History of International Staff Services
The International Desk, now known as International Staff Services, began as a two-year project in May 1999. It was initiated by the then International Council to improve and coordinate the reception of guest researchers and foreign doctoral students at Karolinska Institutet.
Support for Departments
The support function, now located at the International Office, continues to serve the departments as a helpdesk for inquiries and offers several fixed services such as migration support. The departments at Karolinska Institutet are responsible for the practical reception and care of visiting researchers and doctoral students. The support function maintains contact with other authorities, networks, and banks to facilitate the departments’ work. Through active networking, the support function keeps the administrators at the departments updated on guidelines, changes in regulations or policies, and identifies any structural problems. For more information, please visit International Staff Services for HR.
Support for Researchers and Doctoral Students
International Staff Services offers support for international researchers and doctoral students. On the International Staff website, you can find information to help you navigate your stay in Sweden. This includes guidance on moving to Sweden, living in Stockholm, working at Karolinska Institutet, and finding accommodation. You can also find support for applying for residence permits and visas, Swedish language courses, and family support. Additionally, International Staff Services organizes introductory meetings to facilitate your stay. Since 2014, doctoral students have been offered a free Swedish course, which is also available to postdocs.
Individual doctoral students and researchers can also turn to International Staff Services for help and advice.
Collaborations
KI Housing: Established in 1994, now part of Karolinska Institutet (KI), offers furnished apartments and rooms in Stockholm for international students and guest researchers.
KI Career Service: Started in 2002, prepares PhD students, postdocs, and researchers for future careers both within and outside academia.
Stockholm Dual Career Network (SDCN): Launched in 2015 by the Stockholm Academic Forum to help accompanying partners find jobs and feel welcome in Stockholm.
SUHF and Migration Issues: The Swedish Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions (SUHF) has been working on migration issues and established a collaboration group with the Swedish Migration Agency in 2023 to improve dialogue and cooperation on residence permits for students, PhD students, and researchers. See the ongoing review of migration rules for doctoral candidates and researchers.
EURAXESS: A European network under the EU Commission that facilitates researcher mobility, promotes career development, informs about researchers’ rights, and highlights job opportunities in Europe. The Swedish network started in 2005. KI has participated from the very beginning.
