What Inés says about the Master's in Pharmaceutical Technology: Discovery, Development and Production

Introducing Inés 

Hi! My name is Inés and I'm the student ambassador for the Master's programme in Pharmaceutical Technology: Discovery, Development and Production. 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.  

About the programme and the teaching style 

Why did you choose Lund University? 

"I chose Lund University because it is located in a small city where most of the people are students, giving rise to a thrilling student life. In addition, my programme is very flexible and allows me to specialise in what I am interested in. Finally, the fact that is not necessary to speak Swedish from the beginning was fundamental because I was able to live and study in English, although I am learning Swedish too!" 

What do you think of your programme so far? Does it meet your expectations? 

"I am very satisfied with the programme, and I do not regret my decision. For the most part, the programme is very well structured. It also encourages you to choose your path picking the electives that you find most interesting. The programme achieved my expectations which were the understanding of the pharmaceutical environment from an industrial point of view. We have lecturers coming from companies in some courses that give the junction from the theory to the industry."

What is the best thing about your programme? 

"The best part is the freedom we have to choose our courses, allowing us to focus our studies on what we are interested in."

What do you think of the teaching style in Sweden? 

"The courses are based on lectures, where the teacher exposes the theory in front of the audience, laboratory exercises, and seminars. In all the situations mentioned, we can ask whatever questions we have, and professors are always open to answer them. If you are introverted, you can reach out in private during the breaks or via email as well."

How international is your programme? 

"In our programme, we are all internationals. However, this does not mean that we have no contact with Swedish students. We share most of the courses with Swedish Master's degree level students in their 4th and 5th year. This allows us to make friends with students from other programmes and introduce ourselves to Swedish culture."

Have you been able to gain any practical experience during your studies? 

"All the courses that I have done had some laboratory practices, group projects or exercises. This gives us a lot of practical experience. The second and third semesters have project courses where we find a solution to a problem by working in a group. This gives us a lot of freedom, but also plenty of practical experience."

Why should prospective students choose this programme? 

"I think the programme can be a good option for two types of people: people who want to focus on a specific pharmaceutical field and people who would like to discover the pharmaceutical world without knowing their specialisation. As the programme gives a lot of possibilities for choosing the courses, and the courses are chosen for each period, it allows you to try and find the field that you prefer. Additionally, we have many lecturers from companies that reflect how it is to work in each field."

Thoughts on being an international student at Lund, spare time and tips for prospective students 

What is it like being an international student at Lund University? 

"When I arrived in Lund, I was not expecting the number of international students present and how easy it was going to be to live here without speaking Swedish. I felt welcomed, most of the people are open to switch to English and are interested in learning about other cultures. In addition, because the university organises many activities to meet other students, it is easy to find people from your own culture or with the same interests."

What do you do in your spare time? 

"During my spare time, I usually meet friends and see the nature around Lund. When I arrived in Lund, some people told me about the importance of having indoor activities to do in my routine, to help with the darkness during winter. Thanks to that, I started going to the gym and I also started cheerleading. Lund has a lot of student associations which host many kinds of events, they also create a community and make you feel like being part of something."

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

"During this first year, I have been to many social events, I have attended a ball organised by the association where I practised cheerleading and made a lot of friends from all around the world. I have been able to explore nature around Lund in all the seasons."

Do you have any advice for students that are considering coming to Lund?  

"I would say be prepared to have fun, be open to discover new cultures and meet new people. You will learn a lot through your studies and gain a lot of experience to prepare you for your future."

Have more questions for Inés? 

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