Is this programme right for you?

Name: Alenka Križan
From: Slovenia
Study years: 2018-2020

Studying and doing research in chemistry means entering this amazing and mysterious world of fascinating systems and phenomena that follow the laws of nature.

How did you choose your programme?
– Having had a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, I was choosing between various specialisations within the field of chemistry. While working on my Bachelor’s thesis project in inorganic chemistry, I had realised that I find the phenomena physical chemistry focuses on the most intriguing.

What is it like to be an international student?
– I can hardly imagine a place more suitable and welcoming for international students. Everyone is fluent in English (and also very willing to speak it). Lots of international people live in Uppsala, so everyone is used to people coming from different cultures and I never felt like an outsider. Some Master’s programmes (for example mine) even have the majority of students coming from outside of Sweden. The university and the student nations organise a lot of events designed for meeting other students at the beginning of the study year and it didn’t take long before I knew many students and started to feel at home.

What is the best thing about studying at Uppsala University?
– There are a lot of good things so it’s difficult to choose one. Apart from having the opportunity to be taught by great professors, having in-depth and well-planned courses, meeting other students who are very interested in their studies and eager to learn and getting to know people from different cultures, the best thing about my studies is the love for chemistry and science that Uppsala University gave me. Before starting my Master’s, I perceived chemistry as something quite interesting, but not something I would ever think about in my free time or consider as my hobby. Now, studying and doing research in chemistry means entering this amazing and mysterious world of fascinating systems and phenomena that follow the laws of nature. I really like to explore this world and chemistry has become more of my favourite hobby.

What’s unique about your programme?
– That’s hard to say. I was always quite certain my track was the one I wanted to follow and therefore didn’t have the need to compare it with other programmes. One thing I found great was that there are many very good research groups working in the field of physical chemistry. When looking for Master’s thesis project, you have a wide range to choose from.

How would you describe the relationship between students and teachers at the university?
– The overall relationship was very good. The professors were encouraging, supportive and always willing to answer any questions, from the very basic to the more advanced ones. They were open to any student suggestions and they never acted superior to us. I felt like the effort I put into my studies was being acknowledged and appreciated.

How is your student life and what is your best experience so far?
– The student life in Uppsala is amazing and is one of the best parts of my Master’s studies. Uppsala is a student city with a big part of life revolving around the University and the students. There are numerous events and organised activities so that everyone can find something they like and get the chance to meet other students. Since many students move to Uppsala from far away, it’s very easy to find people wanting to hang out and eager to explore Uppsala and Sweden, try out new things and make new friends.

What is your reason for studying and your ultimate goal?
– The reason for continuing with the Master’s studies is getting more in-depth knowledge within the chosen specialisation of chemistry and at the same time obtaining a higher degree of education. After I had done my Master’s thesis project and enjoyed the research work a lot, continuing with PhD studies felt like the only logical step for me. My ultimate goal is finding a job that I’m very interested in, that challenges me and allows me to explore something yet unexplained or unknown.

Autumn 2020.