Living in Sweden

survival guide

Welcome to the School of Business, Economics and Law!

The School of Business, Economics and Law is one of the faculties at the University of Gothenburg, and
is led by a Faculty Board responsible for undergraduate education, postgraduate education and
research. The various activities are organized into five departments: Business Administration,
Economics and Statistics, Law, Human and Economic Geography and Economic History. The School has
also set up a special Partnership Programme with companies and administrative bodies, including
interactions such as executive seminars, company presentations, multi-disciplinary research and career
services.
The decentralized structure of the University of Gothenburg gives the School considerable
independence. The School is, for example, solely responsible for its staff and finances and the quality
and development of its programmes. It is led by a dean, currently prof. Per Cramr, and two vicedeans; prof. Olof Johansson Stenman and prof. Mette Sandoff. In 2011 there were 7500 full-time
students, and the number of teachers was equivalent to 264 full-time employed teachers.

Visiting address
Vasagatan 1
Gothenburg, Sweden

Mailing address
P.O. Box 602
SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden

International Office
Is located on campus in L2
Visiting hours:
Monday Thursday 10.00 12.30

Curriculum
Courses offered in English are presented at
www.handels.gu.se/international/courses

STUDIES IN GOTHENBURG
General information about studying in Sweden
Visit www.studyinsweden.se

For information about Visa and Resident permits

Visit www.migrationsverket.se/info/studera_en.html

Funding
You need proof of funding to obtain a student
permit/visa. For more information,
visit www.studyinsweden.se

Accommodation
Housing is handled by the Student Housing Office.
Please contact them if you have questions regarding
housing. Email: studenthousing@gu.se
http://www.utbildning.gu.se/education/exchangestudents/Practical+information/accommodation/

Libraries
The library of the University of Gothenburg consists of
seven separate libraries. The library facilities are open
to everyone; university affiliation is not required.
1. The Central Library (Centralbiblioteket)
Visiting address: Renstrmsgatan 4 (next to
Humanisten), ph: 031-786 17 45
2. The Economics Library
Visiting address: Vasagatan 1, A-Building 3rd floor,
Ph: 031-786 14 31
3. The Biomedical Library
Visiting address: Medicinaregatan 4
Ph: 031-786 30 02
4. The Botanical Library
Visiting address: Carl Skottsbergs gata 22 B
Ph: 031-786 25 41
5. The Earth Sciences Library
Visiting address: Guldhedsgatan 5 A
Ph: 031-786 28 30
6. The Education Library
Visiting address: Pedagogen, Utsikten, Vstra
Hamngatan 25 Ph: 031-786 23 41
7. Undergraduate and Newspaper Library
Visiting address: Vasagatan 2 A, Ph: 031-786 27 20.
Gothenburg City Library
The Gothenburg City Library consists of the Main Library
and some 25 branch libraries. For addresses and
telephone numbers, contact the main library. Visiting
address: Gtaplatsen, Ph: 031-368 33 00
Email: info.stadsbiblioteket@kultur.goteborg.se
www.stadsbiblioteket.goteborg.se

IT Services
IT Services can assist you in problems related to
your student account, printers, copying
machines, your e-mail account or the computers
in the computer labs. Visit them at Service
Center Haga, Tuesdays and Fridays
11.00 13.00, or send an email to:
studentsupport@handels.gu.se

Course literature
Be prepared to buy your own books. Books are
considered quite expensive in Sweden. Some textbooks
are available at the student bookshop Handelsboden
on the 3rd floor of the C building at the School of
Business, Economics and Law. Books can also be bought
online. It may also be possible to borrow some of the
books at the Economics Library and The Undergraduate
and Newspaper Library (KTB Kurs- och
Tidningsbiblioteket). Some textbooks are also available
as e-books.

