Why Lund?

Why did I choose Lund University as my exchange destination?

Lund University Main Library (taken 23-01-2019)

Learn and Study in English Despite not being in an English-Speaking Country

I'm the first to admit languages are not my forte. I desperately wanted to study somewhere vastly different to anywhere I've ever known - but I'd need to learn in English to fit my degree requirements. Sweden (and I guess Scandinavia more broadly) is perfect if you're like me! 

Lund also provides a two-week SUSA course specifically for exchange students during orientation to learn some introductory Swedish. The SUSA course is a great way to get the basics of the language but also meet people and make friends! 

Reputation

The statistics are all here - Lund is ranked as the #1 university in Sweden, the most popular Swedish university for international students and Swedish high school students. I'd also heard along the grapevine that Lund's Gender and Cultural Studies program was excellent and praise for the academic staff too! Given Sweden's reputation as a one of the world's most gender-equal countries, it seemed like a no-brainer to check the place out and to conduct my own private ethnography on what makes gender equality tick in Sweden, and see whether I could apply what I'd observe to my own life on return. 

Lund University's Website (not kidding) 

The Swedes know what they're doing - Lund University's website is so easy to navigate! The pages are organised, the information is set out in a way that makes it super quick to find exactly what you're looking for and plus the website looks nice, aesthetically! Figuring out the courses I was eligible to take as an exchange student, the academics I could contact and finding all the relevant paperwork I needed (for the residence permit, applying for accommodation, student life) was a breeze and didn't want to make me gouge out my eyes unlike the other (no offence, but) terrible university websites I painfully looked through. 

To the person/s who designed Lund uni's website: you deserve a medal. 

Student Experience 

I study at a "big" university - located in the heart of Sydney city which currently has 60 000 students enrolled (2018). While on exchange, I wanted to:

• Make lifelong friends from all over the world
• Excel academically under a completely different learning environment
• Increase my level of cultural competency 
• Broaden my recipe base and learn to cook better vegan meals
• Travel! 

Thinking about it, the best way of cementing friendships and was to choose a smaller, student-centred town or university. I believe the best asset of any university is the people, not the city or cultural hubs (like museums/galleries or tourist spots, though they're a bonus). Sometimes, student exchange experiences can be really isolating, and I wanted to put more odds in my favour of having a rich, energising exchange experience surrounded by soon-to-be friends. Lund is perfect for that! 

Lund also places a significant weight of groupwork in teaching and learning, great for building teamwork and communication skills, but also helps you get to know your classmates and make friends in an academic context.

This kind of comes under the "student experience" banner, but honestly: Arrival Day and Orientation Week/s deserve their on little caveat. Lund University offered the most organised and thoughtful way of integrating students into a new country and learning environment with all the activities prepare for incoming students, no matter the weather! 

Lifestyle 

Exchange students in particular are very well looked after at Lund. Not only are you covered by the Swedish Government's Insurance for specifically exchange students, but Lund organises a specific day called Arrival Day to welcome all new international students. Mentors and staff are stationed at Copenhagen airport, train stations and throughout the campus to help you settle in. There's bedding and living essentials sold on campus on Arrival Day too for your convenience. More than that, you get a "Welcome Pack" - inclusive of a SIM Card and other information packs. Orientation lasts two weeks where cultural activities are scheduled for you to join in - they go above and beyond and I've only heard positive things about it. 

I've also been wanting to transition into a vegan/vegetarian for some years after cutting out chicken and then all other birds from my diet about a year ago. Sweden is an excellent place to try out veganism/vegetarianism, where there are plenty of cool restaurants, accommodating student nations (the equivalent of student clubs and societies that provide food) and food "alternatives" (e.g., soy milk). 

Location

Lund is incredibly close to Copenhagen - about a 40-minute train ride away! The city itself is well serviced with all the living essentials, and it's only 30 minutes away from the larger city of Malmo too. It's simple to travel to other parts of Sweden or fly out to different places in Europe. 

Lastly... 

Weather / Temperature

As an Australian, I'm used to out 35C+ (95F) summers and sweltering hot days - I knew the Spring Semester would be a challenge studying in the dead of winter and in the coldest month (February). In saying that though, Lund is located on a similar latitude to Glasgow and Edmonton, with temperature lows at -2C as compared to -20C in Montreal so I could breathe a sigh of relief and look forward to the warming days and increasing sunlight. 

                                                            The Fountain! (Taken 16-01-2019)