What Arif says about the Master's in Wireless Communications

Arif from Indonesia

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

"I’m Arif from the beautiful city of Bandung, Indonesia. I was exposed to the STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) field from an early age by my parents who are both engineers. As a child, I particularly enjoyed figuring out how things work and how to make things. I knew that I would like to be an engineer so I went to the Bandung Institute of Technology to get a Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications Engineering."

About the programme and the teaching style

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

"As a student, I found the physical layer of the communication stack to be particularly interesting. It is just very intriguing how you can combine math, physics, and a little creativity to send signals from one point in space to another. After a short stint of working, I felt like I still had much to learn about the field, and I wanted to study abroad. I came to know that Lund University is home to the record-breaking 5G testbed, and I know that I want to have a chance to study there to learn from practitioners who are researching cutting-edge technologies. I looked at the available courses and current research and I felt like it would be a very good fit for my goals."

Why should prospective students choose this programme? Do you have a favourite course?

"I feel that the programme is very well structured by first building up the basics of communication before guiding students to current and future technologies. The courses are not only theoretical but also provide a real-world understanding and application through projects and lab work. The research done by the faculty also translates to a better experience in the classroom since we get to see the theory we are learning being applied to real-world technologies. My favourite course would be the Wireless Communication Channels. Not only is it interesting to discover how the real world will affect your signals, but we also learn how to analyse real-world data and how to draw conclusions from those analyses."

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

"There is definitely more of a focus on the student being active and inquisitive, and I really feel like it is the key to making great engineers. With most courses, there are lectures, exercise classes, labs, and projects. Though not all the things are mandatory, I feel that by doing everything we get a good foundation and practice on the theoretical concepts that we can then apply to real-world situations through teamwork with other classmates. The lecturers are simply world-class, their experience in research and teaching absolutely translates to a better experience during the classes. They are also very helpful outside of classes so we are not intimidated to ask questions if we have further questions on a particular matter."

What is the academic/learning environment like?

"In the time that I have studied here, there have been many opportunities for me to learn outside of the classroom. Having guest lectures as part of a course and outside is a common occurrence and greatly broadens my knowledge in the field of study. Job fairs are also held regularly in the university so I have a good idea of what I can expect to face when I graduate."

Have you been able to gain any practical experience during your studies so far? Like lab work?

"Yes. The labs are structured in such a way that students can apply their theoretical knowledge and apply them to real-world situations. Aside from hard skills such as knowing how to operate a spectrum analyser to measure an antenna or how to generate a synchronisation signal for 5G, I feel like I have improved many soft skills like teamwork, analytical thinking, and time management. These skills will translate well into my future career."

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

"With the many job fairs that the university holds, there are of course many opportunities to work with companies whether it be internships, summer jobs, or thesis research. I personally know many seniors who have done their thesis with a company. We are also able to connect with professors, lecturers, and PhD students to build up our networks. Also, there is a LinkedIn page where we can connect with seniors and alumni of the programme."

Being an international student in Lund

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

"I have to say that the experience as an international student is very good at Lund. My classmates come from all around the world and from many different backgrounds. It is such a nice thing to get everybody’s different perspectives on a certain matter. The university also arranges many international activities that make me feel very welcome here."

What is studying in Sweden like compared to studying in your country/other countries you studied in?

"Here, I think the studying process is much more focused on broadening one’s knowledge about concepts and discovering your own interests instead of just memorising equations to pass an exam. One of the technical differences here is that the semester is split up into two study periods where we only study two courses within that study period. With this system, I feel like we get more of a chance to focus on the subject that is being taught even though we have a shorter time with each subject."

If you would recommend Lund to someone, what would you say?

"Lund is a beautiful town that revolves around the university. The student life is great, and you can have a lot of fun here, or maybe for something more urban you can go to Malmö or Copenhagen. The Skåne region in general is home to many great places to visit and activities to do, I feel like my two years of study here is not enough to experience everything. The after-studies prospect is also very good with many companies situated around Lund, some of them even within walking distance to the university."

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

"I absolutely love Sweden and can see myself living here later down the line. Culturally, I love the concept of 'lagom' or 'just enough' which carries over to everything that we do here, it’s very refreshing to get away from the hustle culture that I was used to. The people are also very welcoming, and almost everybody speaks English, so you never feel left out whether it be on campus or outside. What surprised me the most about Sweden is how accessible everything is, for example, all of your information is attached to your personnummer or BankID with which you can access many public services like going to the doctor or signing up for SFI (Swedish for Immigrants)."

What are the highlights of your time here so far?

"The most memorable thing for me this past year was performing a traditional Indonesian dance for an international day event on campus. For me, it is very special to be able to share a part of my culture with people who have never seen something like that before. The people were also very appreciative and curious afterwards and it really made me feel more welcome in Sweden."

Future plans and advice for prospective students

What are you planning to do after your studies?

"I’ll go back to my home country after my studies. With the development of the technology sector in Indonesia, I feel that I will be able to apply the knowledge that I have learned here back home. One of my big dreams is to create a startup focusing on the development and manufacturing of IoT technologies that are applicable to be used in rural communities in Indonesia. Maybe afterwards, with more experience, I will continue my studies as a PhD."

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

"There are always a lot of things to get used to when moving to a new country. For me and others, being far away from family and friends back home is very tough, especially with the time difference. Another difficult thing for new students might be adjusting to the climate. Though the winter here is not as severe as further up north, I still found that it was somehow a little bit difficult to adjust. It’s not just the cold, but the lack of sun and shorter days. Taking vitamins and finding time to socialise with your friends is a must for me. However, if we keep a positive mindset then moving here will be an absolutely awesome experience."