Daniel Bopp

Interview with Daniel Bopp

Field of study: MSc Chemistry
Stay abroad: Double Degree
Host institution: Linköping University
Semester: Spring 2023

What made you decide, what motivated you to go abroad?
There were several reasons that motivated me to attend the Double Degree program at Linköping University. It was a great opportunity to earn a second Master's degree and potentially pursue a PhD in the future. The chance to live in a different country, meet new people, and experience a different educational system held great appeal. I believed that such an experience would contribute significantly to my personal and professional growth.

Why did you choose your host institution/country?
Choosing Linköping University for the double degree was easy for me. The modules offered were appealing and suited my future career plans. Student life was also a deciding factor. In addition, the Swedes speak English quite well, so communication is easy. Besides the academic aspect, the opportunity to explore new places and travel also played a role in my motivation to go to Sweden.

What is your everyday life like?
A typical university day is similar to the one we have at home, although there may be more emphasis on group projects and practical assignments in the modules. There are usually classes in the morning. During the lunch break, I grab something to eat at various places on campus or heat up pre-cooked meals and meet up with friends and fellow students.
Afterwards, there are often joint projects with fellow students where we work on various tasks such as synthesizing or analyzing compounds, modifying and studying gold surfaces, or delivering detailed presentations on a pharmaceutical. These projects are usually very extensive and require a significant time commitment. The biggest difference is that the semester structure is divided into two study periods so that modules do not span the entire semester and one can focus more on specific modules. This structure allows for two exam periods. This differs from the structure of the FHNW, where most exams take place at the end of the semester.

I often spend the afternoon with friends, either cooking or eating together in the communal kitchen of the dormitory. Depending on the workload, we also go to student bars like Flamman, VilleValla Pub or Kårhuset Kollektivet. In addition, weekends are often used for traveling and visiting different places. Attending student parties is also an option for weekend activities. At these parties, students may wear student overalls with their names sewn on one leg and patches representing various parties/events/organizations on the other leg.

What surprised you the most about your stay abroad?
The campus is quite large, and having a bike to get around is a must-have. Linköping has great bike paths. Additionally, LiU has approximately 37,600 students, with around 18,600 located at Campus Valla, which truly makes Linköping a student city. There is always something happening, with numerous events organized by different student sections through volunteer work, so you can expect an event almost every day. Furthermore, getting to meet and make friends with many Swedes was unexpected and a delightful way to experience Sweden. Spending time with other international students from around the world was also an exciting aspect of my time abroad.

What tips would you give to future exchange students?
Here are some useful tips:

• Don’t bring too much cash. The only place still accepting cash are bike repair shops and supermarkets.
• Get a European phone number (without roaming charges), for example one form a German discounter.
• Get a bike to get around!
• Create a Facebook account, as Swedes commonly use it for communication, and all events are usually posted there.
• Follow the International Students Association (ISA) and the Erasmus Student Network Linköping to stay updated on events and activities organized for international students.
• For bus and train services, refer to the following websites: www.ostgotatrafiken.se (for regional transportation) and www.sj.se (for travel within Sweden).
• Install the Mecenat app to get a Student ID, which is required for access to student bars and parties. Additionally, the app provides student discounts, such as reduced fares for public transport.
  

Is there anything else you would like to share?
During my time at the university, I was pleasantly surprised by the inclusive and collaborative culture. The flat hierarchy created an environment where everyone felt like an integral part of a group working towards a shared objective. Additionally, I found that people were very friendly and supportive, which made navigating the university and its surroundings a pleasant experience.

One of the highlights was the weekly Sunday fika at 8 pm, a cherished tradition where each week, a different person took the responsibility of preparing a self-made cake and tea/coffee for everyone in the corridor. It provided an opportunity to gather, exchange stories from the weekend, and discuss exciting plans for the future.

When it came to exploring beyond the university, Stockholm was conveniently close and easily accessible by train. Renting a car with newfound friends opened up a world of possibilities for road trips, allowing us to venture to places that weren't easily reachable by public transportation. I highly recommend exploring the enchanting west coast, which some locals fondly refer to as the "best coast." With its abundance of skerries (small rocky islands), the west coast offers breathtaking views and memorable experiences. Along the way, you can also visit various cities like Strömstad, Göteborg, Helsingborg, Malmö, and Lund.

Additionally, make sure not to miss the opportunity to travel around Linköping and visit nearby cities like Norrköping (accessible by a free Campus bus during the week) and Motala.
Furthermore, I highly recommend a visit to the Flygvapenmuseum a nice museum were you can experience the history of Swedish aviation.

Ab ins Ausland?

Unsere Studierenden profitieren von der internationalen Vernetzung der Hochschule für Life Sciences. Ein Auslandsaufenthalt bei unseren Partnerschulen ist bei Bachelor- wie auch Master-Studierenden sehr begehrt. Nicht nur, um den persönlichen Horizont zu erweitern, sondern auch, um neue soziale und kulturelle Kompetenzen zu erwerben.

Im Rahmen unseres Masterprogramms können ausgewählte Studierende durch ein zusätzliches Semester an einer unserer Partnerschulen, zwei Diplome erhalten. Das Double-Degree Programm ist besonders attraktiv für Masterstudierende, die anschliessend eine Promotion anstreben. Weitere Details zum Double-Degree-Programm finden Sie im hier.