What Kunal says about the Master's in Production and Materials Engineering
Kunal Sharma
Kunal Sharma is one of the students pursuing the Master’s in Production and Materials Engineering at Lund University. After graduating high school from Kyiv International School, he accepted a place in the Mechanical Engineering programme at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada where he got a Bachelor’s degree. Now he has spent one semester in Lund and we have asked him some questions about his experiences in Sweden so far.
Why did you choose Lund University and Sweden?
"I had friends that did exchange programmes at LU from UBC and they had only good things to share, with very memorable experiences. The open country and ability to go hiking at any time was definitely a very compelling factor that made me consider Sweden in general. After doing some more research, I was able to see the vibrant lifestyle that people at Lund live. Having everything from student sports clubs, nations*, student-owned restaurants, a long history of traditions, and much more, are all factors that made me want to join the ever-growing Lund collective."
What has surprised you about Sweden?
"What surprised me the most was how welcoming people are, especially when you try to communicate in Swedish, and when you inevitably fail they are more than happy to switch to English and show you their amazing proficiency in the language."
Has the programme met your expectations so far?
"The new Production and Materials Master's programme really opens a lot of doors if you build connections with professors who then connect you to industry partners. You are able to see what real research looks like on the front lines of innovation. Due to the high importance of Lund University in current industries, you are able to see projects live and even participate in them if you can prove to the professors that you are an asset. At the Masters's level, I would say you start building relationships with the faculty and the whole learning experience becomes more interesting since you choose the field that you want to pursue and learn more about."
What do you do in your spare time and what is student life in Lund like?
"In my spare time, I try to stay as occupied as possible. I am currently participating in the Lund's Volleyball Club practices twice a week, and I am on the Lund University Rowing Club and will be embarrassing myself at the Swedish Nationals this summer in the end of June due to my lack of experience, but this will still be an experience that I will never forget. When it comes to the nations, I help out at the pub nights and dinners at Helsingkrona Nation, where I immerse myself in the whole Swedish experience and really test my Swedish language skills."
*The nations are large, welcoming social clubs forming the heart of students’ extracurricular life in Lund.
"The insights from the programme help me excel in my job"
Heaven from Sweden
"The courses are very useful and hands-on!"
Belén from Spain