BTH Student Arrival

Information Guide

Prepared by students of the international programme:

Masters in Strategic Leadership

Towards Sustainability
Classes of 2004/5 and 2005/06

Table of Contents
1

Introduction ................................................................................. 4
1.1

About this guide ..........................................................................4

1.2

Swedish Culture...........................................................................4

1.2.1

1.3

Karlskrona...................................................................................4

1.4

BTH Culture ................................................................................5

Preparation Checklist ................................................................... 5

2.1

What should I bring?....................................................................6

Getting to Karlskrona ................................................................... 6

3.1

Swedish Language.......................................................................................4

Where can I ship stuff to? ............................................................7

Arrival Checklist ........................................................................... 7

4.1

What do I do when I get to Karlskrona? ........................................7

4.2 Where can I stay when I first arrive (if my permanent

accommodation is not sorted yet)? .........................................................7
4.3
5

Making contact with other people in the MSLTS program ................8

Getting Set Up .............................................................................. 8

5.1

Housing ......................................................................................8

5.2

Furnishing your housing ............................................................. 10

5.3

Acquiring a bike......................................................................... 10

5.4

Banking .................................................................................... 12

5.5

Internet Service......................................................................... 12

5.6

Telephones and Mobile Phones ................................................... 13

5.7

Health Insurance ....................................................................... 13

Things to Know About Living in Karlskrona................................ 14

6.1

Getting Around .......................................................................... 14

6.2

Swedish Personal Number .......................................................... 15

6.3

Groceries and supermarkets ....................................................... 15

6.4

Postal System............................................................................ 15

6.5

Alcohol ..................................................................................... 15

6.6

Pharmacies ............................................................................... 15

6.7

Student Life .............................................................................. 15

6.7.1
6.7.2
6.7.3

Student Bar The Rotundan ...................................................................... 15

Student Clubs: .......................................................................................... 16
Student Environmental Group ..................................................................... 16

6.8

BTH Blekinge Institute of Technology ....................................... 16

6.9

Getting Help - Who to go to for what .......................................... 18

1 Introduction
1.1

About this guide

This guide has been put together by students from both the 2004/05 and 2005/06
MSLTS program classes to assist incoming students settle into life and studies in
Karlskrona. We have volunteered our time to highlight some the aspects we found
were important to know, or we would have benefited from knowing sooner.
It is hoped that students from each year will contribute to improving this living guide.

1.2

Swedish Culture
The essence of Swedish culture is seen in the Swedish word lagom, which can loosely
translated as not too much and not too little, just enough.

1.2.1

Swedish Language
Swedish is a hard language to master, but getting the basics is not too difficult. Here
are some words to get you started:
tervinn

Recycling

Hej

(pronounced hay) Hello

Hej d

(pronounced hey doh) Good-bye

Krav

This indicates that a food product is organic

Forlt

(pronounced fore-loat) Im sorry

Tack

Thank-you

Ursecta

Excuse me

En caf, tack

One coffee, please

En l, tack

One beer, please

If you are interested in more fantastic Swedish language learning, which we highly
recommend even though Swedish people speak fantastic English, there are Swedish
language classes offered through BTH. The Beginner Intensive course begins in the
week before class, during Orientation week, and we also recommend taking this class,
as later in the semester it can be hard to balance your work load.

1.3

Karlskrona
The town bustles with tourists in the summer months but is much quieter in winter
(and cold and windy and snowy!) There are plenty of outdoor activities, and studying
and living close to nature is a great situation for a group studying sustainability.
You can expect to become very close to your classmates throughout the year. And to
learn a lot about yourself, both in and out of the classroom.
Its really at the end of the line in terms of transportation. You have to go to
Stockholm (5 hours by train), Copenhagen (4 hours by train) or Malm (3.5 hours by
train) to fly international. Its definitely possible, but its not easy.

1.4

BTH Culture
There are a lot of international students, but this is a new phenomenon for BTH. The
school is still getting used to dealing with the unique issues to do with students from
foreign, often far-away places, and it helps to be patient, understand that things do
take time here, and go with the flow.

