About Gothenburg

For most people in Sweden, a healthy balance between work and free time is as equally important as work itself. This is also seen as common sense among most employers and teachers; to perform effectively at work or at university, you need time for both rest and leisure.

Another distinct feature of Swedish society, including work, is the flat hierarchy. A student can speak in the same informal manner with one of her fellow students as she does with a professor at her department. Similarly, people use first names when addressing one another.

People in Sweden are often avid planners who treat their work and studies quite seriously, and carefully plan their daily and weekly schedule. Because of this, arriving on time for meetings both at work and in free time is regarded as a golden rule.

A common misconception is that Sweden in general has a very cold climate with lots of snow. While this might be true during winter in the northern and middle parts of the country, the southern parts have a much milder climate, especially in the coastal areas. Here temperatures in winter might vary a bit from year to year, but usually it’s a few degrees above 0°C, or sometimes when it’s a bit colder, a few degrees below 0°C.

Sweden has four seasons with very varied climates. Summer temperatures are quite similar to those in southern England but with a lot more hours of sunshine and daylight. Winter is the coldest season of the year in Sweden as well as in the Northern Hemisphere. The coldest months are usually December, January, and February.

Due to the high latitude, we have very long nights in the winter and very many hours of daylight in the summer. At the winter solstice, around 21–23 December, the days are shortest and the nights are longest, with days lengthening as the season progresses after the solstice.

• Find out more about climate in Sweden, sweden.se

Sweden is regarded as a safe country by European and international standards. Swedish society is well known for its publicly funded social welfare system. It ranges from health care and pensions to parental allowances and insurance related to your job.

Misleading narratives about crime in Sweden
In recent years, a number of narratives have emerged that describe Sweden as a country where violent crime is spiking and overall safety for the common citizen is plummeting. This could not be more incorrect since research on in these areas clearly show otherwise. Overall crime in society is at an historic all-time low. While it is true that there has been an increase in certain types of crimes in some areas in recent years, overall safety in society is unchanged.

Safety in Sweden according to OECD
This fact is also reflected in studies measuring safety and making comparisons on a European and international level. One example is the OECD Regional Well-being Index where West Sweden (the region where Gothenburg is located) has a score of 9.6 out of 10 for overall safety in the regional society.

Sweden places a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability and conservation. Recycling, energy efficiency, and eco-friendly practices are widely encouraged and integrated into daily life. This might contrast with cultures where environmental awareness is less prevalent.

• University of Gothenburg's work for a sustainable future

In the last decades, a good number of laws and regulations have been passed to ensure equal rights between the sexes and members of the LGBT community. Discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender (among other reasons) is prohibited by law.

In the Global Gender Gap Ranking, Sweden ranks third in the world in the global index on equality according to the World Economic Forum.

• The University of Gothenburg is a proud partner of West pride

In Sweden, freedom of religion is regulated by constitutional law and Sweden has a high general tolerance for different faiths. Although a rather secular country, Sweden’s cultural and ritual practices are often based on religion.

• 10 takes on religion in Sweden, sweden.se