Author: ceciliabm

As my time in the Master’s in Global Health programme comes to an end, I can’t help but look back and reflect on how much has happened over these past two years. I clearly remember my first day in Uppsala, arriving during the arrival days and being greeted by older students at Blåsenhus. I remember taking that first picture by the Fyris river after walking past the castle and Carolina Rediviva, a library that would later become a home for long hours of studying and group work. I even remember the very first lecture: so many unfamiliar faces, a flood of new experiences, and a sense of uncertainty about what lay ahead. I could have never imagined that these strangers would become my friends, people I would learn to like and even love. People I would laugh with, celebrate milestones with, and worry alongside before an assignment deadline.

We spent three semesters full of courses and one dedicated to exploring a topic of our choice and writing our thesis. We studied hard, delivered presentations and wrote multiple exams and yet we always had time for fika, hiking, a nice walk in the city or a short trip to Stockholm. Our dinner nights and the nation gatherings were highlights that brightened our weekly routines.

The final semester was both challenging and rewarding. Presenting a topic you’re passionate about can feel overwhelming at times, but having friends and teachers ready to support and encourage you made the journey a little easier. I’ll never forget the picture we took as a class on the final day of our thesis presentations. Those once-unfamiliar faces have become people I’ve shared two unforgettable years with, some of whom I will share many more memories with, as they’ve become true friends.

A week before graduation, the Medical Master Council (MMC), which represents students from diverse programs including that of Global Health, hosted a graduation gasque. For those unfamiliar, a gasque is a traditional Swedish student dinner party, complete with music, games, lots of singing, traditions, speeches, and plenty of fun. My friends and I decided to join the graduation gasque as one of our last memories as students. There we had the chance to sing in Swedish, learn about some of the funniest Swedish gasque traditions and of course, finish the dinner with a song as we stood on top of our chairs, the: O, gamla klang och jubeltid. We were warned not to sit back down afterward, as legend has it you wouldn’t graduate if you did. Spoiler: we all graduated.

Graduation day itself was a mix of emotions. Joy was the strongest, but, of course, uncertainty lingered among us too. Some of us had already planned our next steps, while others still weren’t sure which path to follow. I think many of us hadn’t fully realized yet that our Master’s journey had truly come to an end. The ceremony was beautiful—filled with music and heartfelt speeches. We said our goodbyes, shared promises to meet again, and for some, simply said “see you tomorrow.”

Looking back, I’m grateful for every late-night study session, every shared meal, every laugh and every challenge. To those just starting the programme: embrace every experience, big or small. My classmates and I wish you an incredible journey here in Uppsala.

Hej all, I am Aloka and I am from India, and I am currently studying global health in Uppsala. Of course, before coming here, I did some research about the new place and environment. But you never know unless you actually face reality. So here are some of my tips before your arrival in Sweden for your studies. Hope these tips will prepare you a little better for the new journey.

Little bit of cooking

Yes, you read that right. It’s good to learn some cooking before you arrive here. Restaurants and cafés are very expensive here in Sweden. It is good to cook yourself. If you know nothing about cooking you may end up wasting a lot of ingredients and time. You don’t need to be a pro chef, but a tip is to practice some cooking with for example your mom, dad, or siblings.

Bank blues

It can take a lot of time to open a bank account here. For me it took a full two months. So, make sure to bring backup bank cards from your home country. Cash is often not an option here. Sweden is mainly a cashless country.

Biking

Knowing how to bike is a must here, or else you will end up like me, waiting for buses everywhere. If you don’t know cycling it can be good to learn. Buses are discounted for students but a bike is a one-time investment.  It will save you money and the most expensive thing in the world which is time.

Download apps

I would 100% recommend downloading some applications on your phone before landing in Uppsala. Like UL, SL (for public transport), Canvas (learning), Mecenat, Stuk (digital ID, student discounts), Maze Map (to find university classrooms), and Vinted (second hand shop). These are very essential for everyday life here.

Lite Svenska

You don’t need to learn a lot of Swedish but I would suggest practicing some Swedish on the Duolingo app. That will help you shop for groceries and will help with communication overall.  Things are written in Swedish in grocery stores, at train stations and on buses.

Connect before arrival

Yes, you can connect with your future classmates before joining the university. Before arrival, the university will send you a link with an email to get access to the Go In app. With that app you will be able to make friends before you are physically in Uppsala. How exciting is that? You should definitely take the advantage.

Housing clues

Finding cheap student accommodation can be quite a difficult task, especially for non-fee-paying students. However, you can join a nation before coming here and apply for student housing via them. Nations are student organizations. You can search on Google and contact them beforehand

Moving to a new country is challenging, but each day brings new lessons and experiences. I feel privileged to be part of a university with an impressive 547-year history of academic excellence and student achievements

Writing a thesis is no small task. The final semester of the master’s programme is different from the rest. You need to put into practice everything you’ve learned in the research methods courses, set your own schedule and make sure to follow your supervisor’s deadlines. Thesis writing is a rollercoaster of emotions; some days you feel on top of the world, certain of how to proceed and how to deal with your data. The rest of the time, you forget which day or week it is and your laptop becomes both your best friend and your worst enemy.

