LiU Summer Academy testimonials

What did you find interesting or intriguing about LiU Summer Academy that made you apply?

First of all, the title of my course intrigued me and also the fact that it was only a month of summer, so I did not have to commit a whole semester to an international experience.

How was your course?

I loved it, I learned so many things and had a lot of fun with the different activities of the course. I think the knowledge that I gained will help me in my professional career.

How is the student life and atmosphere?

I would say it was really good, most people are really nice and it was not hard to find friends or classmates to talk with. The academic atmosphere is somewhat more relaxed since it is during the summer and all the activities outside the classroom that are available make it a great experience.

How has the experience been with LiU Summer Academy?

It has been great, I really like it, especially the combination of learning useful skills while also having fun, getting to know places and people along the way. I would definitely recommend it to anyone that has the chance to do it.

If you could give other students who are curious about LiU Summer Academy any advice, what would those be?

Make sure you plan ahead and learn as much as you can about it before going. If there are people from your university that have gone most of the time you can ask them question and they will gladly answer them. And finish your coursework from your university before going! (if you have any).

And of course, what is your favourite Swedish fika or candy?

Nothing beats cinnamon buns with coffee for me, I became addicted to them.

 

Tell me a bit about yourself! Where are you from and what do you study at home?

My name is Sophie, I am from Sydney, Australia and I am a coffee fanatic! At home I study Chemistry and Earth and Environmental Sciences at Macquarie University.

How did you find out about LiU Summer Academy?

My university was advertising studying abroad for domestic students and I thought it could be an exciting opportunity. I reviewed the possible locations and saw Sweden was part of the list for a course in Alternative Energy. I had always wanted to visit, and I am passionate about the subject so I decided to apply.

What did you find interesting or intriguing about LiU Summer Academy that made you apply?

I had always wanted to visit Sweden and LiU just seemed like such a great fit, with the beautiful campus and locations around Linköping.

How was your course?

It was really interesting to see an area I am so passionate about in Australia be conveyed from a Swedish perspective. I gained so much knowledge from the course. When I take it back home, I hope I can use it to make a positive difference.

What do you hope you will have achieved after spending a month in Linköping?

 I hope that I have gained a better understanding of Swedish culture, their way of life and the knowledge and understanding gained from getting to know and bond with people from all across the globe. I also hope that I have a broader view of alternative energy from a Swedish perspective and possibly apply this knowledge when I return home.

And of course, what is your favourite Swedish fika or candy?

The salted licorice (Djungelvrål) was my favourite. Just kidding! But you definitely have to give it a try though! When staying in Linköping for a month I found myself having fika quite often. My routine would involve getting a latte from the local café and enjoying it with Swedish vanilla buns (Vaniljbullar) from the supermarket.

 

Tell me a bit about yourself! Where are you from and what do you study at home?

I am from Barcelona! I study Computer Engineering at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

What was your first impression?

Well, I was impressed at how well-organised the whole thing was. On my first day I had only seen the welcome dinner and the accommodation and transport, and it was already evident how much effort was put into the whole thing.

How was your course?

It was very interesting! My professors are both great and you can tell how passionate they are about the topic they are teaching. Everything from lectures to seminars is well thought-through and engaging.

Is the teaching and learning different to your home country?

It is! The concept of seminars, in which you get together with other students and discuss topics from the lectures and readings is something that works so well that it seems strange that other universities are not doing it.

How was the student life and atmosphere?

It was great! Everyone had such a positive energy and were eager to do things, learn, and have fun. Everyone had interesting stories to tell, and I learnt a lot from talking to people from different countries and cultures.

And of course, what is your favourite Swedish fika or candy?

I do not have a sweet tooth, which feels kind of weird here in Sweden. However, if I may include any sweet, I will recommend all readers to try salty licorice ice-cream. 
Yeah, I know, it sounds bad. It sounded bad to me. But like with most things here: if you keep an open mind, you will not regret it!

Tell me a bit about yourself! Where are you from and what do you study at home?

Cherish is my name and Environmental Science is my game! Coming to LiU during the summer of 2023, I had just finished my penultimate year of study. By December I will be in my final year of my bachelor's at the University of Nottingham (in the UK), but London is where I call home.

What did you find interesting or intriguing about LiU Summer Academy that made you apply?

