The Complete Walkthrough to Jonkoping

(Update: 14 August 2012 - Noticed that there's quite a bit of traffic being diverted here... so a bit of update since Jonkoping has changed quite a bit since I've done the exchange there! - even though I've been back 2 times since)

Prior to choosing and going to Jonkoping, I did not have a lot of information on it, so it was slightly difficult going. But with the benefit of hindsight, things could have been much much easier. So here's a complete guide to the little town I call home!

Please let me know if you have any questions, or how this guide can be further improved!

Why Choose Jonkoping in Sweden?
1. The chance to travel Europe. It is much more diverse than the US (different countries have vastly different cultures – plus quite a bit more to see and do)
2. Cheaper than the US (if you plan to travel a lot – due to the weak Pound, Euro, and Swedish Krona, and also Ryanair, Easyjet, or Wizzair)
3. Sweden is the cheapest country in Scandinavia
4. Very safe, and people are friendly and speak English very well
5. The Swedish ‘Quality of Life’ mentality gets to you
6. Vastly different from Singapore’s urban environment – Jonkoping is an urban small town, with a generous dose of nature. You might find yourself lost and bored after 6, since there’s not a lot of shopping to be found, but you’ll slowly love to appreciate their way of life.
7. Slack classes!
8. Relatively close to budget airports (Stockholm Skavsta is around 4 hours away and services Ryanair and Wizzair. Goteborg City airport is 2 hours away and services Ryanair and Wizzair as well. Copenhagen's International Airport is 5+ hours away and services Easyjet). I can only recall Hertfordshire being closer, of all the universities that offer SCI courses.
a. IMPT – Being close to budget airports is essential if you intend to travel cheap and tour all of Europe – Flights are the cheapest way to travel, and beats trains and coaches all the time (tickets can cost as little as 10 pounds one way, without check-in baggage of course)

Burning Course-Related Questions
You’ll be able to do a maximum of 5 courses, 19 AUs. Choose from News Production (match for COM221), TV Production (COM225), Multimedia Production (COM229), Internet Production, International and Intercultural Communication (COM458) Swedish Language (UE).
They’re more project based, but it’s still quite slack and easy to just pass. Swedish semesters are divided into 2 periods, each lasting about 2 months, with a recess week in between. Internet Production stretches over 2 periods, so it’s not as recommended.

