Lund University International Podcast

Whether you're a prospective student wanting to get a head start on your study methods or a current student looking for tips and some study spot recommendations, we've got you covered in this episode. Join host Bénédicte Anthony (student worker at LU International Office) and guests Ngoc Quyen Do (Bachelor's programme in Development Studies) and Farjana Annan (Master's student in Media and Communications). Together they discuss their experiences of studying both Bachelor's and Master's degrees, navigating course readings, tips for using libraries, the highs and lows of fika, and of course, their favourite study spots.

One of the many opportunities international students have at Lund is getting to participate directly in some of the world's foremost organisations for action on climate change, and in this episode, we speak to three students who did just that: specifically, attending the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) in Bonn, Germany, in early spring 2024. Host Timothy Parker (LU International Office) is joined by Hanka Kirby, Antonia Leeb, and Arad Alesafar, all of whom are students studying the international Master's programme in Environmental Management and Policy, about their experience attending the UN Climate Negotiations in Bonn. As well as reporting on the crucial discussions that go on at the conference, they discuss their own impressions, how the opportunity has contributed to their experience as a Lund student, how future generations can get involved and engage with climate action and policy through the UNFCCC, and more.

Lund University is ranked as one of the most sustainable universities in the world, and Sweden has for many years been a popular destination for studying sustainability and the environment. But what does it mean to be 'sustainable', and what is it like to live and study in a country that prioritises sustainability so highly? In this episode, host Bénédicte Anthony (Master's programme in Development Studies) speaks to student guests Sebastián Dávalos (Master's programme in Human Ecology), Annisa Diana (Master's programme in Environmental Management and Policy), and Lukrecija Vaisyte (also a student of the Master's programme in Environmental Management and Policy). Together they discuss the various aspects of sustainable living in Sweden, from their own experience coming from abroad and adjusting to the Swedish standards of sustainable living, to the nature of their programmes and how their studies have been impacted by life in Sweden.

With the rise of large language models like ChatGPT in recent years, almost every area of society stands to be impacted by these new innovations collectively termed 'AI', or artificial intelligence. But how intelligent actually are these technologies, and what might the future bring? Researchers at Lund University have already been grappling with these questions for some time, and in this episode, we showcase the research of Peter Gärdenfors, professor of cognitive science at Lund University, who this year published a new book, "Kan AI tänka?" ("Can AI think?"). Together with host Timothy Parker (LU International Office), Peter discusses his book and his comparisons between human and animal cognition, and his exploration of the differences between human cognition and AI systems. Also discussed are the difficulties in defining consciousness, the benefits and potential dangers of AI systems, the biases that can occur as a result of datasets used in training AI, and Peter's view on how AI might ultimately affect our working lives.

This year Lund University celebrates the launch of a new international Master's programme, Climate Change and Society (acronymised as LUCAS), which will be open for applications starting in mid-October 2024 with studies starting in the autumn semester 2025. The programme is an English-taught 2-year Master's programme, delivered by the Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS). In this episode, host Timothy Parker speaks to the programme's Director of Studies, Maja Essebo, about what prospective students can expect from the programme, who should apply, what kinds of career prospects it offers, and Maja's tips for your application.For full information on the programme, including requirements, please see the programme page on the Lund University website: https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/lubas/i-uoh-lu-SAKFS

Lund alumnus Michael Bossetta is an assistant professor and Associate Senior Lecturer in Media and Communication Studies at Lund University, and is a previous winner of the Forskar Grand Prix, a prize awarded to the best science communicators in Sweden. In this episode, host Helga Heun (LU Alumni Office) speaks to Michael about his journey from studying philosophy in the USA to moving to Copenhagen and then studying the International Master's programme in European Studies at Lund, charting a career that has spanned multiple disciplines, fields of research, and countries. They also touch on the international classroom environment at Lund, Swedish cultural norms, and of course, Michael's tips for prospective or current students in how they can achieve their career goals.In addition to his research work, Michael Bossetta also hosts and produces the podcast Social Media and Politics, featuring guests at the center of today's social media movements and political campaigns. You can listen to the podcast on socialmediaandpolitics.org.

Wondering what to expect from Sweden and Swedish culture while you're here for your studies? In this episode, we dive into what a new international student can expect when they arrive for studies at Lund, from the oft-celebrated fika to standing around in queues; how you can take advantage of beautiful Swedish nature with allemansrätten, and how you can embrace concepts of lagom and jantelagen during your time in Sweden. This episode is hosted by Daniel Gunnarsson (LU International Office), and features guests Louise Corrigan-Konow and Erik Kvist, both of whom are Migration Coordinators at the Division of External Relations at Lund University.

Many international students fly to Sweden for their studies, but for one student this year, the nearly 900km journey didn't deter Ludovic Prick from choosing the greener option of cycling most of the way from Belgium to Lund, Sweden. In this episode, host Timothy Parker (LU International Office) speaks to Ludo about his travels, discussing what it was like to cycle such a long distance, why green travel is so important, and his tips for anyone wanting to cycle more and take advantage of Skåne's scenic cycling routes during their time in Sweden.

Student Associations form a rich part of Lund University's student life, and offer a huge range of communities and interest groups for new students to get involved with. In this episode, host Elliott Gunnell (LU International Office) speaks to international student guests Areej Al-Sabban and Leonie Feick about the Student Associations of Lund, drawing on their own experience in associations such as UPF (The Association for Foreign Affairs), MF (The Medical Association), and the Lund branch of 180 Degrees Consulting, the largest student consultancy in the world. Together they discuss what Student Associations are, what benefits there are to participating in them, and how welcoming they are to international students, among other topics.

