We see housing as an important opportunity for cultural integration. That’s why we offer students the choice of two immersive housing options: fully furnished apartments located throughout Stockholm, or carefully selected host families.
Our apartments provide an opportunity for cultural immersion. In Stockholm, “student housing” is extremely limited, so most Swedish students live like you will be living – in private apartments spread around the city. Your everyday experiences, from doing laundry in the apartment building to shopping in the neighborhood for groceries, will allow you to interact with locals in your building and your neighborhood.
Students living in our apartments have the option of being assigned a local “contact family” or “SSE student buddy” with whom they meet throughout the semester. We match one to two students with each contact family or buddy. Upon acceptance to The Swedish Program, we will provide more detailed information to help you decide which option is best for you.
We generally place 2 to 4 students in each apartment, with 1 to 2 students per bedroom. Please note that the arrangement in our apartments may change from year to year. Our apartments are located no longer than one hour by public transportation to SSE (under normal weather conditions). However, most of our students living in apartments have a commute between 25 and 40 minutes.
“Our apartment was a serene place to call home and the ideal setting to relax, work, cook, and be with friends. Its close proximity to the city, about 25 minutes, gave me the best of both worlds; I was immersed in Stockholm throughout the day, but also had access to nature and quiet whenever I wanted.”
– Ruby Ling, Wesleyan University –
Living with a host family gives students the opportunity for daily immersion in Swedish family life. Most Swedish Program students who have lived with a family report that their family stay was the best part of their time in Stockholm! Our criterion for selecting host families is simple but demanding: the family must be motivated solely by their interest in a rewarding inter-cultural experience. Our students are treated as family members, not as boarders, and we expect both students and families to make an active commitment to openness, flexibility, and cultural sensitivity.
Students who elect to live with a host family will have their own furnished bedroom. Host family homes are located no longer than 70 minutes by public transportation to SSE (under normal weather conditions). However, most of our students living with host families have a commute between 40 and 50 minutes. We limit host family placements to 8 students per semester. Consequently, students who prefer a host family should apply early, as we have a rolling admissions process. Moreover, students who elect to live with a host family are required to have a brief Skype interview with our staff in Stockholm to better help us find a family placement.