Alve: International Student Working in Sweden | Örebro University

Hej again! I am Sheikh Mahmud Alve, a 25-year-old student from Bangladesh currently pursuing my master’s degree at Örebro University. Alongside my studies, I also work as an International Student Ambassador.

One question that often comes to people’s minds is: How did I get this job in the first place, especially without being fluent in Swedish?

The interesting part is that my role does not require Swedish language skills. Every year, the university announces openings for student ambassadors during the autumn semester. The application process is actually quite simple—you just need to submit the necessary documents, and if the university likes your profile, you may be offered the position.

When I first saw the opportunity, I immediately applied. The main responsibilities included writing monthly blogs about student life in Sweden and helping with student-related activities alongside the International Office of Örebro University. After submitting all the required documents, I was fortunately selected for the role.

It is an hourly paid job, and for each task we complete, we receive a healthy amount of compensation. Every year, the university hires four student ambassadors, and currently my colleagues are Kyra, Lukas, and Henrique. Together, we have built a really great team.

Over the last six months, we have created social media reels, arranged lunch mingles, organized Christmas dinners, and participated in many other student activities. One of the best things about this job is that it never feels stressful—it is genuinely enjoyable to work in such a positive environment with supportive and chill supervisors like Malin and Katrin.

For me, this opportunity is much more than just a student job. It has given me valuable exposure to the Swedish work culture while continuing my studies. It has also helped me improve my communication skills, build connections, and grow both personally and professionally.

As my current colleagues are in their final year, the university will have three new student ambassador positions available next autumn. I will truly miss my current colleagues, but at the same time, I am also excited to meet the new people who will be joining the team. So, if any of you are interested, you should definitely apply for this opportunity! It’s a great way to gain experience, meet new people, and become more involved in student life at Örebro University.

As the summer vacation approaches within the next few weeks, the first season of my journey as a student ambassador is also coming to an end. But this is definitely not goodbye. The second season is already on its way, along with fun stories and memories from my summer break.

We will meet again with more experiences and stories from my life as an international student—and as a student ambassador at Örebro University. Until then—hej då!