6. First semester of your exchange Swedish autumn semester (HT)

Transkript

1 Person 116 Basic Information 1. Name Alma Setterwall Rydberg 2. address: 3. Exchange university Háskóli Íslands 4. City Reykjavik 5. Country Island 6. First semester of your exchange Swedish autumn semester (HT) 7. Academic year 2013/ What subject area/s did you study during your exchange? samhällskunskap och isländska 9. Level of studies at the exchange university Undergraduate 10. What are you studying at Uppsala University? mestadels geovetenskap och praktisk filosofi hittills 11. How many years of study had you completed before going on exchange? 4 Studies 12. Tell us about your studies on your exchange. If you are stuck for ideas you can for exemple write about: The differences between Uppsala University and the exchange. What were the teachers like? What courses would you recommend (or not) for future exchange students? The relationship between teachers and students. The academic level and quality of your courses. Access to computers. Examinations... Jag tog mestadels kurser som var anpassade för utbytesstudenter, Isländsk kultur, Isländskt samhälle och Isländska. Alla dessa kurser var lätta eftersom de var tänkta att passa alla oavsett akademisk bakgrund som ville lära sig mer om Island under sitt utbyte. Jag hade läst Isländska här i Uppsala innan så de där nybörjarkurserna blev lite väl onödigt lätta för mig, jag förstod först senare att jag kanske hade kunnat tjata mig in på nån svårare kurs, men då hade jag antagligen behövt läsa språk på heltid, men jag hade det mest som en bisyssla. Alla kurser i Islandsförkovring var faktiskt för mitt eget höga nöjes skull. Men min absolut bästa kurs hette European Integration som var en statsvetenskaplig kurs om politik i EU som jag tjatade mig in på för att jag är ganska intresserad av politik. Det var den enda av mina kurser som inte bara var en utbytesstudentkurs, utan även lästes av islänningar, men det var på engelska bara för att läraren (som var jättejättebra) var tysk, och detta var egentligen den enda kursen som var ganska krävande. Jag läste för övrigt 44 poäng men kan verkligen inte påstå att jag slet ut mig utan hade väldigt mycket fritid. Lärarna var generellt sett bra och trevliga tycker jag, relationen mellan lärare och studenter är som i Sverige, inga gamla hierarkistrukturer som man måste anpassa sig till. Den största skillnaden med hur studierna är upplagda är att alla kurser går över hela terminen och så examineras allt i slutet så man har precis samma schema hela terminen. Det har förstås både för och nackdelar, men om man som jag har tendenser att skjuta upp saker till sista sekund så blir det ju en hel del att göra på slutet. Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 351 av??

