Max studied on exchange during the spring 2015 semester.
Home University: University of Hamburg, Germany
Field of study: Molecular biology
Favourite thing about Umeå University: Independency
Favourite Swedish word or custom: Fika
Three words to summarise your time in Umeå: adventurous, amazing and full of experience
When I first informed myself about Umeå University I recognized that the structure, teaching system and everything around the study life seemed well organized, transparent and easy to follow. Therefore compared to other universities I have never experienced a better harmonized study life.
Most of my courses were nor very big, about 15-20 students, which I really appreciated. Thus the teachers had the possibilities to answer individual questions. However what I liked the most about my programme is that there is no anonymity from teacher sides as well as from the student aspects. The teachers help you the best they can and there is often the opportunity to drop by their office and have Fika (Swedish for coffee and sweets) with them and talk about topics that you are interested in. Anytime I have such a conversation I wonder why they would take their precious time to explain to me simple study related matters or discuss topics that are not relevant to them. These aspects make me feel very comfortable, appreciated and create an atmosphere of equality between teachers (supervisors, professors, faculty members) and students.
I spend my free time at IKSU, which is a great facility for compensation and keeping yourself healthy. In my opinion it is also the social meeting point of Umeå. I love to go swimming during the evenings, but I am also participating in the first Ultimate Frisbee team.
When I am not at IKSU, I hang around with my friends. It does not matter how the weather is: we like to play guitar at the peaceful Lake Nydala, most of the time with a nice fire, barbeque included.
My most memorable moment was a trip with friends to the national park Skuleskogen during autumn. We were planning on staying for one night, but the nature was so fascinating and gripping that we stayed three nights.
The growing city Umeå is one of a kind. Not only is it beautiful with an incredible location at the river, but also with a great and incomparable infrastructure. There are special bicycle pathways, which connect the whole city and the surrounding areas. Even in the coldest winter these bicycle pathways are kept free from snow, so it is possible to ride your bike whenever you want to, throughout the whole year. In addition the inhabitants of Umeå are very kind and open. At the beginning of my stay I was lost a couple of times and did not know where I was, but people just walked up to me and ask me if I needed any help or directions, because I looked lost.
The biggest social difference between Germany and Sweden is that you do not become friends with somebody you just meet. In my opinion most of the Swedish people that I have meet are a little shy and prefer to stay in their self created comfort zone. Therefore if you want to get to know Swedish people, you have to make the first step. In addition what I also noticed people are not complaining a lot. Most Germans or at least I usually complained whenever I had the opportunity to and I was very impatient. Nowadays I am a lot more relaxed and more patient than I have ever been before. I think I applied to their Swedish idea of taking it easy.
Educationally, it is common in Germany to have several courses at one time and write several exams at the end of the semester. Therefore I usually did not study a lot during the beginning of the semester, but a lot during the end. Here in Sweden the structure of the courses is different. You have one course at a time, which lasts mostly one month. At the end of the month you have the exam. The great advantage of this system is you focus on one course at a time. The disadvantage, for me as a German, is that I was used to my old study cycle: do nothing in the beginning and a lot in the end and that does not end well in the time period of one month. Once you figured out you have to study a little every day, it is a great and relaxing life.
I really recommend the Umeå University. It has a world class education, is well structured and organized; the people are friendly and helpful and the developing city is the perfect size for studying. I advise other international students to take studying seriously (depending on their study area) and not make the same mistake as I did to study at the very end for exams.