2 Preparation Checklist
The BTH web site (International office section has some good information to help you
get started.
http://www.bth.se/exr/intoffen.nsf/Sidor/2a7b9043503dfb01c1256f8d005715bb!OpenDo
cument

Visa
You must apply for a student visa with the Swedish embassy or consulate in your
home country. This can sometimes take a long time, so try to apply right away
after receiving your letter of acceptance. More information about this can be
found on the BTH web site in the International Office section.
You must have a student visa before the student housing (bostad) service will
accept your application. This is very frustrating for the EU students, who are not
required, or even able in some circumstances, to get their visa until they arrive.
The housing service is quite rigid about this, so apply for your visa as soon as
you can!
If you can get a one year visa, then you can get a Swedish personal number
which will make you qualified for Swedish health care (like any other Swedish
citizen) and it will help you get internet and a phone if you choose to live outside
of student housing.

Housing
Try to arrange your housing through the student housing (bostad) service if you
can (see Housing section below). If not, dont worry, there is housing available,
and try to help each other out with letting those that do not have places stay
with those that do while they sort it out. Staying in the hostel can get expensive.

Insurance
There are indications that the Swedish embassies are requesting that you sort
out your medical insurance before you get your visa. This is frustrating, as the
school insurance arrangements require you to apply in person at BTH. Try to
explain this to the embassy officials, and if they will not relent, perhaps get
temporary travellers insurance that you can cancel once you get your Swedish
student health insurance sorted.

Budget
In order to get your student visa, you must demonstrate that you have at least
6300 SEK per month for living expenses. If you are living reasonably, with a little
pocket cash to go out dancing every once in awhile and perhaps take the odd
weekend excursion, we suggest a comfortable amount money to be prepared to
spend is around 10 000 SEK per month.
There is also a school field trip in the fall that will probably cost around 2500 SEK
for the week (depending on where you decide to go and what you do!), which is
a key one-time expense to know about ahead of time. Also, though the BTH web
site quotes the student fees and health insurance as a per month expense, these
must be paid in a lump sum at the beginning of the semester.

2.1

What should I bring?

Documents
Passport with student visa
Photo identification (for use in purchasing alcohol, using credit cards, so that
you do not need to carry your passport everywhere)
BTH acceptance letter

Other
A small amount of Swedish Kronor (SEK) fin cash or bus, taxi, food, etc. once
you get here
Laptop computer, if you can. Using the computer labs can be a bit of a
hassle, but they are there to use if you cannot bring your own. BTH computer
labs only have access to Swedish and English installed languages. Students
wishing to type in their own national languages (e.g. Russian, Chinese, etc)
should be prepared for that.
Books to read/use for school. The BTH Library has very limited access to
books, magazines, dictionaries and other reference materials in foreign
languages, e.g. English, Russian etc. therefore students may want to bring the
necessary books etc. It is hard to come by English language books to
purchase here, though Amazon.co.uk sends things pretty fast.

3 Getting to Karlskrona

By Plane
Getting to Sweden (or Denmark)
o The best major cities to fly through are Copenhagen (Kobenhavn)
and Stockholm
Getting to Karlskrona
o The closest airport is in Ronneby, airport code RBY
o There are no flights between Copenhagen and Ronneby
o There are flights between Stockholm and Ronneby on SAS
o There is a bus (fyugbuss)that runs regularly between Ronneby
airport and Karlskrona, main square (Stortorget)
By Train
Train is the best way to travel from Copenhagen (Kobenhavn) to Karlskrona,
and another good way to travel from Stockholm to Karlskrona (in addition to
by plane)
Train schedules can be found at: www.sj.se
Sista Minuten (Last Minute, which must be booked within 24 hours of travel)
and student fares (with a valid student card) are often, but not always,
offered

By Bus
Bus information can be found at http://www.swebusexpress.se/

By Car
The only car rental that you can drop off (i.e. one-way rental) in Karlskrona is
with Hertz. The office is located near Amiralan at the Volvo dealership.

Local Taxi
You must pre-book a taxi to meet you at the airport or train station in
advance, or call (or have one of the other drivers call) and wait for one when
you arrive

Contact Tel:
o Karlskrona Taxi:
o Zon Taxi Karlskrona:

Phone +46 455 19100

Phone +46 455 23050

Where can I ship stuff to?