Academic culture
The relation between students and teachers can
be described as informal. Students do not use
their teachers title, and they are also
encouraged to ask questions both in and out of
the classroom, as well as to comment on things
that they disagree with. It is, however,
inappropriate to interrupt the teacher or a fellow
student when they are talking. The dress code at
the University is informal. Most students tend to
wear something casual but reasonably smart and
the most typical attire would be a pair of jeans or
other type of pants and a shirt.
Teaching methods and examination
Higher education in Sweden is academic and
practically oriented. The education is carried out
in various forms, such as lectures, seminars,
group work, laboratory work and independent
studies, and the grades obtained generally
reflect the entire performance in the course, and
not only the final examination. Students are
expected to put a great deal of individual work
into their studies. Attendance in lectures is highly
recommended but not always compulsory.
Study technique
University studies require that you take full
responsibility for your studies. Self discipline is a
key to success. Put aside enough time to
complete assignments; do not wait until the last
moment. To maintain what you have already
learnt it is recommended to revise and go
through the material of the course over and over
again. Usually it is not enough for the students to
just take notes at the lectures to pass the
examinations; the course literature needs to be
studied quite thoroughly.

Catering facilities
Many students who live nearby the university go home
for lunch; others bring their meals to the university;
there are microwaves where you can heat your food
close to the Schools restaurant. There you can also
have daily lunch (Dagens rtt) for a reasonable price.
Dagens rtt is served at most restaurants and is
normally offered between 11.00 and 14.00.

Alcohol and drug regulations

It is forbidden to attend courses under the
influence of narcotics or alcohol. In Sweden it is
also illegal to possess or deal drugs. If a student
uses drugs, he or she will be expelled from the
university and must leave without any academic
records. The Swedish laws concerning drinking
and driving are also very strict, so it is essential
that students take this matter seriously. Smoking
is only allowed outdoors, in fact it is prohibited in
all public buildings in Sweden and in the student
housing.

Examination
All courses include examinations that can be written
and/or oral. Grades are awarded according to a scale of
Fail, Pass and Pass with Distinction. Certain courses only
award the grade of Fail or Pass. Examination periods
depend on the specific course. Attention should
therefore be paid to the schedules. Examination dates
and times can also be found in the GUL Portal, you will be
given a username and password for logging in by the
International Office on the Registration Day. Sign up
online through Ladok on Web.
The exams usually take place in the examination hall at
Viktoriagatan 30 (a five minute walk from the School).
You need to bring a valid national ID card or your
passport to all examinations, otherwise you will be
refused to take the exam.
The Student Association
Each university in Sweden has a Student Association. The
Student Association is to act in the interest of the
students regarding their education and the matters
associated therewith. With the membership card you will
receive discount in different shops, on travelling by
airplane, train and the local tram, etc. The Student
Association Office works as an information centre, where
you can get information about everything concerning
student life at the University of Gothenburg and the
School of Business, Economics and Law. You can read
more at www.hhgs.se
The HHGS Student Association is located on the 3rd floor
of the H building.
Visiting hours: Weekdays: 11.00 14.00
Ph: 031 - 711 13 83
E-mail: info@hhgs.se

Examination

INTU
The Student Association has an international
division, INTU, who organizes various activities
for international exchange students. E-mail
intu@hhgs.gu.se
INTU supports the international students at the
School of Business, Economics and Law by providing information, arranging social activities, and
integrating them with the Swedish students.
INTU also arranges part of the introduction for
recently arrived international students. To
support the new students, INTU assigns new
students a buddy who will be available if they
need help to get settled or sort out any
problems that they may encounter during their
stay in Gothenburg.
INTU is a non-profit organization that is conducted on voluntary basis by dedicated students,
with the principal aim to work in the interest of
the international students at the School.

MEDICAL CARE AND SOCIAL WELFARE

Health Care Centres
In the case of illness, you can turn to the Student Health Centre or to a regular Health Care Centre (Vrdcentral).
Some are listed under Useful addresses at the end of this booklet. At some Health Care Centres you will reach an
answering machine and you will be asked to leave your phone number and later they will call you back. Wait by the
phone for them to call back. You may be able to get an appointment on the same day. If you need to see a general
practitioner, there is a fee, and if you need a specialist, the fee will be higher. It is also possible to get medical
attention from a private doctor, although the costs may be somewhat higher and might not be covered by the
agreement. If you do not have insurance, the medical care in Sweden is very expensive; one night in a hospital costs
around SEK 1,000 but usually more.
For all visits to medical or dental care units, international students need to bring a copy of their insurance policy and
their passport for identification. Students from an EU or EEA country must also bring their European Health
Insurance Card.

