"The best thing about KTH is the open education system, meaning that one can choose electives from any branch he or she wants to"

What made you choose KTH?
Since childhood, I had a huge passion for cars and always wanted to become an Automobile Engineer. But later I realised that pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering will give me a kind of overview on the aspects governing the fundamentals of automobiles as well as the principles of automobiles and designing, although, at the back of my mind I always knew that I should pursue a Masters’ in Vehicle Engineering.

Talking about Vehicle Engineering, basically, there are very few universities around the World that offer such a programme and with the kind of curriculum that I would take an interest in. The main reason for choosing Vehicle Engineering at KTH is the course structure along with the amount of research that takes place in collaboration with different industries and other universities. Apart from these reasons, Volvo and Scania, two giants in the automobile industry, are from Sweden and have good connections with KTH, so coming to KTH was one of the most obvious choices for me.

What do you like most about KTH?
The best thing about KTH is the open education system, meaning that one can choose electives from any branch he or she wants to. Another great aspect of KTH is the amount of interaction between students and teachers, and here at KTH, nothing is spoon-fed. Basics will be taught in class, but students learn the most by solving the assignments and projects they receive. There’s always help available from the faculties if we get stuck at some point.

What are your impressions of Stockholm and Sweden?
As a Vehicle Engineer, I always wanted to work on Sustainable Technologies, i.e. using alternative fuels, reducing vehicle emissions, and so on. In these aspects, Sweden, especially Stockholm, is one of the world leaders. The moment I landed in Stockholm and saw Biodiesel and Hybrid buses being used, meeting Euro-6 emission norms, I knew I’m at the right place to study what I’m planning to implement in the future. Stockholm is also one of the best connected cities using public transport; ever since I came here, I never felt the need to get a cab to go somewhere.

What do you like most about being here?
Living in Stockholm, the so-called Capital of Scandinavia has its perks. Living and studying in Stockholm helps me get in touch with new people from different countries and different backgrounds. In my class, I have friends from more than ten countries, so it’s always a great experience to discuss technical topics with them and solving assignments or working on projects together.

What is your best memory so far from your time at KTH?
I would surely need to mention me visiting a Tesla Showroom and sitting inside a Tesla Model S P100D. I had never seen a Tesla before, and I always wanted to test drive one. The experience in total was quite overwhelming.

What do you think are the differences between studying at KTH and your home University?
The first difference I felt as soon as I landed in Stockholm was the difference in climate. My previous college was at a place where Summers meant 45 degrees, while here it's a soothing 20 degrees.

Regarding studies, KTH is a lot different because the courses here are more practical oriented. For example, I studied a course in Automobile Engineering during my bachelor’s and the lab consisted of only the basic components of automobiles, but here at KTH, we have a Volvo V40 (we will get a brand new Volvo S90 in November) in the Vehicle Engineering Lab.

And of course, there’s always a friendly atmosphere between teachers and students that helps a lot in learning. The whole year is divided into quarters, and we get a lot of time to study individual subjects minutely, whereas, back home we used to have two semesters in a year and had to study more than six subjects per semester.

What would you like to say to students thinking of choosing KTH for master’s studies?
I would say, if you are planning to join KTH for Master’s studies, you will soon realise it was the best decision of your life. There are ample of opportunities in the campus to connect with new people.

Ask as many questions to the teachers as you want, as they are always there to help you. Outside of studies, you can take part in a lot of extracurricular activities, and above all, you would probably be staying far away from your family and loved ones - so for you, it will be a whole new and cherishable experience!