3.1

Blekinge Institute of Technology

International Office
c/o: Masters in Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability
(Hold for NAME)
371 79 Karlskrona
Sweden
Dont forget to include your Name somewhere on the shipping label

4 Arrival Checklist
4.1

What do I do when I get to Karlskrona?

Check in at the International Office reception desk in the Lnken building, the red
one that links the two big yellow buildings on the campus.

Check in at the MSLTS common room, Room 2215.

If you have accommodation arranged, most likely your landlord is Karlskronahem (the
largest rental agency in town). You can pick up your keys and sign your lease at
their office:
Karlskronahem
Norra Smedjegatan 12
+46 455 304900
info@karlskronahem.se
www.karlskronahem.se/index?site=2

4.2

Where can I stay when I first arrive (if my permanent

accommodation is not sorted yet)?

Hostel
STF Hostel Karlskrona
Bredgatan 16
+46 455 10020
Trosso.vandrarhem@telia.se
http://www.stfturist.se/

Hotels
First Hotel Ja
Borgmstaregatan 13
+46 455 55560
Karlskrona.express@firsthotels.se

www.firsthotels.com
First Hotel Statt
Ronnebygatan 37-39
+46 455 55550
Karlskrona.statt@firsthotels.se
www.firsthotels.com
Park Inn Karlskrona
Skeppsbrokajen
+46 455 361500
Info.karlskrona@rezidorparkinn.com
www.parkinn.com
Hotell Siesta
Borgmstaregatan 5
+46 455 80180
Siesta.hotell@telia.com
www.hotellsiesta.com
Stay Hotel Karlskrona
Nya Skeppsbrokajen 1
+46 455 82820
info@stay.se
www.stay.se
Hotel Conrad
Vstra Kpmansgatan 12
+46 455 363200
info@hotelconrad.se
www.hotelconrad.se

4.3

Making contact with other people in the MSLTS program

Check in at the MSLTS common room in Room 2215. Leave a note on the door if no
one is around at that time.

5 Getting Set Up
5.1

Housing
First, do not panic if you do not get your preferred housing option. There are other
ways of getting housing and you should be happy with where you live.
All places have laundry, drying racks, storage and bike areas. Below is a brief
explanation of the current housing options:

Minerva
Pros: On campus, very nice studio apartments with your own bathroom,
washing machine, kitchenette (small refrigerator, two burner stove and sink),
furnished (bed, table + 2 chairs, desk + chair, armchair and bookshelf),
plenty of closet space
There is also a common room to use with a TV, bigger kitchen and couches
Cons: a little bit expensive, can be noisy at times (especially Thursdays when
people go to the campus pub)
Approximate Cost: 2922 SEK/month (including utilities)

 Minerva is very popular so apply early if you want to stay here

Galgamarken
Pros: Near campus, quiet, nice sized place, internet access
2 bedroom apartments with a huge living room that can be made into a third
bedroom to split the rent costs. Also, has kitchen and bathroom.
Cons: No furniture, but easy to get from Red Cross (they will deliver for 100
SEK and the furniture is very cheap)
Approximate cost for whole apartment: 2500 SEK (plus maybe 500
SEK/month for utilities)

Polhemsgatan
Pros: Near campus, you get your own room, cheaper rent, kitchen and
bathroom in apartment, internet, (everyon seemed happy living there)
Cons: Small apartment and most likely will not know who you are living with
before arrival (share with 1-3 people)
Approximate Cost: 1500 -2000 SEK including utilities
Popular so apply early if you want to stay here

Kungsmarken
Pros: bigger apartments, internet, kitchen and bathroom in apartment
Cons: 10-15 minute bike ride from campus, may have to share with people
you do not know, not everyone likes to live here
If you have to decide between Gullberna Park and Kungsmarken, then
Kungsmarken is the better choice
Cost varies depending on room size and apartment size

Gullberna Park
Pros: good sized furnished room with own bath, sauna in basement
Cons: probably the worst place to get, shared tiny kitchen with 9 other
people, no internet, no direct buses to campus, creepy basement area for
laundry and where the sauna is, 10-15 minute bike ride from campus,
expensive in comparison to other places, difficulty with landlords
Approximate Cost: 2650 SEK (including utilities plus 1325 SEK deposit)