There is also a Medical Information Service, a municipal 24-hour telephone advice line offering free medical
information and consultation. Ph: 0771-70 31 50 or the national short number 1177.
In case of an emergency, always dial 112.
You can also visit the emergency ward (akutmottagning) at the University Hospital (Sahlgrenska). Remember that
you should only visit the hospital in case of an emergency.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies in Sweden offers prescription drugs, simple patent remedies and hygiene products. Pharmacies are
usually open 9.00 - 18.00 on weekdays, and a few hours on Saturdays as well. Most are closed on Sundays.
There are a few pharmacies with longer hours:
Apotek Hjrtat, Gtgatan 12, Nordstan (8.00 - 22.00 every day)
Apoteket Smrblomman, stra sjukhuset, (Mon Fri 9.00 22.00 and Sat - Sun 11.00 22.00)
Some grocery stores also sell pain killers and similar, you have to buy them over the counter at the checkout.
Dental Care
It might be a good idea to have a check-up at your dentist before leaving for Sweden. Should you still need to
consult a dentist here, go to your nearest public dental clinic, Folktandvrden. The one closest to the School of
Business, Economics and Law is Folktandvrden Vstra Gtaland Gibraltar at Gibraltargatan 1 C, ph: +46 (0)31
7413300.
Dental care is not covered by the same government subsidies as medical care, and hence a visit to the dentist
may become quite expensive depending on the type of treatment needed. There are also private dentists.
Make sure your insurance covers dental care as well. If you are in urgent need of dental care, call the
Emergency Dental Care for an appointment, ph: 031-80 78 00

LIVING IN GOTHENBURG
Gothenburg is located at the mouth of the Gta lv river on the west coast of Sweden and is the
second largest city in Sweden, with 930 000 inhabitants living in the metropolitan area. Despite the
northerly location, the climate is relatively mild thanks to the temperate Gulf Stream. The city has
always served as a major port, and for many years shipbuilding was one of its most important
industries. Today, areas historically used for shipbuilding are being transformed into modern
residential neighborhoods. Gothenburg furthermore maintains its long-term position as the city that
supplies the world with Volvo cars and SKF ball bearings.
Gothenburg is known for its lovely parks together with its coastline, waterways and the ferries linking
the many offshore islands. The citys cultural activities suit most tastes in music, dance, art and
theatre. The opera house is located in the harbour area in the centre of the city, while the concert hall,
the city theatre, the city library and the art museum can be found at the top of Avenyn, the main
street of the city. There is always plenty to do and see - sports events, concerts, annual trade fairs and
much more. For more information visit www.goteborg.com

Fysiken
Fysiken has two student fitness centres offering
a wide range of activities: Aerobics, ball sports,
dancing, weight lifting, massage, outdoor
pursuits etc. Using the facilities requires a
student membership card that can be purchased
at Fysiken.
Address: Kaserntorget 11A, floor 6-7 (tram stop
Domkyrkan) Ph: 031-10 69 50, Website:
www.fysiken.nu

Tourist Information
At the Gothenburg Tourist Office. There you will
find detailed information about places of interest,
exhibitions, museums, theatres, concerts etc., in
and around Gothenburg.

Gothenburg Tourist Office

Kungsportsplatsen 2
Ph: 031-61 25 00
Website: www.goteborg.com (in English)
E-mail: turistinfo@goteborg.com

Post Office
Because of reorganization during recent years,
the Swedish post offices have been relocated to
petrol stations, supermarkets, kiosks and other
places of business, where you can send and pick
up mail and parcels. Look for the blue and yellow
sign above or by the entrance of outlets providing
this service. You can also buy stamps and conduct
most other errands at these outlets, many of
which stay open late in the evening and on
weekends. Yellow post boxes are for national and
international letters and blue for regional letters.

Banks
If you wish to open a bank account you will need to
have a Swedish personal identity number, your
passport and your Letter of Acceptance. If you are only
staying for one semester there is usually no need to
open a bank account. Normal opening hours are
Monday Friday 10.00 - 15.00/18.00.

