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Jesús from Spain

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your educational background?

"Hi! My name is Jesús. I’m from Sevilla, in southern Spain. There, I studied a double degree in Physics and Materials Engineering. Right after I finished the programme, I decided I wanted to pursue my Master’s and to do it abroad sounded really interesting."

Why did you choose �۶���Ƶ and why did this particular programme appeal to you?

"I started looking for programmes as I entered my final year of undergrad. I’ve always found Nordic countries really appealing, and Sweden seemed like a good option. I saw that �۶���Ƶ and the programme itself had a strong connection with Industry, and the elective courses allowed me to find a path that could meet my interests. Then I just thought I was only one application away from finding out if it was actually true!"

The programme and the academic environment

Why should prospective students choose this programme? Do you have a favourite course?

"I believe the programme offers a balanced mix between Materials and Production Engineering, with a special focus on Metal Cutting. The different courses are quite interconnected, and you quickly realise that what you learned in the earlier courses comes in handy in the upcoming ones. I would recommend it to anyone interested in working in the manufacturing industry. I really liked the material-related side of the programme, with the course in High-Temperature Materials deserving a special mention."

What do you think of the teaching style and the way of studying here? What are the lecturers and professors like?

"I have to say I like the way studying is around here. Education is highly assignment-driven, way more than what it used to be back in Spain. You still have some exams, but with the time that is given and the way the questions are made, it feels much more ‘enjoyable’ (as much as an exam can be, I know) than in many other cases. Lecturers are also all very supportive, and you never feel you shouldn’t be asking something."

What is the learning environment like?

"Most class groups happen to be quite small, making the relationship between professors and students much closer, and the academic experience much better overall in my opinion. The course structure works perfectly, with only two courses at the same time to focus on and changing every two months so it doesn’t feel monotone."

Have you been able to gain any practical experience during your studies so far?

"Most of the courses involve some kind of laboratory work, although they might differ a lot depending on the topic of each specific course. Most of the practices take place in the workshop, which has a wide variety of machines that can carry on many different operations. I believe a really valuable aspect of the lab work here is that you get in touch with what is actually being carried on in terms of real research inside the department at that moment."

Have you had any opportunities for networking within the programme? Do you work with companies?

"Most professors try their best to include some guest lectures during the course, with people coming from other universities and companies around Sweden and presenting what they are working on. This is quite an effective way to get in touch with them and ask about Master Thesis topics or even summer jobs."

Being an international student

What it is like to be an international student at �۶���Ƶ and how international is your programme?

"It is actually impressive how international �۶���Ƶ is. You can find international students everywhere around campus and you can get around with English most of the time. People within the programme itself and even someofthe lecturers also come from all over the world. I must say I have never felt out of place at any moment as an international student."

What is studying in Sweden like compared to studying in your country or other countries you studied in?

"I have studied in Spain my whole life before coming here, and the change has been quite noticeable. I am used to exam-focused courses with some projects here and there, which often leads to really heavy and stressful exams at the end of the semester. Here it is rather different. Almost every course has a number of assignments that can be graded or are simply needed to pass the course, sometimes even replacing the final exam. Moreover, even within the exams, there are not only traditional written exams but oral exams, project presentations or home takeaway exams, which I believe succeed in skipping the boring part of memorising all the stuff for written exams."

Student life

What would you say if you would recommend Lund to someone?

"I would 100% recommend living here in Lund. Student life is one of the best things about this city. You don’t stop meeting new students thanks to the high number of corridors, nations and unions there are. Especially during the start of the academic year, there is a lot of stuff taking place.

How do you like living in Sweden? Did you feel welcome here? What surprised you most about Sweden?

"I love it here, definitely. Getting around by bike and not depending on buses or trains feels great. Something that has really struck me is the weather. I expected the winter to be quite harsh, but I have been able to cope with it just fine, even considering I am used to quite good weather. By the time I’m saying this we are back in spring, and it is perfect for all those outdoor activities or sports."

What are the highlights of your time here so far?

"There are some breaks during the academic year that are perfect to do some trips to all kinds of places around Scandinavia, which is not something one should overlook. Around November, some friends and I took that opportunity to go to Tromsø, in the North of Norway. I had never been so far north, and seeing the Northern Lights for the first time was quite an impressive experience. But it is not necessary to go that far. There are also many natural parks with awesome sights which are good for a weekend hike even a bus ride from Lund."

Plans for the future and advice for prospective students

What are you planning to do after your studies?

"There is still plenty of time for things to happen that could drastically change my plans, but my idea is to eventually do a PhD in some material-related field and pursue a career as a researcher."

Do you have any advice for other students who are considering coming to Lund?

"The only aspect about Lund that I would advise to keep an eye on is housing. I would recommend looking for a place as soon as the decisionto come here is made. Make sure you ensure a place to stay at least for the first few weeks and try to improve it from there if you are not comfortable with it.

I also struggled to find accommodation myself and ended up living in Malmö during the first semester. It was not a big deal as both places are well connected, but commuting might feel a bit tiring after some time. Just after Christmas, I got a corridor room in Lund, and I couldn’t be happier with it!"