Sophie is passionate about how to deal with environmental issues

Hello Sophie, can you tell us a little about yourself

I am a first year Master’s student in the Political Science, Environmental Governance and Behavior programme. Previously, I did my bachelors in New Zealand where I was also involved with a lot of environmental advocacy work, mainly through NGOs. I am passionate about trying to solve environmental issues through politics, and am constantly critiquing and debating whether our current systems have the capacity to deal with existential issues like climate change.

What made you interested in the programme?

I knew I wanted to do my Master’s abroad and was looking for a programme which combined my interests in environmental studies and politics. When I came across the MaPSE programme, I was really impressed with the interdisciplinary approach, including bringing in psychology which I thought was unique and cool. I was fortunate enough to gain funding through the Axel Adler scholarship which has allowed me to do my studies for free. This was a bonus as I would not have been able to afford international fees otherwise. I also knew that this programme would set me up to work in a field I was really interested in when I finished my studies.

This is such a diverse and unique mix which I have not seen in any other Master’s programme.

Are you satisfied with your education so far? Is there any part you find more interesting than the others?

So far I have really enjoyed the programme. It has been academically challenging but also not so difficult that I am weighed down in work. Personally, I did not enjoy the methods course as much as the other political science courses I have done, but it is a necessary part of doing your Master’s! Currently, I am doing a course on Environmental Issues in the Social Sciences, and I like how discussion-based it is! Every lecture we get into conversations about how to deal with environmental issues and it is very engaging.

If you were to encourage somebody to apply, which attractive features would you emphasize?

I like the range of courses in the programme. So far, I have done an introductory Political Science course, a methods course and an environmental issues course, within the first six months! Coming up, I have some psychology courses before my methods thesis. This is such a diverse and unique mix which I have not seen in any other Master’s programme. I also think the university has great facilities for studying and they are really willing to help you! You feel appreciated as a student.

I think Gothenburg is an excellent city to study in! Everything is easily accessible with public transport, and I feel super safe walking around the city even late at night.

What is it like being an international student in Sweden?

It has been really fun, as I have met a lot of great people, but can be really isolating at times! Swedish culture is a lot more individualistic than what I am used to. Being quite a social person, I found this difficult at first. However, once I got to know people I realized how warm and welcoming Swedes are, which has been lovely! An issue I found as an international student was the bureaucratic measures I had to get through to come to Sweden. This was a bit difficult to deal with at first. My advice is to read ahead about everything you need before you come, and be prepared to visit a few different agencies once you arrive to get everything sorted!

What is your opinion of the University of Gothenburg and the city of Gothenburg?

I think Gothenburg is an excellent city to study in! Everything is easily accessible with public transport, and I feel super safe walking around the city even late at night. The housing is of an excellent standard so you can feel comfortable knowing you will be able to find a good, warm place to live through the Swedish winter. Also, there is nature so close to the city, including forests, the sea and the islands which mean it is easy to escape and breathe in the fresh air! I also think the programme at the University of Gothenburg is well set up to have time for study but also plenty of free time to socialise, exercise and explore! Gothenburg is close to cool places like Stockholm and Copenhagen, so it is easy to travel there for a weekend away if you want to.