2 Orientation and reception 13. Tell us about how it was to arrive and settle in. Det kändes roligt att komma dit, jag har velat åka till Island sen jag var 6 år så jag tyckte det var helt fantastiskt att få komma dit och de första dagarna innan terminen startade ägnade jag åt att se mig omkring i mina nya omgivningar, lära mig att åka buss, rekognosera i mataffärerna, äta typiskt isländska grejer, rida Islandshäst m.m. Accommodation 14. Describe your accommodation. What type of accommodation did you have, where you satisfied? Do you have any tips for future students? Jag hyrde ett rum i en villa med tre olika lägenheter i. Villan låg i ett villaområde utanför stan och jag fick tag i detta boende genom en lärare som kände familjen som ägde huset. Denna familj hade mittenvåningen men samtliga skulle bo utomlands större delen av tiden av min vistelse där, men var hemma i början i lite omgångar och sedan från och med oktober hade jag lägenheten mer eller mindre för mig själv. På övervåningen bodde två andra utbytesstudenter från USA och Tyskland som jag umgicks en del med. Your finances 15. Describe the cost of living. Did you find CSN adequate? How was the rent in comparison to your rent in Uppsala? Did you undertake part-time work in addition to your studies? Jag fick hyra mitt rum relativt billigt, knappt 3000 i månaden, antagligen för att mitt rum var så himla litet, fast det gjorde mig ingenting eftersom jag ju fick vara i hela lägenheten. Jag fick intrycket att hyrorna kanske var lite dyrare än i Uppsala, bostadsmarknaden verkar ganska bökig och många unga bor kvar hemma ho sina föräldrar. Jag tog inte CSN under mitt utbyte för att jag ville spara de få CSN-terminer jag har kvar, men det hade helt klart varit tillräckligt enligt min mening. Jag klarade mig på mina sommarjobbspengar och nordplusstipendiet (som bara var ca 5000 kr på hela terminen om man åker via Uppsala Universitet, andra svenskar som åkte från andra universitet kunde få upp till har jag för mig, men det är väl lite olika olika år kan jag tänka mig) Matpriserna är snäppet billigare än i Sverige, speciellt att till exempel äta lunch på campus-området. Jag slutade helt att ta med mig matlåda som jag brukar göra här i Uppsala. Det enda som egentligen är markant dyrare är alkohol på vínbúdin (deras motsvarighet till systembolaget) och tobakspriserna är nog också högre än i Sverige har jag för mig. Turistgrejer är också ganska dyrt, men där har jag svårare att jämföra med Sverigepriser eftersom jag inte brukar turista här på samma sätt. Free time 16. What did you do in your free time? Did the university arrange any special activities? Where there any activities specifically for exchange students? Were you happy with what was on offer? Jag sjöng i universitetskören, Háskólakórinn och vi repade två gånger i veckan och hade ganska mycket för oss så det tog lite tid. Annars så åkte jag på lite hajker och njöt av den helt enastående vackra naturen. Reykjavik har dessutom ett trevligt uteliv så det la jag också en del fritid på. Det anordnades aktiviteter och fester varje torsdag för utbytesstudenter men jag var inte så intresserad av det så jag vet inte om det var bra eller inte. Men de ordnade en del turistgrejer som annars hade varit mycket dyrare, så jag var på en bussutflykt med dem till förmånligt pris, och även en tvådagars hajk förbi eyafjallajökull genom en nationalpark. Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 352 av??

3 Så jag vet åtminstone att deras aktiviteter som rörde turism och fjällvandring och sånt var bra och prisvärda! Your exchange on the whole 17. Please sum up your exchange experience. If you have any other tips for future exchange students, or any other comments feel free to include them here. Island är ett otroligt häftigt och speciellt ställe och det finns så mycket att säga om det, men man gör nog bäst i att åka dit och spendera tid där själv för att upptäcka deras rariteter - det finns många! Oavsett vad man har för intressen så kommer man troligtvis hitta en mängd fascinationsämnen på Island. Jag hade massor, språkliga, kulturella, geologiska, naturgeografiska, samhälleliga, ekonomiska... listan kan bli lång. Ta chansen och åk dit, jag ångrar mig inte ett dugg! Vädret är ju inte så inställsamt men som ni vet så finns det inga dåliga väder.. =) Approval 18. Your report will be available for future exchange students in printed form at the International Office and will be sent by to individual students requesting it. Do you also approve the publishing of your exchange report on Uppsala University s website? Yes 19. Do you have any photos you would like to upload and include in your exchange report? Please tell us a little bit about the picture/s. Detta är en bild tagen vad kanten på en glaciartunga söder om vattnajökull. (det verkar ju bara gå att ladda upp en bild, så fort jag försöker lägga till en annan så byts bara den förra ut :s ) 21. Publishing of pictures I approve of my pictures being published and used in Uppsala University s marketing of international exchanges Thank you for submitting your exchange report! Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 353 av??

4 Person 55 Basic Information 1. Name Erik Sterud 2. address: 3. Exchange university háskóli íslands 4. City Reykjavik 5. Country Iceland 6. First semester of your exchange Swedish autumn semester (HT) 7. Academic year 2013/ What subject area/s did you study during your exchange? Subjects regarding environment: chemistry, soil science and some academic english 9. Level of studies at the exchange university Mixed undergrad/postgrad 10. What are you studying at Uppsala University? Miljö- och vattenteknik 11. How many years of study had you completed before going on exchange? 3 Studies 12. Tell us about your studies on your exchange. If you are stuck for ideas you can for exemple write about: The differences between Uppsala University and the exchange. What were the teachers like? What courses would you recommend (or not) for future exchange students? The relationship between teachers and students. The academic level and quality of your courses. Access to computers. Examinations... The main difference would be that you really got to now the people you studied with better than at UU. Mainly because there were so many exchange students. The classes were smaller than at UU wich led to a better connection with the teacher. Overall, the teachers were interested, capable and friendly. Orientation and reception 13. Tell us about how it was to arrive and settle in. When I arrived in Reykjavik, I knew nobody. But since there are so many in the same spot as you getting to know people was reallt easy. The oriantation meeting was good, and there exchange coordinator was friendly and helped out a lot, if needed. Accommodation 14. Describe your accommodation. What type of accommodation did you have, where you satisfied? Do you have any tips for future students? I lived in a basment appartment togheter with a Finnish guy. It was pretty central, which was nice. The rent was wuite exspensive, as it is for all accomodations. Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 164 av??

