Lund University International Podcast

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.

Sustainability Week is an annual event in Lund organised as a joint venture by Lund University and Lund municipality. The week serves as a platform for bringing together ideas, for cross-disciplinary collaborations, for raising public awareness and for inspiring sustainable change. In this episode, host Timothy Parker (LU International Office) speaks to Sustainability Forum project manager Stina Lundkvist and student worker Johanna Weitekamp, who have worked on organising Sustainability Week 2024. Together they discuss the many free events on offer during Sustainability Week, the goals of the week, and what current and prospective international students might get out of attending events during their time at Lund.

Finding housing can be a daunting prospect as a newly admitted international student, but at Lund, you have many options and a housing guarantee if you're a non-EU/EEA student. In this episode, host Daniel Gunnarsson (LU International Office) speaks to student Marie Morales about her experience having lived in Lund for two years, covering topics from accommodation options and opportunities to commuting, living outside of Lund, and how to spot a private rental scam. Remember that if you're in any doubt about the legitimacy of a private rental option, you can seek advice by contacting BoPoolen, a free housing organisation run by the Lund University Student Unions' Association (LUS). More information about BoPoolen and how to spot fraud is available at bopoolen.nu/en/beware-of-frauds

The Goin' app provides a community space exclusively for newly admitted students at Lund University, helping you to connect even before you've arrived in Lund! In this episode, host Timothy Parker (LU International Office) speaks to two current Lund University students, Daniela Mendoza and Megan Phillips, about their experience using Goin'. Together they discuss what Goin' is and how to join the app, interest groups and other aspects of the community on Goin', and the central role that Goin' has played in helping them to form social connections during their time at Lund.Newly admitted students will be invited to join Goin' via an exclusive code sent in an email from Lund University.

As of the 21 March, admission results are now out for Master's applications to study at Lund University starting Autumn 2024! In this podcast episode, Lund University's Maria Lindblad and Rebecca van der Steen cover everything you need to know and what you need to do next, whether you're an admitted applicant or on a reserve list. Together they discuss accepting or declining your offer, paying tuition fees, applying for accommodation, residency applications, and many more aspects of the timeline from now until starting your studies at Lund University.

In this special episode marking International Women's Day 2024, host and current student Mumbi Mwelwa (MSc Information Systems) speaks to two current student guests, Juliana Guillen (MSc Data Analytics and Business Economics) and Hema Srinivasa (MSc Information Systems). Together they discuss their experience as women from the Global South working and studying in technology, addressing topics such as their motivation to pursue a career in technology, the barriers they have faced in pursuing that career, their mentors and role models, and the advice they would offer to women and girls in their home countries who are also considering a career or studies in technology. This year's theme for International Women's Day is "Inspire Inclusion", and speaks to a two-fold need: to inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, and for women themselves to be inspired to be included, to belong, and to feel empowered.

Lund University is a member the European University Alliance for Global Health (EUGLOH): a network of 9 European universities which focuses on promoting long-lasting and interdisciplinary collaboration in Global Health. As an international student at Lund, you have the chance to get involved in this pioneering collaboration in many ways, from credited courses and workshops to becoming student representatives for EUGLOH. In this episode, host Timothy Parker (LU International Office) speaks to Judit Ralbovszki and Lara Lüdecke, both current students at Lund who are also EUGLOH student representatives. Together they discuss how EUGLOH can be relevant to a wide range of students from various academic disciplines, their experience and the activities they've been involved with - such as a road trip to Tromsø, Norway - and opportunities to network with other student representatives at universities across Europe.

Wondering about how you can fit practical experiences like an internship into your studies at Lund University? In this episode, host Rebecca van der Steen (LU International Office) speaks to guests Xuan Tran and Bénédicte Anthony, both current students who recently finished internships while studying at Lund. Together they discuss how to find an internship that's right for you and your studies, what support is available from Lund University during an internship, how to network effectively, and some tips and tricks for acing your interview.