Public Transport

For information about public transport services in

Gothenburg and the surrounding area, please
Public transportation, including buses, trains, and
airplane services are usually extensive all over Sweden. contact Tidpunkten (0771-41 43 00), or visit them
Gothenburg has two international airports: Landvetter at Nils Ericson terminalen, Brunnsparken or
Airport, which is the main airport and Gothenburg City Drottningtorget. They are open all days of the
Airport in Sve. There are special airport buses
week except the office at Brunnsparken, which is
between the airports and central parts of Gothenburg. closed on Sundays. An excellent timetable service
For more information: www.landvetter.lfv.se
is available at www.vasttrafik.se (select English
www.goteborgcityairport.se
version).
On trams and busses, tickets can no longer be
purchased from the driver. Instead, you use a monthly
ticket, a discount card or the ticket machine onboard,

most machines accept both credit cards or coins.

Tram and bus tickets may also be purchased via
mobile phones.

Discount cards
A period card/monthly card (periodkort/mnadskort) suits the regular traveller, while a discount card may
be more appropriate if you travel only a few times per week. If you have a Swedish sim card you can also
buy a ticket by sending a text message to the number 72450 with the text GV, in return you will receive an
SMS receipt which acts as your ticket for the journey. This is the SMS you must show to the drivers/ticket
inspectors.

LIVING IN SWEDEN
Sweden has nine million five hundred thousand
inhabitants, of which nearly two million live in and
around the capital, Stockholm.

Constitution
Sweden is a constitutional monarchy, in which
King Carl XVI Gustaf is head of state, but royal
power has long been limited to official and
ceremonial functions. The nations legislature is
the Swedish Parliament (Riksdag), with 349
members. 47 per cent of the Parliaments elected
members are women. After the 2006 election,
twelve years of Social Democratic government
ended when the four Alliance parties the
Conservatives, Liberals, Centre and Christian
Democrats formed a government. The Social
Democrats, who ruled Sweden for most of the
20th century, are in opposition along with the Left
Party and the Green Party.
Language
The Nordic languages Swedish, Danish, Norwegian
and Icelandic are closely related. Finnish, on the
other hand, is not a Germanic language, and is
completely different. English is taught as a
compulsory second language in Swedish schools.
Foreign TV-programmes and most films (except
childrens movies) are subtitled in Swedish and are
not dubbed. Tourists from Great Britain or the US
may be surprised at the number of anglicises in
use.

Facts
Capital: Stockholm
Language: Swedish
Population: 9,5 million
Currency: 1 krona=100 re
Area: 450,000 km (174,000 sq mi)
Political system: Parliamentary Democracy
Nature
The country is characterized by its long coastlines,
large forests and numerous lakes. Half of the land
surface is covered with forest and less than 10% is
farmland. The distance from north to south is 1,600
km, incorporating a fairly wide spectrum of climate
zones and diverse nature. Swedens archipelagos
are world famous and the west coast is unique by
its naked rocks and islands. The Swedish
countryside is open to everyone, based on the
Right of Public Access (Allemansrtten). You are
allowed to walk, jog, cycle or ski through forests
and countryside and across other peoples land,
provided that you dont cause any damage.
Everyone has the right to swim, travel by boat on
somebody elses waters or to pick wild flowers,
mushrooms, berries etc. You may even pitch a tent
for one night, without special permission.

Religion
One of the ties that link the Nordic countries
together is a common religion. The Swedish
situation is special, since the Church of Sweden, very
early became a part of the central administration.
Gradually, however, the church has been separated
from the state and in 1999 it gained its full
independence. Before the separation, children born
Population
in Sweden automatically became members of the
Sweden has a population of 9 million people.
national church. The fact that the Church of Sweden
More than one third of the population lives in the has many members does not mean that the average
three largest cities Stockholm, Gothenburg and
person goes to church every Sunday, or has a
Malm. The central and southern parts of Sweden personal Christian belief. As a matter of fact, only a
are the most densely populated. However, as the few per cent of the population regularly attend
area of Sweden is large, the overall density is only church services.
54 inhabitants per square mile (18 per km2).

Climate
The warm Gulf Stream gives Sweden a milder
climate than other areas this far north. The
temperature variations between the southern
and northern parts of Sweden are slight during
the summer but greater during the winter.
Gothenburg has a typical costal climate and
winters are milder than in most parts of the
country. Snowfall is irregular and it rains quite a
lot. In July, the warmest month, Gothenburg has
an average temperature of +14C to +21C and in
February, the coldest month, the average is
between -4C to +1C . In Sweden, the seasons
are very distinct from one another. Summer is
characterised by the light nights, whereas winter
brings daylight only 78 hours in our region.