Before You Depart – Getting Ready
1. Visa matters
a. Apply for a Visa at the Swedish Embassy, which is near Newton (the Singapore Power Building). Costs 200 SGD.
i. Application is pretty fast, note that they will only give you a Visa that stretches you 2 weeks before and after term time (which gives you very little time to travel)
1. But most classes can be skipped (teachers are pretty liberal about that) – I travelled during term time and for 1 month after my term, covering about 25 cities
2. You can either:
a. Overstay – Potentially dangerous, since there are frequent passport checks for domestic (which means Ryanair) flights. You will confirmed be checked when flying back to Singapore, so it’s dealing with luck. Overland travel (train, coach) will have significantly less visa checks, but might still occur.
b. Apply for extension – Can only be done when you reach Jonkoping. Must have valid reason (but the school will try to help you). The Migration Board is a bit difficult to find. It’s in an ulu building in the City Centre. Costs 200 SGD.
c. Leave the UK for the last leg – Travel the Schengen Area during term time, and leave for the UK when your Visa expires. The UK is out of the Schengen Area, so you have 1 month to travel there. But you will have to lug your luggage around and find one place to store.
i. Schengen Area explanation – Swedish Visas are also Schengen visas, which permit you to enter other Schengen areas (most European states are Schengen) for up to 90 days (although they won’t really count). But once the Visa expires, you cannot enter the areas even as a tourist (some countries might take exception but you have to ask their immigrations first)
2. Buying your plane ticket
a. There are no direct flights to Jonkoping (Jonkoping’s Axamo Airport is relatively small), so the best way to get to Jonkoping is by flight to Copenhagen or Stockholm, and then a train/coach to Jonkoping.
i. Copenhagen is a very busy airport, and while tickets to there are usually cheaper than Stockholm, the airport staff is extremely picky about luggage allowance (only 7kg hand carry, and 32kg check-in). Stockholm is said to be more lax, but tickets could be slightly more expensive.
ii. Look at Thai Airways, Scandinavian Airlines and Qatar Airways especially. They’re usually cheaper.
iii. Normally the earlier you buy, the cheaper it is. But occasionally airlines run promos.
iv. STA dangles the extra luggage carrot. But the fact is that you can also get the extra luggage (at least for Thai Airways) if you go to their office with your e-ticket and your acceptance form to Jonkoping. STA is a travel agent, and will still get a bit of commission for their efforts. Do check, however, if the airline offers extra luggage for students.
b. From Copenhagen International Airport, you can take a Swebus coach to Jonkoping. Book online, the earlier it is the cheaper. Check the timings first, as there are only 3 trips a day. You’re looking for FROM Kastrup Terminal 2 for Copenhagen (Kastrup is Copenhagen’s Airport – Just wait outside the terminal, at the bus stop, earlier than the time – Europeans are VERY punctual) TO Jonkoping.
c. From Stockholm International Airport, there seems to be a new route as well, You’re looking for FROM Arlanda to Jonkoping.
d. Trains are available also, but the duration is similar. It’s also more expensive, and you have to make transfers. They can also be late, causing extra stress. Also, they don’t allow online booking for non-European credit cards. You’ll be looking at from Köbenhavns Lufthavn/Kastrup (for Copenhagen) or Stockholm C to Jonkoping.
e. Try to time your arrival so that you can use the pickup service from the University. It’s much easier than trying to find your way around, lugging 30kg luggage in the snow (not fun at all in negative temperatures).
3. Travel Insurance
a. Buy NTUC Income’s travel insurance, not AIG’s. The AIG plan that STA recommends does not cover you for travel delays (it’s just illnesses and lost belongings). I recouped 1k for Iceland’s volcanic eruption. AIG plan-holders won’t. Get more people to purchase as a group for more savings.
4. Luggage Packing
a. Get space bags for packing from Daiso (it’s 2 SGD for one really big one) to vacuum your stuff, compared to DIY fixit which costs around 15.
b. Don’t bring too much clothes, especially if you plan on shopping there. Winter and Summer sales (mid Jan and Jul) has 70 percent off, which makes most things cheaper than Singapore.
c. Try to top up the 32kg with foodstuff (instant noodles and porridge, etc). There’s only 1 Asian supermarket there, and stuff is pretty expensive.
5. Winter Clothing
a. You’ll probably arrive in early-mid-Jan, so Winter Sales are still ongoing. Winterwear is much cheaper there, and much better as well. Just one winter jacket is fine. Boots are pretty optional.
b. You can make a trip to Stockholm to stock up on clothes, or the flea market (every Saturday 8am – 1 pm at the Culturehouse) or the Red Cross shop (near Sofiakrykan – Sofiachurch)
i. Winter jackets can be as cheap as 10 SGD used or 30 SGD new from H&M
c. I found thermalwear to be useless, so it’s your call whether to buy any from Singapore.
6. Apply for ISIC and Hosteling International Cards
a. ISIC card is cheap, and can be used for discounts in Germany (especially Berlin’s CityHostel Berlin) and Spain
b. Hosteling International lets you pay lesser for affiliated hostels, and some hostels can only be booked by members. These hostels tend to be better serviced and have curfews.
7. Keep up to date with the International Association at Jonkoping University.
a. They run pub crawls, overseas trips (eg. Russia and Norway), and the very popular Kiruna trip (which is worth every penny, even if you don’t see the Northern Lights)
b. Sign up for their contact person and contact family programme. You’ll be offered help in finding your way around the town, and experience Swedish culture!
8. Apply for Accommodation
a. You’ll be offered a few choices – Vilhemlsro, Grashagen, Delta, Raslatt, Tenhult
i. Vilhemisro is pretty far from the university, and the bus service is very infrequent. You share a common kitchen and bathrooms, and interact with a lot of international students.
ii. Grashagen is relatively closer to school. The bus is frequent, and you have your own kitchen and bathroom. If you choose a double room, one bed is in the kitchen/living room. But it’s still pretty good for me, plus you get to meet our friendly Swedish lady! (see below)
iii. Delta is in the city centre, and you can walk to school. But it’s the oldest of all the accommodation. Common areas also.
iv. Raslatt is in the suburbs (previously the ghettos of Jonkoping, but still very safe) Further than Grashagen. You share the kitchen and toilet, like a HDB flat, with your own room.
v. Tenhult is a train ride away. The furthest from school. It’s the biggest and you pay the cheapest rent, but it’s really inconvenient.
b. Bring your own bedsheets!

