Mid Sweden University, 2015-2016

I decided to travel to Sweden in my own car. I have not regretted this decision, as it is much easier to explore the country by car and you are more flexible. The route is about 2000 kilometres long and therefore not manageable in one day. That's why I stayed in a hostel in Malmö for 30 euros. There are several ways to cross Denmark. You can use toll bridges or ferries. I opted for the toll bridges. The journey cost me around 250 euros (one way).

• When should I arrive at the host university? Depending on whether you are taking part in the Swedish crash course, it is sufficient to arrive a few days before the start of the course.
• Who can/must I contact? Is there any support on arrival, e.g. pick-up service? The tutors who are responsible for the international students have a van. This can be used to pick you up from the airport, which is about 15 kilometres from the city. There is also a bus from the airport to the city.
• Is there an introductory event for foreign students? If so, when and in what form does it take place? Is attendance recommended or compulsory? Do I have to register? The first week is only dedicated to the introduction of international students, a buffet is provided and there is a tour of the university. You do not have to register for this introductory week. Participation is recommended to help you find your way around more quickly.

• Does the host university provide accommodation? What formalities have to be completed? The host university arranges accommodation. In the winter semester, most Erasmus students are accommodated on the aforementioned campsite. However, there are also some who move into a shared flat in the city. However, the campsite is not available in the summer semester due to the holiday session. You will receive information about this by email. There are no special formalities to fulfil. An email to the campsite to make a reservation is sufficient. The university is a few kilometres away from the campsite, so it is advisable to buy a bike. It takes about 35 minutes on foot. You can get bikes very cheaply via a Facebook group. International students sell their bikes here. However, there is also the option of using the bus.

• Does the host university require a language test? No.
• Language(s) of instruction? Swedish, English
• Is there a special preparatory language course before the start of the regular courses? Yes (Swedish).
• Course content, dates, costs, enrolment Necessary, participation recommended? There is a basic Swedish course which starts 2.5 weeks before the start of the semester. The course is highly recommended, the teacher is competent, funny and motivating. The course is worth 7.5 credits. I received an information email from the host university. Unfortunately, the cabins at the campsite are not yet available at this time, but there is the option of staying in a hostel for around 200 euros for a fortnight (room for two). As the Swedes have a very high level of English and most of the courses are in English, you don't have to take part in the course. However, I think it is very important from a cultural point of view to learn the language a little.
• Are there language courses for visiting students during the lecture period, at the university or outside? In addition to the 2.5-week Swedish crash course, there are also Swedish courses during the semester. These are usually very full.

The campus is approx. 1 km from the city centre. The campus in Östersund has a very well-equipped and modern Library. There are also group rooms which can be hired free of charge. The Library also has printers and scanners. Each student has 150 free copies/prints per semester. The Library is open until late in the evening. It is a pleasant place to study. Unfortunately, many of the books you need for your courses are already on loan. Therefore, you often have to buy the reading material (I had to buy specialised reading material worth 150 euros in Sweden). The university has an Eduroam network, which you can log into with your FH Aachen account. You need your own laptop as almost all assignments are completed and submitted electronically.
As at FH Aachen, in most cases you get your credits by completing the course with a written exam. However, it is also often the case that you receive some of the credits if you complete part of the course (e.g. through a group assignment or term paper). ECTS are applied.
The professors and lecturers at Mittuniversitetet are, like most Swedes, very helpful and easy to talk to. The courses are much smaller than I am used to at FH Aachen. As the Swedes attach great importance to equality, you don't have the feeling of being a "foreign body", but you are not given preferential treatment either.

• Are there scripts or literature references for the lectures? Where? No scripts are distributed. Some of the scripts are available as PDF files, but you may have to obtain the literature yourself (library or specialist shops).
• Are special courses offered for guest students or are there any restrictions? There are no special regulations for guest students.
• Duration/scope of courses and lectures? How many hours per week are there on average? As at FH Aachen, the scope of the courses and lectures depends heavily on the course, but there is a noticeable amount of group work and discussion rounds with subsequent elaborations and lectures.
• Compare the courses offered at the host university with those at FH Aachen: The number of courses in English is manageable and the number of participants is lower compared to FH Aachen. The maximum class size is the same. However, the groups are usually much smaller. This means you can ask a lot of questions and very interesting discussions often arise.