Hej allihopa – hello everyone!

February is in full swing, which means you have finalized your applications, selected your priority programs, and (if needed) paid the application fees! Hooray! Congratulations and best of luck in the process.

While you are waiting for the selection results to be announced, I wanted to give you quick guide into the world of accommodation. As you know, campus Norrköping, as the name suggests, is not located in Linköping. We are based about half an hour away, in a beautiful small town. Norrköping has its own system and resources for finding your perfect place to live in, so hopefully this blog can help you with just that!

There are two main types of living arrangements for students: student accommodation (dormitory) or a regular flat. Student accommodation is run by a company that’s affiliated with the university and rents specifically to students. In our town, that company is Studentbo. They run two different types of accommodations: shared flats and corridors.

Shared flats usually include several individual bedrooms, shared kitchen and shared bathrooms.

Corridor rooms are individual bedrooms located in a large space (the corridor). Kitchen and bathroom situation varies, depending on what your preferences and needs are. Some corridors have shared kitchen and individual bathrooms, while others share everything. There is also an option to find corridor rooms, that have their own small kitchenettes.

Both types of accommodation come either furnished or unfurnished.

  • Unfurnished spaces are completely bare, which means, no bed, no wardrobe, no chair, nothing. You are responsible to get everything on your own and also take everything with you, once you move out. On the plus side, unfurnished spaces are usually cheaper to rent, so in a long run, it might save you some money.
  • Furnished spaces typically include basics: a bed, a chair, a table, a bedside table, a wardrobe, a bookcase. Other items, such as bedding, accessories, curtains, anything else will be yours to get at your convenience. As I mentioned earlier, monthly rent for the furnished space is a bit higher than for the unfurnished one. Still, I personally preferred to move into a furnished room, as I was moving from afar, had no way of moving majority of my personal items with me, and wanted to make sure that I had a bed to sleep in the first night I got in. It might be different for you, if you have other arrangements or if you are braver than me.

All accommodation types usually have shared laundry rooms. Student get access and book the time slots through a key card. Depending on which accommodation you live in, laundry will either be included in a rent or you will be charged very small amount monthly. Most laundry rooms have self-dispensing detergents, but you can also use your own if that’s your preference.

In order to apply for accommodation with Studentbo, you need to register on the website. Once you are admitted by LiU, you will need to send them your admission letter and request accommodation. Before you are able to rent a room, you will need to transfer a down payment first. After this you will get a contract for a room, pay first month’s rent, and you will be all set. Usually, you can give them your preference, such as furnished or unfurnished space, and of course you get to choose if you want corridor room or if you would like a shared flat.

Aside from Studentbo, you can of course try to rent an apartment individually, but from my experience that is nearly impossible for a newcomer in Sweden. In order to get a first-hand contract for renting a place, you need to register in a queue system of the town and accrue que points daily (1 day=1 point). Those with higher points are prioritized in the process. Because of this, some students look for second-hand contracts or just shared flats. This is mostly done through different facebook groups or application Blocket Bostad. It should be mentioned though that student accommodation is the cheapest option in Norrköping and a large majority of international students live there.

If you need more information on the matter, you can check out Q&A section of Studentbo, which gives you exact details on how much average rent or down payment is, if you can have pets in your chosen place, etc.

I hope this gives you a little more insight into the process of finding your accommodation in Norrköping. If you have more questions, feel free to let me know here.

Until next time – Gvantsa

 

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Start with checking out:

Our programmes, the application process, webinars, and our Instagram and Facebook account.  

Still left wanting more? Book an appointment with our recruitment coordinator at infocenter@liu.se.

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