Accomodation

Accomadation...maybe the most complicated pre arrival-issue...

This is the information from the Pre arrival guide that you received/will receive about accommodation:

There is a shortage of rooms for rent in Stockholm and the wait for accommodation is generally long. We advise all students who need accommodation in Stockholm to contact the University Accommodation Centre to have your name placed on a waiting list. For more information and to download application forms for first-hand accommodation, visit the website at www.uac.se.

Subletting (second-hand accommodation) is a common way for students to arrange accommodation, because the wait for a room or flat is much shorter than for first-hand contracts. However, locating second-hand accommodation requires time and effort, in part because there is currently no centralised organisation that oversees subletting for students in Stockholm. A new portal for locating sublets for students in Stockholm is currently under development and is scheduled to be launched in July 2011. Updates about the new online portal will be posted on www.ki.se as more information becomes available.

The Stockholm Visitors Board provides information about hotels, youth hostels and bed & breakfasts in the Stockholm area that may be of use during the first few weeks of your stay in Stockholm. Visit their website at www.visitstockholm.com.

However, I am quite sure that won’t help you much. There are student accommodations in Stockholm, but you can just apply for them if you are member in the student union (medicinska föreningen www.medicinskaforeningen.se) and this is just possible as a student…and therefore too late for you (at least in the beginning of your studies). Even if you applied for the apartments will there be a long waiting time to get one…

Karthik - a classmate of mine - listed on his blog (http://www.swedenintouch.se/Karthik-Maddi/Blog/) several other possibilities, how to find an accommodation in Stockholm. One of the most often used possibilities is blocket.se (see below) the problem is that each add gets a lot of replies and those who rent out apartment might prefer people who can come and visit the apartment before (which might be tough for you^^). If you need help with the translation or want to know if a apartment/flat is close enough to the university etc. just use the forum to ask, we try to help you!

From Karthiks blog:

Listed below are some of the sites that Swedish people use for renting places. You will need to use Google Translator if you can't read Swedish (like me).

1)http://www.blocket.se/

-this is like Swedish version of craigslist. Once you visit the site, translate using google, then choose apartment on drop down list, check the rent box, then finally put max rent fee (i.e. 5000SEK/month).

2)http://www.bostaddirekt.com/

-a real estate company that helps you find a place that matches your need. If you are going to Sweden that early, you can get an agent to go around with you. They will charge you a fee, but only after you have found a place to rent.

3)http://www.hyralya.se

-Extremely useful site for finding a short term stay (~2-6 months) but they also have many long term ones that lasts 12-24 months. It's a sublet site where owners can post by themselves. You need to pay ~20$ (or ~10pounds if you are from UK) to see the owner contact info, but it's worth it, especially for people who need accommodation right now.

Site you may have already used: (i.e. Student boarding companies)

4)http://www.sssb.se

-Need to wait at least 400 days (I would start now, so you can get a place 1 yr later), but they do have last minute deal which is first come-first serve basis. You will need to refresh this every few hours to get those deals

5)http://www.bostad.stockholm.se/en/Students/

-Also need to wait ~300-400 days, but they have deals that are based on how long you want to rent (first come first serve) that you maybe lucky enough to get. Need to sit down and refresh all the time lol.

6)http://www.kistastudentbostader.se

-same as SSSB, but it only applies to KISTA region (commute with subway/tube) so it has less people competing for a spot

7)http://www.huge.se

-same as SSSB type site, but only applies to Huddinge region (which 1/2 of our classes are located). You will have to commute up to Solna for the other 1/2 of classes. Less competition as well.

FINALLY: If you really really desperate, you can check out http://www.uac.se/. The UAC offers short term stays for people going to Karolinska or Stockholm U and don't have a place to stay. I suggest you go register ASAP.

Another possibility (but maybe not the cheapest) could be to come some weeks before lectures start, live in a hostel (or as interim tenant) and use this time to find a flat. This worked for many of my classmates as well…

Don´t hesitate to ask if you need help!