Bredgatan
Conveniently located downtown Karlskrona, close to everything, and about
10-15 minutes by bicycle to BTH. Rent is about 3125 SEK per month, which
includes everything (including high speed internet). Each bachelor apartment
contains furniture (bed, desk, shelves, drawers), own bathroom, window that
opens, 2 hotplates and small fridge. There is also a communal kichen and the
place is clean and new. On the downside, it is the housing authority's
(Karlskronahem) biggest problem, as it attracts young swedish students. The
communal kitchen was always a mess, and it could get pretty noisy with loud
music and parties. Swedes are normally pretty good though, and will turn it
down if you complain nicely, and ask for prior warning of impending shakers.
10-15 minute bike ride from campus. Bredgatan is very popular and many
people are on a waiting list. Apply early to avoid disappointment!

Applying for housing using the student service site

Before you can get into the system, you must have your visa number, and in
some cases, send them a copy of your visa. This is really important since they
may not tell you that explicitly and you may wait a few weeks without getting
placed into a place or not get the housing option you desire.

5.2

Furnishing your housing

Most student flats are furnished, but the extent of this varies wait until you arrive to
see what you need. A good site for some basic info is:
http://www.karlskrona.se/templates/Page____10112.aspx
There are a number of second-hand shops in Karlskrona, particularly the Red Cross
(Rda Croset), which have great stuff for great prices.
The Class of 2006 will be leaving a number of household items for you to purchase in
the common room. Proceeds will go to the scholarship fund. You may want to check
these items out before going on a shopping spree.

5.3

Acquiring a bike
A bicycle in Karlskrona is almost a must. Pleasant bike paths from campus to Centrum
and from campus to the Kungsmarken and Skrva residential and recreational areas
make commuting a breeze (most times quite literally as Karlskrona is notorious for
being windy!).
A tradition has been formed in this masters programme in which bicycles from previous
students are past on to those arriving. Over the past two years, the fleet has grown in
size to be almost 30 bicycles! Many of these were old and abandoned and lovingly
repaired by students for their classmates. A rental fee of 50 krona a month or 400
krona a year was set for each bicycle, the proceeds of which were donated to the
scholarship fund. All of these bicycles have been tagged in order to keep track of which
ones belong to the programme.
There is a great bike shop in Centrum called Sport Kompaniet (on Hantverkegatan
by Wachmeister Mall) that has both new and used bicycles for sale (see info below).
Most bike shop staff understand English, but some of the Swedish guide books (e.g.
the Berlitz Swedish phrase book) in the common room have good translations of all
you need to get a bike fixed and ask for parts in the local tongue. Decent second hand
bicycles are typically sold for around 1000 krona. If you are interested in one of these,
go as soon as possible, as new students will be quickly buying them up.
A good collection of bike tools put together by former students, resides in the common
room. These tools should be sufficient for most bike repair needs. Some extra bicycle
parts left over from restoration projects have also been accumulated in the common
room.
Carrying the torch! If you are handy with bicycle repair, perhaps you would like to help
expand the fleet! There is the potential for interested students to continue to expand
the bicycle fleet through repairing abandoned bicycles. If you are interested in
providing this service to the class the the BTH community, please contact Andrew
(arouthwaite@gmail.com) for advice.
Bicycle helmets are mandatory in Karlskrona, and few people wear them. For the most
part, bicycle paths are separate from the road and riding occurs at a leisurely pace.
That does not mean you wont crash: cycling (especially after partying) can be
dangerous and numerous people from our class have the scars to prove it. Bicycle
lights at night are a legal requirement and you may be fined, or at least warned, for
not complying with this rule. Small detachable LED bike lights can be purchased from
COOP for 60 krona to fulfill this requirement. Theft of locked bikes is rare, theft of
unlocked bikes is common, lock your bike. Vandalism is also rare but can happen to
bikes locked near a bar overnight. It is strongly recommend that you lock your bicycle
up, preferably indoors at night

10

Rules of the Road: Swedes are kind enough to provide an excellent bike path system
but they can be highly indignant, if not abusive if you dont use it according to the
rules.
- riding through a stop light or crossing a crosswalk can earn a 500 k fine thats ten beers in a bar! This is not an idle threat, it happened to students in
our year.
- If a bike path is provided drivers get abusive if you ride on the road, ditto for
riding against the traffic flow
- When bikes and pedestrians share the same asphalt, dont stray across the big
white line into the wrong side.
- Remember, we are their guests, so try and play by their rules.
Bike Shops:
Sportkompaniet
Phone 0455 147 60. Hantverkaregatan 9 (centrum)
Southwest of stortorget, cycle workshop in alley, more cycle gear in rear of
the shop. Go in the morning to catch the repair guy. The guys in the shop
have good English, the repair guy not so good. They have an excellent
selection of gear, and know what they are doing. More expensive than coop
for parts.

