After being nominated for the Uppsala program by an Illinois study abroad advisor, you will receive instructions directly from Uppsala about how to proceed.
Students will be notified if their application has been successful by mid-June and we kindly ask that they refer to the Fact Sheet for any questions they may have. All other correspondence from us including the Certificate of Acceptance and/or Letter of Admissions with Course Confirmation and more, will be by email only.
Spring Semester 2021: Jan. 18 - June 6, 2021
Fall Semester 2021: tba
Academic Year 2021-2022: Aug. 30, 2021 - June 5, 2022
Spring 2021 Deadlines
Illinois Application Deadline: September 15, 2020
Pre-Departure Orientation: tba
Confirmation of Participation Deadline: October 9, 2020
Host Institution Application Deadline: tba
LAS 291 - 292 Launch Event: tba
Deadline to Complete My Study Abroad Items: November 1, 2020
Fall & AY 2021 Deadlines
Illinois Application Deadline: February 15, 2021
Pre-Departure Orientation: tba
Confirmation of Participation Deadline: March 8, 2021
Host Institution Application Deadline: May 1, 2021
LAS 291 - 292 Launch Event: tba
Deadline to Complete My Study Abroad Items: May 1, 2021
Program Location: Uppsala, Sweden
Arrival & Departure Airport: Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN)
Always check with your program provider for required arrival times before making any flight arrangements!
Time Change: Uppsala is 7 hours ahead of Illinois time.
Common Transportation: bus, train, walk
An Orientation Programme is arranged prior to each semester start and provides students with information about all kinds of facilities and activities they need in order to make the most of their stay in Uppsala. In addition, a free bus service from Stockholm Arlanda airport to Uppsala University’s Welcome Center is arranged during the official Arrival Days.
The entire program with more details, will be posted prior to each term and is updated continuously on their welcome page.
Housing Application Process:
Students apply for housing between the following dates:
For autumn semester: 15 – 31 May
For spring semester: 15 – 30 November
The link to the housing application will be sent out to students in a separate email prior to the application period opening.
The Housing Office processes the online applications for housing in Uppsala and Visby. Offers are made at the beginning of June for the autumn semester and at beginning of December for the spring semester and an ACTIVE RESPONSE from the applicant is REQUIRED.
Please note that it is perfectly fine to apply for Housing without the admissions fully completed! The housing application is not initially binding, but accepting an offer, made later, is.
Also note, there is no meal plan option. Student housing only offers cooking facilities in shared kitchens.
Course Registration
Courses offered are specifically at Campus Gotland.
The updated course list for autumn is available in the Course Catalogue (from the end of February). Uppsala requires extensive information about the students’ course proposal. You will need to show how you meet the entry requirements and have pre-approval from the home university for each choice.
You must indicate if the course is pre-approved by your home university or if pre-approval will be obtained before arrival. If you choose, “No approval”, and there are limited places available, they may not be able to secure a place in the course for you.
In your application, you are required to select eight (8) courses in order of preference and priority. You should be prepared to show how you meet the entry requirements for the selected courses by providing details from your transcript. Use the filter on the right hand side of the course catalogue to narrow the list down to what is most appropriate to the your level of education and area of study.
NOTE: Uppsala will try to only admit students to full-time studies with courses that do not have major overlaps. This is why they require several suggested courses in order of priority. Eight (8) courses should be selected in order to have reserve options.
More useful information about courses for exchange students is listed here.
Transcripts
Transcripts will not be sent out automatically. Instead, students should download a verifiable digital copy on the Uppsala Student Portal up to six months after their exchange studies to keep for their own records. In order to submit the transcript to Illinois for processing, students should grant access to their IAGE advisor on the Uppsala student portal, using the advisor's email address. Should you require a transcript as a hard copy, please request a copy using the online link: https://www.uu.se/transcriptrequest
Keep in mind, the time for receipt and processing can take a few months.
“Nations” dominate student life at Uppsala University. A student nation is like a private student union combined with a co-ed fraternity: each nation has its own building which houses a library, café, and sometimes even a ballroom. Members are given discounted prices at the café and at special nation events. Each nation has its own distinct culture and traditions, so there is something for everyone. For example, some nations are known to be business-orientated, or vegetarian-friendly, or have a strong LGBTQ+ culture. Nations originally corresponded to the different regions of Sweden. Although you are not required to join nations, it is highly recommended to help immerse you in Swedish social life.
Buddy program: For information about getting assigned a Buddy (through Uppsala Student Union), see their buddy program webpage.
For the autumn semester, the application usually opens in late May and closes in mid-June.
