Uppsalas Studenter, the geoscientists’ section.

GRUWAN – The geoscientists’ lounge at Geocentrum. Has sofas and a ping-pong table. Shared with the W-section (Environmental and Water Engineering).

IBG – The Institutionen för biologisk grundutbildning (Department of Biology Education).

ICA Väst – ICA Väst, a cheap grocery store in Flogsta.

Kantorn – A student housing area toward Gränby. Very similar to Flogsta but without the Flogsta scream.

Kemiterminen – The semester when biology and geoscience students study chemistry. Often seen as a tougher term.

Klubban – Klubbans Biologiska Forskningsstation, located in Fiskebäckskil. Biologists and geoscientists go there during certain courses.

Labbrock – A lab coat you buy early in your studies and must wear in labs. A colourful version is used as section clothing in some sections (e.g. LärNat).

LärNat – Lärarnas Naturvetenskapliga förening, the subject teachers’ science association.

MFK-mottagningen – The reception for mathematicians, physicists, and chemists that GB collaborates with. GB ❤️ MFK.

Mottagning – One of the most fun periods of life. A great introduction to student life. Voluntary and very fun!

Nation – 13 student societies with full licenses that have become many students’ second homes. They also offer apartments and corridor rooms that members can queue for.

Nollning – The old word for reception, replaced to show rejection of humiliating activities and pressure.

Onsdagsölen – A tradition where biologists, geoscientists, and teacher-training students go out together on Wednesdays for a beer (or any preferred drink) at different nations.

Orogenesen – The geoscientists’ section party. Takes place around Halloween at Geocentrum and is very popular — get tickets early.

Ovve (overall) – Section clothing for many university sections, including geoscientists and biologists.

Recce – A new student (recentior).

Reccebladet – A handbook for continued student life.

Rekå – Organisers of the engineering and computer science reception. Recognisable by dark cloaks, sunglasses, bizarre hairstyles, and strange speech.

Sektionsklädsel – Clothing in a section’s colours and logo, often worn at student events like formal dinners and activities (e.g. overalls, lab coats, or dressing gowns).

Selektionsfesten – The biologists’ section party.

Slottet – A great landmark visible everywhere — the Uppsala Castle, standing on a large glacial ridge.

Sittning – A festive student event with food, drinks, and entertainment — usually a two- or three-course dinner with performances.

Straffsparken – A party arranged by the new first-years for their mentors and former organisers as thanks for a fun reception. Takes place early in spring.

Studentvägen – A student housing area between Flogsta and EBC, with many rooms and apartments offered by nations.

Sångbok – Every student should have one — contains all the songs sung at gasques and sittnings. Sold during reception.

TD-mottagningen – The engineering and computer science reception.

Tältet – A party venue by the Ångströmlaboratoriet for engineering and science students. Set up by the TD reception.

Uthgård – Uthgård, UTN’s student union building. A large red villa at Polacksbacken for engineering and science students — a hangout with café and microwaves.

UTN – Uppsala teknolog- och naturvetarkår, the engineering and science student union.

Valborg – Walpurgis Night, also called “the last of April.” The biggest public celebration in Uppsala — and perhaps Sweden. The weekend includes Skvalborg, Kvalborg, Valborg, and Finalborg.

VälCom – Organisers of the GB reception. Generally cosy and colourful.

Ångströmlaboratoriet – A gigantic laboratory full of scientists and engineers. Much of the chemistry semester is spent here (see Kemiterminen).

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