Stockholm and Sweden
Living in Sweden
Sweden is the largest country in Scandinavia with a surface area of 450 000 square kilometers and 9 million inhabitants. Sweden is a parliamentary democracy (the Swedish monarchy is purely constitutional) and it has been a member of The European Union since 1995. However Sweden is not a part of the EMU and therefore you need Swedish kronor to go shopping in Sweden.
About one-third of all young people in Sweden go on to higher education at one of the universities and colleges. Education is free of charge at all levels of the compulsory school and higher education. Private schools and colleges are few in number and generally receive government grants.
The country of Sweden is often described in terms of contrasts: innovative modernity and historical tradition, high technology and magnificent natural settings, rationality and beuty, land and water.
Despite these extremes the characteristics of the people is often described by the typical Swedish word "lagom" which literally means "not too much nor too little". Consequently, Swedes are often regarded as quiet and somewhat reserved people who try to avoid conflicts and rarely show their feelings in public.
However, wherever you go, you will probably meet some nice and helpful people who are able to speak English reasonably well and are more than willing to help you along!
Climate
Thanks to the warm Gulf Stream, the Swedish climate is much milder than might be expected at this latitude. In the summer it can be hot and dry with temperatures reaching 30 degrees Celsius (about 85 degrees F). The difference between the southern and northern regions of Sweden is not that noticeable in the summer, except that in June and July the sun never sets in the northernmost parts, a phenomenon called the midnight sun. In the winter most of Sweden is covered by snow.
Currency
Sweden does not use the currency EURO, the currency is the kronor (Swedish crowns, SEK), 1 krona = 100 öre. There are coins in the following denominations: 50 öre, 1 krona, 5 kronor, 10 kronor. The following notes are used: 20 kronor, 50 kronor, 100 kronor, 500 kronor and 1 000 kronor. There are many different currency converters on the internet, for example Oanda and the Swedish exchange bureau Forex.
Cost of living
A typical student budget for one month in Stockholm would be (all costs in SEK):
Accommodation: 2 000-4 200
Food: 2 000
Local travel: 690 (30-day card)
Clothing, hobby/leisure: 450
Student Union fee: 60
Other (phone, insurance, hygiene etc): 1 700
Total, approximately: 6 900 - 9 100
Meals at a bar or self-service restaurant (självservering) cost approximately SEK 60-80. The student restaurants at KTH offer meals at reasonable prices, approximately SEK 55. Many students bring their own food that can be heated in microwave ovens provided by the Student Union.
Bank and Post
Banking services
In Sweden it is very handy to use an international bank card. The most common cards are VISA, MasterCard, Eurocard and American Express.
Please note that you need a permanent address in Sweden before you can open a bank account in Sweden. You also need to bring your letter of acceptance. A bank-to-bank cheque drawn on a Swedish bank is the best type of cheque. Personal cheques from abroad are not cashed in Swedish banks.
All KTH students are welcome to open a bank account at any of the ten Nordea bank offices in Stockholm. You need to bring your passport or some other valid form of identification along with your Letter of acceptance. The banks normally keep open between 10 and 16.
When opening a bank account ask for Electronkort (cash withdrawal card) and Internet and Phone service.
Nordea bank offices are found at the following addresses in Stockholm:
Sveavägen 14
Kungsgatan 52
Drottninggatan 4
Hamngatan 12
Humlegårdsgatan 12
Hantverkargatan 25
Odengatan 54
Karlavägen 76
Rosenlundsgatan 1 B
St Eriksgatan 43
Please remember to close your bank account before leaving Sweden and be aware that there are restrictions on the amount of money you can withdraw per week.
Postal service
Stamps can be purchased in supermarkets and convenience stores. Parcels service is available in certain convenience stores. Those closest to KTH are 7-eleven, Drottning Kristinas väg 9, Pressbyrån, Tekniska Högskolan (T). If you have received a parcel, a dispatch note will be sent to you by post from the store where you can pick up your parcel.
The Post Office and Svensk Kassaservice (Cashier Service) closest to KTH is at Nybrogatan 57. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10-18, Sat 10-13. There is also a Svensk Kassaservice in the Kista Galleria, by the Kista Torg entrance, where payments can be made.
Telephone
It is expensive to open a telephone account in Sweden. But there are several different options.
Regular telephone account: a deposit of SEK 3,000 is required.
Telephone cards: You can buy these cash cards in a tobacconist store or other similar stores (SevenEleven, Kiosks, Pressbyrån) There are cards of different values from SEK 30-250.
