Hi everyone!

As the second semester is getting closer and applications for the next autumn semester are opening, you might be wondering where you will live. So today I want to share my experience living in a student accommodation at Linköping, and to give some useful tips on finding a room and what should you expect once you get here!

  • How to start (before being accepted)

The key is to initiate your research as early as possible. You probably already knew this before, but even before your admission results, or while you are still in the midst of your studies with a plan to come to Sweden in the next year or more, you should apply as soon as you decide you want to come.

In my case, since I wanted student accommodation, I registered in both Studentbostäder and Heimstaden websites during the last year of my bachelor’s degree. Accumulating points every day played a crucial role in determining my chances of securing the desired room when the time came!

  • Decisions

Whether before or after acceptance, you should decide between having a student accommodation or a private room/flat. With student accommodation you can choose between a corridor room (where you have your own bedroom and bathroom but share kitchen and living room), or your own apartment (which is usually a room with bathroom and kitchen just for yourself). Both have their pros and cons, demanding a careful consideration of what aligns with your preferences.

Opting for a corridor room, which is often more budget-friendly, provides both furnished and unfurnished choices and can be an excellent way to forge new friendships. However, the shared kitchen experience can vary (it could be a good or a distressing experience), and corridor parties might occasionally disrupt your peace or make you feel not so comfortable to access common areas.

While I lack first hand experience in flat living, having your own kitchen and control over your space are notable advantages. On the flip side, flats are typically unfurnished, and you might feel a bit isolated at times.

Location matters too; choose wisely based on your study location, be it Campus Valla, US, or Norrkoping.

  • Moving to Sweden

After being accepted and having your accommodation secured, you may now wonder what to bring. It all depends on what kind of accommodation you chose. If it’s an unfurnished room, be prepared to bring/buy pretty much everything. If it’s a furnished room, check what’s included. Most furnished rooms have a bed (without sheets or pillow), a shelf, chair and a desk (based on my experience with studentbostader).

Arriving empty-handed at my furnished room, my initial day involved a trip to Ikea to pick essentials, and every weekend thereafter, I found myself returning to buy necessities as needed. What I mean by this is that you don’t need to have the perfect room right away. Let your mind settle, and you’ll make it feel like home little by little!

So, after these basic ideas, here are some tips/ideas:

  • If you use one of the two websites I mentioned previously, remember to log in at least once every six months, otherwise you will lose your points (check their websites for more information).
  • Read the accommodation description carefully before making a decision.
  • When accepting an offer, make sure the price in the contract matches what you saw on the website.
  • It is highly recommended to have an insurance for your own room/apartment.
  • If you can’t pick up your keys in person when you arrive, confirm if there are other options (such as having for someone else to grab them for you).
  • In some rooms/apartments you might need your own router for internet access.

Here you have the Study in Sweden and the University website that helped me a lot with accommodation details when I was looking for information before coming here. Hope it was helpful!

Thanks for reading, see you soon!

/Leonor, Applied Ethology and Animal Biology

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