Ronnys Cycles

Team Sportia

Coop

Phone 0455 142 32. Vedebygatan, next to McDonalds north of Karlskrona

(Vedeby Centre). English is OK, decent selection of gear, do services and
repairs.
Phone 0455 102 61. Lalerstedts 4. Just south of Amiralen / Coop. Do service
and repairs, good selection of gear.
Lyckeby / Amiralen. Good selection of cheap parts. No service / repairs /
assistance. Great if you want some tubes, degreaser, lights etc. Also have a
good selection of general tools, as do the nearby Jem & Fix.

If you do not get a used bike by one of the options above you can try:
http://www.blocket.se/ (The Swedish version of craigslist.com, in Swedish)
Try to search for "cykel" at this page: Choose "22. Blekinge" and then under
"Alla kategorier" choose "Cyklar". Its apparently a website where people place
free advertisements. It works!
You can also look in the *for sale* section of the Tuesday edition Blekinge
Lans Tidning (local paper), which is available for free at the university library
and some coffee shops.
Prices for parts
Item
Tires
Tubes

Multitools

Puncture kits

Details
Many sizes
All sizes, some choice
in valves
All sizes, with choice
of valves
Allen key, tire lever,
wrenches
Park tool (very good)
allen keys
With tire levers, glue,
patches

Cost
From 69 SEK
29 SEK

Location
Coop
Coop

45

Sportkompaniet

79 SEK

Coop

138 SEK

Coop

39 SEK

Coop

11

Self-adhesive
Helmets
Chains
Baskets

For derailleur gears

Hub gears/no gears
Sport Kompaniet

29
From 139 SEK
49 SEK
49 SEK
Approx. 100 SEK

Coop
Coop
Coop
Coop
Sport Kompaniet

Basic tips
Do everything you can to look after your back and knees: adjust the handlebars and
especially seat to the right height. See bikeforums.net or bicyclesource.com for how
details on getting it right, or ask for help at one of the shops.
Dont brake and turn at the same time in slippery surfaces your wheels can slide
out INSTEAD slow down in a straight line then release the brakes to roll around the
corner.
Always check for what CAUSED your flat tire before reinserting and reinflating the
tube.
Dont assume that because you can see others, they can see you: be BRIGHT at
NIGHT.
Check your tires when moving between temperature differences: your tires will
deflate in the cold.
Remove loose accessories when locking your bike in public areas.
Regular checks and maintenance WILL save you money and hassle (if you have a
nice bike). If you have a wreck if it aint broke, dont fix itthat dirt and grease may
be all that is holding your bike together.
Consider WEARING A HELMET, seriously. Its your brain!

5.4

Banking
You need a Swedish Personal Number to open a bank account (along with your
acceptance letter, passport and Swedish address). Because you must have a one-year
visa to get a personal number, and because the MSLTS program is a 10-month
program, youll likely not have one. SEB (downtown on Ronnebygatan) sometimes lets
some international students open accounts (first come, first served, so get there fast!).
All the banks have similar fees and services, and the one big advantage to having an
account is that you can pay your bills online, saving you the 47 SEK fee at the
Sveskassaservice bill-paying kiosk.
The banks in Karksrona are:
FreningsSparbanken, Borgmstareg. 13, +46(0)455-585 00
Handelsbanken, Ronnebygatan 47, +46(0)455-575 10
Nordbanken, Ronnebygatan 44, +46(0)455-33 67 30
SEB, Ronnebygatan 43, +46(0)455-788 00
Banks are open from 10:00-3:00pm M-F and are not open Saturday and Sunday.