Note: As of 1 January 2000 there are no phone booths in Sweden which take coins, you can only use the cash-cards in the booths.
Most international students choose to use a mobile phone during their stay in Sweden. Cash cards for mobile phones may be bought in the same stores as telephone cards.
For purchases and more information on these different alternatives please contact one of the following:
Telia, address Kungsgatan 36, phone: 08-475 17 70
Tele 2, phone: 0200-25 25 25 (toll free)
ONOFF, address Kungsgatan 29, phone: 08-701 07 01
Mobil-Tele-leverantörerna, address Sveavägen 17.
Electricity
Household electricity in Sweden is 220 volts AC and 50 cycles/sec (Hz). As for instance British and American wall outlets differ from Swedish ones, you may need to bring a transformer and/or adapter if you bring electrical appliances from your home country.
Public holidays
New Year's Day (January 1)
Epiphany (January 6)
Good Friday (in March or April)
Easter Sunday (in March or April)
Easter Monday (in March or April)
Labour Day (May 1)
Ascension Day (on a Thursday in May or June)
Whit Sunday (in May or June)
National day (June 6)
Midsummer's Day (on a Saturday at the end of June)
All Saint's Day (on a Saturday in early November)
Christmas Day (December 25)
Boxing Day (December 26)
In addition to these official holidays most government employees and many others have restricted public service on Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and Midsummer's Eve.
Drugs – "Droger"
All types of narcotics are prohibited in Sweden. There are some very strong regulations against using and dealing with drugs and also against drinking and driving.
Embassy – "Ambassad"
Not all states have diplomatic representation in Sweden. Look in the yellow pages in the telephone directory under "Ambassader, konsulat och handelsrepresentationer".
Police – "Polisen"
To get in contact with the police station nearest to you, look in the pink pages of the telephone directory under "Polismyndigheten". In case of emergency – call 112.
Useful links
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital of Sweden with some 1.8 million inhabitants. It is located between the lake Mälaren and the Baltic sea in the middle of the country.
Even if it has a long history – in 2002 the city celebrates its 750 anniversary – Stockholm is an innovative place where new attractions and activites constantly are emerging. This is the heart of Swedish trade and business life. Several of the country's multinational corporations, often based on inventions once made by Swedish engineers, have their headquarters here. Today financial services, IT, and environmental technology are among Stockholm's most prominent industries.
Naturally Stockholm also provides a full range of events within culture and sports. Here you find a multitude of cultural centres, museums and galleries and a countless numbers of indoor and outdoor sportsgrounds and playing fields.
Stockholm's location, situated on islands, means that you almost always are nearby water. This offers spectacular views and outstanding activities, such as fishing right in the centre of the city, sailing in the summer and ice-skating in the winter in the large archipelago outside – often described as a unique natural experience with its more than 24,000 islands, of which only 150 are inhabited around the year.
Local transportation
It is rather easy to use public transport in Stockholm and in Sweden in general. Stockholm Local Transportation System, SL, provides travel by commuter trains/pendeltåg, underground/tunnelbana, buses/bussar and boats/båtar throughout the greater Stockholm area. Underground stations are marked with “T” and train stations with “J”.
There is an underground station at the main KTH Campus at Valhallavägen called "Tekniska högskolan" (red line). The IT-University in Kista is located close to underground station "Kista centrum" (blue line).
The SL-card with a 30-day validity (månadskort) for 690 SEK will provide you with limitless travelling within the larger Stockholm area and it is the easiest and cheapest way to get around.
Full-time students with a Student Union card or an international ISIC-card can buy a student travelcard to a reduced price (valid September - December or January - April) at the SL-centres. You should bring your student card and an ID.
If you are not a frequent user of the transport system you can buy a strip of 16 coupons (remsa) or prepaid coupons. The most expensive way to travel within Stockholm is to pay each trip separately. If you are going by bus there is no posibility to travel without some kind of prepaid ticket. A normal trip within 1 or 2 zones require 2 coupons.
The SL card, ticket-strip or prepaid coupons can be bought at the SL Info Centres in the underground or commuter train stations or in any ‘Pressbyrån’ (convenient store).
Lost and found – "Hittegods"
If you have lost something contact the City Police Station at Bergsgatan 39. Phone: 401 07 88. If you have lost something on SL – underground, commuter train or bus – contact SL: Visiting address at Klara Östra Kyrkogatan 4, T- centralen, opening hours Monday-Friday 10 PM-17 PM. Phone: 412 69 60.
Useful links
