Pre-Arrival Guide for Global Bachelor's and Master's Students
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Pre-arrival guide for Global Bachelor’s and Master’s students 2021 Welcome! A word from the President Welcome to karolinska institutet! Karolinska Institutet is a great place for education and research. Students, teachers and researchers from around the world gather here because they want to promote human development and health in a spirit of creativity, confidence and job satisfaction. We change the world through transfer of knowledge and science. Karolinska Institutet holds a central position in Swedish society and is one of Welcome! the world's leading medical universities. We conduct education and research throughout the medical field, from molecules and cells to society, and we have a broad range of programmes and courses. Our educational programmes undergo continuous development through the close link between education and research. Excellence characterises every aspect of our university. Each year, the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet selects the Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine. This contributes greatly to our strong position and visibility, internationally and nationally. At the same time, we empha- sise high quality leadership, teamwork, par- ticipation, openness, equality, and diversity. I am honoured that you are ready to become one of us - you are making the right choice! There is great demand on the labour market for the professionals we educate, and a degree from Karolinska Institutet will open doors worldwide. Advancing knowledge about life and striving towards better health for all will enrich both your own and others’ lives. Ole Petter Ottersen, President his is your guide as a new student in one of our Global Bachelor’s or Master’s Programmes T here at Karolinska Institutet in August 2021. It helps you plan your journey and lets you know what to prepare – both before you travel abroad and after you arrive in Sweden. The guide was updated in March 2021. Due to the pandemic, some information will be updated more frequently than usual. We recommend that you visit our website for the latest updates regarding Covid-19. If you need help or have any questions about the topics covered here, please contact our Study Guidance Advisors at [email protected]. We can’t wait to welcome and meet you in person! Content PREPARATIONS 6 Cycling 29 Residence permit 6 Taxi 29 Accommodation 7 Renting a car 29 Medical Insurance 8 Mobile phones 30 Insurance during Emergency number 112 30 school hours 8 Working while studying 30 Insurance during Bringing your family with you 30 leisure time 8 STUDYING AT Cost of living 11 KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET 32 Opening a Swedish Higher education in Sweden 32 bank account 11 Programme study Scholarships 12 counsellors 33 Useful links 15 Career Service 34 PRE-ARRIVAL CHECKLIST 16 Students with disabilities 34 What to bring: 17 Student Health Centre 34 Upon Arrival Checklist 17 The University Library (KIB) 35 ARRIVAL 20 Facilities 35 Introduction week 22 Stockholm – your study Programme introduction 22 destination 36 Student unions 36 PRACTICALITIES 24 Holidays and traditions 24 LEISURE ACTIVITIES 36 Daylight savings time 25 Sports facilities 37 Electricity 25 Swedish courses 38 Currency 25 Language at KI 38 Climate and clothing 25 MINI DICTIONARY 40 Swedish Culture 27 KI Campus Flemingsberg and KI Religious meeting places 28 Campus Solna 42 Transportation and metro map 28 KI Campus Flemingsberg 43 Public transport 29 KI Campus Solna 44 KI STUDENTS PREPARATIONS Preparations RESIDENCE PERMIT with the embassy for submitting the pho- FOR EU/EEA CITIZENS tographs and finger prints while you await As an EU/EEA citizen, you have the right of the decision. Otherwise, it will only add to residence in Sweden automatically. How- the waiting time. It is therefore important ever you need to obtain a Swedish personal to apply for the residence permit as soon ident ity number and register in the Swedish as possible after you receive notification of population register. To do this you need to your admission to Karolinska Institutet. contact the Swedish Tax Agency (Skattever- ket). Do this as soon as you have moved to Student residence permits are granted for a Sweden. → skatteverket.se maximum of one year. If your programme extends beyond one year, you will need to FOR NON EU/EEA CITIZENS apply for an extension (you can do this from As a Non-Nordic or Non-EU/EEA citizen Sweden). There is an application fee for both you must apply for a residence permit at a the initial residence permit and the exten- Swedish embassy or consulate in your home sion that is around 1 000 sek. country prior to departure. Once you get the decision regarding the permit, it takes about Specific information on documentation two weeks for the card to be made (provid- requirements can be found on the Swedish