Welcome to Umeå University!

Melis first came to Umeå University in 2006 on exchange from Turkey and had such a positive experience that she was deter-mined to return. She entered the two year master’s programme in molecular biology the following year. Today, Melis is continuing her passion for plants in Umeå as PhD student.

“A major reason behind my initial decision to come and study here was due to the fact Umeå University was one of the few that offered my field of study with English language instruction. I re-ally enjoyed it and loved the student social life, as well as the cosy ‘fika’ culture,” says Melis.

The flat in the student corridor and the Buddy Programme helped her fit in and make friends easily. “We had students from a variety of backgrounds and different ages in my corridor, and everyone helped each other out. Umeå was also a much bigger city than I expected as there is always something happening. It’s also amazing how sports are such a big part of the lifestyle,” ex-plains Melis.

The non-hierarchical system of academics at Umeå University was breath of fresh air for Melis. “I really like the open-door pol-

“There is so much going on here in Umeå”icy here, where teachers are on your same level as colleagues and friends. It makes it so nice to work with them. My field of study is especially advantageous because the group leaders are so interna-tionally diverse.”

Melis has always been interested in plants, and hopes to teach one day. As for adjustments to living in northern Sweden, Me-lis had surprisingly few. “The winters here are so lovely, and the great social life helps you get through the darker periods,” says Melis. “My writing skills in English even improved dramatically, with thanks to lots of online chatting.”

Name: Melis KucukogluAge: 23From: Izmir, TurkeyStudying: Molecular Biology / Forest Genetics and Plant PhysiologyLeisure Activities: Reading thriller novels, cooking, exercising at IKSU Sport, dancing, Laserdome in downtown UmeåFavourite Swedish food: Pitepalt (potato dumplings)

A word from our Vice-Chancellor

Lena Gustafsson, Vice-Chancellor

As Vice-Chancellor I would like to take this opportunity to wel-come you to Umeå University. At Umeå University we believe that the future of education lies in international cooperation. We aim to increase the international student numbers through offer-ing internationally competitive education at a university that is well prepared for servicing an diverse student body. In striving to achieve these goals we are very pleased to currently be coop-erating with 446 partner universities in 57 countries around the globe.

Our university is open to everyone, regardless of background. We believe that international influences enhance the quality and diversity of the education and research at any institution of high-er learning. We are proud to host around 2,000 international stu-dents and 150 international teachers and researchers every year. These students, researchers and teachers bring new perspectives to our classrooms and help to make our campus a more exciting, creative and culturally diverse environment.

A university education is an excellent foundation for life-long learning. We believe that acquiring part of your university edu-cation in Umeå will strengthen that foundation and help you im-prove such skills as adaptability, self-reliance and cultural under-standing. As we live in an increasingly internationalised world, these skills are in great demand on the global job market.

I hope that you will enjoy both your educational and social ex-perience at Umeå University and I encourage you to make the most of your time with us. We will do our best to make your stay with us both academically and socially rewarding.

We look forward to meeting you at our university.

Welcome to Umeå! Umeå has four distinct seasons and you can enjoy nature and wildlife all year around – you will have the opportunity to ski and ice-skate in winter and take a swim in a lake in summer. For those who like outdoors adventures there are plenty of places to go rock climbing or white water kayaking. In Umeå, you will have the opportunity to live in a city but constantly be close to nature.

Where different worlds meetAs the largest city in Northern Sweden Umeå serves as an edu-cational centre and as a hub for knowledge and business. Over half of the people who live here are from outside the region. More than 50 languages are spoken - with English widely used every-where - and there is a thriving community of clubs and societies that represent people and cultures from across the globe.

With its two universities, over 30,000 students from all over the world and international research and business communities, Umeå is a place where different worlds meet.

Umeå is not only the largest city in Northern Sweden, but also one of the country’s fastest growing cities. It is a vibrant city with a young population. Culture, outdoor activities and sports are cel-ebrated in Umeå and you can enjoy top quality art, theatre, film, music and sports. The city is also home to world-class industries and research.

Umeå was voted Best Student City in Sweden by the Swedish National Union of Students (SFS) in 2006 and will also be the European Capital of Culture in 2014. Among other things Umeå has one of Europe’s largest sports centres, IKSU and Sweden’s largest indoor music festival, Umeå Open.

