Biology Graduate Degree in Sweden: Student Profile

For international graduate student Chinmaya Sadangi, Sweden ticked all the right boxes as a study destination.

Like most prospective students, Chinmaya considered a variety of factors, including both the universities and the wider cultural and natural environment.

He concluded that Sweden offered top universities with a strong focus on research, a friendly and welcoming culture, and some of the world’s most beautiful natural landscapes.

Originally from India, Chinmaya is now completing an MSc in biology at Uppsala University, which ranks among the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings.

More specifically for Chinmaya, Uppsala stood out for its research in the field of neuroscience, which he says he’s always found fascinating.

In addition, Chinmaya was attracted to studying in Sweden because he’d heard about “the beauty of the nature and the friendliness of the people”.

He reports that both of these have turned out to be true descriptions, and is especially full of praise for the Swedish people. “They are really friendly, helping and caring,” he says.

Open and supportive faculty-student relationships

He’s keen to emphasize that this includes the professors, and says the openness of relationships between students and teachers has been the most surprising part of his experience.

“The professors here treat you just like a friend,” he says. “You can approach them any time with queries, and they are happy to help. I have had a great experience with each and every professor I have met and gained a lot of experience from them.”

Having such supportive people around has no doubt helped Chinmaya adapt to other aspects of life in Sweden, including the climate – which is rather different to India’s. “I had never experienced days with just five hours of sunlight,” he says.

If the idea of such short days fills you with dread, then Sweden is perhaps not for you. But in general Chinmaya has no qualms about recommending the country, and Uppsala, to other prospective students.

In terms of his own future, he’s keen to continue research in the neuroscience field after completing his MSc, and is confident that the opportunities provided during his time at Uppsala will provide a strong foundation when making PhD applications.