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

Muram  from Sudan

About the programme and the teaching style 

Why did you choose this programme? Why in Sweden? 

"I am pursuing a Master’s in Sustainable Urban Design, working with large urban scales. My undergraduate was in architecture, and I have also worked after graduation as an architect and interior designer. When I decided to pursue my Master's degree, I wanted to specialise in a certain topic, and urban design was one of the options. Why Sweden? Well, I have always wanted to pursue my Master’s in Europe, but I was searching for countries where I can find high-quality education, as well as an opportunity for funding or a scholarship, and I found that in Lund University."

What do you think about your programme so far? Does it live up to your expectations? 

"Yes, I would say the programme has lived up to my expectations. When I first started this programme, I didn't know much about Urban Design but now I think I have learned a lot. Day-to-day processes, you can´t tell but at the end of each semester, you realize the amount of knowledge you've gained."

What is the best thing about your programme?  

"Well, the best thing is that although it is urban design, it does not detach you from your design background, you get to choose a variety of courses each semester intersecting with other Master’s programmes in the architecture school. I am currently doing an interior design course. I also did a climate-smart architecture course. Also, there is a sense of internationalization and the fact that you get to meet people from different backgrounds."

Why should prospective students choose this programme? 

"If they are interested in designing outdoor spaces and what is in between the buildings and public spaces, streets, how to plan cities, neighbourhoods in different contexts, then this is the programme for them. Also, if they are coming from a completely different background and they want to experience architecture from a different perspective, then this is the perfect programme for them." 

What is your favourite course and why? 

"I would say the Climate Smart Architecture and Urban Design.  As I mentioned, urban design was one of my options, but I was also interested in another programme which is Energy-Efficient and Environmental Building Design. The Climate Smart Architecture and Urban Design course is very related to that programme’s topics. We learned to use new software and tools in this course to calculate the prevailing wind speed and the sun radiation."

Have you gained any practical experience during your studies? 

"We do a lot of field trips. Professionally, we kind of have an idea because most of the sites that we work with are real-life projects processed by municipalities or design firms. We meet professionals who work on these projects. So, we connect with people from the practical field."

What do you think of the teaching style at Lund University? 

"I'd describe it as friendly and casual, like the relationship with the professors. If I had to compare it to Sudan, we had a very formal system and it was stressful to speak to a professor. Here in Sweden, it's very easy to reach out to the teaching staff. They are available all the time." 

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

What is it like to be an international student at Lund University? 

"In our programme, we have many Swedish and EU students, Latin Americans, Africans, and Asians. We are all staying in one studio space and working in groups. Throughout the design process, we come up with very creative ideas from different architectural backgrounds and we get to exchange languages and cultures."

What do you do in your spare time?  

"Lund is a very student-oriented city and has lots of student activities with different nations and clubs.  There is always something happening and events going on. It just requires people to be more active, social, and outgoing."

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

"I do not know if I have some advice, but I remember when I was moving here, I was a bit worried and did not know what to expect. So, I would say, it is easy to blend in here. The system is clear to understand, and people are super friendly. Just take your time with everything and maybe consider learning Swedish. When you get here, try to join the SFI (Swedish for Immigrants) classes if you are interested."

Thoughts on Sweden, speaking English and overcoming homesickness  

What have you liked most about living in Sweden, and what have you learned from living in Sweden? 

"I would say, upon my arrival, I was impressed by the nature, the safety, and the friendly and helpful people, so these are the things that I like about Sweden. I learned how to be more organised and manage time properly because the culture here is very time-sensitive."

If you want to know more about Muram's thoughts on safety in Lund, both in the classroom and out, you can also read her blog post. 

Muram’s blog post ’Safety Concerns about Moving to Sweden? My Experience as a Female Living in Lund!’ 

Have you been able to get by mainly with English in Sweden? 

"Everyone speaks English fluently here and they switch from Swedish to English easily. So, they do not make you feel the need to learn Swedish and this is the reason why most of us keep procrastinating that. However, you might need some basic words at the supermarket as the products are written in Swedish. I think you might need it more when working but as a student, if you are only planning to stay here after studies, then you do not need to learn the language."

Do you have tips on overcoming homesickness for students from your region? 

"It is helpful to create a community of people from your own country who speak your language. That way you can reach out to them whenever you feel homesick. Together, you can plan traditional events and ceremonies away from home. Homesickness hits the most on these occasions." 

Future plans and career readiness 

What are your future plans? 

"I plan to stay here because now that I have experienced the educational part of Sweden, it would also be nice to experience the practical field as well."

In what ways do you feel your programme has helped prepare you for your future career path? 

"I have an architectural and interior design background, and now I think I can add the urban design which will hopefully widen my career opportunities. I have been provided with all the tools, skills and knowledge that I need for my career."