"The environment at KTH is very international"
Oskar comes from Sweden. The reason he enrolled in Electrophysics* is that during his bachelor, he partook in a student competition where the goal was to design an antenna for harvesting energy from ambient electromagnetic fields.
What made you choose KTH?
The choice to enrol at KTH was, for me as a Swede with some personal ties to Stockholm, quite natural. Not only is KTH the best technical university in Sweden, but also one of the best in Europe. And a high-ranking university, as KTH, ensures that the education you get is valid and will be enough for your future professional career, whichever path you want to pursue.
The location of KTH is also perfect. The main campus is close to the centre of Stockholm, meaning that the student life here is a bit special and very nicely mingled in with the ordinary life of other parts of society. Most nights, a concert, a barbeque or some sports event is just a few subway stations away. And the environment at KTH is very international with lots of professors and exchange students form all across the world.
Tell us a bit about your programme
Electrophysics is a master's programme given by the school of electrical engineering (EES) and most courses in this programme are offered at the main campus of KTH. The focus of Electrophysics lies in the understanding, and engineering, of electric and magnetic fields for different purposes, e.g. the physics of plasmas or the design of antennas.
What’s unique about Electrophysics is the freedom of career path after finished studies. Both working in academia or industry, in any part of the world, is equally possible as the program has tracks both focusing on engineering and physics. I have focused on engineering and more specifically microwave engineering. My favourite course so far has been the Applied Antenna Theory course. The topic of this course is the design of antennas, and the curriculum includes many practical parts, along with industry visits and guest lectures from international researchers.
What is your best memory so far from your time at KTH?
The reason I enrolled in Electrophysics is that I, during my bachelor, partook in a student competition where the goal was to design an antenna for harvesting energy from the ambient electromagnetic fields.
The work was done in a small group of three students, alongside a PhD student as a supervisor. We worked in the lab in the Department of Electromagnetic Engineering and designed and constructed a prototype. We got to see the research and development side of the education we were taking and also work on a real-life project with no pre-known correct answers. The final product was then presented at a conference in Puerto Rico.
This project is one of my best memories from my time at KTH and this type of work, where professors and PhD students supervise projects have been encouraged multiple times during my studies in Electrophysics, and I do think that this is quite unusual and I have benefited greatly from it.
What would you like to say to students thinking of choosing KTH for Master’s studies?
To possible future students, I would like to say that Electrophysics is an excellent master's programme for you if you like engineering and physics. The program can be tailored to suit your interest and will prepare you well for a career in both industry and academia.
* Electrophysics was the name of a previous programme which has now evolved into Electromagnetics, Fusion and Space Engineering.