A city of contrastsAs one of the fastest growing cities in Sweden Umeå is careful to balance its environmental commitments with its trade and indus-try ambitions. The city has tremendous IT know-how and IT and communications industries are particularly well established here.

Name: Alexandra RouillardAge: 22From: Université de Montréal, CanadaStudying: BiologyAbout studying in Umeå: I enjoyed the greater autonomy we are given here by the courses’ structures: project based, less time in class and more time for readings and labs. The contact with the teachers is easy and simple. Moreover, they are available and open to new ideas.What I like about Umeå: The nature is great and it is really interesting to get a bit in the Norrland’s people beat. You’ll get addicted to their all year long “fika”, winter cosiness and spring agitation, announcing the beginning of the BBQ season.What I would say to future international students: Since volunteering takes a large place in the student life, which is especially true in the NTK, try to get involved. I personally enjoyed working at the student pubs, NH and Origo, where the atmosphere was relaxed and friendly, ideal to meet new people.

University campus with over 30,000 studentsUmeå University is a truly international university with students, faculty and staff from all around the world. Here you are guaran-teed an international academic experience. You will enjoy a real university city with a large student community and an exciting campus life. The campus is also situated close to the city centre and getting around by bus or bicycle is easy.

The university library provides a modern and spacious study environment alongside the many computer labs situated around campus. In addition, wireless Internet access is provided through-out the university campus enabling our students to do their work anywhere they please.

Umeå University is known as a modern university. This is evi-dent not only through innovative research and education but also through the informal atmosphere between teachers and students. We are proud to provide an educational environment where our students do not hesitate to contact teachers and lecturers directly to ask questions or to engage in discussion.

The university provides a number of services and activities for international students including, the Orientation Course, the Buddy Programme, the Host Programme and Culture on Cam-pus events. There are also many restaurants and cafés scattered

around the campus and for those who enjoy an active nightlife, there are pubs and clubs.

Umeå University is a comprehensive university with four fac-ulties and nine schools and institutes:

Faculty of ArtsFaculty of MedicineFaculty of Science and TechnologyFaculty of Social Sciences

Umeå School of ArchitectureUmeå School of BusinessUmeå Institute of DesignUmeå School of EducationUmeå School of Fine ArtsUmeå University School of Restaurant and Culinary ArtsUmeå Institute of TechnologyUmeå Sport Sciences Centre

How do I apply?All applications are made on-line through the national applica-tion site studera.nu. We do not use printed application forms. You can access our guide to making your on-line application through our website.

To be accepted to one of our programmes or courses taught in English you need proficient English language skills. You may also need to take an English language test. To find out more about the internationally accepted language tests and the application proc-ess in general, visit our website. www.umu.se/en/international-application/

The Swedish academic systemAs a student at a Swedish university you will study one course at a time. Exams are given at different times throughout the academ-ic year. One full week of study equals 40 hours of lectures, group work, seminars and independent study. One term consists of 20 weeks during which you will achieve 30 credits. One Swedish credit equals 1 ECTS or 0.5 US credits. Visit our website for more information about the Swedish academic system. www.umu.se/en/student-handbook/

Name: Mervi PiriläAge: 23From: University of Vaasa, FinlandStudying: LanguagesAbout studying in Umeå: Studying at Umeå University is fun. Teachers are great and other staff too. I attended classes where most of the students were Swedes and I got many good friends.What I like about Umeå: It’s a real student town, there are lots of young people and it’s active. It’s also beautiful because of the parks in downtown and nature around it. The best thing is that nothing is very far away.What I would say to future international students: I recommend an exchange in Umeå! Be open minded and participate in all kinds of activities that for example “Buddies” arrange.

International Office and Student ReceptionThe International Office provides you with support concerning practical issues while you are getting settled in Umeå and organ-ising your life as a student at Umeå University. The International Office also arranges different activities and provides information about events that take place on campus and in the city.

The Student Reception provides support and guidance for stu-dents who are unsure of where to turn with their enquiries. The Student Reception can either help you directly or refer you to the right person or department.