Currency
The Swedish krona is denoted by the currency
symbol SEK. One krona is equal to 100 re. Bank
notes are available in denominations of 20, 50,
100, 500 and 1000 kronor, coins in 1, 5 and 10
kronor. All major credit cards are widely
accepted. Please note that you always need a
valid identification when paying with a bank
card.

Time
Sweden is on Central European Time (CET),
GMT+1. Daylight savings time applies from the
last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in
October.
Driving in Sweden
In Sweden, the legal driving age is 18 and you
are expected to have your drivers license with
you when driving. EU residents may use their car
with a valid foreign license plate in Sweden
for one year, and temporarily be exempted from
road and car tax. For students from other
countries the time is shorter. Read more at
www.vv.se/english
Emergency
In case of an emergency, dial 112, and ask for an
ambulance, the fire brigade, the police or a
doctor on call. You will be asked What has
happened?, Where has this happened? and
From which number are you calling?.
Emergency calls from payphones are free of
charge.
Electricity
The main electricity in Sweden is 220 volts and
50Hz. You may need a transformer and/or
adapter for your electrical appliances.

Telecommunication
To set up a landline telephone subscription,
foreigners must pay a deposit, the sum is
refunded on departure from Sweden. Please
note that if you call Sweden from abroad you
should drop the first zero in the area code. The
area code for Gothenburg is 031, which you
would use before the phone number when
calling from anywhere else in Sweden but
Gothenburg.

Swedish News
If you want to keep yourself updated on what is
happening in Sweden, www.thelocal.se is a
useful site offering Swedish news in English. You
can also listen to Swedish news in English,
German, and certain other languages at
www.sr.se/international

SWEDISH TRADITIONS

Sweden has a lot of traditions with ancient roots,

many of them closely associated with the changing of
seasons.
Fettisdagen, was traditionally celebrated before lent
started. Lent or no lent, however, Swedes still like
eating their semla in February a bun filled with
cream and almond paste.
For Easter (Psk) children dress up as Easter witches
in long skirts, headscarves and red-painted cheeks.
They go from house to house with self-made Easter
cards, hoping to get sweets in return.
Walpurgis Eve (Valborgsmssoafton) is always
celebrated on 30 April. Swedes welcome spring by
lighting bonfires and listening to choral singing.
Labour Day, 1 May, is a national holiday in Sweden.
Workers get together for rallies and speeches, often
joined by marching orchestras.

The National Day (Nationaldagen) is celebrated

on 6 June, which is a national holiday. With no
wars in mind, the celebration is, however, quite
moderate among the Swedes.
Midsummer (Midsommar) is one of the longest
days of the year. People gather, often in the
countryside, to pick flowers and put together a
may pole to dance around. The typical menu
features pickled herring, boiled new potatoes,
sour cream and chives and strawberries.
A crayfish party in August is mandatory for most
Swedes. The parties are supposed to be held
outside on a warm August evening, with colored
paper lanterns lighting up the table. Crayfish are
eaten with bread, cheese, beer and schnapps.
Surstrmming (sour herring) is a traditional
food that Swedes either love or hate, mostly
because of the smell of rotten fish. But a wellprepared fermented herring doesnt taste the
way it smells.
All Saints Day (Alla Helgons Dag) at the end of
October is a day for remembrance. People light
candles at family graves and the lit up cemeteries
are usually beautiful in the dark October night.
Advent is a countdown for Christmas and also a
way of escaping the darkness of the season. On
the first Sunday, people light the first candle in
the Advent candlestick. Each Sunday until
Christmas, a candle is lit, until all four candles are
alight. You can also see electric candles and stars
in the windows of most households.
Lucia on 13 December is one of the most beloved
holidays. Early in the morning Lucia and her
maids, all dressed in long white robes, holding
candles, form a singing procession. Christmas
songs are sung and the people that are watching
drink warm glgg and eat saffronflavoured
buns called lussekatter.
Christmas (Jul) is celebrated on 24 December. A
big meal with a pork ham as a centerpiece is
served and Christmas gifts are opened in the
evening.