Once You Get There – Orientation Time
1. Buy bus tickets
a. You can buy the Periodkort (like our concession card) at the Pressbyran stores. It costs around 100 SGD. In the spring/summertime, you can save money by walking (which is recommended – soak in the Swedish summer!)
2. Buy Prepaid Mobile Plans
a. You’ll get a SIM card in your welcome package when you get there. The best plan to buy is the Kompis plan, which allows free SMS to other Kompis plans, and free calls (with a 69 ore startup cost).
b. You can buy the plan at any supermarket or Pressbyran.
3. Supermarkets
a. There are a lot of supermarkets, such as ICA, Coop Forum, Willys, and Netto.
b. Generally Willys is the cheapest (and the one at Tokarp is quite convenient). So is Netto, a new upstart that is conveniently located at Juneporten. Maxi-ICA (near the industrial part of the city) and Coop Forum (at the A6 shopping centre) can also be cheap sometimes when there are promotions! Just look at the ads!
c. The only Asian supermarket is at Tokarp. It’s pretty expensive.
4. Eating Out
a. The student meals at Evergreen (near the school and the Lassaretsparken bus stop) cost 59SEK, which is pretty cheap. You can get a salad buffet, drink, and a pizza of your choice.
b. Afterwork Buffet (a Friday evening tradition) is also cheap at O’Learys Sportsbar at 49SEK (but there’s a coat charge of 20SEK..)
c. Cheap lunches are also plentiful, especially at Jensens (at the city terminal, costing some 49 SEK), or IKEA (16 SEK for meatballs)

Tips for Travelling Cheap
1. Budget airlines
a. Ryanair, Wizzair and EasyJet are the common European budget carriers. Ryanair is usually the cheapest. Wizzair is vital for Eastern Europe travelling. Easyjet is great if you want to connect to international flights (since it services Copenhagen's International Airport)
i. Ryanair runs special promos most Mondays and Thursdays. Buy tickets when they run their promos offering special prices tickets (5-10 pounds)
ii. These budget carriers don’t let you do transfers easy, but you can make your own transfers between them.
2. Swebus (and now, Bus4you, a new competitor that has wider and more comfy seats!)
a. More expensive for travel during Thursdays to Saturdays. Try to buy for other days.
3. SJ
a. You can buy them in the ticket machine at Jonkoping’s train station, with your credit card (strangely)
b. Some tickets are ridiculously cheap, as long as you buy early (eg. 1 month in advance). Can be cheaper than Swebus.
c. Or, buy last minute tickets (24hours till travel), which can also be very cheap.
4. Other train services
a. DB Bahn (Germany’s trains) often has specials for their City Night Line sleeper trains. Check regularly, and you can get 39 euros for a ticket.
5. Hostel-booking sites
a. Hostelworld, Hostels.com, or Hostelbookers.com
i. You can check their prices, which tend to differ somewhat, even for the same hostel. Availability might also differ sometimes. Hostelworld charges an admin fee though.

If you’ve gone so far and are still reading, congrats! You’re ready for Jonkoping! If you have any questions, please email me at kayejaye87DOTgmailcom! (Also, if you would like to befriend a very hospitable Swedish lady who lives near Grashagen, please let me know, so we can introduce you to her!)