What Marija says about the Master's in Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Biotechnology

Introducing Marija 

Hi! My name is Marija and I'm the student ambassador for the Master's programme in Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Biotechnology. I am happy to answer any questions you might have about the programme, courses, student life, and life in Lund and Sweden via the Unibuddy Platform, where you can chat with me (see below). Please note that I cannot answer questions about the application process, scholarships, or residence permits.  

About the programme and the teaching style 

Why did you choose Lund University? 

"Would it be too cliche to say I chose it because I saw a picture of the library and fell in love with it? Library aside, I really wanted my Master’s to be specific and as I was looking at different Microbiology programmes this one caught my eye. I liked how it combined biotechnology and how much independent laboratory work there was." 

What do you think of your programme so far? Does it meet your expectations? 

"I would say it’s not completely how I imagined it to be, but I still love it. Ultimately, I feel like this programme teaches you a lot of practical skills and prepares you well for the future."

What is the best thing about your programme? 

"The laboratory projects we have are the best. They foster independent thinking and allow you to design your own experiment while having a perfect support system if you’re stuck or are doing something for the first time. I honestly feel like I learned the most from my mentors while doing a project for a molecular microbiology course." 

What do you think of the teaching style in Sweden? 

"I love it - especially how the courses are divided into periods and that you only begin another course once the other is finished. It is so much better than having multiple courses at the same time. It allows you to focus more on the subject and learn better."

How international is your programme? 

"Very international, we have people from all around the world. Especially since different programmes listen to the same courses sometimes, I am constantly meeting people with different cultural backgrounds. I honestly think there might even be more international than Swedish students."

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

"Since I am in my first year of the programme, I haven’t had practical experience outside of the university but there is a lot of practical work that we have during the courses. The second year is a little bit different in the way that it is mostly practical experience since for your thesis you need to work on a certain research topic."

Why should prospective students choose this programme? 

"If you are interested in bacteria, then this is perfect for you. You will gain a lot of theoretical knowledge but even more important practical experience in the lab. All the while having great assistants and professors who’ll teach you and help you when they can." 

Thoughts on being an international student at Lund, spare time and tips for prospective students  

What is it like being an international student at Lund University? 

"Since the university is so diverse and everybody speaks English, you really feel like you belong here. There is not much difference in being an international vs. a Swedish student, and thanks to the university, nations, and Erasmus Student Network (ESN) there are always some events and opportunities where you can meet new friends."

What do you do in your spare time? 

"During my spare time, I mostly hang out with my friends be it movie nights, going to nations events, or clubbing. We also sometimes go to free yoga classes, volunteer at the nation, or make a day trip to Malmö." 

What have been the highlights of your first year in Lund? 

"The highlights of my first year here would be the time spent with my friends. From the time that I first moved in with my friend and we were building our beds struggling and laughing, to movie nights/dinners that last until 3 am with the new friends we made here."

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

"Bring warm clothes! Don’t be too scared when coming here; in my experience everybody is friendly and there are a lot of interesting people for you to meet. Also, don’t underestimate the importance of bringing your comfort food. If you don’t think that your favourite snacks or ingredients for preparing your favourite dish are sold here, bring them (Editor's note: Please check customs restrictions as there are rules about what food you can bring into Sweden). It’s worth sacrificing one sweater for it, trust me."

Have more questions for Marija? 

You can chat with her and other current students directly via Unibuddy by clicking the card below.