Please consider this page a resource for information and support. For parents of enrolled students, we are always available to discuss any question or concern that arises before or after your student arrives in Stockholm. For parents of students who may be considering applying, we want you to know that we are more than happy to talk to you about any questions you might have about our program.
The overall wellness and health of our students is our first priority. As a small program, we are able to provide personalized care for our students. We give considerable attention to the reality of culture shock; it takes time for students to adjust to a new society and culture. As background to this issue, we require incoming students to read Writing Across Culture: An Introduction to Study Abroad and Culture Shock prior to departure. Issues raised in the book are followed up on during Orientation Week.
Students often feel some disorientation soon after arriving in Stockholm. Parents can be surprised when they initially talk to their son/daughter and he or she sounds upset. Please know that such anxiety or homesickness is completely normal. Of course, students who feel this way will, more than usual, stay “connected’ with their friends and family via phone and social media. Ironically, constant contact may only prolong their feelings of disconnection with their new culture. Students are more likely to overcome their initial culture shock when their focus is on the new cultural environment; only then do study abroad students start to gain confidence in their ability to navigate their new society. Please encourage your son or daughter to focus on their adjustment rather than attaching themselves to their phone during the orientation period.
If you believe your son and daughter is having a difficult time adjusting, please urge him or her to reach out to our staff in Stockholm. Of course, you are also more than welcome to call us — either in Stockholm or in the U.S. — if you feel that your son or daughter is experiencing adjustment problems or needs psychological/emotional support for any reason. In such a case, we want you to know that if you call us with information that refers to the well being of your son or daughter, we cannot hold that information in confidence. Rather, we act on such information by contacting your student and discussing the issue.
All packages and regular mail must be sent to your student’s apartment or host family address. The Stockholm School of Economics does not accept student mail. We can only make exceptions for emergencies, such as replacing lost credit cards, cell phones, or passports. In such cases, students must receive prior approval from Carina Kamb Deiaco, Head of Administration, so she can inform the mail room at SSE to accept a letter or package for a particular student. Please understand that any packages or mail sent to SSE without such approval may not be accepted by the mail room, and thus, returned to the sender. Thank you for your understanding.
Please also be advised that it can be very expensive to send packages to Sweden. In addition to shipping fees, packages are subject to import taxes and are often delayed in customs. This includes both personal and commercial packages (e.g., items purchased from an online retailer). For this reason, we recommend that students bring a semester’s supply of any products they will need regularly. (Upon arrival in Stockholm, students also receive a list of suggestions for where to buy common items locally.) If you do send a package, please understand that your student will be responsible for any import fees. You can find information about fees from Tullveket, the Swedish import authority, by visiting http://www.tullverk
It is important to note that prescription medication can never be sent by mail. Your student should contact his or her doctor for a semester’s supply of any prescription medication before coming to Stockholm. To fill a prescription after arrival, students must visit a local doctor to have a Swedish prescription issued.
We expect students to be present for all academic classes and absence due to travel, including travel with family, is counted as an unexcused absence. If you plan to travel with your student, please plan accordingly.
Dial 011 + 46 + the Swedish number.
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Contact the Swedish Program in Stockholm
Emergency number for police, fire, and medical emergencies in Sweden: 112