Living in UmeåMoving to a new place is an exciting adventure and to make the transition as smooth as possible it is always good to come pre-

Name: Xavier Chane-TengAge: 24From: ESC Rennes, FranceStudying: FinanceAbout studying in Umeå: The Umeå University has good facilities. The administration and the teaching staff are really serious and friend ly. The courses are well structured and the way of learning is adjusted to the student.What I like about Umeå: Even if the city is quite small compared to some cities, I am sure you will find what you appreciate most. For people who like a calm environment, the nature is omnipresent. For those who like clubbing, there are good clubs for almost every kind of music. For those who participate in sports there is a very good sports complex.What I would say to future international students: They will love it if they appreciate the nature and cultural and social events. The Inter-national Office is doing a great job for international students in that sense.

pared. Before moving to Umeå you might need to arrange for suitable clothing for the northern climate, get used to riding a bike and arrange for insurance coverage.

You will also need to arrange for a place to stay. The larg-est housing company in Umeå is Bostaden. They have a system for the allocation of rooms and apartments that awards those who have been registered with them the longest. In order to get the best possible offer of accommodation, you should register with Bostaden at the same time that you apply to Umeå Univer-sity. Registering for accommodation does not mean that you are obliged to rent from them if you would change your mind.www.bostaden.umea.se

Name: Mikolaj KuncAge: 25From: Adam Mickiewicz University, PolandStudies: Computer ScienceStudying in Umeå: Several courses (in computer science) offer pos-sibility to create software for IT-companies which can help you with finding topic for a master thesis and also employment. Moreover all the knowledge is presented to the students in a very interesting way, so in some cases people can find a new hobby or passion.What I like about Umeå: Umeå is a perfect mixture of civilization and wildlife. What I would say to future international students: You are hesitating too long, besides you have to learn how to cook anyway…

What can you study at Umeå University?At Umeå University you can choose from a wide variety of Mas-ter’s Programmes and single-subject courses that are taught in English. Some bachelors programmes in English are also avail-able. You will receive a quality education from a dedicated teach-ing staff while enjoying a creative study climate. Many interna-tional students from all over the world study at Umeå University each year and together with our Swedish students, they create a truly international campus where cultural diversity is part of the learning experience.

Teaching and research is carried out by 4 faculties and 54 depart-ments covering all kinds of subjects from sculpting and linguis-tics to medicine and artificial intelligence. The principal language of instruction is Swedish, however, we also offer a significant number of courses and programmes that are taught in English, for which no knowledge of the Swedish language is required. www.umu.se/english/education/courses-and-programmes

About Umeå University

Name: Yared HabtewoldAge: 32From: Addis Abeba, EthiopiaStudying: Public HealthAbout studying in Umeå: The programme and courses are well orga-nized and comprehensive and the presence of students from many developing and developed countries helps students to grasp know-ledge on what is happening on the other side of the world where they have little knowledge about. IT helps students to have a broader view on health and the global aspects of public health. What I like about Umeå: Umeå is a great town of everyone who loves culture and outdoor activities both in summer and in winter. The city is quiet and safe. I made wonderful friends at school and my corridor with whom I spent unforgettable moments.What I would say to future international students: I will say “Go for it!! Umeå University is one of the best universities when it comes to master in Public Health and you will gain a lot by joining the programme.”

The Orientation Course consists of a series of lectures and activi-ties that are designed to help our new international students be-come acquainted with life in Umeå and studies at our university.

The Buddy Programme is organised as a service for international students. The Buddies are Swedish students who volunteer to in-troduce new international students to the Swedish way of life. As a participant in the Buddy Programme, you will be part of a buddy team. The Buddy Programme involves the possibility to partici-pate in a variety of activities, for example, sports, parties and trav-el, or just having a cup of coffee with your team members.

The Host Programme provides our international students with an opportunity to meet regular Swedish people and to experience a little bit of Swedish everyday life. As a participating internation-al student you are paired with another international student and the two of you receive one host person. Students and hosts meet at least twice during one semester. Your host will be an employee or a student at the university or an employee at Umeå Municipality.

We have students and staff from over 40 different countries.

Our campus is located within walking distance of the city centre.

Umeå Institute of Design was awarded “Centre of Excellence in Higher Education 2008” by the Swedish Agency for Higher Education.

Our main campus is equal to 28 soccer fields in size.