5.5

Internet Service
BTH has excellent internet capabilities and most (not all) student housing is equipped
with internet service. Additionally, you can use computers located at the library, or
attach your own computer to one of the "quiet rooms" at the library to gain access to
the internet.
Hooking up your own internet in an apartment that does not have it is a long a
frustrating process. Best advice is to get a place that already has it. If not, you can
get service from Comhem at the electronics shop on Ronnebygatan, or at Telia across
from the Wachmeister mall.

12

5.6

Telephones and Mobile Phones

Landlines. As in most countries, landlines are cheaper than cell phones, but you
need a Swedish personal number to open an account. This is also apparently true
for cell phones if you dont choose the prepaid cards option.
Public Phones. Note that public phones are rather hard to find, and some may
even be infested with beesso watch out! (Updated August 26, 2004 by Jennifer
Woofter) Public phones are also very expensive if using a credit card (e.g. Visa).
A digital display on the phone shows the kronor adding up.
The closest phone to campus is near Frukt Huset by the train tracks in front of the
hospital. The other phone is downtown on Ronnebygatan. You can by phone
cards at the kiosk next to Frukt Huset. You need to get two cards: 1) the local
Swedish tele service card; and 2) a card that will let you dial to your respective
country. These cards are not very expensive depending on the country (some
cards give you 8-12 hours of talking time for 150 SEK).
Mobile Phones. The Phone House, located just across the street from Waynes
Coffee where Ronnebygatan meets Borgmstaregatan, currently has the least
expensive unlocked mobile phones. There are Nokia and Eriksson phones that
cost approximately 399 SEK and come with a pay-as-you-go SIM card.
You can add SEK to the SIM card when purchasing the phone and then purchase
pay as you go recharges at most supermarkets and corner stores. The Phone
House can change the phone to read-speak other languages and provide you with
the calling rates for domestic and international calls.
We recommend that you all get Comviq (rather than Telenor, formerly
Vodaphone), as they have a special deal where you can pay a small fee
and call your friends in-network for free. If you all get that, you can
basically call each other for free all year.
Computer-Aided Calling (VOIP). If you download the program from
www.skype.com allows you to messenger and call other Skype users for free,
and to call land line or cell phones (SkypeOut) anywhere in the world with a good
quality sound and exceptional prices.
You can add money to your Skype account for the SkypeOut calls by credit card
on their website.
For a fee, you can also get a SkypeIn number in some countries, and your friends
can call that number like a regular telephone number, and it calls you on your
computer. It also has voicemail.
International call phone cards. Alternatively, you can also purchase various types
of phone cards (Asia, Europe, Star globalphone, etc.) depending on the countries
you wish to call, so check out the best charges and the maximum talking hours
you could get with SEK100-150/card. These cards are available at many of the
grocery and convenience stores.

5.7

Health Insurance
The BTH International Office has an agreement with an insurance company to provide
health insurance for 7 SEK/day open to all students in Sweden. This provides general
health insurance and accident insurance while in Sweden only. Supplemental insurance
would be needed if you travel outside of Sweden as this insurance will not cover you in
another country. See the International Office for a handout that explains the coverage.

13

Its a bit frustrating to deal with this, but dont despair, it all works out in the end, and
the Swedish health system is pretty accessible. There is a nurse on campus, and she
can point you to a doctor, and the hospital bills you and then you get reimbursed later.
We advise you to have travel insurance coverage until your arrival at BTH. If you do
choose to purchase the insurance offered through the university you will be covered
from the start of the programme once you have paid.

6 Things to Know About Living in Karlskrona

6.1

Getting Around
Local Bus
Karlskrona has an excellent, but somewhat expensive, bus system which can take you
virtually anywhere you want to go. A one-zone trip, which covers most places you
would want to travel costs 15 SEK in the local zone (most places you need to get to)
27 SEK for the next zone (which Skrva, the organic farm, is located in), and will allow
you to travel for 1 hour. Exact change is not necessary.
Buses no. 1 (Lyckeby) and 7 (Kungsmarken) go from centrum (the town centre, bus
stop in front of the McDonalds) to the campus (Hgskolan Grsvik stop).
If you will use the bus frequently, consider purchasing a bus pass, of which there are
two types:
o

Monthly Pass for 330 SEK (which you can pay directly to the bus driver
cash only), you will received a bus pass that is good for one month and
allows you unlimited bus travel (within the city zone limits).