The courses at LiU all sounded so fascinating I had a hard time narrowing my choice down. I had also heard about Sweden’s natural beauty from friends and family and had seen many videos all over social media. I wanted to see the landscapes first hand, so as a big nature-lover myself it seemed like the obvious choice!

What is it like to study with other international students?

It’s been amazing meeting and talking to people from all over the world. I think it’s quite rare to be in situations where so many international people can congregate, and I felt it helped broaden my horizons. I have really enjoyed collaborating and working with the other international students in my class, their different and new perspectives helped change mine in the best way.

How has the LiU Summer Academy experience been?

It’s been phenomenal in a word. I have loved the travel opportunities to see other places outside of Linkoping like Stockholm and Vadstena. The course was challenging but very interesting and our professor was super engaging which made the class fun. LiU is a wonderful university and I have had the best time!

And of course, what is your favourite Swedish fika or candy?

A nice cinnamon roll and a sweet latte – short, sweet and classic!

Is the teaching and learning different in your home country?

Since I took a language course there is a much greater student and lecturer interaction, as compared to lectures I have back home. However, I rather enjoyed this style of teaching as it helps keep students attentive and focused throughout the lesson.

How was the student life and atmosphere?

Student life is well-balanced at LiU, there is a good mix of learning and break times. Student hosts also frequently hosted various group activities for us exchange students, there were games, and group barbeques just to name a few.

How has the experience been with LiU Summer Academy?

It has been great! I enjoyed my time here at LiU Summer Academy and it was rather unfortunate that I was only here for a month.

What is it like to study with other international students?

It is very eye-opening to interact and work with students from various countries. Exchanging our experiences and learning about new cultures is something that I will remember.

If you could give other students who are curious about LiU Summer Academy any advice, what would those be?

If you are curious about whether to join LiU Summer Academy, then my advice would be to go for it! There is plenty of fun to be had here, friends to be made, and things to learn. Not to mention that the accommodation here is huge haha.

What do you hope you will have achieved after spending a month in Linköping?

I hope to at least be able to have a basic conversation with someone in Swedish and explore and embrace “allemansrätten” in as many areas of Sweden as possible.

And of course, what is your favourite Swedish fika or candy?

Kanelbulle and a chocolate called “Center”.

How was your course?

The course brought so much more than what I was expecting. I felt quite lucky to have a variety of teachers engaged in the topic, but also classmates from various parts of the world, who designed a diverse background to our lessons. Everything we learn and discuss about the cultural representation (or the lack of it) in the geographical space enlightens our mindset to be more aware of our responsibility in the fields we are in to come up with a more ethical, responsible and knowledgeable society.

Is the teaching and learning different in your home country?

Surprisingly, not so much. I could address everything I have been studying and the knowledge I have been acquiring during my degree while taking part in the lectures of the course. In addition to it, the field trips were precious! I loved how we were instigated to come up with our own point of view related to what we saw and experienced. I learned a lot from my colleagues, as well as I hope they have learned from me. Lastly, I could not forget to mention the dynamics created by the teachers! They were definitely one of the highlights of our class.

How is the student life and atmosphere?

Simply awesome! There are many different things you are able to do either on campus or around the city that you do not even get the chance to feel the time passing by. I feel like I enjoyed it as much as I had the opportunity to, and I am thankful for all the ones with whom I connected while creating great memories. In the end, the diversity of the group is one of its best characteristics.

If you could give other students who are curious about LiU Summer Academy any advice, what would it be?

I would not think twice to go through everything I have experienced, the people I have met, the memories I have created and the emotions I have felt. I never had the chance to go so far away from my hometown before, because it would always be really further from my reality. However, once I got the chance, I embraced it while taking the best out of it. I leave Sweden with such an amazing background that maybe I would have lost if I had thought too much about coming here. So, finally, my advice is: JUST DO IT.

And of course, what is your favourite Swedish fika or candy?

I love princess cake DEEPLY! I Wish I could bring a little bit with me in my luggage haha.

What was your first impression?

My first impression of Sweden was seeing a wild hedgehog the night I arrived while walking to my dorm. I was totally floored because we do not have those in the US! 

What did you find interesting or intriguing about LiU Summer Academy that made you apply?

The thing that made me apply to LiU was its location within Europe and the smaller size of the city of Linköping. I thought this would provide a unique experience that most travellers abroad don't get.

