DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia, Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm is an archipelago consisting of 14 islands which pales in size to how many islands the country of Sweden has, which is beyond 250,000. Stockholm borders Norway to the West and North and Finland to the East and is connected to Denmark to the Southwest by a bridge tunnel. Of all the Scandinavian nations, it is the largest and largest country in Northern Europe. Sweden is home to about 10.5 million while its capital Stockholm has 2.4 million inhabitants.

DIS is a non-profit study abroad foundations whose priority is to provide a safe and inclusive learning environment in the various Scandinavian countries that it operates in. Operating in Stockholm provides students with the opportunity to live in one of the worlds greenest, safest, and peaceful cities.

This is a fall or spring program:

• Fall: mid-August to mid-December
• Spring: mid-January to mid-May

• Students must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA to be considered.
• Courses are worth 3 credits.
• Academic areas best served: Biology, Communications, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Music.

*All grades from abroad are transferred and calculated into your Loyola GPA; no courses can be taken as pass/fail

• Study tours and field study visits are part of the academics.
• Optional Study Tours (with associated credit-bearing course) and DIScovery Trips to numerous locations throughout Europe are run by DIS for an
  extra charge at cost.
• Students receive a food stipend in the form of a supermarket card
• Airport pick-up
• Transit pass

Loyola University Maryland relies on the professional Residence Life & Housing staff of DIS. DIS holds a full arrival workshop planned to help students adjust to life in Stockholm. Students will have optional intensive Swedish language lessons, seminars on DIS services, and help with practical matters like transportation passes. There will also be social events throughout the week to help students meet one another. Participation in the full orientation program in Stockholm is mandatory for all students.

DIS offers a 24-hour emergency cell phone service to all students. In the case of a serious health or safety emergency regarding a student currently at DIS, students or family members may contact the DIS US Office or in Stockholm Office. Students receive emergency contact cards including these phone numbers in their pre-departure Packets and are asked to share copies with their parents.

There is a DIS care team which supports students from various departments on campus if anything were to arise. 

Students must be prepared for a more group-project and independent study model of classes. Most classes take place in the classrooms. However, there are no classes on Wednesday since that day is dedicated to field study day. Course information may be found at DIS courses in Stockholm

• Each housing option will require some commute to get to campus.
• DIS offers several housing options:
  • Homestay
  • Residential
  • Community
  • Living & LearningCommunity
  • Studentboende

Read more about DIS housing

Loyola financial aid applies and students are eligible for consideration for all forms of federal, state, institutional and private sources of aid except the Federal Work Study Program. Students studying abroad for either a semester or full academic year will forfeit the value of a Federal Work-Study assignment for the semester/s that they go abroad. If the student qualifies for federal work study, they can use the award for the semester they are on campus during their abroad year.

If you receive GI/Veterans benefits, please contact our Registrar’s office as soon as possible before you apply!!

Students/parents pay to Loyola the following charges:

• Loyola Tuition
• Loyola Housing
• Study Abroad Program fee
• International Insurance Premium

Students are enrolled in the Swedish healthcare system which provides primary health coverage.

Medical insurance is also provided for all students during the program term by Loyola University Maryland through Chubb Insurance. This insurance coverage includes medical evacuation and repatriation, as well as 24-hour support services for medical issues. This insurance functions as a primary insurance while abroad.

Students are required to submit a copy of their U.S. health insurance card/policy. Please be sure not to cancel your US insurance policy while abroad since the provided insurances only function while on program and outside of the US.

Once accepted into the program, students must call their bank and credit card carriers to tell them that they will be abroad for the semester. Students should carry debit or credit cards with them. Both Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted forms of payment, Discover and AmEx are less commonly accepted. Cash in Europe is also widely utilized. 

To study abroad in Sweden, U.S. students are not required to apply for a visa but are required to present themselves in front of a consular officer at the Swedish Embassy in Washington D.C. More information can be found on the DIS website on how this process works.

Loyola University Students who have a U.S. Passport are considered 'visa free' and will enter Sweden as tourists and will apply for a Swedish residence permit after arrival in Stockholm. Loyola students who do not have a U.S. Passport please contact DIS and your program director.

Once in Sweden, all visa free students will apply for a residence permit, upon arrival in Stockholm you will receive the necessary application/paperwork and there will be an orientation session that will help in completing the application for your Resident Permit. 

Students make their own arrangements for travel to Stockholm . Students should consult their program director on advice in booking travel to ARN.

Students fly into Stockholm via Stockholm Airport (ARN). Program staff meet the students arriving between 7:00am-3:00pm on the official arrival day in the baggage claim area of the Stockholm Airport. After collecting their luggage a bus takes them to registration site. Students who arrive after 3 p.m. will be required to take a cab to the registration site.   

Please make sure your student is at least three hours early to the airport for proper check-in and to go through security. Students should carry with them:  their passport with visa, money, ATM card, credit card, any prescription drugs they might need, and clothes in case your luggage gets delayed.

Application Requirements 

Students must submit an online application AND a Course Planning form by 11:59 pm on the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving break of their sophomore year to study abroad in the fall or spring term of junior year. 

• Attend a Study Abroad 101 information session.
• Declare a major before applying to the study abroad program.
• Discuss with your major advisor the possible courses you could take abroad and see if there are any potential problems, he/she sees with your plans to study abroad; Students cannot be on disciplinary probation nor have a history of serious disciplinary problems.

Criteria for Acceptance

• Minimum cumulative CQPA average of 3.00
• Students who can find courses which fit their Loyola program and allow full-time participation and who are neither on disciplinary probation nor have a history of serious disciplinary problems.
• ROTC candidates can apply as freshman to study abroad in the spring of their sophomore year. 
• An academic interview with the program coordinator at Loyola University Maryland is required.