Is this programme right for you?

How did you choose your programme?
– When I found the Master's Programme in Drug Discovery and Development on the University website, it immediately caught my attention (since I studied my Bachelor's in pharmacy). The diversity of courses convinced me that the programme could prepare students for careers both in academia and in the international pharmaceutical industries. I looked at different programmes and the courses offered in each, and I realised that the drug discovery and development programme matched my interests the most.

What is it like to be an international student?
– Being an international student is like moving from one educational system to another, which may differ in teaching methods, learning objectives, grading, examinations, and even the academic focus of different countries.

What is the best thing about studying at Uppsala University?
– The best thing is that you get to meet international people and experience the vibrant student life that Uppsala is known for. Beyond that, the university is highly advanced in research, and you are taught the most recent developments in the field.

How did you experience your first few days in Uppsala?
– My first few days were spent discovering Uppsala, where to buy groceries, how to find my campus, and which buses to take to the university. It was also a lot of fun, since the Pharmaceutical Student Union organised activities during the first two weeks, including student nations tours, dinners, and other activities.

Describe what a normal day is like for you
–I start with breakfast and attend my scheduled lectures, followed by lunch. If I finish early, I usually go to the library to work on projects, assignments, or literature studies. If not, I plan those tasks for another day or the weekend. After that, I head home and rest.

What is something unique about your programme?
– What’s most unique is that it doesn’t restrict you to a specific field. You can choose the area you’d like to focus on, as the programme offers courses that are different yet complement each other. Through these courses, I discovered my own interests, selected my elective courses accordingly in the third semester, and later completed my thesis with the same research group.

Describe the student life
– Student life in Uppsala is truly vibrant. You can visit the student nations for parties, gasques, and many other activities where you meet international students from different programmes or educational backgrounds and really experience the student community.

Two quick questions
What is your favourite place in Uppsala?
– The botanical garden.

Where do you like to study?
– I usually like to study at the BMC library, especially since it has a silent study area.

Autumn 2025

How did you choose your programme?
– I wanted to do more than just dispense medicines. I was curious about how a simple hypothesis can become a life‑changing therapy. During the COVID‑19 vaccine breakthrough, I found myself reading every article I could find, and that curiosity about how drugs are created made Uppsala University, and this programme in drug discovery and development, feel like the natural destination for me.

What is it like to be an international student?
– It turned out very different from what was in my head in the best way. With so many student nations and traditions, Uppsala gives you a built-in community that teaches you to help, acknowledge, and learn from each other.

– The calm, cozy city and rich mix of cultures mean you are constantly adapting, growing, and picking up new habits. Homesickness is real, but learning to face it, build your own support system, and still thrive here has become one of the things to be proud of as an international student.

What is the best thing about studying at Uppsala University?
– The best thing about studying in Uppsala is the constant, healthy challenge; the courses are structured so you really bring your best every day, which feels like real training for a competitive world. At the same time, the professors are incredibly approachable; you can email, drop by, ask endless questions, and they still encourage you to dig deeper and stay curious.

How did you experience your first few days in Uppsala?
– Those first days in Uppsala felt surreal; it was hard to believe that something that was a dream a year ago had actually become my reality. The sudden change in weather was challenging, but the greenery and preserved nature around the city made me appreciate this new environment in a completely different way.

– Everything from buying furniture to doing my first grocery run felt like a small challenge, almost like building a new life from scratch. It was fun, emotional, hard, and happy all at once, but looking back, there is a real sense of pride in having taken those tough first steps and slowly turning Uppsala into home.

Describe what a normal day is like for you.
– When you study in Uppsala, no day is really a “normal” day, at least that is what it feels like for me. A typical day starts with snoozing the alarm until it becomes unbearable, then rushing to morning lectures or lab sessions, followed by long study blocks in the library or group rooms with coffee as the unofficial extra course credit.

