New students
Welcome to Lund University (LU for short)! We're delighted to welcome students from all over the world to Lund. We know there's a lot to organise when you arrive, so we've put together some top tasks and important information to help you settle in.
Also be sure to check out the digital Orientation Guide in Canvas.
Shortcuts to page content:
Arrival and registration
There are several tasks you need to complete before you can start your studies. Make sure you follow the instructions you have received. Don't hesitate to contact your programme or course coordinator if you have any questions.
Send a quick message home. You can access the free Wi-Fi on campus with your student account login.
Bring your photo identification (passport or EU identity card) for travel, arrival and registration.
Contact your programme or course coordinator to find out how to complete your enrolment at Lund University. This is only if you haven't already received information from them.
If your admission was conditional and you need to show that you have completed your Bachelor's degree, please submit your final transcripts and diploma to your account at universityadmissions.se (in accordance with any country-specific requirements). You should also show them to your programme coordinator. They will inform the Admissions Office accordingly.
Remember to bring a certified copy (or the original) and any relevant official translations according to the official requirements for documents.
Your department's activities may cover topics such as:
- services and resources available to students at the department
- key academic and administrative staff
- health and safety
If you have not already done so, sign in to your student email account. You log in to these services using your student account (which consists of a user ID and a password). Remember to check your student account emails regularly throughout your studies. This will ensure that you don't miss any important information.
Find out more about and sign in:
The LU card serves as an ID card within Lund University. It also gives you access to the buildings relevant to your studies. In addition, you can use it to borrow books from all the university libraries. The card is free of charge and getting one is quick and easy.
Please note that the LU card can only be used within the University. For student discounts you need a valid card from either Studentkortet or Mecenat.
Student life
Start building your social network and get involved in the rich student life at Lund.
You can participate in many different activities during the Orientation Weeks. Learn more:
Sign up for a Studentlund membership online and finalise registration by visiting one of the twelve nations that are part of Studentlund during their office hours. After you have joined a nation, you can download the app 'Studentkortet' to prove your membership. You are then ready to get involved in the fantastic student life at Lund University.
If you have signed up for the international mentor programme, your mentors will invite you for different activities. Some faculties, programmes and student unions are also running mentor programmes. You can be part of several mentor programmes at the same time.
Follow the @lunduniversity Instagram account to see life through the eyes of other current international students. Use the hashtag #hejlunduni during the Orientation Weeks for a chance to have your photo featured on the official Instagram account. You can also win a Lund University backpack.
Practical matters for your day-to-day life in Sweden
To help you focus on your studies, consider these practical issues before you start.
If you have been admitted for studies that will last longer than 12 months, you should apply for a Swedish personal identity number ('personnummer') with the Swedish Tax Agency ('Skatteverket'). Be sure to check which documents you need to take with you in order to apply for the personal identity number.
Once you have received a personal identity number from the Swedish Tax Agency, please send an email stating your temporary as well as your new personal identification number to ladok [at] stu [dot] lu [dot] se (ladok[at]stu[dot]lu[dot]se).
Ladok is the system for the documentation of results for university students in Sweden. You can use it to view your academic results and generate and print out transcripts of records. In order to be able to issue correct transcripts and diplomas, the University needs to have correct information.
If you are a non-EU student and if you do not yet have a Swedish residence permit card (UT card), you need to get photographed and fingerprinted at the Swedish Migration Agency office (National Service Centre) in Malmö (i.e. you did not require a visa in order to travel to Sweden and are therefore able to instead provide your biometrical data once you are in Sweden).
A refill phone card is provided on Arrival Day.
The fastest way to get around Lund is by bike. Getting a second-hand bike is ideal. You can buy one:
- at a local shop
- at the 'bike auctions' that are arranged by the city of Lund of few times every year
- in Facebook's Marketplace or Sell/Buy groups, or
- in Swedish online classifieds such as blocket.se.
