Checklist for the start of your studies
Before the first day of your education, you need to take some important steps.
1.Your offer
You have been admitted. If you want to keep your place (seat), you do not have to reply to your offer.
If you do not want to keep your place you should decline your offer by logging in to 'My pages' on universityadmissions.se, and follow the instructions. You should click "I wish to decline this offer" next to the course or programme you want to decline.
If you see "Reserve" next to your course or programme in the Notification of selection results, this means that you've been placed on a waiting list for that course/programme.
2.Activate your user account and MFA
As a new student, you need to activate your user account (your UMU-id) approximately two weeks prior to the start of the semester.
With your user account you can:
- register for courses
- access the internet in computer labs and the university's wireless network
- submit assignments and verify your study results
- access your student e-mail
If you are a new student, you will automatically receive a user account when you are admitted, but you will need to activate it for it to function properly. You will not be able to activate it until approximately two weeks prior to the start of the semester.
Exchange student or tuition fee paying student
If you are an exchange student or tuition fee paying student, you will receive an email with instructions on how to activate your account.
Install MFA for a more secure login
To increase security and reduce the risk of unauthorised access to your information or account, students must enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to log in to various systems, such as Canvas and the Student Web.
I want to activate my user account and install MFA
Help! It´s not working
If you are having problems activating your account or logging in, please contact our Servicedesk. You will find answers to common questions, and can submit enquiries.
3.Programme registration
We would like to welcome YOU to Umeå University and the Departments of Chemistry and Molecular Biology. You have been accepted as a Bachelor student on our Life Science Programme, and you will spend the next three years studying courses mainly in Chemistry and Molecular Biology, resulting in a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and/or Molecular Biology.
Registration
The programme starts with the course Biological chemistry, course code 5KE111.
Course registration takes place at the first lecture during the roll call.
If you are unable to attend the registration and introduction, you need to contact the study counsellor in advance at lifescience.chemistry@umu.se, or else you risk losing your place on the programme. Always include your name, personal identification number, and course name in the message if you send an email.
4.Programme start
2026-08-31
10.00
The schedule is preliminary until four weeks before the programme startsprogramme start
Programme start
Date: 2026-08-31
Time: 10:00-12.00
Room: KBE301-Lilla hörsalen (map, see link above)
An interactive activity to foster a sense of belonging and team spirit will follow in the afternoon.
Time: 14.00 to 16.00
Room: NAT.D.200
Programme overview
The Departments of Chemistry and Molecular Biology attract a diverse community of scientists, teachers, and students from various countries. The interdisciplinary and international environment is highly valued and serves as a foundation for conducting cutting-edge research in the field of life sciences that is globally competitive.
The Bachelor Programme in Life Science is an international programme that is taught entirely in English. The programme begins with a specialized course in Biological Chemistry (15 ECTS) which has been developed specifically for this programme to emphasize the applications of Chemistry and Molecular Biology in the field of Life Science.
In the first year, students take three courses in Chemistry: Fundamentals of Chemistry (15 ECTS), Organic Chemistry (15 ECTS), and Biochemistry (15 ECTS).
The second year comprises four courses in Molecular Biology: Microbiology and Basic Molecular Biology (15 ECTS), Basic and molecular genetics (15 ECTS), Cell biology (15 ECTS) and Animal and plant physiology (15 ECTS).
In the third year, students have the option to choose 45 ECTS of elective courses and complete a Bachelor’s Degree Thesis Project (15 ECTS) in either Chemistry or Molecular Biology. For any inquiries about individual courses, students may reach out to the Study Counsellors (lifescience.chemistry@umu.se).
More information about the programme and its courses is available on our website (Homepage in English). You find the specific courses by scrolling down the page.
Information for new students and student guide
The student web is an important tool to guide you through your studies at Umeå University, can be found at:
https://www.umu.se/en/student/new-students/
https://www.umu.se/en/student/
Recommended arrival times
International students are recommended to arrive at least a few days before the start of the regular term (preferably to the orientation course, see above). If you fail to arrive on time, you have to contact the study counsellor as soon as possible, but not later than one week ahead of the course start, or you may not be able to register for the programme. When you plan your trip, please arrange so that you do not arrive on a weekend or late at night. The student services office, as well as most of the University, will be closed, and you may have difficulties e.g. getting a key to student housing.
Accommodation in Umeå
As Swedish universities do not own any housing, students are expected to arrange their own accommodation. If you have not already found a place to live in Umeå, there is information and tips at our website:
Accommodation
We recommend you read this information and start registering for housing as soon as possible.
Residence permit
Students coming from countries outside the EU and planning to study for longer than three months require a residence permit. Note that you might have to wait for the decision, so apply well in advance. More information can be found at www.migrationsverket.se/info/start_en.html and www.swedenabroad.com/.
Tuition fees
For students who need to pay tuition, all offers of admission to Umeå University are considered preliminary until the student has paid the first installment of their tuition fee. Applications for a residence permit will not be approved until the Swedish Migration Board receives notification from the university that the first tuition fee installment has been paid. After receiving a notification of admission letter from Umeå University, students will be provided with information about the process for paying tuition fees. For more information regarding tuition fees, please visit:
Pregnancy and laboratory work
For safety reasons, pregnant individuals are not permitted to enter the laboratory or engage in laboratory work. If you are pregnant and enrolled in a course that involves laboratory work, please notify the responsible teacher before the course begins. They will provide you with appropriate guidance and support to ensure your safety and well-being.
Contact us
If you have any questions, you are most welcome to contact us at any time. You will find our contact information at the end of this letter. We wish you a warm welcome to the programme and hope that you will enjoy your Life Science studies here in Umeå!
Programme coordinators:
Erik Chorell
e-mail: Erik Chorell erik.chorell@umu.se
Phone: +46 90 786 93 29
Teresa Frisan
e-mail: teresa.frisan@umu.se
Phone: +46 90 785 08 16
For general questions related to the programme, contact the study counsellor at: lifescience.chemistry@umu.se
Study amanuenses:
Fotios Moustakis
Fatim Kama
Paul Riske
e-mail: lifescienceumea@gmail.com
Support and help
We support our students to create an equal learning environment.