5 Your finances 15. Describe the cost of living. Did you find CSN adequate? How was the rent in comparison to your rent in Uppsala? Did you undertake part-time work in addition to your studies? It was way more expensive to live in Reykjavik like I do in Uppsala. The meat was way more expensive and alcohol is REALLY expensive. If I had kept a better budget, I would have gotten along fine. I did not work, or make any extra money. Free time 16. What did you do in your free time? Did the university arrange any special activities? Where there any activities specifically for exchange students? Were you happy with what was on offer? I hit the gym several times a week. Hung out with friends watching moovies, went to the pool, went partying and ofcourse studied. There were several activities arranged, but I only attened some of them, my choice. Your exchange on the whole 17. Please sum up your exchange experience. If you have any other tips for future exchange students, or any other comments feel free to include them here. The time spent in Reykjavik was amazing. The studies I enrolled in went really well, better than at home. I met a lot of awsome people whom I can t wait to meet again. I saw a lot of shy people come out of their shells and let loose a bit. Some of the party night were the best ones I ve ever had. Approval 18. Your report will be available for future exchange students in printed form at the International Office and will be sent by to individual students requesting it. Do you also approve the publishing of your exchange report on Uppsala University s website? Yes 19. Do you have any photos you would like to upload and include in your exchange report? Please tell us a little bit about the picture/s Publishing of pictures - Thank you for submitting your exchange report! Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 165 av??

6 Enskilda enkäter för Utbytesrapport/Exchange report 2013/14 Person 25 Basic Information 1. Name Anna Sporre 2. address: 3. Exchange university Háskóli Íslands 4. City Reykjavik 5. Country Iceland 6. First semester of your exchange Swedish spring semester (VT) 7. Academic year 2013/ What subject area/s did you study during your exchange? Environmental Engineering 9. Level of studies at the exchange university Postgraduate 10. What are you studying at Uppsala University? Environmental and water engineering 11. How many years of study had you completed before going on exchange? 4 Studies 12. Tell us about your studies on your exchange. If you are stuck for ideas you can for exemple write about: The differences between Uppsala University and the exchange. What were the teachers like? What courses would you recommend (or not) for future exchange students? The relationship between teachers and students. The academic level and quality of your courses. Access to computers. Examinations... One of the largest differences between University of Iceland and Uppsala University is that the spring semester was quite a lot shorter in Iceland. Besides being shorter it was also divided into two periods. The courses where ongoing from beginning of January until the middle of April and then we had an exam period from end of April to the middle of May. At the University of Iceland most of the courses are taught parallel. That meant that I had 5 courses at the same time and for me it felt more like high school than university back home. Having that many courses at the same time made the semester very intense for me since we got many tasks to do in all of the courses. I had only masters courses and was quite happy with them, but I have heard from others and can agree that master courses at University of Iceland do not really reach as high standard as in Uppsala. That does not mean they are easy since there still was a lot to do in the courses, but I felt that the effort I put in was larger than the knowledge I received. The courses I took were courses that were relevant for my education and also had quite many lectures scheduled during the week. This meant that it was a lot to do during the semester and that I did not have so much free time. To be able to do more even during the weeks it is recommended to choose some courses that are not so time consuming. However I would say that the courses in the engineering and science department of University of Iceland have less scheduled time during the week than corresponding courses in Uppsala, which means that we for example did not have any classroom time where we could get help with our homework. Even though we did not have this time with the teachers they were very helpful during the breaks and did reply quickly to as well. The teachers were friendly and it was not a problem to talk to them and ask questions if needed. I had different types of examinations, both oral and written ones and in some courses we were only examined on project reports. In general my Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 70 av??

