An unexpected catharsis Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 11/01/2019 to 01/15/2020 with

Malmö University: Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes! I thought it was very worthwhile. I learned how to balance work/life which was very cathartic. I feel like I was always stressed out at Wellesley and all I could ever think about was school. I think when you live on campus and you're constantly surrounded by people who also live and attend the same school and classes as you do, school easily consumes you. Here I felt like I could focus on other things – my own personal interests, extra-curriculars (that weren't school clubs), and creative projects.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Malmo University really doesn't get enough credit. Amazing lecturers, really modern and well-equipped facilities, and such a great city.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Lived in my own apartment a 10 min bike ride from school.

* Food:

Cooked for myself, never tried eating at the school cafés.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I am Swedish, so integrating back into Sweden wasn't too hard. Malmö is super diverse and very welcoming, though! Definitely one of the most open cities in Sweden.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I know Malmö has a bad reputation in international media, but don't believe the hype. I've been living here for the past 6 months (I'm Swedish but not from Malmö) and I always felt safe.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I love Malmö so much. Living here for the past six months has been a really good experience – the city is so diverse, so welcoming, so open, and so fun. Malmö University was so much more than I expected and I was impressed with the knowledge and energy of the faculty and the modern feel of the campus.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Swedish citizen so tuition was free. I guess either way (if you're native/international) tuition is cheaper than in the US, so I saved a lot of money.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? About $30/week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Sign up for TransferWise!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The city of Malmö!
  • Great lecturers
  • Great facilities
* What could be improved?
  • Wish there was more interaction w/ faculty
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That school isn't everything and that not having your life revolve around academics will make you perform better, ironically, in school.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.