New students
A warm welcome to Lund University (or LU in short)! We are proud to have students from all over the world join us at Lund. We know there's a lot to get organised when you arrive, so we've compiled top tasks and other relevant information to help you settle in.
Note that you can also find all this and more information in your digital Orientation Guide in Canvas.
Shortcuts to page contents:
Arrival and registration
There are a few tasks you need to complete to be able to start your studies. Make sure to follow the instructions you have received and don’t hesitate to contact your programme or course coordinator if you have any questions.
Send a quick message home using your smartphone or laptop. You can access the free Wi-Fi on campus with your student account login.
Always bring your 'Notification of Results'/'Letter of Acceptance' and your photo identification (passport or EU ID card) during the first few weeks – you will be asked for these a lot!
Contact your programme or course coordinator to find out how to complete your enrolment at Lund University, if you haven't already received information from them concerning this.
If you were given conditional admission and need to show that you completed your Bachelor's degree, please submit your final transcripts and diploma to your University Admissions in Sweden account (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 introduction activities may cover topics such as:
- services available to students in the department
- key academic and administrative staff
- health and safety
- resources
etc.
If you have not already done so, log in to your student email account. You log in to these services using your student account (consisting of a user ID and a password). Remember to check your student account emails regularly during your time at Lund University so you don't miss any important information.
Learn more about and log in to:
The LU card serves as an ID card within Lund University and you also use it to access the buildings relevant to your studies and borrow books at all university libraries. The card is free of charge and getting one is quick and easy.
Please note that the LU access card is only used within the University. For student discounts, you need to be a member of Studentlund.
Contact information International Desk
Opening hours
Visiting hours:
Monday–Friday, 9:30–12:30
Phone hours:
Monday–Friday, 10:00–12:00
Closed for Easter from 7 to 10 April, and 17 April.
Contact details
Visiting address:
Stora Algatan 4, Lund
Email: studentreception [at] lu [dot] se
Telephone: +46 (0)46 222 01 00
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 International Desk Facebook page to be alerted to regular activities organised for international students and as a forum to ask general questions during your time at Lund University.
Follow the @lunduniversity Instagram account to see life through the eyes of other current international students. Join the #hejlunduni competition during the Orientation Weeks for the chance to have your photo featured on the official Instagram account and even be in to win a Lund University backpack.
Practical matters for your day-to-day life in Sweden
Look into these practical matters before your courses start so you will be able to focus on your studies.
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 support [at] ladok [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.
Watch on YouTube: a video about the migration process and residence permit for studies
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 that the bike is safe to ride and update yourself on the traffic rules. Be aware that, by law, you need
- a white light on the front of your bike
- a red light on the back of your bike, and
- reflectors, breaks and a bell
that work.
Watch on YouTube: How to travel with local public transport in the Skåne region
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.
Please note that you always need to be able to prove that you are a Studentlund member if you make use of the student discount.
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) and on the yellow regional buses, you can buy a ticket directly from the bus driver using your debit/credit card.
Visit the Skånetrafiken customer counters at the train or bus station for help and more information.
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 an extensive services and support structure to help you perform well and find 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.