And thank you for choosing chemistry! You must be pretty smart, because you have chosen the best programme in Uppsala.đ
This guide will cover topics such as Registration and Orientation, Proppen, Reccepesten, Accommodation, Programme Structure and Courses, The Nations in Uppsala, and Finding Your Way to Your Lectures â things that can be good to know when youâre new to Uppsala.
Registration and Orientation
Registration will take place this year on 24 August at 9:00 AM in room 2004 at the Ă ngström Laboratory in Uppsala, as you have probably already been informed by email. Registration is mandatory in order to start the programme and is also a great opportunity to meet your classmates. The people responsible for the Chemistry Bachelorâs Programme will be there to introduce themselves, as well as members of our student board. You can recognize us by our burgundy hoodies and burgundy lab coats, and you are more than welcome to say hi or come and grab us if you have any questions. You can also find information about who is on the board under the âAbout Usâ tab.
Registration is scheduled from approximately 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and the orientation begins immediately afterwards. You will get lunch for free on the first day, and after that, lunch will be available to buy at a low price throughout the rest of the orientation. Of course, you are also welcome to bring your own food if you prefer. The orientation is a lot of fun, and we highly recommend taking part in as much as you can and feel up to. However, remember to take care of yourself and listen to your body. The orientation can be socially and mentally demanding, so it is important to pay attention to what you feel capable of participating in.
âš Proppen âš
Proppen is great!
âŠand Proppen is a name you will hear a lot during the orientation period. It is a refresher course in upper-secondary school mathematics, covering material up to Mathematics 4, and takes place in the mornings during the first week of orientation.
We strongly recommend attending Proppen, as it is very useful and many students find it a relief to refresh their old knowledge, especially since some of your first courses are mathematics courses. Donât feel pressured to attend every session, but the more you attend, the better!
Reccepesten đ€§
Reccepesten is something that many people at UU (Uppsala University) are familiar with. âRecceâ is short for recentior, Latin for roughly ânewcomerâ. Reccepesten is the phenomenon commonly referred to as the increased risk of catching a cold that many students experience during the first weeks of orientation. When students from different parts of the country gather in the same place, a lovely mixture of local bacteria and viruses naturally emerges â and not everyone is equally resistant to each otherâs germs.
To reduce the risk of getting sick, it is therefore important to take care of yourself during orientation. Get enough sleep, eat regularly, drink water, and remember to wash your hands often. And above all â if you feel sick, stay home and rest. It is better to miss one event than to have to miss the rest of the orientation!
Accommodation đ
During the orientation, it is important to us that you feel comfortable and get as good a start to university life as possible. Having somewhere to sleep is therefore important, so here are a few tips regarding accommodation:
- Join the housing queues of the nations â The nations often have their own housing queues and offer student accommodation where many new and returning students live.
- Join a Facebook group â Many landlords advertise accommodation on Facebook. Messenger is also a common means of communication and can be a good way to find somewhere to live.
- Ask a friend or someone in your section â There are plenty of kind people who are happy to help you with accommodation.
𧏠Programme Structure and Courses đŹ
The Bachelorâs Programme in Chemistry at Uppsala University consists of many fun and interesting courses. You are an adult, which means that you are responsible for your own education. This includes keeping track of information, as well as registering for and signing up for your courses on time.
Unlike upper-secondary school, an academic year is divided into four periods, two during the autumn semester and two during the spring semester. The first period (Period 1) runs from the beginning of the semester until sometime in November. The first courses you will take are General Chemistry, worth 10 hp, and Basic Mathematics, worth 5 hp. Both courses will be taught at âĂ nganâ, which is what many students call the Ă ngström Laboratory. These courses are an important part of what we call the Basic Block.
The Basic Block spans three semesters and consists of selected courses that the university has put together to provide a good foundation for your Bachelorâs degree. These courses are taught at Ă ngan or the Biomedical Centre, commonly shortened to BMC. The courses included in the Basic Block are strongly recommended, as they open up more options later in your education.
However, following the Basic Block is not mandatory. You are free to choose and put together your own Bachelorâs degree, but the Basic Block can be a helpful pillar to lean on if you are unsure which courses to choose.
Finding Your Way to Your Lectures đșïž
It can be tricky to find the right lecture room if you have never been on campus before. Especially at the beginning, the buildings and rooms can feel a little confusing. Many new and returning students use MazeMap if they have trouble finding a room they have never been to before. In MazeMap, you can search for buildings, rooms and other locations on campus by entering the room number and, if necessary, the campus in the search bar.
Getting to Campus
There are several ways to get to the à ngström Laboratory and BMC (Biomedical Centre).
A common way of getting to lectures in Uppsala is by bicycle. The city has many cycle paths, and it is often convenient to travel between the universityâs different campuses by bike. There are also plenty of bicycle parking areas near most campuses.
