Nations at Swedish universities

Student nation or just nation ( in Finnish: Osakunta ), refers to a fraternity at a university or college in Sweden or Finland. They are comparable neither with the students compounds known in Germany, nor has the word " nation" as we know it meaning.

They were originally an alliance of students from the same geographical background and were baptized by those same backgrounds ( Småland Nation, Östgöta nation, etc. ). In most cases, the nations are apolitical, but provide students with a wide range of recreational opportunities. So they run restaurants, bars and pubs, in which the students work actively. Most nations also belong to a choir, various sports clubs and theater groups.

Formation

The First Nations in the former Swedish Empire ( including, among others Finland and Estonia were ) formed in the 17th century. It was modeled on the Nationes of European universities, where students joined forces with the same origin to communities.

Nylands nation in Helsinki

Östgöta Nation in Lund