– Even on the busiest days, there is usually time squeezed in for a quick fika with friends, or a walk through the city before diving back into readings, assignments, or exam prep. It is an intense routine, but the mix of focused study, collaborative work, and student life makes the hard work feel genuinely enjoyable.

What is something unique about your programme?
– What feels unique is how the programme is designed, instead of memorising thick books, each period is packed with just a few courses where you actually design proteins, present monoclonal antibodies, or rethink routes of administration for a drug. It feels less like “studying to pass” and more like being trained to think like a scientist, with teachers who constantly guide, question, and encourage new ideas along the way. The interaction seminars with PhD students is a real genius idea, you can interact with them, and they know the ways that make us understand things better.

What is your ultimate goal?
– The big goal is simple: to contribute to healthcare in a way that genuinely improves and extends people’s lives. Science, for me, is a tool to create that impact, and that is the direction I always want my work to point towards.

– In the near future, I see myself pursuing a PhD and then a postdoc, slowly growing into an independent researcher by learning from the paths and patterns set by great scientists in this field. Along the way, the aim is to stay close to meaningful drug development, turning ideas into therapies that patients can actually benefit from.

Three quick questions
What is your favourite place in Uppsala?
– It is the cathedral and the old heritage buildings around it.

Where do you like to study?
– It sounds weird, but the library is sometimes too quiet for me, and the corridors are too loud, so the bookable discussion rooms at Uppsala have become my perfect middle ground.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
– The hope is to be deep into a PhD, maybe stepping into a postdoc, working on projects that have a clear line of sight to real patients and real treatments.

Autumn 2025

Profession: Research Scientist (Analytical Team, Global Product Development), AstraZeneca AB

What do you work with today?
– I work as a research scientist at AstraZeneca AB, where I develop, validate, and implement analytical methods as well as automated techniques for oral solid dosage forms. My responsibilities include managing method development and validation, troubleshooting analytical issues and ensuring reliable, high-quality data support for both early and late-phase drug development. I actively collaborate with cross-functional teams to support CMC submissions, enhance laboratory processes and maintain overall data integrity.

How did you get to the point where you are today? Describe your academic journey.
– After earning my pharmacy degree from BRAC University in Bangladesh and gaining industry experience, I saw the need to expand my scientific expertise at an international level. I was awarded the prestigious Uppsala University Global Scholarship, which enabled me to pursue my Master’s in pharmaceutical science – the Master's Programme in Drug Discovery and Development at Uppsala University. This experience allowed me to immerse myself in hands-on research and advanced analytical techniques, ultimately opening doors to impactful roles in Sweden’s life science sector.

Why did you choose this Master’s programme?
– Because it is uniquely hands-on and connects scientific theory directly to real-world pharmaceutical challenges. The programme’s unique blend of different specialised courses, project-driven tasks, and exposure to industrial applications closely matched my career ambitions.

Do you benefit from your degree and education today?
– Absolutely. My degree gave me both the advanced scientific knowledge and practical skills in analytical technology, method development, and data handling that I apply daily at AstraZeneca. The experience also gave me the confidence to lead automation projects and work cross-functionally in global pharmaceutical teams.

How were your studies at Uppsala University?
– My studies were immersive and inspiring. I appreciated the focused structure of studying one subject at a time, which allowed for deep engagement with both theory and practical projects. The collaborative learning environment and access to state-of-the-art labs made every course genuinely rewarding.

What was the best thing about studying at Uppsala University?
– The best thing was the strong scientific community – learning alongside passionate classmates and supportive lecturers, while getting hands-on with the latest technology and research methods.

Do you have any tips for our current students?
– Seek out internships and research projects in the industry whenever possible; they will help you apply your classroom learning to real-world problems and build a strong professional network for your future career. Also, seek out opportunities to work in different professors’ laboratories. This will expose you to impactful research projects and provide you with essential training and experience for more advanced research in the future.

Autumn 2025