7 Enskilda enkäter för Utbytesrapport/Exchange report 2013/14 impression of the difference between Uppsala and University of Iceland is that the written exams we had were shorter, but over all the difference was not that big. I used my laptop a lot in the courses I took, and for me it was necessary to be able to do the many group works I had. There are also a lot of computer rooms in the school which are available and easy accessible. From school it is also possible to print through your student account. Orientation and reception 13. Tell us about how it was to arrive and settle in. It was very nice to arrive and settle in in the apartment where I lived since we where six of the persons living there who were exchange students and new for the semester and also arrived about the same time. It was very nice to at once have people that I got to know and hang out with it made the settling in a new country a little bit easier. For me in school it was quite different to arrive and settle in since I had expected some kind of orientation from the university. Unfortunately we only had two short meetings, with all faculties and the faculty I belonged to respectively, with very little new information. Since I expected some kind of orientation it was also a little bit stressful to realize that school and all courses started the week I arrived. It was also a little bit complicated to choose courses since we could not reach the university s student webpage and see the timetables until we where registered which took some time. However, when this was solved it all worked just fine. Accommodation 14. Describe your accommodation. What type of accommodation did you have, where you satisfied? Do you have any tips for future students? I lived in a private apartment which I shared with six other exchange students just outside the central parts of Reykjavik. I got the information about the apartment through the university and they only recommend serious landlords, but one should keep in mind that there are people providing rooms for rental who are not serious. I was very satisfied with my accommodation since my flatmates were the first people I got to know in Reykjavik and I also spent a lot of time together with them during the semester. I think it was very good to stay with other exchange students since we were in the same situation and therefore had each other straight from the beginning. Except from private apartments there are also hostels and guesthouses where you can rent a room. In those places there are mostly exchange students living as well. The Icelandic students mostly live in the student housing, but they are also available for exchange students. I had a friend who lived in those apartments and she liked it, but she thought it was though in the beginning since it was not so easy to make friends there while most of the other students in the dormitory had lived there for quite a while. Your finances 15. Describe the cost of living. Did you find CSN adequate? How was the rent in comparison to your rent in Uppsala? Did you undertake part-time work in addition to your studies? The prices in Iceland, at least on food, where about the same as in Sweden during my stay. Clothes and other things are most probable more expensive than in Sweden. I did not have any CSN loan during my stay, but with saved money I did not find it hard to cope with the economic situation during my stay. One thing to think of is that if you would like to travel around and especially on arranged tours it is very expensive, but sometimes it is also the only opportunity to experience such places. The rent was similar to the rent I pay in Uppsala, but then I did not live so central and I also had a couple of kilometres to school. I got to know Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 71 av??

8 Enskilda enkäter för Utbytesrapport/Exchange report 2013/14 several exchange students in Reykjavik that had a part-time work but I did not since I felt that I did not have time with that. Free time 16. What did you do in your free time? Did the university arrange any special activities? Where there any activities specifically for exchange students? Were you happy with what was on offer? In my free time I spent a lot of time experiencing Reykjavik and the rest of Iceland. I went swimming in the pools in Reykjavik and joined in to activities by ESN (Erasmus student network) and other student related groups. I would have preferred more activities for exchange students arranged by the university in the beginning so that you more easily got to know other students. Your exchange on the whole 17. Please sum up your exchange experience. If you have any other tips for future exchange students, or any other comments feel free to include them here. I am very happy I did my exchange even though it was really though and not so fun sometimes when I had a lot to do in school. I have learnt a lot from my exchange, not so much from the courses I took, but from the entire process of coming to and living in a foreign country. I would really recommend doing an exchange since it will give you a chance to learn more about yourself and at the same time you are able to see more of another country and meet people from all over the world. Approval 18. Your report will be available for future exchange students in printed form at the International Office and will be sent by to individual students requesting it. Do you also approve the publishing of your exchange report on Uppsala University s website? Yes 19. Do you have any photos you would like to upload and include in your exchange report? Please tell us a little bit about the picture/s. Travelling around Iceland was a nice way to experience more of the country, but it also made it easier to take in the information I got in school about Iceland when I could see it with my own eyes. The picture is from the coast downstream a glacier lake. 21. Publishing of pictures I approve of my pictures being published only in this exchange report (web/printed) Thank you for submitting your exchange report! Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 72 av??