Hej buddies, Sai here! Are you excited about your journey to KTH? I know that preparing for university life, especially in a new country, can bring a lot of questions. I’ve recently connected with many of you as a part of the “Connect with a KTH student” project, and the queries asked during the sessions reminded me that I had very similar doubts before coming to Sweden. That’s why I’ve compiled this handy guide of frequently asked questions. Whether you’re wondering about the weather, where you’ll live, or what to pack, I’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in and get you ready for a smooth start at KTH!
Quick Links
- Weather in Sweden
- Accommodation
- Studies at KTH
- Residence Permit
- Arrival Days and Essentials
- Living in Sweden
- Packing List and Must-Bring Items
Weather in Sweden
Q1. Is it too cold in Sweden?
A: Feeling cold can definitely vary from person to person! Last winter, the temperature dipped to -22°C, but it felt surprisingly manageable. Maybe it was because I braced myself for the worst! Remember the Swedish saying: “There’s no bad weather, only bad clothing” 🧣🧤. With the right layers, you can enjoy the crisp air without feeling the chill!
Q2. Can you spend the day out in the winter?
A: Absolutely! Winter in Stockholm is magical, with festive lights and snowy scenes straight out of a movie 🎬❄️. Just make sure to dress warmly and pick a day when it’s not too windy or snowy to make the most of your outdoor adventures!
Q3. How hot does it get in the summer?
A: You might be surprised, but it can heat up to 30°C here! Summers are gorgeous, with bright, long days perfect for exploring or just soaking up some sun ☀️🕶️. So, don’t forget to pack both your winter and summer gear!
Q4. Does it rain a lot?
A: Compared to the heavy rains back home in the tropics, it’s quite mild here. You’ll see some showers now and then, especially during the winter months, but it’s mostly light rain 🌧️. It’s a good idea to always have an umbrella handy, just in case!
Q5. How drastic was the change for you?
A: Coming from India, the shift was stark but not overwhelming. I didn’t mind the cold as much, but the shorter days during winter months took some getting used to. Taking Vitamin D supplements and staying active with fun activities really helped me adjust to less sunlight 🌞✨.
Accommodation
Q1. How do I apply to KTH accommodation?
A: The application to apply for an accommodation opens in May 2024. You can visit the KTH Accommodation website for more information. The first instalment of the tuition fees must be paid before applying since the applications can only be approved if the payment is made. It doesn’t matter when in May you apply, there is no first-come first-serve rule. You can find my comprehensive blog on KTH accommodation here: KTH Accommodation Guide- Teknikringen, Täby, Lappkärrsberget, and Malvinas väg.
Q2. I’ve signed up to the SSSB queue, but it says I’m not part of a student union?
A: You can join THS, the student union of KTH, after you arrive and register for a course at KTH. If you’re not part of a student union, you can only collect up to 90 credit days on SSSB. So remember to pause your credit day accumulation on the 90th day; otherwise, you’ll lose all your credit days. You can resume accumulating credit days once you become a part of THS.
Q3. I’m moving to Sweden with my spouse, does KTH have an accommodation suitable for me?
A: Yes! If you plan to bring your spouse and/or children, state this in your application, and KTH will try to find suitable accommodation in one of the locations.
Q4. Do the accommodations come with internet and a router?
A: Most locations have water, electricity and internet included in the rent (internet not included in Teknikringen), but you need to bring your own router, you may be lucky and find a router left back by the previous tenant, but in most cases, you’ll need your own.
Q5. What is the rent for different accommodations?
A: You can find the updated rent information on the KTH accommodation website.
Q6. I’m interested in Lappis, how likely is it that I receive Lappis as my accommodation?
A: The number of available corridor rooms in Lappis is higher than in other locations, so I’d say the probability is high that you get Lappis, but it’s not granted that you get the accommodation of your choice. The allotment is random, so it’s difficult to predict. One suggestion is that while you’re applying do NOT put any name in the preferred roommate section, if you do, you’ll most likely not receive an accommodation in Lappis, since you can’t have a roommate in Lappis corridor rooms.
Q7. How long can I stay in my KTH Accommodation?
A: KTH Accommodation offers housing for the first year of studies and for up to 24 months, depending on the start date or the duration of the exchange studies (one or two semesters) – duration depends on the student group. If you are planning to stay longer, you will need to organise further accommodation on your own.