Situated just 20km to the south-west of Lund, Malmö is the third largest city in Sweden, and for many students this bigger city is a popular alternative to living in Lund during their studies. In this episode, host Timothy Parker (LU International Office) speaks to special guest and current student Kim Wölper about her experience of life in Malmö, discussing how Malmö compares to Lund on topics like events, culture, Christmas, commuting and transport, food, and many more.

In this episode, host Timothy Parker (LU International Office) talks studying a second Master's degree with special guests Barbora Kozánková and Lili Domián, both of whom are previous Master's graduates of Lund University who decided to return to study again. Together they talk about their motivations for studying a second Master's, how their studies have differed the second time around, the kinds of extracurricular activities they've gotten involved in, and what Lund has to offer those who have prior career and postgraduate experience who are looking to study another degree.

Studying at Lund University as an International Student offers an extraordinary chance travel in Europe and explore further afield, outside of Sweden. In this episode, host Elliott Gunnell (LU International Office) discusses travel with current student Emma Barfus, who offers her top tips as a frequent traveller on places to go, opportunities for low-cost and sustainable travel, and pitfalls to avoid.

While discussion of international studies is often centred on students embarking on the beginning of their professional lives, there are plenty of students who already have career experience who choose to either take a break for study or study alongside their professional work. In this episode, host Maria Lindblad (LU International Office) speaks to Christine Githiomi and Shreeya Bhattarai: two current international students at Lund University who have decided to swap the workplace for a return to the classroom. Together they discuss how their professional experience has changed how they engage with the learning environment, the challenges and opportunities of taking a break from work in order to study, and their particular goals in studying internationally as working professionals.

You've submitted your application for studies at Lund University... but now what? Waiting on your application can be a stressful time, so in this episode, host Maria Lindblad (LU International Office) asks current student guests Marie Morales and Emma Bradshaw about their own experience of applying to Lund. Together they discuss the highs and lows of applying, how they came to apply to Lund, and what they recommend for prospective students struggling with their own waiting game.

With the deadlines for applications to study at Lund University starting autumn 2024 swiftly approaching, make sure you're on top of everything you need to know and prepare! In this episode, host Timothy Parker (LU International Office) speaks to student worker and current Master's student Elliott Gunnell, discussing key dates and deadlines, what documents you'll need to apply, final tips for giving yourself the best chances, and much more.

Lund University is now offering a brand new scholarship programme, the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Scholarship! In this episode, host Daniel Gunnarsson (LU International Office) dives into the focus of the new scholarship, including how much it can fund, who is eligible, and how to apply. Guests include Lund graduate and SI Scholar Naana Afriyie, and International Marketing Manager Babs Kunle, who works with Lund University applicants with an educational background from Sub-Saharan Africa.

Lund University's Professor Anne L'Huillier was recently awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for her revolutionary research into new methods of studying electron dynamics in matter using attosecond pulses of light. In this episode, we celebrate Anne and her fellow Nobel laureates' achievement, as host Maria Lindblad (LU International Office) speaks to Kristina Lindgärde, Press Officer at Lund University. Together they discuss Kristina's first-hand involvement in both events on the day and subsequently, as she gives insight into the atmosphere behind the scenes at Lund University. They also touch on the many reactions of the day, from Anne L'Huillier herself to her family, colleagues, and those abroad - including French president Emmanuel Macron!

Applying to study abroad can be a challenging process, so it's natural to have many questions. In this special podcast episode, host Rebecca van der Steen (Lund University International Office) and international student ambassador Marie Morales answer some of those questions in a discussion that draws on Marie's own experience in applying for her programme at Lund, the Bachelor's programme in Mathematics. The conversation covers scenarios such as applying to multiple programmes and how to rank them, comparing your home country's qualifications to the Swedish qualification requirements given for each programme, and how best to approach writing the statement of purpose required by many programmes.