Preparing to come
incoming exchange students
Letter of Acceptance
You will receive a Letter of Acceptance in PDF format after the application deadline. This is a formal confirmation that you have been accepted as an exchange student to Lund University. The Letter of Acceptance is needed for your residence permit and visa application (if required). Please bring a paper copy with you to Lund on Arrival Day, as it will be needed for many other purposes during your stay here.
If you need a Letter of Acceptance early, we recommend that you complete your application to LUSEM as soon as the application opens. When you have completed the application, contact us to ask for your Letter of Acceptance.
In your communication with Lund University, you may be asked to state the name of your coordinator. This information can be found in the initial acceptance e-mail and also in your Letter of Acceptance.
Although your coordinator is your main contact in Lund, we ask you to send all e-mail questions to our office e-mail: incoming@ehl.lu.se. That way any of us in the International Office can help you with your query in case your coordinator is not available.
Residence permits and VISA
Students from countries outside the EU/EEA need to have a residence permit to study in Sweden, when staying for more than three months. All applications for residence permits are processed by the Swedish Migration Agency and you can apply online. Use your Letter of Acceptance from LUSEM in your application.
Processing may take up to three months – apply well in advance. Read more at the Swedish Migration Agency’s website:
Pre-arrival information and Arrival Day
Pre-arrival information as well as information about the Arrival Day can be found at Lund University's international webpage:
Pre-arrival information for incoming exchange students
The Lund University Arrival Day is held approx. two weeks before the start of the semester (in Spring semester, only one week before semester start). During Arrival Day, our international mentors will be at Copenhagen Airport and at the railway station in Lund to help guide you right. You will be able to check in and receive all information you need about student life in Lund.
Compulsory Pre-Registration Day at LUSEM
Attendance to Pre-Registration Day and to the first lecture in each course is mandatory for LUSEM students and students from other faculties taking at least 50% of their courses at LUSEM.
Pre-Registration Day is usually held right after Arrival Day.
More information about dates and deadlines
If you are not able to attend Pre-Registration Day, we must be notified in advance, since you risk losing your seat in your courses otherwise.
Orientation Weeks
Arrival Day is the start of the Orientation Weeks for all new international students at Lund University. During the Orientation Weeks, you will have the chance to learn more about Sweden and Lund, and to make new friends.
The Orientation Weeks for international students include a variety of activities that aim to help you settle in smoothly at the University and in student life. Most of the activities are available to both new international degree students and exchange students, but the schedules may vary slightly.
Read more about Orientation Weeks
Mentor programme
To help you settle in to Lund and get to know your way around, Lund University offers an International Mentor Programme, with mentor groups that consist of four to six Swedish or International students (your mentors) and 15-30 exchange students. All new incoming exchange students will be assigned to a Mentor Group, but participation is voluntary.
More information about the mentor programme
Academic calendar
Plan your stay in Sweden. Do not book a return ticket until the schedule including exam dates have been announced. Special exams are not arranged and written exams and retake exams must be taken in Lund. Regular exams are offered during the regular semester dates. Autumn semester undergraduate courses usually end before Christmas. Retake exams are usually held before the next semester starts, i.e. in January/August.