I was impressed by the student facilities at KTH. There are numerous areas available for students to read and study

Why did you choose this master’s programme at KTH?

After finishing my undergraduate programme in Engineering Physics, I was excited about getting a master’s degree in the same field. I liked KTH since it offers a variety of interesting courses in the Engineering Physics programme, as well as providing a lot of freedom when selecting courses. KTH also has a strong reputation internationally and a high quality of education as well.

 I was also excited about living in a cosmopolitan and innovative city like Stockholm, while still being surrounded by beautiful nature.

What are the best aspects of your programme?

Typically, Engineering Physics has smaller numbers of students compared to other engineering programmes. Thus, you will be able to interact more readily with classmates and professors/TAs. The Department of Applied Physics is very active in cutting edge research and welcomes new students interested in joining its research groups for credited research projects and/or master’s theses.

Have you chosen a specialisation track within the programme? If Yes, which track and why?

I decided to choose the Optics and Photonics track. I have always found the physics of light very fascinating and interesting and I also knew about many applications associated with photonics such as sensors and photovoltaics. I wanted to learn more about the optical properties of materials: What makes a material transparent? Why does copper have a reddish appearance? Can we make a transparent conductor? Since there are very few students on this track we are sought by companies and researchers. For example, we have been invited to conferences such as Photonics Sweden and received invitations for master’s thesis projects at companies.

What are your favourite courses thus far?

My favourite course thus far is quantum photonics in which we learned about quantum entanglement, quantum information and quantum cryptography, to name a few. I liked the structure of the course in which we studied a collection of carefully selected research papers. Combined with the lectures given by the professor, this gave a comprehensive overview of and insight into the field of quantum photonics. I also really enjoyed some of my free elective courses such as Environmental Physics and Machine Learning.

How do studies at KTH differ from your previous studies?

I was impressed by the student facilities at KTH. There are numerous areas available for students to read and study. The main library provides beautiful working spaces and the AlbaNova library has cosy group rooms that are very useful. There are also plenty of vegetarian lunch options on campus and great cafes in which to grab a fika.

I like the different structure of the academic year and how it is split into four periods. This helps distribute the workload more evenly throughout the academic year.

How is student life in Stockholm?

KTH has a rich student life that includes all kinds of clubs and activities in which everyone will be able to find something in which they are interested. At the student union building, Nymble, you can have lunch, buy books, study throughout the day, and party at night, since this is where the student unions throw their parties. Smaller events are held in the chapters, in which the students engage in activities in their designated chapters. Stockholm also has a lot to offer to students, such as restaurants, cafes, bars and beautiful architecture. Stockholm has an excellent public transport system, which makes it easy to get around the city.

How would you describe your time at KTH so far?

KTH really made an effort to make everyone feel welcome right at the start of the academic year by holding a one-month international student reception. This created a great start for new students. I was also happy to discover as my courses progressed that the workload was spread evenly throughout the semester. This meant I also had time for hobbies and going out with friends. I think this is crucial for the work-life balance. I would also recommend joining a club at THS (it has lots of clubs). I joined the KTH’s volleyball team, which gave me the opportunity to get to know people on other programmes.

What do you want to do after graduating?

I am interested in entering the job market after my studies at KTH. I am excited about joining an international company in Europe or a start-up. I will try to keep an open mind and discover the different opportunities that are available to me after my studies.

What would you like to say to students thinking of choosing KTH for their master’s studies?

Go for it, you won’t regret it! Stockholm is a wonderful city in which to live and KTH offers a first-class education. You will meet students from all over the world and be inspired to grow, both academically and personally.