Program Guide:

The Entrepreneur,
Fall 2023

Friday, September 8 - Friday, November 17, 2023
Itinerary Packing & budgeting Country guides

Day-by-day
itinerary

Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to availability and local conditions at the time of departure.

Days 1-7: Orientation & Exploration in Zurich, Milan, & Stockholm

Day 1: Friday, September 8
Fly to Zurich
Say your goodbyes and hop on a flight to Zurich! Because of the time difference between the US and Europe, you will typically depart on Friday and arrive on Saturday. Make sure to pack snacks, at least one change of clothes, and entertainment in your carry-on.
Meals included: Some meals may be included on your flight; check with your airline about your specific itinerary

Day 2: Saturday, September 9
Arrive in Zurich
Land at the Zurich airport, where an EF team member will be waiting for you! Head to the hotel where you’ll check in and start to meet other members of your cohort. Take a walking tour of Zurich and have a welcome dinner with your group.
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 3: Sunday, September 10
Orientation at EF Headquarters
Spend the morning at EF’s global headquarters in the heart of Zurich. Do some workshops that will prepare you for your internship experience and for life in Europe.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 4: Monday, September 11
Travel to Milan
Board a train to travel from Zurich across the Italian border and into Milan! Settle in and have a group dinner in Milan.
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 5: Tuesday, September 12
Explore Milan
Explore Milan with a guide and see some of the city’s most iconic sights, like the Duomo (the largest Gothic church in the world!) and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the first mall in the world that opened in 1887. In the afternoon, have some free time to explore Milan on your own.
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6: Wednesday, September 13
Lake Como
Venture out of the city to enjoy a day on Lake Como. Take in the views of nature and of the impressive architecture of the homes that surround the lake.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 7: Thursday, September 14
Free day in Milan
Enjoy a full free day to explore Milan at your own pace!
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8: Friday, September 15
Fly to Stockholm
Fly from Milan to Stockholm, your home for the next 8 weeks! Get acquainted with the city and have a welcome dinner with your group.
Meals included: Dinner

Day 9: Saturday, September 16
Get to know Stockholm
Explore Stockholm with a local expert. Learn your way around the city and its public transportation, and see some of the sights. This is a great chance to get a taste of all the city has to offer — and to start your list of all the things you want to do, explore, and eat during your 8 weeks in the city!
Meals included: None

Day 10: Sunday, September 17
Free Day in Stockholm
This is a great day to both explore the city and make sure you are set up to begin your internship the next day. Stock up on groceries, make sure you do any last-minute shopping, and settle into your new apartment.
Meals included: None

Days 11-64: Internship in Stockholm, Sweden

During the 8 weeks of your internship, you will be living independently in your apartment and planning your schedule around the expectations of your internship. This means that most days you will work from approximately 9am to 5pm.

You will be responsible for your own meals, which you can cook at your apartment or take advantage of Stockholm’s range of restaurants.

On the weekends, you have free time, which you can use to explore Stockholm or other parts or Sweden. You could also take advantage of being in Europe to fly to another country for a couple of days! Make the most of this time, but remember your duty to your internship should always come first.

Days 65-71: Leadership & Wrap-Up in the UK

Day 65: Saturday, November 11
Fly to London
Say your goodbyes to Stockholm, and jump on a plane to head to London. Have dinner with your group.
Meals included: Dinner

Day 66: Sunday, November 12
Enjoy the city of London with a guided tour to see some of the highlights of the city.
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 67: Monday, November 13
Free Day in London
Enjoy a free day to explore the city at your own pace and spend some quality time with your cohort.
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 68: Tuesday, November 14
Head to Ashridge
Head out of the big city and out to the former royal residence of Ashridge. Ashridge currently serves as the Executive Education Center for Hult International Business School, which is EF’s sister university. While at Ashridge, you’ll have workshops and sessions that help you process your internship experience and provide you with skills you can bring with you to your next steps.
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 69: Wednesday, November 15
Developing Leadership Skills at Ashridge
Spend time at Ashridge participating in workshops and sessions that will help you leverage your work experience into leadership skills. Enjoy exploring the grounds of this spectacular estate during your free time.
Meals included: All

Day 70: Thursday, November 16
Final Day at Ashridge & Farewell Dinner
Spend one more day in workshops and sessions helping you feel prepared to take your next professional steps. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner and celebration in one of Ashridge’s most beautiful and historic spaces.
Meals included: All

Day 71: Friday, November 17
Departures
Fly out of London and head home.
Meals included: Breakfast

Packing tips

Be prepared for baggage accountability

You will be on the move, which means you will be responsible for carrying the weight of your luggage–and remember, elevators are not common in many foreign countries. Make this easy on yourself and don’t pack more than you need.