That is exactly why small breaks are essential. Uppsala is beautiful but it’s worth visiting other places too. Stockholm is always a good option but if you are looking for a quiet nature escape, perhaps lake Ekoln is a great alternative. Ekoln is only 10 kilometers away from Uppsala and you can either hike there or take bus number 11. The views are stunning and constantly change with the weather. For example, my friends and I went there one foggy morning and it felt like stepping into a mystery film. Ekoln is worth visiting in summer too or as soon as the weather gets warmer.

If you feel like travelling a bit further, I recommend visiting Öregrund, a coastal city by the Baltic Sea. The bus ride lasts about an hour and a half and it’s perfect for a day of sea views, pretty wooden houses, and fresh air. You can also take the free ferry and visit the Gräsö island, just five minutes away. My friend and I went hiking there and even before everything blossomed, it was beautiful. I can only imagine how much more beautiful it will be once everything turns green.

Lastly, if you have more days to spare, you can find cheap flights or ferries to other Baltic countries. Tallinn is a city I recommend visiting as it offers both a medieval old town and a modern vibe. Take your time to walk through the cobblestone streets and enter one of the many souvenir shops. Let your mind wander around the traditional houses and multiple churches and forget all about studying.

Once you’re back in Uppsala, you will be more refreshed and ready to dive into studying. Remember that studying in Uppsala isn’t just about academic work, but also about experiencing a new culture and exploring new places. Let yourself take breaks and enjoy those moments to escape from academic writing and data analysis. You never know how much inspiration and motivation a short escape can bring.

Going into a new year is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the past year while setting new goals for the months ahead. Living and studying abroad comes with its own set of challenges, but it also brings unique opportunities for growth. When I look back at last year’s personal and academic experiences, I see a mix of struggles—long study sessions, writing assignments, and navigating a new environment. But alongside those challenges were countless happy moments: spending time with friends, trying new things, and exploring Sweden.

The first month of the new year is a chance to refocus, reevaluate last year’s goals, and set new ones. For me, this year begins with the exciting yet daunting task of starting my thesis. While regular lectures are behind us, my classmates and I will spend much of our time drafting, reviewing, and refining our thesis. In addition, we will evaluate each other’s progress and share feedback on this new studying chapter of our programme.

Beyond academics, I’m prioritizing personal growth. I will improve my Swedish language skills by attending the university’s course and also the Swedish course that Uppsala kommun offers. Additionally, I plan to explore more of Sweden—whether through short day trips or weekend adventures from Uppsala. There’s so much to see, even in the winter months! However, with big goals comes the risk of feeling overwhelmed, especially when studying demands so much of your time. That’s why I’ve realized the importance of building habits that support both mental and physical well-being. Self-care plays a vital role in staying balanced. For me, this includes simple but meaningful activities like taking a walk in the park, visiting a cozy café or a nation library to read a book, or spending quality time with friends. These moments of relaxation help recharge my energy and keep me focused.

One thing I’ve also learned is that consistency is key when it comes to balancing a busy schedule. I’ve started creating a weekly plan that sets aside specific hours for thesis work, language practice, and downtime. Breaking tasks into smaller, manageable pieces helps me stay productive without burning out. For instance, I’ll dedicate mornings to studying and afternoons to hobbies, exercise, or exploring.

This year, I also want to focus on healthier lifestyle habits. Eating balanced meals, staying hydrated, and taking time for regular exercise are small but powerful changes that can make a big difference. Uppsala has plenty of options, from local gyms to yoga classes and even winter walks around the city. Staying active not only improves physical health but also boosts mood and focus—something every student needs!

As we step into this new year, I’m excited to see how these goals unfold. Whether it’s through academic achievements, personal growth, or making new memories with friends, I hope 2025 will be filled with meaningful experiences and challenges that push me to grow. For anyone reading this, I encourage you to reflect on your own aspirations for the year ahead. What are the small changes you can make to live a healthier, happier, and more balanced life?

It’s just a couple of days before I start my second semester here in Uppsala and I couldn’t be more excited for the new experiences. I am from India and belong to the eastern part of the country which has a warm tropical climate when I was preparing to come here I was very nervous about confronting the Scandinavian winter. But this is already close to the end of January and guess what I managed to survive well.

It’s quite bearable until the end of November, but after that, the real struggle comes in. Days become shorter and darker, which is something I am not familiar with. But when I saw the first snow of my life, all the darkness melted away. The white snowy winter has its own version of beauty.