CULTURAL SPECIALITIES
Be on time. Both at work/school and in the
social life, Swedes are punctual (most of the
time). It is considered impolite to keep
someone waiting.
Pay for yourself. When in a restaurant or a
pub it is customary that each person in a
party pays for their consumption. This habit
is probably due to the comparatively high
cost of eating/drinking out.
Remain in a queue/line. Whenever you are
waiting for something, a cinema, to pay in a
shop etc., you are expected to wait in a
proper queue/line. Many institutions, e.g.
banks and post offices use a system of
queuing tickets. When your number is
shown on the screen, it is your turn.
Keep talking... Some foreigners complain
that it is difficult to meet Swedes socially,
and we have to admit that this may be true
to some degree. We might seem a bit
reserved, but usually it is only shyness or a
certain fear of imposing on the newcomer. If
you do not give up but show that you are
interested in making friends you will discover
that we are a warm and friendly people.

...But listen too. When talking, Swedes do

not like to be interrupted. When you speak,
people are normally interested in what you
have to say and listen, so do not forget to
listen to them. Also, Swedes generally like to
keep some physical space between
themselves and the person they are talking
to.
No smoking. Smoking is not allowed in public
buildings, and even in other places it is
considered polite to check with the people in
your party if it is all right to smoke. If you are
in somebodys home it is customary to go
outside to smoke.
Take off your shoes. Swedes take off their
shoes indoors. Remember to leave your
shoes at the door when you visit a Swedish
friend!
Shake hands. When meeting people in a
group or on their own, Swedes shake hands
with everybody before joining in the
conversation. However, it is less formal
within a group of friends.

USEFUL ADDRESSES AND PHONE NUMBERS

In Case of Emergency
Ambulance, Police, Fire Brigade

Health Care Centres (Vrdcentral):

112

Health Care
Student Health Center 031-10 69 70
Kaserntorget 11b
Axessakuten (24-hour service) 031-725 0000
Sdra Allgatan 6
Website : www.capioaxessakuten.se/goteborg
Medical information: (24-hour telephone advice
line) Ph: 0771-70 31 50 or the national short
number 1177.
Dental Care Student Clinic 031-786 38 88
Medicinaregatan 12B
ftv.studentklin.goteborg@vgregion.se

Gibraltagatan
Gibraltargatan 1C, Gothenburg: 031-708 19 00
Haga-Annedal
Sdra Allgatan 6, Gothenburg: 031-725 00 75
Slottsskogen
Vegagatan 55, Gothenburg: 031-345 05 80
Spinnaren
Gamlestadsvgen 4, Gothenburg: 031-345 07 00
Carlanderska
Carlandersplatsen, Gothenburg: 031- 81 80 00
Lkarhuset
Sdra Vgen 27, Gothenburg: 031-81 09 00
Capio Lundby Sjukhus
Wieselgrensplatsen 2A, Gothenburg: 031-65 70 00

Emergency Dentist 031-80 78 00

Other
Exchange Student Services (ESS)
031-786 1086/5337

Swedish Migration Board 0771-23 52 35

Vestagatan 2 A, Gothenburg
www.migrationsverket.se

Police 11414
University Priest 031-731 61 77
Tax Office 0771-56 75 67
stra Hamngatan 16
www.skattverket.se
The Swedish Institute
www.si.se/english
www.studyinsweden.se
SJ (Swedish Railways) 0771-75 75 75
www.sj.se/english

HHGS Student Association Office 031-711 13 83

E-mail: info@hhgs.se
www.hhgs.se
Gothenburg Tourist Office
Kungsportsplatsen 2
411 10 Gothenburg
031-61 25 00
www.goteborg.com
E-mail: turistinfo@goteborg.com

Some useful websites:

Gothenburg Concert Hall www.gso.se
At Ticnet, www.ticnet.se, you can find and book
tickets for entertainment, culture and sports.
Universeum www.universeum.se
Paddan Sightseeing www.paddan.se

Gothenburg Opera House www.opera.se Museum of

World Culture www.varldskulturmuseet.se
Liseberg amusement park www.liseberg.se