Be aware of baggage allowances

You are allowed one checked bag, one carry-on bag, and one personal item (a backpack or small bag) on international flights. It is important you stick to this limit, as your luggage will need to fit on the bus with the rest of your cohort’s luggage. Airlines will directly charge around $50 per bag, each way, for additional luggage.

Consider cost of oversized bags

Checked luggage sizes are generally no more than 29" in height and 45lb in weight; carry-on sizes vary by airline, so you will want to check once you know your flight information. Please know that if your bag exceeds the weight limit, you will be responsible for the extra cost per airline.

Remember to re-pack

We suggest packing your bag once and then re-packing it, taking out a few things the second time; the pack and re-pack method will let you do a trial run, so that you really, truly take only what you need. Trust us, there will be an opportunity to make purchases while you travel!

Remove items you do not need

You do not need to bring sheets or bath towels for any module; these will be provided. Additionally, you can buy an inexpensive beach towel once you arrive in any beach destination.

Versatility is key

Pack basics, neutral colors, and layers so you can easily mix and match. Pack items that can be dressed up or dressed down so you can use them for multiple modules or locations.

Travel light

We cannot stress enough the importance of packing light: it is vital that you bring no more than two bags–the standard is one checked bag and one personal item. Leave some extra room in your suitcase for souvenirs.

Snack light

Bring a few granola bars or snacks for your initial travels, but no need to pack more food. A large part of your experience while abroad is immersing yourself in the culture—this includes the food you eat. Who knows, you may find a new favorite food!

Travel tags are your bag’s best friend

Don’t forget to put a luggage tab on your bags so you can easily identify them! We also advise taking a photo of your bags before you depart in the event they get lost or delayed.

Traveling
smart

Packing
Pack two weeks’ worth of what you will need. You’ll have the opportunity to do laundry and you’ll want to leave room for things you buy during your program. Neutral colors and accessories make mixing and matching easy. See below for your core packing list.

While at work, you will be expected to wear business casual clothing. Business casual clothing includes, but is not limited to, blazers or sports coats, blouses or tailored tops, dress slacks or khakis, dark wash jeans (no holes or rips), and dress shoes. Please refrain from wearing flip flops, sandals, miniskirts, crop tops, or any other informal attire or apparel to your internship. It’s always better to be over-dressed than under-dressed. Try to wear nicer outfits your first week, and adjust to what those around you are wearing if your internship company has a more informal environment.

Budgeting
Whatever your personal spending habits are, it’s important to anticipate your expenses and budget accordingly so that you can travel care-free with more time to enjoy participating in your program. The Entrepreneur is a quite independent program, where you will be figuring out your meals for most of your program. We want to help you build a realistic budget for additional expenses so that you can fully enjoy trying the local cuisine, participating in activities in your free time, and, of course, shopping for souvenirs to bring back home.

Packing list
Clothing

– 4-5 business casual outfits.
– T-shirts (3)
– Jeans or other casual pants (3)
– Nicer shirts/blouses (1-2)
– Raincoat/windbreaker
– Lightweight jacket, like a blazer or a leather jacket
– Winter coat
– Comfortable walking shoes/sneakers
– Boots
– Socks and underwear (2 weeks)
– Warmer layers in case of chilly nights (2)
– Lightweight pajamas
– Bathing suits (2-3)

Accessories

– Reusable water bottle
– Sunglasses
– Hats: 1 for sun coverage, 1 for warmth
– Notebook and pens
– Laptop and/or tablet — note that you will likely need this for your internship
– Headphones
– Camera / memory card / charging cables
– Portable charger
– Travel lock for luggage and belongings
– Laundry  bag
– Packing cubes (optional)

Toiletries

– Toothbrush / toothpaste
– Deodorant
– Body wash/soap
– Shampoo / conditioner
– Hairbrush
– Sunscreen
– Stomach soothing medication
– Wet wipes
– Stain Remover stick / detergent packs
– Contact lenses / solution / eye glasses
– Menstrual products

Documents

– Passport
Pro tip: bring a photo copy and/or a photo on your phone as well

– Copy of your flight itinerary
Found in your EF Gap Year portal

– Copy of your itinerary and accommodations
Found in your EF Gap Year portal

– Health Documents:
CDC vaccination card (if applicable)

– Copy of any prescriptions

– Primary Health Insurance card from the U.S.