You can also take the bus. For example, bus 4 goes to Polacksbacken, where it stops right outside the à ngström Laboratory.
A good tip is to plan your first journey in advance. Check where the building is, which room you need to go to, and how long the journey takes. The first time, it can be a good idea to arrive 10â15 minutes early. That way, you wonât have to stress if you happen to walk in the wrong direction.
Once you have been on campus a few times, you will quickly learn your way around. Most courses use the same lecture rooms repeatedly, so you will soon recognize the most common ones.
Keep an eye on TimeEdit!
Even once you start feeling at home on campus, it is important to regularly check your schedule in TimeEdit. The schedule can vary from week to week, and lectures may sometimes change rooms, even at relatively short notice. Therefore, it is always a good idea to double-check the room before heading to a lecture.
If a room is changed several days in advance, the change will usually appear in TimeEdit. If the change happens at very short notice, the lecturer may also inform you through Studium. Make it a habit to check TimeEdit regularly â the last thing you want is to arrive at the wrong building or room after the lecture has already started!
The Nations in Uppsala đ„
The 13 nations are something Uppsalaâs student life is widely known for. The nations are spread throughout central Uppsala, most of them on the western side of the Fyris River. They are an important part of student life and offer everything from pubs, clubs and formal dinners to sports, choirs, culture and various social activities.
To visit a nation, you will usually need to be able to show a physical ID and a nation card, which is often available digitally through the Mecenat app. To become a member, you get a nation card through the Kuratorskonventet website. Membership usually costs around SEK 300â500 per semester, depending on which nation you choose. If you have a nation card from one nation, you also have access to the pubs of all 13 nations. However, being a member of a specific nation can give you additional benefits, such as cheaper tickets to formal dinners and gasques, or free entry to that nationâs clubs.
Which nation you choose to join depends largely on what you want to get out of your membership. Some nations are known for their large clubs and nightlife, while others focus more on activities such as choir singing, sports, culture, international students, or a strong sense of community. You can also visit and participate in activities at several different nations, even if you are a member of another one.
A good way to find the right nation for you is to think about what is important to you and then visit a few different nations. Pub crawls are a great way to try things out. Go to a pub, formal dinner, or another event and see which nation feels like the best fit for you. Many students also change nations or get involved with several nations during their time at university.
The 13 Nations
| Nation | Pub | Club Activities | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| VÀstgöta Nation | VÀstgöta Pub | Varying club nights | A smaller and cozy nation with a strong cultural and organizational life. A good fit if you enjoy community, culture and a more relaxed nation environment. |
| VĂ€stmanlands-Dala Nation | V-Dala Pub | Varying club activities | One of the larger nations. Particularly known for its many student accommodations, clubs, gasques and organizations. |
| Ăstgöta Nation | Tages KĂ€llare | Fredagsklubben | A diverse nation with a club every Friday, choir, sports and more. It also has a large number of student accommodations and plenty of opportunities for gasques. |
| SmÄlands Nation | Hyttan | Varying club activities | A smaller and welcoming nation where it is easy to get involved. A good fit if you want a close-knit community and the opportunity to try many different roles. |
| Göteborgs Nation | Glenns Pub | Club nights and releases | A smaller nation with a strong sense of community and a clear West Coast profile. Known for pub quizzes, karaoke and social events. |
| Stockholms Nation | Bakfickan | Stocken / Torsdagsklubben | A large and party-oriented nation. Particularly known for its Thursday club with several bars and dance floors, but it also offers lunches, brunches, gasques and balls. |
| Norrlands Nation | Orvars Krog | Varying club activities | Uppsalaâs largest nation, with a very wide range of clubs, pubs, choirs, organizations and other activities. Orvars Krog is the nationâs pub. |
| GĂ€strike-HĂ€lsinge Nation | GH-puben | Varying club nights | A medium-sized and social nation where it is easy to get to know people. Offers a wide range of social activities and events. |
| Södermanlands-Nerikes Nation | Svantes KÀllare | Snerikes club | One of the larger and more party-oriented nations. Known for its nightlife, dancing and large club events, but also offers culture, theatre and other activities. |
| Gotlands Nation | Betty’s Pub | Varying club nights | A small and welcoming nation with a strong sense of community and connections to Gotland. Hosts many music quizzes and balls. It is the only nation on the eastern side of the Fyris River. |
| Kalmar Nation | Kalmarpuben | Varying club/live events | A smaller and social nation with a strong music profile. Known for live events, music and a relaxed atmosphere. |
| VĂ€rmlands Nation | WermlandskĂ€llar’n | Klubb V | Known for its Friday club with two dance floors and several bars. It also has a cozy pub in the old cellar. |
| Uplands Nation | Pub 19 | Varying club nights | Uppsalaâs oldest nation, with strong traditions, culture, gasques and an active social life. |