Overview | Academics | Cost | Location | Life Abroad | Student Voices
Experience Swedish history and culture while studying in Umea, Sweden! This exchange program with the Faculty of Social Sciences at Umea University offers participants an opportunity to directly enroll in courses taught in English, while students with proficiency in Swedish will be able to take advantage of the university's full course offerings.
Umea, with a population of 110,000, is one of Sweden's fastest growing towns. Home to five different institutes of higher education, Umea has become a dynamic center of learning and its large student population makes Umea a young, inviting city with a rich and varied cultural and social life. Umea is surrounded by mountains, forest, marshes, farmland, rivers, lakes and sea, offering many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and breathe fresh air.
Umea, a one-hour flight north of Stockholm, is home to Sweden's northernmost university. The town has a population of 100,000 and is very similar to the college-town nature of Madison. The city is near the Arctic Circle causing it to be light for 24 hours/day during the summer and dark for 24 hours/day in the winter.
Getting to Your Program
Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to Umea but are given guidelines for arrival dates and times.
Visa
U.S. citizens must apply for a residence permit before departure. A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of the program is also required. You will apply for your own residence permit. IAP will provide you with residence permit information.
Orientation
IAP expects you to be an active participant in preparing yourself for your study abroad experience. As a participant on an IAP program, you will receive a pre-departure orientation, either in-person or online. The type and format of this orientation will vary by program and will be provided to you upon acceptance to the program.
You will also receive an on-site orientation upon arrival in Umea.
Housing
Umea University's International Housing Office helps students arrange a dormitory room before arrival. Students rent a furnished apartment with a private bathroom, and cook meals in shared kitchens or eat at one of the numerous cafeterias and restaurants on campus.
Excursions and Activities
The Umea University International Office organizes a one-week orientation to provide exchange students with information on various aspects of the university, the academic program, and life in Sweden. It also offers a mentor program that pairs exchange students with Swedish students who help with practical matters and introduce them to the Swedish way of life through sports, parties, travel, and other social activities.
While on campus, students can participate in the university's Student Union, which organizes various student committees as well as cultural and social activities. Students can also choose from swimming, cross-country skiing, floorball, volleyball, different forms of workout training, rock climbing, and other activities at the IKSU Sports Center.
The city of Umea is also a center for leisure and pleasure for students, with a wide and varied range of cultural and sporting activities to offer. The Norrland Opera is known nationwide for its unusual and unconventional performances of classical and modern opera. The town has a very lively jazz and pop music scene, and boasts the world renowned Umea Jazz Festival and Chamber Music Festival. Several permanent theaters, concerts, cinemas, pubs, and nightclubs add to the choice of entertainment all the year round, while the surrounding countryside provides ample opportunities for outdoor activities, such as skiing and hiking.
Insurance
You will be enrolled in the UW System required health insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) and the cost of the insurance coverage is included in program fees.
On-Site Support
Staff from the Umea University International Office and Faculty of Social Sciences.
Handbooks
Use the links below to find out more information on academics, daily life and student impressions for this program.
Program Handbook (Spring - 2012-13)
Umea Sweden Program Handbook (Fall - 2013-14)
Umea Sweden Program Handbook (Year - 2013-14)
Returned Student Network
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here to see testimonials from students abroad or to contact a returned student.
Student Profiles
Check out student profiles to learn more about their experience abroad.
Noah Mergendahl
Student Testimonials
"I loved the opportunity to study in Sweden. My time proved to be wonderful in every respect, and I fell in love with the country, the people, the culture, and the lifestyle. Sweden is such a successful country that is often overlooked, so I was happy to have the chance to experience the land firsthand."
Umea University (Umea Universitet) was established in 1965 and presently has a student enrollment of 27,000, a growing number of whom are international students. 56 departments, 289 professors, and a staff of 3,900 make possible Umea University's broad spectrum of research and instruction, from modern languages to medicine and natural sciences. The university's five faculties include the Arts, Science and Technology, Medicine, Social Sciences, and Teacher Education. Umea University is one of the northernmost universities in the world, offering its students a welcoming environment for both study and leisure.
Participants on the exchange program will find a variety of courses taught in English. Students with strong Swedish language skills may enroll in courses taught in Swedish. Participants are highly encouraged to pursue Swedish language study as one of the best ways to integrate into Swedish society. Each semester, Umea University offers Swedish language courses at varying levels to international students.
Affiliate Institution(s)
Umea University
Program Web Page(s)
Umea University exchange program
Foreign Courses
Available Courses
Course Equivalents
Use the links below to see a list of courses that students have taken on this program before and the UW equivalents. Note: this list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses or departments. You will get instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance.
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