Giordano
Giordano comes from Italy and moved to Sweden to study the master's programme Innovative Technology for Healthy Living after earning a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Cagliari. During his previous studies, he had the opportunity to have some exchange experiences in other countries such as Poland and the Netherlands. He usually plays chess or football in his free time, but he also likes to cook new recipes and read a book.
What are the best aspects of your programme?
There are quite some significant aspects of my programme. Firstly, the flexibility in choosing which courses to follow; beyond the mandatory courses, it is possible to choose different elective courses according to the preferences of each student. Secondly, the fact that each course includes a practical part. Most subjects include presentations, laboratory experiences and individual or group projects. Creating the right balance between these types of hands-on activities and theoretical study is stimulating. Lastly, I admire the teacher-student relationship; it is very informal, and the teachers are always available to have a discussion and help the students.
What are some of your favourite courses so far?
My favourite courses so far have been "Applied Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence" and "Sociocultural Perspectives to Innovative Technologies". The first course introduced me to the world of Machine Learning and gave me inspiration for my degree project. Developing predictive models for medical and health-related problems was extremely interesting. The second course allowed me to see innovative technologies from a non-engineering point of view but more based on user needs.
How do studies at KTH differ from your previous studies?
Education in Italy is purely theoretical; usually, students follow four or five courses simultaneously for three months and then take the exams. The exams can either be written, oral or both. So there are only two semesters; instead, in Sweden, the academic year is divided into four parts called "study periods". Students take two subjects at a time, and the exam is at the end of each period. The exam can be in various forms: a project, a quiz, a presentation or a more classic exam such as a written test. Furthermore, the classes are much more crowded in Italy, and it is often challenging to connect with the teacher due to the high number of students in the classroom.
How is student life in Stockholm?
Student life in Stockholm is the best you could wish for. Students can find a perfect balance between hours of classes, self-study and personal hobbies. The city's metropolitan area is perfectly connected to the university and can be reached quickly from anywhere. Even the university's facilities allow students to optimise study times. It is very convenient to stop in the various libraries or study rooms after the lesson. In addition, there are various student associations for activities such as sports, language exchange and much more.
How would you describe your time at KTH so far?
After spending a year at KTH, I can say that I am delighted with the choice I made at the end of my bachelor's degree. For me, it is highly stimulating to study at a university with a significant international reputation and a great focus on students. The continuous interaction between professors and students from across the globe is my favourite aspect of KTH and one of the university's many strengths. There is a significant interaction between Swedish and international students in the classroom, and I felt part of the group from the first day of classes. Going back, I would choose to study at KTH another hundred times.