Q8. My lectures are in Kista. Is it convenient to live in Lappis or other KTH accommodations and travel to Kista every day?
A: I travel to Kista for my lectures every day. It’s a little far from Lappis, yes, but the public transport connectivity is really good, and you can reach the Kista campus in under 50 minutes. However, if most of your lectures are on the main campus, then it’s a short 15-minute travel from Lappis to the KTH main campus.
Studies at KTH
Q1. How is the study load, can you keep up with the coursework?
A: The study load is manageable. It might feel a little overwhelming when you arrive here, with everything going on, and getting used to a foreign place may take some time, but you’ll soon catch up! If you’re punctual and submit your assignments on time, then you’ve nothing to worry about.
Q2. Describe the coursework, what can I expect?
A: Most courses combine lectures, assignments, lab work, project work, seminars, and examinations. Some courses may be purely project-based, and some may have only an examination. It all depends on the course, and it is mentioned on the course information page.
Q3. I want to select a particular course, but it’s not in the list of recommended courses in my programme, what should I do?
A: The studies at KTH are very flexible. There are some mandatory courses, but there are many electives, too. The recommended list of courses is a recommendation, as it suggests; you can select any course that is relevant to you, but you may need approval from your programme director. Also, you can select a course from any Swedish university as an elective, so you have a lot of options.
Q4. I’ve queries related to my programme, whom do I contact?
A: You can always contact your programme-specific student ambassadors or your programme coordinator here: Ask us about master’s studies. For more general questions you can contact the Digital ambassadors by commenting on this blog post or reaching us on the Instagram handle.
Residence Permit
Q1. How long does the residence permit application process take?
A: The time taken for a residence permit differs on a case-by-case basis. The entire process took me 25 days, but it can take longer based on your country and the time you apply. I’d suggest you apply early to avoid delays, ideally before the end of May.
Q2. How much funds should I show to the migrationsverket?
A: You need to show SEK 10,314 per month for the entire duration you intend to apply for your permit. If you want to apply for 24 months, then multiply 24 x 10314 = SEK 2,47,536, and if you want to apply for 12 months, it is 12 x 10314 = SEK 1,23,768.
Q3. Can I show the funds in my parents’ account?
A: No, the funds must only be in your account with your FULL name on it. It can be a joint account only with a spouse who is also applying for a permit at the same time as you.
Q4. Can I travel to other European countries using the residence permit?
A: Yes, your Swedish residence permit allows you to visit any Schengen country without any additional visa requirements.
Q5. Can I apply for a two-year permit? Are there any benefits to applying only for one year?
A: As a KTH student, you can apply for a two-year residence permit. Of course, you may also apply for a shorter duration and apply for an extension later. I initially applied for a one-year permit since I didn’t have enough funds to show for the complete two-year permit, and now I’ve applied for an extension until the end of my master’s.
Q6. Can the funds to prove my financial support be in a fixed deposit?
A: No, migrationsverket requires you to have funds in your account, so a fixed deposit or any investments will not qualify as proof of financial support.
Arrival Days and Essentials
Q1. When should I plan my flight landing?
A: To make your arrival as smooth as possible, I highly recommend scheduling your flight to coincide with one of the designated arrival days—August 1, 17, or 18. These days, KTH offers extended services and transportation from Arlanda Airport directly to the KTH campus, making it super convenient for you! 🛬✨. If you’re taking KTH accommodation, I’d also add that you need to plan in such a way that you can reach KTH Entré during working hours so that you can pick up your keys on the same day.
Here are the working hours and other relevant information:
August 1:
- Campus services: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Buses from Arlanda to KTH: 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM
August 17 and 18:
- Campus services: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Buses from Arlanda to KTH: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
If you’re planning to arrive outside these dates, make sure to arrive during regular KTH Entré opening hours to pick up your accommodation keys. Here are the hours for your planning:
June 17 – August 5:
- Monday-Friday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Regular Days (Outside the above dates):
- Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Planning your arrival during these times ensures you can pick up your keys without a hitch and start settling into your new home right away! 🗝️🏠
Q2. How do I reach KTH after arriving in Stockholm?
A: To get from the airport into town: Flygbussarna, Arlanda Express, and you also have a commuter train from Arlanda airport to Stockholm city.
Q3. Where can I get more information on the arrival days?
