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Sílvia Pedro from Portugal

How did you hear about Lund?

“I finished my Bachelor’s in Cellular and Molecular Biology a few years ago, and I always wanted to do a Master’s. For some reason I’ve always been fascinated by Scandinavia, so I went online and looked for programmes in Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden. It just so happened that Lund has the programme that I liked the most.”
 
Has the programme met your expectations so far?

“Yes, I think so. It’s been quite interesting. It’s very different from what I’m used to, but it’s a good different. For instance, in Portugal you take five or six different courses at a time of fewer credits each, which can be a bit stressful since you have all the work at the same time, and you can’t really focus much on anything. Here in Sweden, you only have one course at a time, so you can process everything much better. I really like that. I also feel that the coordinators and teachers are very easy to talk to. In Portugal, they are usually not very approachable, and you always have to call them ‘Doctor’ or ‘Professor’, while here you feel at ease speaking with them and you call them by their first name.”
 
What has been your favourite course so far?

“It’s only my first year, but I liked the Microbiology and the Antibiotics course equally much. They were very different but very interesting, and I got to learn a lot. One was a lot of work and the other not as much, but they were both very good.”
 
Do you find that you get a lot of practical experience in the programme?

“Oh, yes. All of the courses have a laboratory component, which is really good. You actually get the time to use your hands in the lab and practise.”
 
Why do you think prospective students should choose the Microbiology programme?

“For me it was a matter of doing what I really wanted to do. I was always fascinated by what we cannot see. If you think about it, those organisms are so important for so many things and that’s what captivates me. That’s why I chose the programme. I think there are so many things you can do with it afterwards – it’s really up to you. If you would really like to work in a lab with microorganisms, then go for it! It’s a great programme!”
 
What are your plans for the future after your studies?

“I think finding a job after my Master’s will be my main goal. I might also consider a PhD, but I think I will try to find a job first. I think it won’t be very difficult because Scandinavia has a lot of industry. If you’re in science and technology, it’s a good place to work.”
 
What do you think of the student life in Lund?

“Lund is famous for its student life! I think it’s really nice that you meet people from all over the world. You really get a lot of experiences and meet a lot of people, which is great. There are so many events happening all the time – you won’t feel bored at all. Actually, you’ll have problems choosing what to do. There are nations if you really want to have a social student life and I would start with that, but even if you’re not part of a nation there’s always things to do.”
 
What have been some of the highlights of your time so far?

“I love to get involved with things and being here it’s also easy to travel. That’s something I love to do, so for me it’s been really great. My lecturers try to organise things like barbecues and field trips, which is fantastic as well. I really try to enjoy all of these things because I’m not used to it.”
 
Do you have any advice for prospective students coming to Lund?

“I heard a lot of things before coming here – that Sweden is dark and that it’s difficult to survive the winter. We actually had a seminar about it, so I was a bit apprehensive. Lund is not anything like that, however. You do of course have fewer hours of sunlight during winter, but it’s not so bad. It’s not so far north that you’d have problems. It doesn’t get that cold and you don’t get that much snow, so don’t worry too much about it. It’s going to be fine and you will find a lot of people that will keep you busy, so you won’t think about missing home or friends. You will find a lot of friends and things to do here.”