Worried about how you're going to make friends during your studies at Lund? In this podcast, we delve into the experience of three international students at Lund, showcasing their best tips and advice on finding friends so that you can find the confidence to get out there and develop a thriving social life during your studies. Host Sebastián Dávalos (studying the Master's in Human Ecology) speaks to Lukrecija Vaisyte and Annisa Diana (both studying the Master's in Environmental Management and Policy) on a range of topics related to making friends, from socialising with Swedes and adjusting to Swedish social norms to events, hobbies, sports and other activities that they found useful in making friends, both inside and outside of the University.

Every year, Lund University welcomes new international students with Arrival Day and the following Orientation Weeks, preparing you for your studies and helping you to settle into your new student life at Lund. In this episode, host Elliott Gunnell (LU International Office) speaks to guests Hanna Gustafzelius and Maria Yartseva about their work in organizing Arrival Day and the calendar of orientation events. Together they talk about what Arrival Day is and how it can help new students, the orientation events on offer and how they can be useful, and other opportunities that exist that may be interesting or helpful in your first few weeks in Sweden.Please note that this episode was recorded in May 2024. Dates discussed in the episode are relevant only to students arriving for studies in Autumn 2024.

Graduation is a chance to celebrate students' enormous achievement in completing a degree, but it's one that can come with bittersweet feelings for many international students as they prepare to enter into a new chapter of their lives. In this final episode of the Lund University International Podcast's third season, we invited three graduating international students to share their reflections on their time at Lund: host Bénédicte Anthony (Master's in Development Studies), Lukrecija Vaisyte (Master's in Environmental Policy and Management), and Mumbi Mwelwa (Master's in Information Systems). Together they discuss how it feels to graduate and the ceremony itself, the highlights and challenges of their time in Lund and Sweden, their plans for the future, advice for prospective international students, and much, much more.

The Lund University Abroad Instagram account (@lund_university_abroad) highlights the varied and exciting journeys of Lund University students as they go abroad on exchange, and the many international opportunities open to students at Lund. In this episode, host Timothy Parker (LU International Office) speaks to guests Ivette Nogués and Bea Ulfvinger, who are both current students at Lund and exchange ambassadors for the @lund_university_abroad account. Together they discuss what the Instagram account is about, their experience as exchange ambassadors, the opportunities available to Lund students, and the many benefits that doing an exchange or international internship can bring.

In this episode, host Timothy Parker (LU International Office) speaks to guests and current exchange students Maria Bennato and Chi Wai Tiffany Cheung about their experience of studying an international exchange at Lund University. Maria, from Italy, and Tiffany, from Hong Kong, discuss how their studies at Lund compare to their home universities, making friends in Sweden, the support services offered by the University, and their advice on how to make the most of your time on exchange.

Many international students often feel somewhat daunted by the prospect of applying for residency as part of their journey to Lund and Sweden, and while this is indeed a crucially important and sometimes complex part of preparing for your studies, it's not a process you need to handle all by yourself. In this episode, host Maria Lindblad (LU International Office) speaks to International Migration Coordinators Louise Corrigan-Konow and Erik Kvist about navigating migration processes, as well as covering the support services they offer to international students and staff. Together they discuss key details and deadlines for the residency application process, the popular 'after-studies' permit, transitioning to work in Sweden after studies, and their personal tips to deal with the stress and challenges of migration issues.

While the obvious choice for Lund University students would be to live in Lund itself, many students choose to look further afield, finding accommodation in Malmö, Helsingborg, or other towns in Skåne. In this episode, host Rebecca van der Steen (LU International Office) speaks to current international student Julia Hampel about her experience of living in Malmö while studying at Lund University. Together they discuss why Julia decided to live in Malmö, the benefits and challenges of living outside of Lund, how best to go about finding private accommodation, avoiding scams, and more.

Proximity to Copenhagen means that students at Lund University have access to many exciting opportunities beyond those available in Sweden and Skåne alone. In this episode, host Timothy Parker (LU International Office) speaks to current international student Israa Hassane, who has been undertaking an internship at the UN City in Copenhagen while continuing to live and study in Sweden. Together they delve into the valuable experience Israa has gained from her internship, how she got the internship, how she has managed working in a different country to where she is living and studying, and what advice she would offer to other international students considering a similar internship.

When moving abroad for study, it's very typical that international students will experience some form of culture shock, whether it's from the weather, social norms, food and drink or even just homesickness. In this episode, host Timothy Parker (LU International Office) speaks to current international students Areej Al-Sabban and Farwa Aslam about their own experience of adjusting to tlife in Sweden and in Lund in particular. Together they discuss ways of dealing with the cold and dark Swedish winters, interacting with Swedes themselves, public transport, homesickness, support from the University, and many more topics, as well as some words of advice to help incoming students prepare themselves for their time abroad.

You may be considering coming to Lund to study an international programme, or already on your way - but even if you'll be studying in English, the burning question many students have been asking is: 'Should I learn Swedish?' In this episode, host Maria Lindblad (Lund University International Office) speaks to guest Frank Schreier, who is a Lund alumnus and former international student now working at the Faculty of Social Science. Together they discuss Frank's experience of learning Swedish as an international student coming from the USA, including his motivation to learn it, the hurdles he faced, the ways it impacted his studies and student life, and his advice for incoming international students.

Whether you're considering an international Bachelor's programme or have just been admitted to one, there's lots to discover about the experience of studying at Lund University. In this episode, we feature a discussion between three of our current Bachelor's students: host Marie Morales (BSc Mathematics), Leonie Feick (BSc Biomedicine) and Ngoc Quyen Do (BSc Development Studies). Together they talk about their journey to Lund University, their experience of the learning environment, cultural adjustments, the student life of Lund, and the advice they would offer to prospective international Bachelor's students.