WELCOME TO THE COURSE
You are admitted to The Architecture Programme, but before you begin the enrollment and registration process, there are some important things you need to do before classes begin. We have listed here what needs to be done and when. If you cannot find the answers to your questions, please complete the contact form at the bottom of this page and we will respond promptly. We wish you a warm welcome and are looking forward to meeting you in the autumn!
As a new student, you need to activate your user account (your Umu-id) approximately two weeks prior to the start of the semester.
With your user account you can:
If you are a new student, you will automatically receive a user account when you are admitted, but you will need to activate it for it to function properly. You will not be able to activate it until approximately two weeks prior to the start of the semester.
Install MFA for a more secure login
To increase security and reduce the risk of unauthorised access to your information or account, students must enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to log in to various systems, such as Canvas and the Student Web.
I want to activate my user account and install MFA
If you are an exchange student or tuition fee paying student, you will receive an email with instructions on how to activate your account.
If you are having problems activating your account or logging in, please contact our Servicedesk. You will find answers to common questions, and can submit enquiries.
You need to register for the course. For this course, registration takes place during an meeting on Monday August 30 at 1:00 PM. The meeting will take place online and you will receive a link to the meeting through email the week before the course start.
if you for some reason cannot attend the meeting it is important that you notify us by sending an email to
info@arch.umu.se. If you don’t attend the meeting or email us you risk losing your place (seat) at the programme.
Introduction
The academic year at Umeå School of Architecture starts off with an introduction meeting. We will send out more information in a separate email in good time before the start of the semester. Check your email regularly the weeks before the semester starts.
The semester at Umeå School of Architecture starts with a two-week long workshop where you will investigate an area in Umeå. The workshop will take place outside in smaller group and online. It will be planned in a safe way were we will follow the restrictions and guidelines that applies at the time of the workshop.
Canvas
Workshop information and link to the first meeting will be available a few days in advance on the Canvas course site.
To be able to log in to Canvas you must first activate your UmU-id.
As a student you are expected to be in Umeå when the semester starts and during the semester.
Please note that this may be changed if the situation or recommendation changes, we will then keep you updated through email.
Schedule
A schedule for the first weeks of the term will be published on our website four weeks before the start of the semester.
Are you unable to attend?
If you are unable to attend the introduction meeting, please notify us by sending an e-mail to info@arch.umu.se.
The education mainly consists of project work with supervision, in groups or individually. The school is equipped with a wood workshop, laser cutter, 3D printer and computer rooms and you will have your own workplace in the school's studio - where you can expect to spend a lot of study time. The focus is on practical work in the workshop and studio, where you learn to create drawings and models. Courses in, among other things, architectural theory, architectural history and technology are combined with project work and run in parallel during the semesters. Many lectures are given by internationally professional architects, artists and researchers.
The education leads to an architect's degree, which means that you can work as an architect in both the private and public sector. The international character of the programme provides good preparation for working both in Sweden and in the rest of the world.
More information is available in the programme syllabus
We follow the recommendations from The Public Health Agency of Sweden and your education may therefore be partly online to start. To be able to follow the education you must therefore have access to a computer and internet.
At the programme, we often use Zoom as a digital tool for online teaching and meetings. Here is a guide to the most common functions in Zoom. As a student you create an account and log in with your Umu-id.
Other tools and materials that you may need in your education will we go into more in detail by the start of the course, but it is good to bring your own pencils, scissors, ruler and sketch pads for the first days already. It can be good to know that approximately the same amount that students on other programmes are expected to spend on literature, are at the Architecture programme distributed over the semester on travelling, materials, tools and literature.
We are pleased that you have decided to study at Umeå School of Architecture (UMA). We hope that you will find that you have made the right choice to gain skills for your future life!
Umeå School of Architecture is a department of The Faculty for Science and Technology at Umeå University established in 2009. Since 2010 the school is located in its own building at Umeå Arts Campus with Umeå School of Design, Umeå Academy of Fine Arts and the museum for contemporary art Bildmuseet as closest neighbours.
For Umeå School of Architecture, holistic, interdisciplinary and experimental approaches are perceived decisive to address the contemporary global challenges and possibilities of Architecture such as climate change, rising inequalities, environmental devastation, different geographical living conditions and migration. The lack of institutional history brings an open, curious and sensitive atmosphere that tends to amplify such approaches. Likewise, the situating of Umeå School of Architecture in the local- and regional context of Umeå and Northern Sweden is, together with the school's International profile a dynamic vantage point to address global or structural issues while working firmly to engage with and learn from affected communities.
Umeå School of Architecture has around 30 employees with an academic and professional background in almost as many different contexts and approximately 250-300 students from all over the world. UMA provides education in the form of a
five-year Architecture programme, a two-year Master's Programme in Architecture and Urban Design as well as periodical Single-subject Courses.
Checklist for admitted students
Follow this simple list of things to complete your enrolment at Umeå University. It includes: how to secure housing, getting a residence permit (for citizens from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland), tuition payment (if applicable), travel directions and more.
The Student web
The website for current students has all sorts of information about services, support, legal and practical matters at Umeå University. You can sign in to the learning platforms, see your schedule and course overview, get a study certificate, apply for a degree or sign up for an examination.
Recommended arrival times
International students are recommended to arrive at least a few days before the start of the regular semester, preferably prior to the Orientation. If you fail to arrive on time, you have to contact the study counselor as soon as possible, but no later than one week ahead of the course start, or you may not be able to register for the programme or course.
If you will have student housing through the Housing Office at Umeå University you will receive information about your arrival in your offer of housing.
Don't forget - Umeå has cold winters, so pack accordingly with a warm jacket, warm shoes, gloves and hat.
Orientation
Moving to a new country with an unfamiliar language, culture and customs can be a challenge. We would like to help you and ease that challenge so that you can focus on your studies. Therefore, we would like to offer you the possibility to take part in our Orientation, which begins a few days before the start of the semester (Autumn) or the same day as the semester starts (Spring).
Welcome Fair
Are you a new student at Umeå University? Visit the Welcome Fair – a perfect opportunity to learn what our university and Umeå can offer. The fair normally takes place in the beginning of each semester.
Get your UmU card
When you are on Campus Umeå, Umeå Arts Campus or Campus Örnsköldsvik, you will need a UmU card. The card has the following functions:
To get the card, you need to apply for it. Here’s how to apply for the UmU card.
Join a student union
There are three student unions at Umeå University:
They are actively involved so that fellow students have a high quality of education, good working environment, and fun leisure time.
Access to Microsoft Office 365
Students at Umeå University have free access to the programmes of Microsoft Office 365. This means that you have access to Teams, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Whiteboard Forms, your student email and other services which can facilitate your studies and your collaboration with other students. To access Office 365 you need to activate your UmU-id.
Learn more about Office 365 and how to install it on your computer