I’m just a few weeks away from finishing my first year as a master’s student at Linköping University. Yay!! 🎉
But what has this past year actually been like? What have I done so far? What were the challenges and the best moments? That’s exactly what you’re about to find out in this blog!
🛬 August
I arrived in Linköping on August 21st, which meant I missed most of the Welcome Period events. Still, getting here ten days before classes started turned out to be a great decision. I had enough time to settle into my room, explore my neighborhood, and even meet some of my future classmates. Look at my room in the first few weeks—it’s so cute 😍.
At the beginning, my biggest challenge was figuring out how to do groceries and how to live in a corridor. None of my corridor mates had lived in one before, so we were all a bit lost when it came to organizing things and sorting out the trash. As for grocery shopping—don’t be stubborn like I was. For some reason, I refused to use a translator and nearly bought food I’m allergic to!
Best tip: don’t be ashamed of translating things. No one cares if it takes you a little longer. Just do things your way 😬.
🫨 September
This was the month when I started to really understand student life—both academically and socially. Honestly, I was quite confused at first with all the different study periods, classes, and constantly changing rooms… what a hassle!
Be prepared to get to know a bunch of new systems and apps. Once you receive your LiU email, you’ll gain access to Lisam, Ladok, LiuNet, PaperCut, and more. Each one has its own function, and while it might feel overwhelming at first, they’re pretty easy to use once you get the hang of it. Give it a few days, and I promise it’ll all start to make sense.
On the bright side, September still has nice weather. The days start getting shorter and chillier, but you can still spend time outdoors. There are also loads of fun events organized by student associations like ESN and ISA where you can meet new people and have a great time.
🍂 October
My favorite month of the year, no doubt! October was when I saw the yellow leaves of autumn for the first time—and I loved it. The colors of nature are beautiful, the weather is still manageable, and by now you probably feel more confident about the basics—like buying groceries, using public transport, and understanding the teaching methods. For me, this was when everything started to click into place.
Another special reason I love October: it’s my birthday month 🥳. This year was very emotional and unforgettable. I celebrated by visiting Vadstena and Motala—two nearby cities with gorgeous scenery. There was even a castle!
❄️ November
Some say November is one of the most depressing months in Sweden, but honestly, I didn’t think it was so bad. This was the month I saw my first snow, and it was such a magical moment—one I’ll always cherish.
The real challenge was coping with the wet, cold weather and darker days. My tip: visit secondhand shops to find warm clothes and, if you can, get some fairy lights and candles. They help keep both your body and soul warm and cozy.
🎅 December
Christmas time! I must say, the city looks like something out of a movie. Snow and lights are everywhere—it’s adorable. There are Christmas markets throughout the city on different days, and you should definitely check them out.
At the start of the month, I went to one of the markets with my friends, and afterward, we headed downtown to watch the Christmas tree light up. That was probably one of my favorite days so far 🥺.
😟 January & February
I’m using my writer’s license to bundle these two months together. I love sharing all the great things about life in Linköping, but I also want to be honest about the tougher parts.
January and February were hard for me. Does that mean they’ll be hard for you too? Not necessarily. But chances are, you’ll face some challenges during your time here, and it’s good to be prepared.
Personally, the long winter hit me hard. The cold and darkness dragged on, and I started to feel trapped. I wanted to go outside and be active, but it was really tough. Luckily, I focused on my studies and stayed consistent with my workouts at the gym. These routines helped get me through the slow days. And of course, I leaned on my friends for support—indoor hangouts became our go-to.
👯 March, April & May
Remember those dark winter days? March is when they start to fade! As the sun starts to shine for longer periods, the Swedish mood seems to lift too.
Balancing studies with a social life has been my biggest challenge lately. With so much daylight, I feel the urge to be outside all the time, but deadlines still exist!
During these three months, I’ve done so many different things that it’s hard to list them all. One of my favorites was definitely Valborg. It’s a full day celebration in the park—from 8 in the morning to 8 at night—filled with eating, drinking, music, and chatting with friends. According to my Swedish friends, there’s some kind of magical pact between Linköping students and the weather gods, because Valborg always seems to have perfect weather. Get ready to enjoy the sunshine!
A Goodbye?
This is my last blog post for the academic year, and I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity. It’s been amazing to share my experiences with current and future students. I also got to meet and become friends with other student ambassadors through the LiU Blog, Instagram, and Podcast. I get emotional just thinking about all my adventures here so far.
I’m really excited for what’s yet to come in my second year—fingers crossed it’s going to be amazing!
Hope to see you around. Get ready for your own adventure!
Kisses,
Nati
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