ed they have your photo and fingerprint). Migration Board’s website: You must also give your biometrics at the → migrationsverket.se embassy. So it is always good to get in touch 6 PREPARATIONS Foreign students are allowed to work while than for first-hand contracts. Akademisk in Sweden; no additional work permit is kvart is a portal locating sublets for students required. Please be aware however, that it in Stockholm. It is coordinated by SSCO - may be difficult to find work in Stockholm Stockholm Federation of Student Unions, and that your programme is full-time. and Karolinska Institutet is an active part- ner. → akademiskkvart.se NOTE: You need statements of If you become a member of the Student funding showing that you have Union, Medicinska Föreningen (MF) sufficient means to support yourself (recommended) you are entitled to sign up during your stay in Sweden. At least for SSSBs (the largest provider of student 8,568 SEK/ month for 2021. This housing in Stockholm) waiting list for statement, which you are to enclose accommodation. As an admitted student to your application, should be dated to Karolinska Insitutet you can sign up at in connection with the time of SSSB 90 days prior to being a member in application and be translated into MF which entitels you to important queue English. points (one day is one point). Remember that you must register with the same e-mail ACCOMMODATION addess with SSSB as with MF. We advise all students who need housing in → sssb.se Stockholm to apply for accommodation on the website of Karolinska Institutet Hous- Explore other second hand housing oppor- ing as soon as possible to have a chance of tunities by visiting the links below (some in receiving a housing offer. → kihousing.se Swedish only): → bostaddirekt.com → andrahand.se (only in Swedish) Fee paying students outside the EU/EEA → blocket.se are guaranteed housing for their first year of studies, but you have to remember to apply Note! Avoid fraud: for it. The housing that is guaranteed is an - always visit the accommodation before you accommodation alternative for one person. accept the offer KI Housing recommends all students to ap- - do not pay any money before you sign a ply for several accommodation alternatives contract and get the keys to increase their chances of getting housing. - create an agreement regarding rules before you move in Subrenting is a common way for students - take pictures before moving in for deposi- to arrange accommodation, since the wait tion purposes times for a room or flat is much shorter 7 PREPARATIONS - make sure to save all the receipts for the Studentforsakring.se – paid rent student home insurance + 46-8-587 840 10 - make sure that the landlord has given his or her consent to sublet, otherwise problems Folksam customer service in English + 46-771-58 59 02 could arise Länsförsäkringar in Stockholm Personal contacts are also useful when find- + 46-8-562 834 00 ing housing in Stockholm, reach out to those Trygg-Hansa + 46-77-11 11 600 you know in the city. If + 46-771-655 655 The Stockholm Visitors Board provides MEDICAL INSURANCE information about hotels, youth hostels and You need to review your insurance coverage bed & breakfasts in the Stockholm area that – before arriving to Sweden! We strongly may be of use during the first few weeks of recommend as a minimum, a coverage your stay in Stockholm. You can read more by health insurance and home insurance. on their website. AirBnB is also a popular Depending on your citizenship, you might resource for short term stays. be partially covered by your home country → visitstockholm.com or our collective insurance policy. → airbnb.com INSURANCE DURING Visit education.ki.se/student-blogs SCHOOL HOURS for plenty of resources and tips on All students in Sweden, regardless of this subject! nationality, are covered by a personal injury insurance (the general student insurance), through the Swedish Legal, Financial and HOME INSURANCE Administrative Services Agency (Kam- We recommend you to get a home insurance markollegiet). (hemförsäkring) for the duration of your stay in Stockholm. If anything is stolen from The insurance applies in Sweden during your student room or flat or if any property school hours and during travel to and from is damaged or lost during your rental period, the location where school hours are spent. you are responsible for covering the repair or replacement costs. In addition to personal INSURANCE DURING property, home insurance should also cover LEISURE TIME liability, legal expenses and travel insurance. NORDIC AND EU/EEA CITIZENS Contact an insurance company for a quote You should register with your social insurance (ask about special offers for students). office in your home country, in order to obtain 8 CAMPUS FLEMINGSBERG PREPARATIONS the European Health Insurance card (EHIC). • Liability If you are from Finland, Denmark, Norway • Legal expenses or Iceland an ID document will suffice.