Hälsning från rektor/universitetsbiblioteket m.fl.
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Welcome back as a student at Karolinska Institutet

The autumn semester at Karolinska Institutet will begin soon and you are among those returning to KI after what was hopefully a restful and inspirational summer break.

There is no need to remind you about the prevailing circumstances since we were forced to make the transition to distance learning in March. As it looks now, however, we will reopen campus for classes at the start of the autumn semester, which is good news indeed!

However, not everything will be the same as before. Of course, we will follow the recommendations of the authorities in order to avoid the spread of infection. The health of our students and employees is our top priority, and we have introduced a number of measures to ensue it. This involves everything from physical distancing and limiting the number of persons in lecture halls to new procedures in lunch queues and additional cleaning in common areas. Students and staff must study or work at home if they experience any symptoms indicative of COVID-19 and they should also study or work at home in case of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 among household members. Risk-taking is inexcusable in a society experiencing a pandemic.

This approach relies a great deal on you taking personal responsibility. Follow the guidelines posted on signs around campus and in buildings, on digital screens and on KI's website. Practice social distancing, wash your hands frequently, avoid larger gatherings and conduct yourself in a manner that minimises the risk of exposing vulnerable groups to infection. Bear in mind, in particular, that all the new and old students coming together at the start of the semester come from many different parts of Sweden and the world. That makes it all the more important to conduct ourselves in a disciplined and responsible manner at the beginning of the semester, as well as thereafter.
As KI students you have a responsibility both within and outside the university’s walls. A safe and responsible return must be viewed as a team effort.

Last but not least:

I cordially welcome you back for another semester as a student at Karolinska Institutet!

Ole Petter Ottersen, President
 
Measures taken at KI in response to COVID-19

On May 29, the government announced that from June 15, higher education institutions may return to campus-based teaching, provided that all activities on campus follow the official recommendations issued by the Swedish Public Health Agency to limit the spread of the virus. In practice, this means that the majority of the theoretical education will continue to be kept as distance-based to enable campus-based teaching for priority groups and activities.

KI's recommendations follow the Swedish Public Health Agency. Our recommendations complement those issued by the Swedish Public Health Agency in two additional aspects, reflecting the specific challenges facing an internationally oriented medical university:
  • Face masks in certain training situations where distance is not possible to maintain, for example in clinical practical training, laboratories and dissections.
  • A recommendation to stay at home in case of symptoms of illness that also applies when household members have symptoms of covid-19 and/or in case of suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

5 tips for keeping social distance:
  • Bring lunch boxes with cold food to avoid crowding at the microwave ovens
  • Eat outdoors when the weather allows
  • Avoid public transport to and from campus if possible
  • Avoid touching when visiting and/or greeting other people
  • Follow the instructions and markings that are set up on campus

Overall information for employees and students about COVID-19

Information for students about teaching due to COVID-19

Course and programme-specific information can be found on your course and programme website
 
A note of welcome from the Karolinska Institutet University Library (KIB)

When the autumn semester begins, one may find that much at the KI library is still, yet not quite, as it was before the COVID-19 outbreak. In order to minimize the impact of COVID-19, some of our services, such as one-to-one tutoring in information searching and academic writing, will only be available online. Also, there is a maximum number of visitors allowed in the library premises.

In spite of this, we hope that you will feel welcome to your university library. Starting mid-August, the library’s information desk will be staffed again, and we will finally be able to greet our students face-to-face. We sure wish we could follow our tradition of celebrating and kick-starting each semester by inviting new students to mingle with us in the library. That won’t be possible this year. However, despite the current circumstances, we promise that we will try to help you, whenever and wherever you need it. We will do our very best to support you during your studies at KI. No matter if you are a brand new or an experienced KI student. No matter if we meet each other in our online chat, during a Zoom session, or through a shield of plexiglass.

Read more about the KI library’s services during the COVID-19 outbreak
 
COVID-19 measures
- Info webinar for international students


Were you not able to attend the webinar on the COVID-19 measures this spring? On September 8, you will get a new chance.

Read more and register for the webinar
 
Lunch seminars with the Student Health Centre

Each semester, the Student Health Centre holds a series of seminars on a variety of current topics.

During the autumn semester, the seminars will be held online.
 
#helloKI – Photo competition for students

Back on campus after the spring? Take the chance to participate in our photo competition #helloKI. Share your experience as a student at KI and get the possibility to be published on KI’s Instagram, and the chance to win a goodiebag!

Share your experience on Instagram
 
Student unions - an important part of student life

If you are not already a member of one of our two student unions, now is a perfect time! 

The student unions offer various social activities such as team sports, choir, theatre groups, orchestra, café, pubs, language cafés and more. Through the unions, students at Karolinska Institutet are also actively engaged in academic issues and student welfare.
Medical Students' Union (MF)

Global master's and bachelor's students as well as students of audiology, biomedical laboratory sciences, biomedicine, medicine, midwifery, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, speech pathology and therapy, psychotherapy, physiotherapy, public health and toxicology, belong to the Medical Students' Union (MF).
Dental Students' Association (OF)

Students of dentistry, dental hygiene and dental technology belong to the Dental Students' Association (in Swedish: Odontologiska Föreningen or OF).
 
Not checking your student email account? Don’t miss emails from KI

If you do not check your student email regularly, make sure all emails to your student email account are automatically forwarded to a private email address. Only this way you can be sure to receive all relevant information from KI.

Here is a guide on how to do