You don't need a fancy bike, but you should invest in a good bike lock.
Make sure the bike is safe to ride and familiarise yourself with the rules of the road. Be aware that the law requires you to have a working:
- white light on the front of your bike
- red light at the rear of your bike, and
- reflectors, brakes and a bell.
The easiest way to buy tickets is through the Skånetrafiken app, where you will also find current train and bus schedules. With the app, you can get separate tickets for occasional travels (single or 24-hour) or buy a monthly ticket.
Student discount on public transport
Note that a valid student discount card is required to travel with a student discount.
Cash is not accepted
Also keep in mind that cash is not accepted on buses or trains. You always need to have a valid and activated ticket before you board a train. On the green city buses, you can scan your debit/credit card to buy a ticket (if your card allows for contactless payment).
Visit the Skånetrafiken customer counters at the train or bus station for help and more information.
Visit the Skånetrafiken website for information about tickets, cards and services (in Swedish)
Students that have a Swedish personal identity number can set up a bank account in Sweden.
If you do not have access to online banking, Forex Bank may be able to help you make bill payments. Another option is using Kassagirot's services at a local convenience store.
Learn more:
If you would like to learn Swedish, there are several ways to go about it, both at the University and outside of it. Swedes are generally very good at English and are in fact among the best in the world at English as a second language. However, you may want to learn some (basic) Swedish to really immerse yourself into the Swedish culture and experience.
As a new student, it is helpful to know what is expected in Swedish society in terms of sorting your own waste and other ideas to help support a more sustainable lifestyle.
By separating and recycling your waste, buying things secondhand and biking or using the public transportation system, among others, you can contribute to a more sustainable society.
If you would like to work part-time during your studies, you should note that many students are competing for the available positions. If you do not know any (or much) Swedish, it will be even more difficult to find jobs, including service jobs.
If your main motivation for wanting to find a part-time job is to acquire relevant skills for your future career, volunteering for a student organisation or NGO may be interesting options for you to explore.
To find accurate and reliable Swedish news in English, you can for example listen to Radio Sweden or read articles published by the online newspaper The Local.
Services and support for new students
Students at Lund University have access to a wide range of services and support. This will help you to perform well and achieve a good work-life balance.
If you have programme- or course-specific questions, contact your coordinator.
The Student Health Centre offers counselling to Lund University students. The staff work primarily with psychological problems that affect your ability to study, such as
- stress
- worry
- anxiety
- depression
- transitional issues and/or
- academic difficulties.
You can book appointments in Lund or in Helsingborg.
The Academic Support Centre are a service open to all students studying courses and programmes conducted in English at Lund University. The staff provide
- individual and group consultations (including feedback on texts)
- workshops and
- seminars
on topics in the following areas:
- academic texts
- the writing process and
- reading and study skills.
Watch a video about the Lund University libraries on YouTube
The Lund University libraries provide course literature and reference material as well as places to study. They often have group rooms with or without computers where you can study. In addition, many of the libraries provide training sessions about resource and information searching that can support you in your studies.
The student unions handle politics and student rights and are very active in contributing to the way the University is run. They also arrange social activities, welcome events for new students, careers fairs and a range of projects and committees. As a student, you can easily get involved in the unions' work and seize the opportunity to gain leadership experience.
Watch a video about the Multifaith Chaplaincy's services on YouTube
Students of all faiths, and none, are welcome to the Multifaith Chaplaincy. The student chaplains serve all students and employees of the University. You are welcome to visit the student chaplains irrespective of your faith or religion. The chaplains provide personal and spiritual counselling and support. The student chaplains can also help you to contact any local church or religious body.
Student health and safety
Find out about student health and safety matters at the University and locally.
Remember that the emergency number for Sweden is 112.
You can learn more about
- seeking medical help
- the free 1177 health telephone advice number
- student health counselling
- sexual health and
- medical insurance
on our student health pages.