What Xiomara says about the Master's in Social Scientific Data Analysis
Introducing Xiomara
Hi! My name is Xiomara, and I'm the student ambassador for the Master's programme in Social Scientific Data Analysis. 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.
Choosing the programme and Lund University
What is your study and personal background?
"I come from Peru and I'm currently enrolled in my first year of the Master's Degree in Social Scientific Data Analysis and I am 20 years old. I previously graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Development Studies, also at Lund University."
What drew you to this programme?
"It was definitely a challenge for me to find what I wanted to pursue my Master's education in. Once I found this programme, I really liked the fact that it's very interdisciplinary. I love that we have people from different academic backgrounds, which definitely provides a very broad and holistic approach to the programme. When we do projects, it's very nice to share and provide all about our perspectives and to hear about different points of view. Everyone can share and give their opinions and it's very enriching, so that's one aspect that I really liked about the programme.
I also liked the fact that it's all about research, and I've always been very interested in research in general. Having this theoretical background in Development Studies and, more specifically, Sociology, provided me with very strong theoretical tools and a strong foundation of theory, but I wanted to know how to apply this in practice. That's why I really like this programme because I knew that with this I could actually apply all my previously obtained knowledge in practice. It's very broad in the sense that it provides you with very strong skills and knowledge on both quantitative and qualitative methodology and also a further strong foundation of social theory, which is very interesting."
Why did you choose Lund University?
"I had this idea in my mind that I wanted to study abroad, I just didn't know where and I was very torn between different universities. But once I found Lund it just got my attention instantly. The fact that it's so international and you see these pictures of this small town and it looks just like a fairy tale. It looks so beautiful and I wanted to be in this environment where I can meet people from different backgrounds and learn from other cultures. This was an aspect that caught instantly my attention and definitely I feel so happy that I chose Lund. I've met so many different people and I've learned so much from them as well. To be honest, I didn't know much about Swedish culture at first, but being able to learn more about it has enriched my experience here a lot."
About the programme and the teaching style
What do you think about your programme (so far)?
"So far, I'm enjoying the programme a lot. It's been an amazing experience. The teachers are super nice and very supportive. Development Studies, my previous programme, was such a broad term. We covered many different theories, we've got many different concepts and it provides you with a very strong theoretical background and conceptual background as well. On the other hand, Social Scientific Data Analysis is very practical. Of course, it also provides you with a lot of theories and it's very critical in itself as well, and that is something that I really enjoy because it makes you start to think critically about everything that you see and everything that you read. I think that is a very relevant skill to have. Also, the fact that it provides you with so many different skills, like different software. These skills are now in demand in the market as well.
I think that sometimes some programmes give you just the practical side or just the theoretical. But this programme combines both. For example, in the course, I’m currently taking called Social Theory, we are working with social media data while also combining it with theory. This is super interesting because you come to see how a theory works in practice and how you can apply it in practice."
What is the best thing about your programme?
"I think I would say just the environment in general. We are not so many students, around 20-25, so we have come to be very close to each other. I think that is very nice because we know that every time we need something, there's always this opportunity to ask for help. You don't feel afraid to give your opinion, even in the school environment. The teachers always try to encourage others to participate and not be afraid to say what they think.
Also, the international environment is such a plus! Everyone is from a different country (around 15-20 nationalities), which is so interesting, and every time we have potlucks or other events it's also so nice to try different things from different countries. I think that would be my favourite thing about the programme – the environment in general in the classroom, but also outside the classroom in our class community."
Why should prospective students choose this programme?
"I think that if you want to approach both theory and concepts in a more practical way, this programme is definitely for you. You will have both a strong foundation of theory and also you will gain a lot of relevant skills and knowledge and you will see how these things are actually seen and done in practice. So if you are a very big fan of qualitative and quantitative methodology, you will definitely enjoy this programme. You have the opportunity as well to choose your own courses at some point, which is super nice. I definitely encourage you to apply for this programme. It will be a very nice experience and you'll gain a lot of insight into research in general."
Have you been able to gain any practical experience during your studies so far?
"Not yet, but next term we will be doing internships. There are so many different opportunities with different organisations that you can apply for."
What do you think of the teaching style in the programme?
"It was definitely shocking when I first arrived. It's very different from what it is back home. In general, it's a more informal system. You don't even address your professors as professors and their last name, it's just their name - ‘Michael’ or ‘Mike’ or ‘Chris’ - which is something new for me. At first, it was a bit difficult to get used to, but then it creates such a nice environment. It makes you feel so comfortable, and it doesn't create this hierarchy between the teacher and student. Whether you want to participate or when you want to share your opinion, it feels more like a conversation, rather than that the teacher is actually judging you. I've never had that experience before, so it's super nice."
Thoughts on being an international student at Lund, Swedish culture and tips for prospective students
What it is like to be an international student at Lund University?
"It's definitely super nice in general. It can be shocking at first because of the cultural differences. Everyone can identify with each other because most of the students here are international. We can comprehend our shared experience of being so far away from home.
It’s also very interesting to learn about Swedish culture and how it works. There are very interesting traditions here which make for a very enriching experience. What is also interesting is the fact that since Lund is such an international town, you get to learn from so many different cultures and traditions. You can find restaurants from different continents and I get to try so many things that I probably would have never tried. It's such an enriching experience to be an international student in Lund."
What surprised you the most about Sweden?
"I think there's this huge stereotype that Swedish people can be a bit closed off or that sometimes it's very hard to make Swedish friends. I think that in general, I've had very positive experiences in this regard. It might be harder to approach Swedes, but once you approach them I think they are super nice. They are very friendly people and very helpful as well. So I would say that's one of the greatest stereotypes, but do not stress about it, because I think there's definitely the possibility to have Swedish friends."
Do you have any advice for other students that are considering coming to Lund?
"Of course, I would say go for it! At first, it can be a very scary experience to move abroad and be so far away from home, but I think that you get to learn so much. You get to have so many experiences you would probably never have back home. I know that the weather is probably one of the facts that is the most scary new perspective for some students, but I promise there are ways to deal with it. It's not about the weather, it's about the clothes that you wear.
Lund is a city where there's always something that you can do and there are so many organisations that you can join. The student life is so rich and there are different organisations within your own faculty to join and the student nations. I’d encourage everyone to get involved and go with their friends to enjoy and relax from academic life. Being an LU student is such an amazing experience, so I would definitely encourage our prospective students to also apply to Lund and come here and enjoy their life as students.
Another great aspect about Lund is the fact that it is so well connected to two great cities which are Malmö and Copenhagen. If you ever feel bored in Lund since it's quite small, especially for people who come from a capital city or bigger cities, you have somewhere to visit. For me for example, coming from Lima, the capital city of Peru, I want to explore and go to other places. So I often go to Malmö, which is just 15 minutes away from Lund, and there's also Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark just 45 minutes away by train. So take advantage of the opportunity to discover and explore new places!"
Have more questions for Xiomara?
You can chat with her and other current students directly via Unibuddy by clicking the card below.
If you want to know more about Xiomara's thoughts on balancing studies with extracurricular activities around campus, you can also read her blog post.
Xiomara's blog post 'Study Routine and Campus Activities: A Day as a Lund University Student!'
"We are trained on how to analyse and critique theory"
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