"Many fun trips with field studies"

Why did you choose to start studying ecotechnology?

When I was looking for different educations, I knew that I wanted to study a subject linked to science. The Ecotechnology programme offered the opportunity to combine this with my interest in the natural environment and the challenges posed by climate change. Since it is an international program, you also get the chance to meet people from all over the world with different cultural backgrounds and perspectives. In addition, I believe that an international program in a new country is a good chance for personal development and many new experiences.

What is the best thing about the program?

For me, it is the study trips where we get to apply our knowledge practically and gain experience of conducting field studies. They are always fun because we get to spend time with everyone who studies the ecotechnology program and other eco programs.

What do you think about student life and Östersund?

Despite the fact that it is a fairly small university, several activities and events are organized for students at MIUN in Östersund. The autumn semester starts with two weeks of intro weeks for the new students, which is a really fun event with different activities every day. For international students, we try to organize several events such as dinner parties, barbecues, parties, and many more activities each semester. In the evenings, you can take part in sports activities or go to the student pub on Thursdays and Fridays.

For me, winter in Östersund is the best time of the year. You also have the opportunity to try winter sports such as alpine or cross-country skiing, ice skating and ice hockey or biathlon. In addition, it is always special to see the Northern Lights over the city.

What does a typical study week look like?

We usually don't have that many lectures per week, often it's only one lecture per day. When we don't have lectures, I usually spend my time studying for exams or working on various tasks at the library. I would say that on average, I spend about seven hours a day going to lectures or studying. The exams are spread out throughout the semester.

Any tips for those who are considering applying to us?

One thing I would have liked to know before I started studying in Östersund is that there are many Erasmus students, which means that there are new people on the courses every semester. On the one hand, this gives you the opportunity to meet many different people from different countries, but sometimes it can also be difficult to get to know new people every semester and say goodbye to those who have left. Another thing that may be interesting to know is that the program is more focused on providing a broad overview of many topics, than going in-depth on specific topics.

Which course has been the most fun so far?

My favorite course so far has been the course Ecosystem Services in the third semester. We had to apply and expand our knowledge in several smaller and larger assignments. Another fun part of the course was the many study trips we got to do so that we got to see and assess ecosystem services in different areas.

Do you have any plans what to do next?

I don't know what I'm going to do after graduation yet, but in the program we get to look at many different areas. Right now, I plan to study a master's program afterwards to focus more on a specific area.