Prepaid Pass you can buy a prepaid pass, which you can re-charge as
you go. This saves you the trouble of carrying money around for the bus,
but does not give you a discounted priceit's still 15 SEK per trip.

The main bus station is across the street from the train station. Bus 1, 6 and 7 will
drop you off across the street from the BTH campus Hgskolan Grsvik. It takes about
10 minutes to get to the campus from the town centre.
Schedule information can be found on the internet at www.blekingetrafiken.se, and in
the printed schedules available on any bus and at the Tourist Office:
Karlskrona Tourist Office
Stortorget 2
+46 455 303490
turistbyran@karlskrona.se
www.karlskrona.se/tourism

Bicycles
Most students get around on bicycles. See the section above re: buying a bike.

Taxis
Taxis are available (approximately - 60 SEK from town to campus, 80 SEK from Amiralen
to campus, 100 SEK from town to Kungsmarken), but generally you must call one.
Contact Tels:
Karlskrona Taxi:
Zon Taxi Karlskrona:

+46 455 19100

+46 455 23050

14

6.2

Swedish Personal Number

Also referred as a Social Security Number, a personal number is composed of your
birth date (yyyy/mm/dd) + 4 digits.
You apply for a Swedish Personal Number through the Tax Office and you can only
get it if you will be staying in Sweden for longer than a 12-month period and have a
minimum one-year visa.
You will need an SPN to get a telephone landline, internet service, bank account at
most banks, etc.

6.3

Groceries and supermarkets

Supermarkets - There are a variety of supermarkets in Karlskrona downtown, the most

popular of which are Willys (cheapest, just outside town on the way to campus), ICA (in
centrum), and Hemkp (in centrum).
There are bigger supermarkets in Amiralen, 5 kms away from downtown, well served by
buses.

NOTE: Grocery stores charge for plastic and paper grocery bags, but you can bring your
own reusable bag when grocery shopping to save money and resources.
Farmers Market there is a farmer's market, selling fresh produce, in the town square
each Saturday morning. In addition, there has been one small produce stand open in the
town square most mornings, selling fresh fruits and vegetables.
Halal - For Muslims who are looking for Halal meat, you just have to look for the Halal
sign on the packaging, sometimes a small logo of a green mosque in front or at the back
of the packaging. You can find halal meat at Willys or Frukt Huset (corner shop at
Bergsa, near the hospital).

6.4

Postal System
Stamps can be obtained from most newsstands and small grocers, or the post office.

6.5

Alcohol
Alcohol is extremely expensive. It can be purchased at the government store,
Systembolaget, in the Wachtmeister Mall. Grocery stores carry low-alcohol beer and
cider.

6.6

Pharmacies

6.7
6.7.1

Apoteket Eken, Blekingesjukhuset, +46(0)455-73 66 30

Apoteket Gta Lejon, Landbrogatan 4, +46(0)455-160 30

Student Life
Student Bar The Rotundan

Drinks are cheap and many fun nights have been had by MSLTS students at the student bar.
The music is rather mixed, sometimes repetitive and caters mainly for Swedish student tastes
making it quite a cultural experience. The Rotundan is located by the water on campus and
is open 9pm till 2am on Thursdays.

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6.7.2

Student Clubs

The Student Union can provide information on the range of student clubs it is possible to join
throughout the year. KIDS arranges a number of sporting activities including bandy and rock
climbing.
6.7.3

Student Environmental Group

Students from the MSLTS 2005/06 class were instrumental in reviving the student
environment group MASK, and the group is now one of the most active on campus with a
core committee of 10-15 students (MSLTS and Sweden students).
Some of the activities the group undertook involved expanding the recycling scheme on
campus, undertaking a student survey of attitudes towards sustainability, working with IT
department to substantially cut paper usage, creating a sculpture to raise environmental
awareness, meeting with the Vice Chancellor to discuss BTHs Environmental Management
System and holding a very successful Sustainability Fair.
It is hoped that the incoming MSLTS students will become involved and continue with efforts
towards making BTH a more sustainable campus.
More information on MASK is available (in English) on http://www.bsk.bth.se/~mask/.

