What Amanda says about the Master’s in Chemistry, Physical Chemistry
Amanda from Sweden
Why did you choose the Master’s in Physical Chemistry programme at Lund University?
“I did my Bachelor’s degree in Lund, and I really enjoyed it. It felt like a natural continuation to do my Master’s here as well. Since the second year of my Bachelor’s, I have mostly been interested in physical and theoretical chemistry. That is why for my Master’s degree I focused on courses within these fields. The reason why I went to Lund in the first place is because Lund University is one of the best in Sweden! I also like the city a lot.”
What do you think about the programme so far?
“The programme is exactly what I expected. Since I also did my Bachelor’s degree here in Lund, I already knew a lot about the education and the Master's courses, so I had a pretty clear picture of how it would be. The courses are usually small, so you really get the chance to discuss with the professors and ask questions. We have also heard a lot about the ongoing research. I think it is really interesting to see how the things we learn can be applied. It is also a great way to get ideas for projects or thesis work.”
What is the best thing about your programme?
“The best thing is that I got to choose the courses I was personally interested in. I managed to add a project course other than my Master’s thesis, which gave me the chance to do two different projects with different topics. I also really enjoyed the combination of lectures and lab work. It allowed us to try a lot of useful techniques.”
To what extent do you think the Physical Chemistry programme prepares you for a career in your field?
“I think the courses keep a high standard, and from what I understand this is also known in industry. We have a lot of practical work, both in the lab and with computer exercises, which helps us to learn how to apply the theory that we learn in class.”
What was your favourite course and why?
“My favourite course was Surface and Colloid Chemistry. It was a really well-planned course with interesting content and good lectures and labs. We got the opportunity to try a lot of useful techniques and I have used the knowledge I acquired during this course a lot afterwards.”
Were you able to gain any practical experience during your studies?
“Yes, I got an internship at Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble, France, which was a great chance to come and work at a neutron facility. I also got the opportunity to do a summer project in a group at the University, in which I continued with both my Bachelor's and Master's thesis, from which I learned a lot. For all courses there is at least one lab session, with either practical lab work or computational work.”
How international is your programme?
“The Master's programme is completely in English, which makes it easy for international students. It depends on the course, but I would say most have around 25–50% international students.”
What was your first impression of Lund?
“I really liked the city. It is about the same size as my hometown, so I felt at home quite quickly. I also liked that it is a very beautiful city, with a lot of old houses and nature.”
What were the highlights of your time here?
“The projects I got to work on. I really learned a lot about working scientifically. I also got to see what it is like to continue a career in science by working closely with both a professor and PhD students.”
Do you have any advice for other students that are considering coming to Lund?
“Time goes by much faster than expected – make the best of it!”