What Ása says about the Master's in Sustainable Urban Design

Ása from Iceland

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your educational background?

"My name is Ása, and I come from Iceland where I studied Landscape Architecture at the Agriculture University of Iceland. I moved to Sweden in autumn 2020 with my partner and two kids."

Why did you choose Lund University and why did this particular programme appeal to you?

"I’m passionate about the way humans interact with their environment and how design can influence a better quality of life, especially in the northern climates. Therefore, I chose Sustainable Urban Design at LTH (Faculty of Engineering) since it weaves together so many interesting aspects of how design has influenced our behaviour in the past and how we can move forward in a sustainable way."

What do you think of the teaching style and the way of studying here? What are the lecturers and professors like?

"The teaching is a mixture of lectures and seminars where we’re very fortunate to meet a lot of external lecturers who share their expertise. The teachers are all very supportive and approachable which creates a very fun and relaxed learning environment. In addition, they are always up to date on all the latest trends and willing to help you improve your projects."

Have you had any opportunities for networking within the programme? Do you work with companies?

"Yes! Getting to meet all the external lecturers is a great opportunity to network and we also have big design projects every semester where we work with a particular area in different municipalities. Hopefully, we are giving them some new perspectives on the areas they’re working on at the same time."

What it is like being an international student at Lund University and how international is your programme?

"Being in an international programme has been the greatest aspect of my studies here in Lund. In my class, we have 15 nationalities out of 17 people and everybody has something unique to bring to the table – it’s priceless to have that kind of knowledge in one room!"

What is studying in Sweden like compared to studying in other countries you have studied in?

"It is more multicultural and the work-life balance is much better here. Everybody makes sure we take regular breaks and most often we can spend our evenings and weekends doing other things than just studying."

How do you like living in Sweden? Did you feel welcome here? What surprised you most about Sweden?

"I love living in Sweden! Once you get into the system, you feel very welcome. What surprised me the most, I think, is that the Swedes see themselves as private people who like their privacy, but I find it to be the exact opposite – they’re all so friendly and inviting!"

What are you planning to do after your studies?

"I’m starting to grow roots here in Sweden so my plan is to stay here for as long as I can and find a job at an office as well as sharpen my Swedish skills."