But walking in the winter is challenging, you need good warm walking shoes. Sometimes when the roads are too slippery to walk, you need walking trex with your shoes to balance yourself. I learned to use that after falling down many times. Other than that good warm layers of clothes are sufficient to beat the cold. I somedays skipped Vitamin D and felt weak and sleepy, so vitamin supplements are a must.

And what’s a winter without Christmas? When the city dresses up for Christmas all the darkness fades away. Every little corner of Uppsala looks majestic. I experienced the vintage Christmas market adjacent to the royal mounds at Gamla Uppsala and it was so wonderful that made me feel like I am in the Viking world. On Christmas Eve I went to Uplands Nation for dinner with friends. They kindly arrange that for students who don’t go home for Christmas, they have had this tradition for so long. After that, we visited the famous Uppsala Cathedral for midnight mass. The vibe was so beautiful that I will remember that day forever, after all, it was my first Christmas in Sweden.

Hej. My name is Aloka. I am from India, and I am studying for a Master’s in Global Health. I am a first-year student, and I moved to Sweden in August, just a couple of months ago.

Uppsala is known as a student city and people are very friendly here. I was scared of the language gap because this is not an English-speaking country, but thankfully Swedes speak excellent English. But at the grocery shops, train stations, and on buses things are written in Swedish, so Google Translate works like a lifesaver.

My classes are mostly held at the Uppsala University Hospital, Rudbeck Laboratory, and at BMC (Uppsala Biomedical Centre). Classes are a mix of lectures, group work, and seminars. We have classmates from all over the world, which gives me extensive international exposure. I chose to study global health because it will give me the flexibility to work in a versatile field.

Uppsala University has 11 libraries in total. One is in Gotland and the other 10 libraries are spread out in Uppsala city. So you just cannot get bored studying here. Also, the nations have nice study places and at the student union, you get free coffee while studying. One day I went to the oldest library called Carolina Rediviva to study and spent the whole time in the library museum rather than studying.

Socializing can be challenging when you move to a new country. It’s true that it is not easy to make friends here but Uppsala has a unique thing. That is nations. I never knew that anything like this existed before. Nations are student organizations run by students, and most of them are hundreds of years old. You can join a nation and meet new people, get involved in activities and even work there, which will give you a small amount of money. I often end up spending my nation’s earnings on nation lunches and breakfasts.

Uppsala is surrounded by nature, you can go hiking, running, walking in the woods, and you can refresh your mind whenever needed. When I came here it was early fall so it was easy to do outdoor activities. But now it’s getting difficult because of the early winter. I may join the student gym known as Campus 1477 which has a special discount for students.

After moving to Sweden, I miss my home foods. I packed some dry spices before coming here, and I am trying to make similar versions of my native dishes.

Overall, my journey in Uppsala has just begun and I am excited to explore more here.

Hello! My name is Foteini, and I come from Greece. I’m currently in my second year of the Master’s in Global Health. When I first arrived in Sweden, I felt a mix of excitement and worry. Would I be able to make new friends? I missed the ones I had left behind in Greece, even though we had promised to chat and video-call every week. Making new friends isn’t always easy—especially when you move to a foreign country.

But then, I went to my first lecture and started talking to people. To my surprise, I realized that I could be more sociable than I thought. Whether it was my determination to fully experience student life in Uppsala or my fear of loneliness, I managed to step out of my comfort zone quite quickly. Slowly but surely, I connected with some of my classmates. We started going for fika, a Swedish tradition that involves taking a break with coffee and baked goods while socializing. Also, we started doing other activities together, like hiking. Before I knew it, they weren’t just classmates—they had become my friends.

After sharing multiple birthday celebrations, long exams and an endless series of group assignments, I can proudly say now that I’m happy for the memories we have created and I’m looking forward to making many more.

This year, my friends and I decided to start a new tradition: hosting a Secret Santa exchange. Each of us picked a name and bought a gift without the receiver knowing who it was from. It was very fun watching each other’s surprised looks and the great variation of gifts. But we didn’t stop there. Since many of us—myself included—would be traveling back to our home countries for the holidays, we hosted a Christmas party several weeks early. Timing is relative, right? For us, it didn’t matter that it wasn’t the actual Christmas day.

Celebrating together was what made it special. There was Greek, Swedish, and Chinese food, and we all agreed that one of our favorite things during winter is cooking and gathering for dinner parties. Even though we celebrated almost a month in advance, it truly felt like the perfect Christmas.

Stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to wonderful experiences, and I’ve learned that saying that first ‘hello’ can often be the start of something meaningful. To anyone new to Uppsala or studying abroad, my advice is simple: don’t hesitate to start conversations or try something new—you might be surprised by what you gain.

Reflecting on this year’s memories, I’m excited for the adventures ahead. Whether it’s more traditions, more memories, or simply more time with the people who’ve made Uppsala feel like home, there’s so much to look forward to.