Umeå Institute of Design

Student FAQs relating to Covid-19

Will UID20 Design Talks & Degree Show still take place?

Yes! Preparations are now under way to transition the event to a digital platform where students will be able to present and exhibit their grad projects.

We are also aiming to add a number of interactive elements for the virtual visitors. 

The portfolio reviews are expected to be held as usual, although via Zoom. 

Will students be offered distance education instead of campus-based teaching?

Yes, from 18 March, no physical education or examination is allowed within the university premises. The university follows the recommendations of the Government and the Public Health Agency of Sweden and will be using alternative forms of instruction and assessment. This means that your syllabus or examination format may change. Please contact your course coordinator if you have questions.

Can the decision to use distance education be revised, or does it apply to the rest of this spring semester?

The decisions that was made to revert to alternative teaching and assessment methods apply to the rest of the spring semester 2020. The university is closely monitoring the events and follows recommendations from the Swedish Government and the Public Health Agency of Sweden. Due to the rapid development, revisions to this decision can be made at a later date.

Do I need to report sick if I have fallen ill and am unable to study?

The Swedish Social Insurance Agency, Försäkringskassan, has information about illness during studies.

Students that receive study grants from the Swedish Board of Student Finance (CSN) must stay informed through their website.

Am I still ensured now that the school is closed?

Different insurances applies to different student categories.

Students covered by FAS plus (students who pay tuition fees ) and Student IN (exchange students):

These insurances will apply as usual if the student choose to stay in Sweden and participate in distance education. The trip back to the home country will not be covered by any of the insurances if the student cancel his or her studies or want to participate in distance education in his or her home country. Students are not covered by Kammarkollegiet´s insurances if they are in their home country even if they participate in distance studies at a Swedish university.

Students covered by personal injury insurance for university students in Sweden (Students from EU/EES):

The insurance does not apply when the student participates in remote education from home.

For further information, click here

If you have any questions, please contact Kammarkollegiet

What should I consider if I live in the same student housing (or equivalent) as someone who is ill?

The same recommendations apply as in the rest of society. The best way of reducing the risk of spreading disease is to ask the person to self-isolate and keep the door closed. It is also important to wash your hands often and carefully, limit social contacts, help each other with the shopping and other errands, and if you have access to sanitizers, disinfect door handles and other similar surfaces, and schedule times to use shared kitchens. If you experience symptoms and belong to a risk group, you need to keep yourself updated on 1177.se or through other authorities.

Where can I turn if I need support and counselling?

The Student Health Service offers counselling and health advice with questions concerning health and academic studies. Due to COVID-19, all contact with the Student Health Service will be held remotely.

Find out more

I've needed to cancel travels due to cancellations in my studies – can I get compensation from the university for my travel costs?

The University unfortunately does not have the opportunity to reimburse students for their travel costs when education or similar is cancelled.

Exchange studies FAQs relating to Covid-19

I am on an exchange at Umeå University, what do I need to do?

Follow the instructions given to you by the department you study at regarding how to participate in the teaching since all physical meetings are cancelled. Read more about the decision taken by the Vice-Chancellor at:
University recommendations regarding covid-19

Am I still insured?

If you stay in Umeå and continue to follow your courses you are still covered by the Student IN insurance. If you decide to travel back home to complete your studies, or to cancel your exchange studies entirely, you are no longer covered by Student IN.

I want to terminate my exchange studies and return home, what steps do I need to take?

Contact your home university to make any necessary arrangements.
Contact the teachers of the course you are registered in and let them know that you will not finish the course.
Decline any courses you are admitted to, but have not yet started, at universityadmissions.se. In addition, contact the responsible teacher for the course to let them know you will not attend.
If you have housing through the International Housing Office, contact them at housing@umu.se to make the proper arrangements (rent, keys etc) before you leave.

Tuition-fee paying students

For current students at Umeå University

I want to terminate my studies and return home. What steps do I need to take?

1. You need to contact the teachers and/or administrative staff of the courses you are registered for and let them know you will terminate your studies. They will provide further instructions if necessary.
2. Decline any courses you are admitted to, but have not yet started, at universityadmissions.se. If you are unable to do this, please contact the teachers and/or administrative staff of the course(s).
3. If you have housing through the International Housing Office, contact them at housing@umu.se to make the proper arrangements (rent, keys, etc.) before you leave.

I want to travel to another country and study via distance. What steps do I need to take?

1. You need to contact the teachers and/or administrative staff of the courses you are registered for and let them know you will be leaving. They will provide further instructions if necessary.
2. If you have housing through the International Housing Office, contact them at housing@umu.se to make the proper arrangements (rent, keys, etc.) before you leave.

Currently, all teaching and education at Umeå University involving physical meetings is cancelled and replaced with alternative instruction methods. However, if the covid-19 situation changes, regular education methods may be reinstated and you may be required to attend physical classes again.

Please keep yourself updated by visiting our website frequently:
Information for students, faculty and staff regarding COVID-19

Will my insurance with The Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency (Kammarkollegiet) still cover me if I conduct my studies via distance?
The insurance will apply as usual if you choose to stay in Sweden and participate in distance education.

If you cancel your studies or want to participate in distance education in another country, the cost of the trip back to your home country (or another country) will not be covered by the insurance. You will however be covered as usual during the trip.

For more information from Kammarkollegiet, please visit:
Questions and answers

I am currently in another country on exchange studies and/or planning to travel to another country to study via distance, will I be able to travel back to Sweden again?

Whether or not you will be able to return to Sweden will depend on your residence status and on potential travel restrictions. For updated information on travel restrictions and if they affect you, please visit www.krisinformation.se/en

Any changes to the Swedish Migration Agency’s procedures will be communicated on their website and we recommend that you visit their website regularly or contact them directly for updated information:
Questions and answers

Contact the Migration Agency

How will my application for an extension of my residence permit be affected by the university's decision to only offer distance education at the moment?
We do not have an answer for this at the moment.

Residence permits are handled by the Swedish Migration Agency. If you are concerned about your application for an extension of your residence permit, please contact the Swedish Migration Agency directly. You can find their contact information at:
Contact the Migration Agency

For prospective students

Will the covid-19 situation have an impact on my application to studies in Sweden?

For more information regarding your application for studies in Sweden, please visit universityadmission.se

Will the covid-19 situation affect my chances of getting a residence permit to study in Sweden?

Residence permits are handled by the Swedish Migration Agency. You can find the requirements to obtain a residence permit on their website:
Studying and researching in Sweden

If your studies are conducted online (distance studies) instead of on campus, your application for a residence permit may be denied since, according to the Migration Agency, you do not need to be in Sweden to study. Any changes to the Swedish Migration Agency’s procedures will be communicated on their website and we recommend that you visit their website regularly or contact them directly for updated information.
Information from the Migration Agency regarding covid-19

Contact the Migration Agency

Will the covid-19 situation affect my chances of travelling to Sweden?

In response to the European Council and Commission's recommendation, the Swedish Government has decided to temporarily stop unnecessary trips to Sweden from countries outside Europe from 19 March. This is to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus outbreak and to reduce the spread of COVID-19. For more information, please visit:
Temporary ban on travel to Sweden

How long the travel restrictions will remain and how it will affect students arriving for the autumn term is currently unknown. We recommend all students to keep themselves updated by frequently visiting:
www.krisinformation.se/en

The Public Health Agency of Sweden

Universityadmissions.se