What is it like to study with other international students?

Studying with other international students makes me feel a little ashamed about being American. I can only speak English and many of my peers are multilingual! Everyone is sporting, though, and is willing to practice speaking English with me. My international peers are very open and interested to learn about America, though. I also have broadened my horizons and I met some interesting people that I never would have met otherwise in a million years. 

If you could give other students who are curious about LiU Summer Academy any advice, what would it be?

My advice is to apply and see if you can plan other travel around Europe before or after the programme. I was able to see Berlin and Copenhagen before I even started my studies in Linköping!  

And of course, what is your favourite Swedish fika or candy?

How did you find out about LiU Summer Academy?

I first heard about LiU through the summer exchange fair that was hosted by Nanyang Technological University. After researching and reading more about the different universities in Sweden, I wanted to experience studying life at LiU. 

What did you find interesting or intriguing about LiU Summer Academy that made you apply?

Very different from Singapore, Sweden has a free education policy which was rather intriguing to me initially. To travel overseas for summer exchange, cost and expenses would be one very essential consideration and LiU made it really accommodating, easy and affordable for me here. Moreover, I really loved being surrounded by nature which is a rare sight in such a modern concrete jungle era.

How was your course at LiU?

The course was extremely different from what I studied back home. Honestly, it is hard to wrap my head around the way of thinking and what was taught in class but slowly, I liked learning and expanding my mind to think in these really different ways, where there was no right and wrong, no black and white and that each problem does not have a fixed solution to it.

How has the experience been so far with LiU Summer Academy?

The experience with LiU Summer Academy has been amazing. I enjoyed the natural landscape so much, the courses conducted as well as the learning environment here.

And of course, what is your favourite Swedish fika or candy?

Turkish pepper? Kidding! Hahaha. I love the culture surrounding Swedish fika, where everyone just gathers and has coffee together on a weekday. If I were to choose, it would be the cardamon bun, because it reminds me of a cinnamon roll and pairs really well with coffee! 

How did you find out about LiU Summer Academy?

The international office at my home university (TU Ilmenau) sent an invitation to apply for the LiU Summer Academy. Afterwards, I used the helpful website of the LiU Summer Academy to inform myself about the different courses.

What was your first impression?

My first impression was the well-organized and helpful information the LiU team provides. Additionally, I liked the clear and transparent requirements and contents of each course which were given online.

How was the student life and atmosphere?

The student life was great! We did plenty of activities together: volleyball games, swimming at the beach and partying together. I appreciated the solidarity among the summer school students and the open-mindedness, which led to many friendships and a lot of fun! I also enjoyed the international diversity and was happy that so many students from countries like Singapore and Chile came to Linköping. Since we all lived in the student city Ryd the atmosphere was quickly very familiar and we got to know each other within the first few days. Another point for the good relations was that the summer school students were almost alone on campus since the other students were on summer holidays. Thus we had the new building Studenthuset for ourselves and space for a lot of gatherings in the student accommodations.

What do you hope you will have achieved after spending a month in Linköping?

After the month in Linköping, I gained plenty of international experiences, learned some fundamentals in nanotechnology and made a couple of good friends!

And of course, what is your favourite Swedish fika or candy?

The thing I like most about fika is actually the coffee.

What did you find interesting or intriguing about LiU Summer Academy that made you apply?

The opportunity of doing a course on a really interesting topic in a country that is so recognised for its work with sustainability and the environment, also the opportunity to study in Sweden and to meet people from all over the world!

How was the student life and atmosphere?

The student life and atmosphere were amazing! The campus was so great, and also my course colleagues were really nice!

If you could give other students who are curious about LiU Summer Academy any advice, what would those be?

The advice would be to DO IT! The experience is incredible, the city is so beautiful and cosy, the campus is really great and the work of the summer academy group, to make us have a good experience and a good time, is amazing! It is also an opportunity to learn a lot inside and outside the class!

What do you hope you will have achieved after spending a month in Linköping?

I improved my knowledge about energy sources, about the environment in general and about lots of different cultures! It was also important to my personal life, to travel to another country alone, spend a month there and get to see things and the world in a different and special way!

And of course, what is your favourite Swedish fika or candy?

Kanelbullar! Without a doubt! Loved it!