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Yining from China

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

"My name is Yining, and I come from northeast China. I am a current Master’s student majoring in Production and Materials Engineering. My Bachelor's degree is in electromechanical engineering from the University of Macau."

About the programme and the academic environment

Why did you choose ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ and why did this programme appeal to you?

"In my opinion, ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ is one of the best universities in Sweden and in the Nordic countries. The old history of ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ is also an attractive point for me and Lund is a nice small city with friendly living environments for international students. Due to my strong interest in structural materials or metallurgy, this programme provides a good opportunity for me to learn both theoretical and practical knowledge in this domain."

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

"This programme provides many different topics such as metal cutting, sustainable production and engineering materials to let students choose what they are interested in. I do not have a specific favourite course because all courses are unimpeachable, but I do recommend some course combinations, for example, the course 'Production Technology' and the course 'Workshop Practice'. Students can learn theoretical knowledge in the former course and then apply and strengthen the knowledge in the workshop by taking the latter."

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

"The staff is very enthusiastic and friendly, and all questions are free to ask and well responded to. Although some courses are intensive, teachers are always helping students to conquer obstacles. There are no 'silly' questions in classes, and asking questions by interrupting the teacher during the lecture is also encouraged – which is quite different from my previous education experiences in East Asia."

What is the academic/learning environment like?

"The academic environment is well organised. There is no attendance requirement for the lectures, except for some mandatory lab sections. It is allowed to skip some lectures if you feel that you have a full understanding of the content of the class or you can self-learning at home. In other words, the person who can study independently and responsibly may adapt to the learning environment quite fast, because nobody pushes you to do anything."

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

"There are many lab sessions in almost every course. For example, the course 'Power Technology' had a graded group project, and my topic was the diffusion between Zn and Cu. It strongly connects to the theoretical knowledge of the metal power sintering process. I feel that the lab work strengthened what I learned in class."

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

"I once selected a project course, the research topic was to investigate the corrosion resistance of different types of alloys during the food process. The corrosion machine simulates the real food process in the factories of Tetra Pak, and the consultant or co-supervisor of the project is also from Tetra Pak."

Being an international student in Lund

What it is like being an international student at ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ and how international is your programme?

"There is no bias in this programme or at ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ, there is no less or extra attention as an international student, but the help from the department is always there. My programme is very international, all fourteen students come from nine different countries. I feel that I benefit from the diversity of my programme as it creates more innovative ideas through discussion."

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

"Professors, lecturers and teaching assistants always help students finish and learn coursework in Sweden. The students are encouraged to make independent decisions and to influence the programme. My previous learning environment in China was quite different from Sweden as students were always scheduled by school or parents – the main thing was to follow the arranged path. By comparison, I would say the study environment in Sweden is better for the students who have their clear goals."

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

"Life in Sweden depends on what kind of life you prefer. Here, freedom is high and everyone can choose their life. For example, the Asian supermarkets here look just like the supermarkets in China, I can purchase any Asian commodities I want. I feel welcome here and I am never prejudiced. I think this is the most impressive and surprising point for me. In Macau, where I studied for my Bachelor's, the local people and stipulations had a bias toward the students from mainland China. However, this phenomenon does not exist in Sweden."

What are the highlights of your time here so far?

"I enjoy the extremely long daytime in the summer. The long time of sunshine gives me spiritual pleasure and determination to overcome difficulties. From the academic aspect, I obtained excellent academic records and became an SI-leader who is responsible for helping new students face a challenging course. I am glad to help others and enhance my own leadership."

Future plans and advice to prospective students

What are you planning to do after your studies?

"My temporary plan after the Master’s is to continue to pursue a PhD. However, I have heard that the application for a PhD is extremely competitive in Nordic countries due to the very limited vacancies, so I may apply not only in the EU but globally."

If you would recommend Lund to someone, what would you say?

"Lund is an excellent place for students who enjoy an easy life because the population of Lund mainly consists of university students. During the study periods, the city is full of energetic young students, but the city is almost empty during the summer holidays. Even though Lund is small, the location is not remote as the train time to Malmö only takes around 20 minutes and Copenhagen is just an hour away by train. The rent price is relatively low and Lund is generally a nice and safe place to study."

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

"My advice for the students considering coming to ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ is to mentally prepare for the dark winter time. I think this might be the only drawback of living in Scandinavia. However, the university does offer support to students to help them cope."