What Hilya says about the Master's in Biotechnology

Introducing Hilya 

Hi! My name is Hilya and I'm the student ambassador for the Master's programme in Biotechnology. 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.

Why did you choose Lund University? 

"I previously studied Chemical Engineering at a technical institute for my Bachelor's degree, specialising in Bioprocess Technology. My degree leaned heavily towards engineering disciplines, and for my Master's, I knew I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the biological systems behind the large-scale processes I’d learned. I saw that the MSc Biotechnology programme in Lund is very interdisciplinary and it offers a perfect mix of bioprocess and molecular biotechnology."

What are your first impressions of your programme? Does it meet your expectations? 

"Overall, I had a good first impression. The programme coordinator was helpful. The university organised several introductory meetings where we got to know the structure of the programme and how things work here. I am quite happy with the available courses. I have nice classmates as well! We got along very well from the start; everyone is from diverse backgrounds, which is the cherry on top for such an interdisciplinary programme." 

What have been the highlights of your first months in Lund? 

"I did a lot of activities and met a lot of people. I went to sittnings with the student guild at LTH, joined summer activities like playing kubb and going to the beach with my international mentor group, and spent a lot of time with classmates." 

What do you think of the teaching style in Sweden? 

"I'm used to doing a lot of courses for the whole semester, so the system at LTH, with only a few courses over a shorter period (cycle/term), can be quite intense! However, I really like the more relaxed relationship between student and teacher compared to where I'm from, and the teachers are communicative and accommodating. For example, I needed to request an extension for my last lab report, and the instructor was very understanding. I also find that the non-competitive grading system here makes me feel less anxious. In short, the schedule and amount of material can be challenging, but there’s less pressure, and I know I’ll have support if I need it."

How international is your programme? 

"It is very international. I think half of the people in my programme are from Asia and the other half from the EU, and in total, we’re from more than 10 different countries."

What are you most looking forward to in your programme? 

"I'm looking forward to everything! I'm doing a very interesting course right now which is Biophysical Chemistry. It's all new for me (for someone who comes from engineering background). We’ll also have a study visit to MAX IV, the synchrotron in Lund, which I'm very excited about. Next year, there’s a synthetic biology course I’d love to take, where we can participate in the iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) competition, along with other courses like protein engineering and immunotechnology. I can’t wait to learn it all!" 

Stay tuned! A more comprehensive testimonial from this student will be published once they have completed their first semester at Lund and have more insights to share about their programme. 

Have more questions for Hilya? 

You can chat with her and other current students directly via Unibuddy by clicking the card below.