What Firat says about the Master's in Politics and Society of the Contemporary Middle East

Firat from Turkey

About the programme and the teaching style 

What attracted you to apply to Lund University?  

"Lund University is in the top 100 universities in the world, and my previous university was not even close to being in the top 5000. Therefore, I can clearly see the difference in terms of funding, activities and granted grants on research programmes."

Why did you choose this programme?  

"I published my Bachelor’s thesis dissertation on Russian and Turkish relationships. It was mostly focused on media, but I have also been contemplating having expertise in politics. Most of the Master’s programmes elsewhere require a background in international relations and politics and other fields, but my department in Lund, the Graduate School, doesn't have such requirements. This is why I've chosen the programme here in Lund."

What do you think about your programme so far? Does it live up to your expectations? 

"So far, yes! I've been getting used to the seminars mostly, which is a cultural difference when it comes to educational life. Back in Turkey, we were not used to having such seminars and discussions with our peers and colleagues in real-life class situations. But here, I feel that I'm improving my skills in debating and thinking and critically analysing in the classroom environment."

What is the best thing about your programme?  

"It's been really well designed for a person who doesn't have any previous knowledge about politics and international relations. It's designed for you to understand the Middle East region and politics and theory at the same time, step by step."

Why should prospective students choose this programme? 

"I remember asking myself this question so many times during my programme search! I would suggest that prospective students check the syllabus before they come to Sweden and research how European and Scandinavian education systems work. Especially if you're coming from Middle Eastern countries, you have to look at the syllabus to see if it matches what you are looking for and be prepared for seminar-style teaching. If you want to improve your researching skills or you find your methodological skills lacking, you have a lot of chances to improve them here because most of the classes are based on theories. If you choose this programme, you will have a chance to improve your research skills in academia."

What is your favourite course so far and why? 

"It's going to be controversial among my classmates, but I really like the theory classes that I'm taking right now. The class is designed so that we make a research proposal at the end of the classes, which is very useful. I really like it."

What do you think of the teaching style? 

"With the teaching style, you're equal with the professor, which I haven’t really encountered in Turkey. There was always some sort of ceiling, even though it was glass and invisible. The professors also try to understand us to some extent and nudge us to think – why should we do that, why are you thinking in that way, what is the reason for your explaining this in that way? In Turkey, that wasn't the case."

How “international” is your programme?

"To be honest, I'm quite surprised with the nationalities represented! When I applied to this programme, I thought we would be a lot of people coming from Middle Eastern countries, but there are also people from Switzerland, Germany, and Poland! Even though we are 14 people, I would say half of the class is from Middle Eastern countries and the rest are from European countries!"

Thoughts on being an international student at Lund, Swedes and future plans 

What it is like to be an international student at Lund University? 

"It is actually pretty fun! Lund University gives us, international students, a lot of opportunities to discover the university, for example, the other faculties, the seminars, the events and mingles."

What surprised you the most about Swedes? 

"First of all, I was happy to see how polite and kind Swedish people are! They're so open, and Lund is such a multicultural city. People try to understand you, even though they're timid and shy. But I realise I'm becoming like one of them as well now in my mannerisms around others."

What are you planning to do after your studies?  

"I'm hoping to pursue a PhD. Other than that, I'll also be applying to NATO and other organisations, for example, the European Union. I will also first try to get an internship in those organisations."