Sweden

Note: This program is no longer partnered with St. Lawrence University after Spring 2025. This will not impact students who have been accepted to study off-campus in Sweden during the Spring 2025 semester. For prospective students, please consider some of our alternate partners. CIIS staff are available to discuss your academic and professional goals for off-campus study.

Qualified St. Lawrence University students have the opportunity to spend the fall or spring in Stockholm, studying with DIS-Study Abroad in Scandinavia. The DIS Stockholm program offers students a rich educational and cross-cultural experience in the heart of Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. Through theory-based courses in Stockholm, two course-integrated study tours, and unique hands-on learning experiences students develop critical thinking skills and acquire new intercultural skills.

Each student must select a program and one of its 'Core Courses', this course will determine the destinations of the long and short study tours. In addition to the program course and required Swedish Language and Culture course, students will select from a wide array of elective courses. DIS encourages engagement with Swedish culture through activities such as course-integrated Field Studies (academic excursions around Stockholm), local clubs, adventures with homestays, and sports and recreation (allemansrätten).

Please note that the number of students attending this program is limited and admission is highly competitive. Meeting program application requirements does not guarantee acceptance and students should clearly articulate their academic rationale for study on the DIS program. It is strongly recommended that students planning to apply to this program discuss this in advance with a member of the CIIS staff.

Based in Stockholm.
Fall or Spring semester.
Combined enrollment for DIS Sweden and Denmark is capped at 12 students per semester (a backup option is encouraged for competitive programs).
- Note that students can only apply for either Denmark or Sweden, but not both. Students are strongly encouraged to apply for an SLU signature program for an alternative option.
Pre-requisites: 3.0 GPA, one European Studies course or a course with significant European content (preferably with a focus on Western Europe) and additional requirements based on core course choice.
Students must take a program 'Core Course' and Swedish Language and Culture course while on the program.
Live with homestay families.

Location Academics Co-Curricular Housing Calendar Orientation Program Contacts

Location

Stockholm, Sweden's bustling capital, is a diverse and progressive city. As home to the Nobel Prize, Stockholm is a capital led by forward-looking decision makers, artists, innovators, and scholars, while narrow cobble streets take you back to its 13th-century beginning. Discover Europe through Study Tours and Field Studies that bring course topics to life and expose you to additional cultural perspectives. Students have the chance not only to ‘see', but to discover and understand crucial global issues in European context through participation in study tours in locations such as Austria, England, France Germany, Greece, and Scotland.

Academics

St. Lawrence students must:

Enroll in a full course load, 15 credit hours - typically five courses
Enroll in a Program 'Core Course' and a Swedish Language and Culture course

Students choose a core course from the semester course finder linked below. Enrollment in a particular program course is not guaranteed until DIS registration is complete after acceptance to the program.

Note: Some core courses may include a lab component as a separate co-requisite class; students may not enroll in more than one core course.

Students also choose from a variety of elective courses. Generally, each course in Sweden is worth 3 credits. When researching courses, students must pay close attention to the number of credits awarded in each course, keeping in mind that students must register for a minimum of 15 credits. This is not an overload.

Please see the DIS-Study Abroad in Scandinavia website for further information on available courses.

Course credit from the DIS Stockholm program transfers back to SLU, provided you have received course approval from the department chair of the particular academic department in question. You will receive more information about this during orientation.

Co-curricular

The DIS classes offer an exciting dimension: the integration of classroom teaching with field studies in and around Stockholm. Most of the DIS courses have several field study events during the semester to add depth and perspective to the classroom teaching.

In addition, each of the academic programs includes a 3-day course-related study tour (in Sweden or a neighboring country) and a 1-week study tour to various locations in Europe. The field visits and study tours are conducted by DIS faculty and staff and form an intense, combination of academic exploration, socializing and fun. The field visits and the study tour for your academic program are included in the cost of the program.

Housing

As with many SLU Off-Campus Programs, students are required to live with homestay families. Living with a Swedish family and taking part in its daily routines and conversations provides students with a unique and valuable insight into Swedish culture that they could not otherwise attain. It is a very popular housing option at DIS and ranks highest in student satisfaction.

Calendar

See the DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia website for program dates. The Fall semester typically begins in late August and ends in mid-December. The Spring semester typically begins in mid-January and ends in mid-May.

Orientation

Pre-departure: The CIIS office organizes in-depth orientation sessions on-campus prior to the student's participation in the program. This includes program specific session(s) in which the students will learn more about the program, local culture, academic expectations, and other important information. There is also an orientation session led by the CIIS office on culture shock as well as safety and security while abroad.

On site: During the first week in Stockholm students will participate in a four day arrival workshop. Students will be introduced to DIS, to Stockholm, to Sweden and to all the facets of being an international student. DIS staff will guide students in obtaining transportation passes and the Swedish Residence permit, teach students how to navigate the city and will provide an activities forum with a variety of organizations.

Students are required to participate in all orientation activities - on campus and in Stockholm.

Program Contacts

If you are interested in learning more about the Sweden program please contact:

CIIS Office: Kim Longfellow, Assistant Director of Off-Campus Programs - Questions about eligibility, program logistics, and other off-campus opportunities.