Moving to a new city—or even a new country—for your studies is super exciting, but it can also be a little overwhelming at first. When I first arrived in Linköping, I had no idea how the student organizations worked or how to navigate the local transport. So here’s a quick guide that I hope will help make your start a little smoother!

Student Life: Sections, Unions, and All That

At Linköping University (LiU), student life is really vibrant and well-organized. You’ll quickly notice that a lot of things revolve around something called “Sections” and “Student Unions.” But what’s the difference?

Basically, every programme at LiU is connected to a specific Section. These are student-led groups that organize fun events like parties, sittnings, international trips, and even career fairs. They also support students academically and are there to help if you have any study-related problems.

Then there are the Student Unions—StuFF, LinTek, and Consensus—who take care of university-wide issues like study quality, campus life, and student rights. If your Section can’t solve a problem, they’ll work together with the union to find a solution.

To find out which Section you belong to, you can check the LiU website. For example, I’m part of FliNS, the Section for International and European Relations students. Most Sections also have Instagram or Facebook pages where they post updates and events, so it’s a great way to stay in the loop.

Getting Around: Public Transport & More

When it comes to getting around Linköping and beyond, you’ve got several options:

  • Östgötatrafiken is the local transport provider for Linköping and the whole Östergötland region. The easiest way to buy tickets is through their app, where you can get single, daily, or monthly tickets—with a student discount. Just show the QR code on the bus when you hop on.
  • Not a fan of apps? No problem—you can also tap your bank card when boarding, but keep in mind there’s no student discount with that method.
  • Planning to explore Stockholm? You’ll need the SL app, which covers buses and the metro in Stockholm. Like in Linköping, you can get student discounts here too.
  • Want to visit other parts of Sweden? Download the SJ app for trains to basically anywhere in the country. Sometimes you can grab tickets at a really good price if you book early!
  • Oh, and don’t forget about the Campus Bus! It runs between Linköping and Norrköping and is free with your LiU student card. Super handy if you have classes or just want to explore the other campus.

That said, one of the best ways to get around in Linköping is still by bike. The city is super bike-friendly, and it’s often the fastest (and cheapest) option for everyday errands and getting to campus.

Starting student life in a new place can feel like a lot, but trust me—you’ll find your rhythm before you know it.

Wishing you the best start at LiU! 💙

 

 

Until next time,

Janine, International and European Relations

 

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Why don’t continue the conversation with us?

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 international.student@liu.se

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