For the spring semester, the application usually opens in late October and closes in mid-November
On Academics
I had class from 2 to 3 times a week for 1.5 hrs/day
I had class for 4‐5 days a week, 3‐7 hours dependent on if there was a lab practical. My personal schedule made it so I only took one class at a time, and two classes during the semester.
I actually really liked the way classes were abroad, I felt like I had more time to breath because I was taking one class at a time instead of 5 at a time like I do here in America.
The amount/days of class would sometimes change weekly which was odd. In Uppsala, you take one class at a time so sometimes I'd have class for two days a week for two months and the next month was a different class that met three times a week.
It's pass/fail and very little assignments. Most of the classes would consist of one or two small paper assignments and then either an exam or a "take‐home" exam that would consist of an essay or answering questions in essay form.
On Housing
I would recommend Flogsta because of the student life and culture. However, I did live at Klostergatan 16 and that was also nice because it was right at the city centre.
I was centrally located in the city. More non‐traditional student living in Klostergatan, however they did have other housing options. I had a studio with my own kitchen, so I cooked most meals. I had my own bathroom also. Very secure, nothing to worry about. No roommates. Most local students live in other housing options, but other international students lived in my building. Klostergatan is less social than other student housing options.
I would prefer one of the other housing options if you are more outgoing and don't mind noise. Klostergatan is good if you prefer more privacy and want to be centrally located.
Try to get one of the housing options that makes you live with other people rather than an individual apartment.
My location was about 2 KM from the city/campus. It was a long walk but shorter bike ride. It was good in terms of security, but it was a small building with studio apartments and I only ever met one other person living there.
Evaluate what is most important to you, because the different choices can be quite different. Some are closer to the city center, some are quiet, some are large and loud. It just depends on what you want.
General
Experiencing Valborg (Swedish spring holiday) was something completely extraordinary and a very big aspect of Swedish culture. I was so honored to be able to experience it.
The university made it feel like you could always ask for help, the airport pick up was an exceptionally nice amenity.
It was really fun to get involved in the nations at Uppsala University because it was an exceptionally unique thing to Uppsala. However, I do think I could have been a bit more active.
Bring wool socks.
Not like UIUC campus, it is spread all over the city. Classes are ran a little different, instead of taking them all at once it is more of a block schedule. No free campus gym or bus, however you can pay for these.
Airport pick up was awesome after the long travel. Orientation week also was great for meeting new people.
The program itself was also very affordable. However, Sweden is an expensive country.
Come prepared by knowing some swedish and things about Europe in general, have an open mind, look to do things you have never done before, drink coffee, join a nation, if you cant cook learn some basic skills, get an outlet adapter, Systembolaget is the only place to buy alcohol, biking is big part of swedish life, try to keep extra room in your suitcase before you leave so you can bring things back, don't only hang out with UIUC people.
FIKA! I love Fika and found myself and my friends doing it everyday. Nothing better was then catching up with my friends over a cup of coffee and a pastry.
Don't be afraid of the winter weather, Sweden has beautiful weather and the spring semester is a great time to go because each day gets longer and the weather keeps getting better.
Excellent LGBTQ+ support.
Join a Nation. Prepare to spend a lot of money on food. Buy quality socks and gloves.
Course recommendations: (Which course(s) that you completed abroad did you find most interesting/meaningful?)
All of my classes were very meaningful. However, I took an American History class that I actually got to be in class with locals (Swedes) and that was the most interesting for me because I was really immersing myself in being like a Swedish student.
Swedish special needs from a comparative perspective and economic history of the world.
I thought the Swedish literature was the most interesting of the Swedish culture module but I wish I didn't take Swedish culture as it's only for international students and I wish I took a class that Swedish students would take also.
Marine biology was very interesting and had a three week field component that allowed me to experience the Swedish coastal area and nature at no additional cost.
Education and Teaching: An International Process
Swedish literature. All my classes were Swedish in perspective (history, art and music) but I enjoyed literature the most because that has always been a field of interest to me
Prior to departure, contact the U.S. based staff and designated incoming student advisors through email or phone.
When in country, contact the local staff for resources on-site first.
On-site Address: Exchange Program, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjöldsv. 7, 752 37 Uppsala, SWEDEN
All pre-arrival questions should utilize the following email: mobility@uu.se
Shabnam Sharifpour (Ms.), International Officer
Phone: +46 18 471 4007
Email: shabnam.sharifpour@uadm.uu.se
Andy Hinnant, Education Abroad Coordinator, Illinois Abroad and Global Exchange: ahinnant@illinois.edu
Andrew Collum or Rachael Green, International Safety and Security: safetyabroad@illinois.edu
24/7 Emergency Contact Line (UIUC PD): 217-333-1216