Carry-on

– Backpack
This is your carry-on! It can also double as your daily bag while abroad.

– Wallet
Bring your debit or ATM card so you can withdraw cash, as well as your credit card, ID, and student ID if you have one (discounts!)

– Medications
For prescriptions, make sure it is in original container and bring enough of a supply to last your program.

– COVID-19 CDC vaccination card
Or, a negative COVID test result if applicable.

– Entertainment!
Books, downloaded Netflix streams and Spotify playlists, magazines, travel journal, deck of cards, etc.

– Passport
– Airline ticket
– Reusable water bottle
– Neck pillow / eye mask / ear plugs
– Toothbrush / toothpaste
– Contact lenses / solution / eyeglasses

Budgeting guide
Currencies

We don’t recommend traveling with large sums of cash. You may want to convert a small amount money to the currency of your first destination. From there, you’ll be able to access local currency by using your debit card to withdraw cash from an ATM. 

Be sure to check with your bank ahead of time and, if necessary, provide a travel notice so they don’t block the card for suspected fraud. Also ask them about any foreign transaction fees that might apply, as these can add up quickly. Apple Pay is another great option that past students have used during their time on-program. 

During the majority of your program, you’ll be in Sweden, which uses the Swedish Krona. Sweden is widely regarded as one of the most cashless countries in the world, so you will likely rarely if ever use cash while in Sweden.

You’ll also encounter the Swiss Franc in Switzerland, the Euro in Italy, and the Great British Pound in the UK. It’s important to check the exchange rates in the moment, as these can vary.

Meals

During your time traveling at the beginning and end of your program in Switzerland, Italy, and the UK, about half of your meals will be covered. We recommend budgeting about $100-$200 per week for additional food costs.

During your time at your internship in Sweden, you’ll be responsible for your own food. Your budget will vary drastically based on whether you primarily cook or eat out at restaurants. Alcohol will also add substantially to your budget. We suggest budgeting between $200 and $400 per week for meals.

During your internship, you’ll be responsible for your own meals. Grocery stores in Sweden are different from those in the US, so get ready for a cultural immersion experience! Check out this handy article that gives some helpful information to expats on what to expect from Swedish supermarkets.

Extras

We recommend budgeting up to $50 a week for extra costs. This could mean putting money aside for things like:

– Checked bag airline fee (usually around $30-50 per bag for every flight)
– Additional items of clothing
– Emergencies
– Extra toiletries
– Souvenirs
– Laundry — To save money, we suggest bringing a small bottle of condensed soap, such as Dr. Bronner’s, that you can use to wash your clothes in the sink.
– Personal travel — if you plan trips out of the country on the weekend, this can substantially add to your budget. Consider if you have any personal travel goals while making your budget.

Country Guides

Below find useful information about the countries you will visit as part of your program.

Sweden
The Basics

The city of Stockholm is made up of a series of islands, so there’s a lot of water all around. It’s spread out, with different parts of the city occupying different islands, but there are ferries and bridges connecting them. 

Sweden has been inhabited for nearly 5,000 years since it was first settled by several Germanic tribes. The country remained relatively ethnically homogeneous throughout its history until the recent waves of immigration transformed it into a multi-ethnic society. 

The climate of Stockholm varies based on time of year. The summers are typically comfortable and partially cloudy, while the winters can be quite cold with little sunlight.

Cultural Norms & Guidelines

Swedish culture is very particular about time: if you’re late to a meeting, you will get some subtle looks telling you that you messed up.  

Stockholm is a cash-free city, and many cafes, restaurants and hotels actually enforce a no-cash policy. Make sure you’re prepared with credit cards or digital pay. 

Fika is the Swedish coffee and cake ritual that means that the best cafes in the city will be full to the brim in the afternoons, especially on weekends. The traditional fika is with a cinnamon bun, but some cafes do their own variations: the rhubarb crumble buns at Fabrique, or the pistachio and blackcurrant version at Il Caffe, are some favorites. It’s a crowded time, but well worth pushing in. 

Key words and common phrases:  

  • God morgon = Good morning 
  • God kväll! = Good evening 
  • Vad heter du? = What is your name? 
  • Mitt namn ä r = My name is 
  • Hur mår du? = How are you? 
  • Pratar du engelska? = Do you speak English? 

Beyond the basics, don’t worry too much about the language barrier! Swedes speak amazing English because their education system is one of the best in the world. 

Contemporary Sweden prides itself on championing human rights and equality, as manifested in its social welfare system. 

Greet people with a handshake. This is the most common greeting in Sweden; it is usually firm and accompanied with direct eye contact. 

