Uppsala Corona Study Locations
All your Classes moved to Zoom?
Need some intellectual engagement beyond watching zoom lectures in bed with your camera and microphone off? During corona times, it is good to make use of what the University and the city still have to offer, and take a look at some of the best and lesser-known locations to study and watch Zoom lectures during the pandemic. By looking at the positives and negatives of each, and using the extremely objective rating system out of 5, we hope to help you find your favourite new spot to study in Uppsala!
Location 1: Ekonomikum
This big fella is located in Luthagen and near the core of Uppsala. It’s not exactly pretty from the outside, but, it's what is on the inside that counts, right? Eko, as it's also known as, has many places to study both for groups or if you come there alone. There are also many toilets and microwaves available so you can stay there the whole day. And don't worry if you forget your lunchbox, there is a vending machine and cafeteria there for you. If you need to print something, there is a printer that you can use and a bunch of different rooms so you can easily find a study area that suits you.
However, as it is one of the most popular places to study, it can get noisy which means it's not optimal for Zoom seminars or meetings. Another thing that's worth mentioning is that the strange chairs are quite divisive, with some people liking them and some people hating them. But overall it's a good place to study. During corona and certain hours you will need a campus card to get in but if you forget there are always people nearby that can help.
Positives:
Microwaves, vending machine/Cafeteria, different area, printer, the chairs
Negatives:
The chairs, campus, stinky toilets, sometimes gets too loud
Overall rating: ★★★☆☆
Location 2: Kafferummet Storken
Located in the city centre opposite Max is the fantastic cafe Storken. Up a flight of stairs, it is extremely popular with students and it is common to see groups of students sitting there working together. Overall, it is well known for its great selection of food at decent prices, which is better than similar cafes such as Årummet. The tables are also well suited for study, and the only drawback is that there is no free wifi (unless you steal the bookshop wifi downstairs 😏), but if you use your mobile data this is one of the best places in Uppsala to study if you can get a spot, as it often fills up quickly.
Positives:
Great and relatively cheap food with lots of cakes, open until late (usually until 22:00), great vibe overall, nice classic interior design
Negatives:
Often fills up quickly, no amenities such as a printers, no free wifi
Overall rating: ★★★★☆
Location 3: Nation study spots
Each of the 13 nations offer some form of study spot, either via their library or simply by letting you sit in their main building. These vary greatly in quality and amenities, but the best part is that there are so many that you are guaranteed to eventually find one you like, and they are always fantastic social meeting place.
Overall rating: Varies
Location 4: Carolina Rediviva
At the top of the hill stands the great Carolina Rediviva library. With 12 floors of books, it is absolutely enormous, and has plenty of space to study. The library ticks every box of what a good study spot should have, and additionally has something the other locations don’t - multiple quiet reading areas. It also has a cafe with a student discount, multiple vending machines and of course access to the library itself. Overall, it is pretty much perfect and absolutely worth checking out.
Positives:
Good cafe with student discount, access to library and all amenities, lots of space
Negatives:
During exam periods fills up quickly
Overall rating: ★★★★★
Location 5: Geocentrum
Geocentrum is a smaller study spot near Blåsenhus and close to Campus 1477 gym. As it’s part of the University, you get free wifi and access to printers/scanners. It is mostly engineering students and geologists who are there for classes but not many realise it is open for everyone. In the main corridor there are lots of study spots and small rooms available for booking (although these are sadly closed at the moment due to corona). Also, there are 2 microwave areas to warm your meals and a cafeteria where you can buy fresh coffee and cheap meals. Since the geo part of the name comes from geology it’s no surprise there are lots of interesting stones and trinkets to look at in the halls, and there is even a sample of each of the stable elements from the periodic table. During the summer, the gardens are one of the best places to sit for lunch or simply take a break between classes or study sessions. And the nearby proximity to the botanical garden means lunch walks are quite nice. However, it is quite niche as it is so small and mostly engineers there so it’s not as diverse as some of the other mentioned study areas.
Pros:
Cozy, cool if you like rocks
Cons:
Small, niche for environmental engineers and geologists
Overall rating: ★★★★☆
Thank you, and good luck in your studies!
By Oscar Green, Nicole Jeffler and Lachlan Manning