A: You can visit the Arrival and Introduction website for more information on arrival days. You can also sign up to the upcoming webinar on Your arrival guide to KTH to be held on 21 May 2024. If you can’t attend the webinar, you can find the recorded version of it later on the webinars page.
Living in Sweden
Q1. What is the cost of living in Stockholm?
A: The cost of living varies a lot from person to person. For me, it’s around 6500 SEK per month.
You can find my cost per month and Lorenzo’s and Samantha’s cost per month in the following blog posts:
Sai’s Post: Cost of Living as a Student at KTH: Srikar’s Edition
Lorenzo’s Post: Cost of Life for KTH Students: Lorenzo’s Experience
Sam’s Post: What I Spend in a Month as a KTH Student
Q2. What are the job prospects after graduation?
A: The following image shows the statistics of employment after graduation. The first graph shows the data of how many KTH students found employment after graduation. The second graph shows how long it took to get their first employment. These graphs will help you understand the job prospects better.
Q3. Is it easy to find any part-time jobs?
A: You can find numerous part-time jobs depending on the type of job you want to do. You can also look for part-time jobs at KTH on this page Vacancies at KTH.
Applications to become a digital ambassador are also open now! Check out the job ads at this link 😉. But remember, you should always give priority to your studies and do a part-time job only if you can handle both.
Q4. How do I travel around in Stockholm and how much does it cost?
A: Public transport is really good in Stockholm, it costs SEK 650 per month for students and gives unlimited access to Metros, buses, trams, commuter trains and ferries in Stockholm.
Q5. How do I pay for stuff? Do I need to bring SEK cash when coming?
A: You may bring some cash for an emergency, but Sweden is mostly a cashless economy. I’ve never used cash in the past year, so I recommend bringing a debit/credit card with international payments enabled.
Packing List and Must-Bring Items
Q1. What are some suggestions on the items to bring?
A: You must bring your residence permit, passport and other forms of identification. Bring some winter clothes too, you can find good winter clothes here, but they may be too expensive. It was cheaper for me to buy most things in India and bring them with me, but of course, you need to have a manageable luggage size. Electronics like laptops, smartphones, headphones etc., are very expensive in Sweden, I brought all my electronics with me. So, as a rule of thumb, I’d say bring everything you can if it is under your airline’s luggage guidelines. It’s wise to check the prices of the items on online websites and decide whether you want to bring it from home or purchase it here.
Q2. Should I bring any sweaters or winter shoes, if so, how many?
A: You may bring one good winter jacket and a few winter wear items like sweaters and hoodies. I bought my winter jacket and winter shoes in Sweden; there were some good offers in October. Bring one of each if possible; if not, you’ll find some good offers before the start of winter.
Q3. Should I bring any special electronics?
A: Sweden uses C and F type wall sockets, you may bring a few universal adapters so that you can use your electronics here without any issues. You may also bring an extension box so that you can use multiple electronics using a single adapter at home.
Q4. I want to bring some cooking utensils with me, what kind of stoves are used in Sweden?
A: Almost everywhere in Sweden, we use either a hot plate stove or an induction stove. So it’s important to have cookware with a flat bottom. You can bring cookware which works with an induction stove, this way they can work on both types of stoves.
I hope this FAQ guide helps to clarify some of your queries and eases your transition to KTH and life in Sweden. Remember, starting at a new university, especially abroad, is a thrilling adventure filled with learning opportunities both in and outside the classroom. Make sure to reach out to us via the comment section below or via the Instagram account if you have more questions or need support.
You can also email to info@kth.se for queries. I’m excited to welcome you and wish you the best as you prepare for this incredible journey. See you soon at KTH!
/Sai
Such a well written blog. It has everything a new student would need before moving to Sweden.
I have submitted my accommodation preference on MOBILITY ONLINE, but the website shows “stay from 2024-08-26”. I would like to ask if the accommodation for the 24/25 academic year can only be occupied starting from August 26th?
The Mandatory School Reception is on August 22nd, and I also plan to attend the language course in early August, which means I would like to move into the accommodation on August 1st. I recall that in previous years, the accommodation stay could start from August 1st. Why does my page show “stay from August 26th”?
Thank you for your assistance.
Hello,
The KTH accommodation contracts usually start from August 1. But to understand your issue properly, I’d suggest you to email to accommodation@kth.se they can help you out with queries regarding KTH accommodation.
Thank you,
Sai Srikar
Digital Ambassador