Pay attention to personal space. Maintain a little over an arm’s length of distance and limit the amount of touching in a conversation.  

Remain tidy, as Swedes believe being neat reflects a sense of consideration towards others.  

Some advice from EF Gap alumni:

  • “Even in the summer it can be chilly, so bring some layers and sweaters to stay cozy.” -EF Gap Year Alum
  • “I absolutely loved Stockholm and could really see myself living here one day! Stockholm has a small town feel with all the luxuries of a large city. In addition, it’s located right on the ocean and is spread out over 14 beautiful islands.” – EF Gap Year Alum
Identity & Diversity in Sweden

Sweden is one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly countries in Europe. They have a long history of being on the forefront of legal rights for the LGBTQ+ community. 

25% of the country’s population was born in another country or was born in Sweden to non-Swedish parents.  

There are still undercurrents of racism and xenophobia, particularly anti-Black and Islamophobic racism in Sweden. The far-right Sweden Democrats party, which has roots in WWII-era Nazism, received over 20% of the votes in an election in October 2022. This wave has challenged conceptions of Sweden as a modern, “post-racial” society. Students should be aware that these biases and this political affiliation, while still in the minority, can still be felt in society. 

Social Identity Resources

Travel provides incredible opportunities to learn about yourself, the world, and yourself in the world. But travel is also a deeply emotional experience that can bring different challenges to every individual
based on the identities they hold and experiences they’ve had.

This resource is intended to help you think about how your intersecting identities can, and will, shape
your experience as an EF student. Take some time to review our Social Identity Resources to hear different perspectives, learn about identity-specific resources, and prepare with helpful tips before you go abroad.

EF Gap Year gave phenomenal support to anyone in our cohort during our time abroad. Phone calls with concerns were answered promptly and always constructive and kind. The staff at EF really just wants to see you succeed, and they do what they can to make that happen.

Sara S. EF Gap Semester Class of Fall 2019

If you have the opportunity to take an EF Gap Year, reach out and grab it. You could literally ask anyone for advice, and the support staff is amazing at EF; you always have someone to talk to and there's always help when you need it.

Alex L., California EF Gap Semester Spring 2019

The EF Gap Team consistently provided phenomenal support to me and the other students on the program. Not only did the Tour Director act as on-the-ground support at all times, each Gap Year Advisor always answered any concerns or questions promptly.

Foster P., Massachusetts EF Gap Semester Spring 2020

The EF support staff were so understanding and efficient in handling anything and everything that was thrown at them—especially my Tour Directors on the ground, who were uniquely essential to making the experience as smooth and magical as it was. Their local knowledge is unmatched and I can genuinely say they made us feel like family. Even now, almost two years later, we still call sometimes to catch up and talk about how we hope to see each other again someday.

Kate V., Oregon EF Gap Year 2021-2022

Safety & Support

EF Gap Year is a key part of EF’s expansive global network. With a presence in over 120 countries, 52,000 staff, 600 schools and offices, and over 400 community partners our team has your back and is always available to help you succeed on your journey.

Your global support network
Advisor

Juan Couso is thrilled to be your Advisor! They are there to support you from a distance, check-in with you throughout the program, and encourage you to achieve your goals.  Juan liaises with your Tour Directors and local EF staff, collectively working to ensure the success of your experience. They are also available for parents and guardians as well. Juan, along with the entire advising team, works from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM EST Monday through Friday.

Tour Director

Your Tour Director is the logistical and safety coordinator of the group. They are a local guide who will serve as your best resource for logistical support, like ensuring you arrive on time for flights or helping you find the nearest ATM. They are also there for safety purposes and can help with medical concerns or emergencies as well.

In addition, your Tour Director supports the group dynamic as well as provides individual socio-emotional support on the ground. They will encourage you to develop new relationships and support you in overcoming challenges, like homesickness.

In certain countries, Tour Directors may be referred to as Field Directors.

Internship Manager

Your Internship Manager will support you in having a positive and productive internship. At the beginning of program, they will help you orientate to your new routine and at the end of program, they will help you process your experience. In addition, your Internship Manager will liaise between you and your assigned company, checking in with you regularly throughout your placement. They are your first point of contact should an issue arise during the Stockholm-based portion of your program.

Safety & Incident Response Team

The Safety & Incident Response Team is available to all of our students 24/7 and is trained to support students in times of crisis.

The EF Emergency Line is: 617-619-2520  

Questions about your
upcoming program?

Your dedicated Gap Year Advisor is here to help every step of the way.