# Being a Swedish university student in a country far away: a qualitative study

## TL;DR

Swedish university students studying abroad face stress, cultural challenges, and safety concerns, but also enjoy new experiences and friendships.

## Contribution

This study provides new qualitative insights into the lived experiences and challenges of Swedish exchange students.

## Key findings

- Exchange students reported stress from high workloads and cultural differences.
- Students practiced responsible sexual behavior and adopted a moderate, social approach to alcohol.
- Safety measures and experiences of violence, like harassment, were commonly reported.

## Abstract

In Sweden, during the school years of 2021/22, 11,900 women and 8,100 men chose to spend a semester abroad; however, there has been little research on how they experience their time abroad and what difficulties they might face. Some studies have shown that Swedish exchange students consume alcohol to a higher degree and indulge in risky sexually behaviour while on exchange studies. Therefore, our aim was to explore Swedish exchange students’ experiences from a semester abroad.

A qualitative design with semi-structured interviews. Eleven students who had spent parts of their education abroad participated in the study. A qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data.

The exchange students experienced stress due to a high workload and found that cultural differences could be both frustrating and fascinating. Some exchange students experienced minor illnesses and homesickness. The exchange students expressed a responsible view on sex and emphasized using protection against STIs while engaging in casual sex. Some enjoyed drinking alcohol to varying degrees and meeting new friends while abroad. However, they rarely engaged in excessive drinking; instead, they adopted a more spontaneous and social drinking pattern. Some experienced violence, such as robbery and harassment, and most took several safety measures, including being extra careful to lock their doors, not going out alone, and using public transport instead of taxis.

Swedish exchange students described stress and casual alcohol consumption as common experiences. They emphasized the importance of STI protection as well as safety measures to avoid exposure to violence. Reports of alcohol consumption, casual sex, violence, minor illnesses, and homesickness highlight the challenges faced during exchange studies. These findings indicate potential risks associated with being an exchange student.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-025-25929-6.