6.8

BTH Blekinge Institute of Technology

Campus Grsvik
Campus Grsvik is the Karlskrona campus, where classes for the Master's in Strategic
Leadership towards Sustainability program are held. The campus consists of 5 main
buildings, all clustered around the green space in the centre.
The International Reception is located in the Lnken, the red building between the two
bigger yellow buildings. The reception is open from 9am (0900) to 4pm (1600) Mondaythrough Friday, and closed for a lunch break from 12pm (1200) until 1pm (1300). When
you check in there, they will provide you with your school documents, maps, information
on housing, and general tips on life in Karlskrona. You can also purchase your health
insurance there.
Finding your way around campus is easy once you learn how to decipher room
numbers. Room numbers are generally four digits. The first number denotes the
building; the second number denotes the floor. For instance, Room 2215 is in the
2nd building (the "North" building) on the 2nd floor, in room 2215. Similarly,
Room 3345 would be in the 3rd building (the West building), on the third floor,
in room 3345. (Room numbers that start with a 5 are in the Bibliotek (library)
building).
Restaurants or food on campus. There is a caf, operated by the lovely
Margaretha, in the Lnken building on the upper floor. They sell muffins,
sandwiches, coffee and other drinks, ice cream, some fruit, etc. At lunch they do
a few pasta and paj (quiche) daily features. There is also Villa Oscar, above
campus in the business park, that serves a daily buffet lunch, but is a bit more
expensive.

Administration

PC Logon ID for BTH Network. The international office will supply you with a
logon ID and password when you check in and receive your school
documents.

16

Student Access Card (for BTH buildings and some rooms). You will received
your access card, which provides access to the BTH buildings and to the
computer rooms and the common room, when you check in with the
international office. There is a 50 SEK deposit fee.

Student Union and Student Union Card. By Swedish law, every student must
belong to their student union. Students must pay 310 kronor the first
semester, 280 each subsequent semester to belong. BTH's Student Union is
located directly above International Reception in the Lnken building. It has
limited hours (that seem to vary considerably), so check the hours listed on
the door. They only take cash (no credit cards!)
Students should present themselves at the Student Union upon arrival to pay
the required fees. Bills and correspondence for subsequent semesters will be
sent to you by mail to your place of residence.
Once the fees are paid, you will receive a notice of membership. This notice
will function as a student card for several weeks until a permanent card is
mailed to you.
Your student card will grant you special discounts at numerous stores in
Karlskrona, and makes you eligible for general student discounts (for
instance at Kino, a dance club). The Student Union has a list of all the stores
in Karlskrona which honour the student discounts. Don't forget to use your
card for discounted bus passes!
You must have your membership card (and ID) to enter the student pub,
Kren.
The membership card and another card that gets mailed to you called a
Mecenat card can be used to get cheaper student tickets when you fly or
travel by train or bus (not all busses) in Sweden. Instructions come with the
card in the mail, and you access these discounts, and student flight booking
for SAS, etc. online. You must have the password that is sent with the card
to use the online service.

What you need to get your student card:

Your acceptance letter
Photographic proof of identification (e.g. passport or drivers license)
BTH personal identification number
Address in Sweden
The Student Union Office is also where you can do the following:
Printing put money onto your student printing account to be able to
use the on-campus printers
Photocopy cards you will need a photocopy card, only available at
this office, if you plan to do any photocopying
BTH gear they sell t-shirt, mugs, pencils, etc. with the BTH logo
there
Stationary they also sell paper, binders, etc. there
The Student Union runs an intramural sports group called KIDS. A list of
sports (including floor hockey, basketball, and football (soccer)) can be
found directly across from the International Reception area.

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6.9

Getting Help - Who to go to for what

Programme Title
Strategic Leadership
Towards Sustainability

Contact Person
David Waldron
Programme Manager

Strategic Leadership
Towards Sustainability

Roya Khaleeli
Programme Assistant

Email/phone number
David.Waldron@bth.se
(P) +46 (0)455 38 55 22
(M) +46 (0)709 22 02 45
Roya.Khaleeli@bth.se
(P) +46 (0)455 38 55 27
(M) +46 (0)736 69 28 52

Programme contact people can be contacted with any questions about the
academic programme itself (e.g. class schedules, room locations, readings, text
book needs, etc.).

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