What Edith says about the Master's in Medical Science, Nursing

Edith Karjalainen from Tanzania and Finland

How did you find out about this programme? 

“Through the Study in Sweden website. I actually heard about Lund University for the first time when I was very young – my late father who was a lecturer at the University of Dar es salaam in Tanzania visited Lund University with my mum in the early eighties.”
 
Why did you choose this programme?

“I remember that my father used to say that Lund University is one of the best universities in the world. It’s among the 100 top universities. Lund is a great place for students, I couldn’t see myself going to any other place.”
 
What do you think about your choice of studies so far? 

“It is the best decision I’ve ever made and the programme is what I expected.”
 
What is your favourite course so far? 

“Evidence Based Practise. I loved this course because of the conscientious and judicious use of current best evidence in conjunction with clinical expertise and patient values to guide health care decisions.”
 
What is your impression of the lectures and seminars?

“The lectures and seminars are great so far. We get to know everything about the courses in advance: what they are about, the objectives, who the lecturer is, which books and articles we have to read before seminars, what kind of assignments we have to complete, the kind of assessment we will get and the timeframe for everything. It’s quite flexible, which makes it easier for students to arrange their time.”
 
What are the facilities like?

“We have access to labs and lab equipment as well as libraries. The libraries offer great services and there is always a librarian there to help.”
 
How international is your programme?

“It’s very International – there are students from Latvia, Germany, China, Norway, Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Nigeria, Greece, India, Latvia, Sweden and Denmark.”
 
Why would you recommend this programme to prospective students? 

“It’s a generalised degree programme that solidifies a student’s understanding of the multifaceted scientific study of medicine.”
 
What it is like to be an international student at Lund University?

“It feels great to be part of the international student community in Lund and I am very proud to be a student at Lund University. Academically, Lund is a great place to be. It is easy to communicate with lecturers, who are very supportive. The website offers a lot of information in English and I have access to a lot of books and databases. It is also very easy to get around in Lund by bicycle.”
 
What is studying in Sweden like compared to studying in your home country?

“I did my Bachelor’s in Finland and most of the books were in Finnish. My Finnish was not that good at the time, so there was a language barrier. In Lund, libraries are great for international students.”
 
What was your first impression of Lund?

“Lund is beautiful and lovely. When I came here for the first time, I fell in love with Lund and I told myself that I had to come back. It’s peaceful and the people are nice and friendly.”
 
Have you been able to get by with English in Sweden?

“Yes, very well. Everyone speaks English here.”
 
Is there anything typically Swedish that you like?

“Swedes are friendly and when you ask them something, they are ready to answer and give you directions or help you solve your issue.”
 
What are you planning to do after your studies?

“Time will tell, but if I happen to get a chance to continue with PhD studies in Lund, I will be more than happy. Otherwise, I will go back to the orthopaedic department I worked at before I started this Master’s programme.”
 
Do you think it will be easy to find a relevant position after your studies?

“Yes, I think so because nursing both allows you to work directly with people, or indirectly by creating programmes that will help them achieve longer lives in good health.”
 
Do you have any advice for prospective students? 

“There is so much to learn about medicine. There are lots of trials and joys. Find yourself a mentor or mentors. Be stubborn when it comes to your success. Don’t think that this path will be easy, and don’t give up because it's hard.”