More women than men study at Umeå University.

Our youngest student is 17 years of age and the oldest is 87.

We offer over 150 programmes and over 2,000 courses.

Our university library has 242 public computers and 1,700 library seats.

Umeå University has its own museum: Bildmuseet – a museum of contemporary art and visual culture.

www.umu.se/english/

For more information about the different support measures of-fered at our university, visit: www.umu.se/en/student-support/.

IKSU Sport is Europe’s largest fitness centre of its kind with over 21,000 square metres of indoor sports facilities. Within its walls IKSU hosts several halls for team sports of different kinds, squash courts, indoor pools, beach volley courts, facilities for different types of group training, a spacious and modern gym, a climbing wall and much more. Through it’s outdoor – and alpine sections IKSU also offers a wide variety of affordable excursions and ski trips for students to join.

The Student organisations and the student pubs at Umeå Uni-versity are run by students who work on a voluntary basis. There is an extensive range of student organisations that cover all kinds of interests. We also have theatre groups, a comedy orchestra, an academic riding club, an international affairs club, the student ra-dio station and the student newspaper.

Campus life at Umeå University

Name: Podjaman PanbunyuenAge: 29From: Bangkok, ThailandStudying: AccountingAbout studying in Umeå: It’s great to study one subject at a time, so I can focus on one subject and really pay close attention to it. Group work is a great learning tool, as well as case studies and papers which become a good motivation to study a subject.What I like about Umeå: Umeå is a very safe and environmentally friendly city. Even though it’s a small city, it’s got everything you need; education, entertainment and nature. It always has its own beauty; nice autumn breeze or even pretty snow and icicles. What I would say to future international students: Be prepared for the winter, and the lack of daylight. Make sure you have the right winter wear. Be open minded to new cultures (both Swedish and other countries), and participate in many activities as you can!

Umeå – Faraway, So Close!

Umeå

Northern Sweden is only hours away from the rest of Europe and there are many different ways to travel to and from Umeå. You can wake up in Stockholm, have lunch in Umeå and go to bed in Berlin. A flight from Umeå to Stockholm takes 50 minutes.

Umeå City Airport is situated a ten minute drive from both the centre of town and the university campus and prices for flights are kept at a modest level by having three different airlines traf-ficking the route to Stockholm.www.sas.se

www.norwegian.se

www.malmoaviation.se

If you have time to spare and want to save some money you can opt to travel by Y-Buss along the Northern coast from Stockholm to Umeå. It is not fast, but will get you to Umeå for under 400 SEK.www.ybuss.se

For those who prefer environmentally friendly train travel, the Bothnia Line high-speed railway in northern Sweden is a must. It opened in 2010 and offers modern and fast train service from Stockholm to a brand new station in Umeå adjacent to the Uni-versity campus. www.sj.se

Useful Web Addresses

International Master’s Degree Programmes in Englishwww.umu.se/en/master

Education offered in English can be found under “Courses and Programmes” atwww.umu.se/english/education/

Applying to Umeå Universitywww.umu.se/en/international-application/

Accommodation www.umu.se/en/accommodation/

Student Handbookwww.umu.se/en/student-handbook/

Facebook www.facebook.com/UmeaUniv

City of Umeå www.umea.se

Tourist Informationwww.visitumea.se

Studying in Sweden www.studyinsweden.se

Swedish Migration Authorities www.migrationsverket.se/english.jsp

Name: Dzmitry PiachkoAge: 32From: Minsk, BelarusStudying: FinanceAbout studying in Umeå: The university campus has excellent facilities for study and recreation. In general, the level of education has exceeded my expectations. The university staff is very compe-tent and helpful and there is a truly informal atmosphere between teachers and students.What I like about Umeå: Umeå is really cozy but, at the same time, a modern town with its own northern beauty. Basically, there is eve-rything that a person may need. Everything is in close vicinity, which is very convenient for a student.What I would say to future international students: I am very satisfied with my choice and I can assure anyone that studying at Umeå Uni-versity provides an excellent opportunity to obtain an internationally recognized diploma and an unforgettable life experience.

International OfficeUmeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, SwedenPhone: +46 90 786 50 00. Fax +46 90 786 99 95Text Telephone +46 90 786 59 00www.umu.se/english/

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