Katharina liked the mix of teaching methods – and all the discussions

Katarina Schmid is happy with the Master's programme in Environmental Science and Sustainability. She wanted to include societal and political aspects in her education.

Image: Anna-Lena Lindskog

”I want to go outside Europe to broaden and advance my knowledge by learning from other approaches and perspectives” she says.

In her school years Katharina Schmid was interested in natural sciences, especially biology, and gradually grew an interest in climate change and environmental issues. She did her Bachelor’s in environmental science at her home university in Braunschweig.

”That gave a great background. At first we studied basics like biology, mathematics and chemistry, then more specialised topics, for example soil science and hydrology” she says. ”I did my Bachelor’s thesis in limnology”.

Preferred a longer stay abroad

She had thought of going abroad as an exchange student, but her studies in Germany took place during the covid pandemic, so that wasn’t an option.

”I also felt like half a year abroad would be too short for me, so I decided on doing a full Master’s abroad instead. I had been taking some language courses, also in Swedish, and I had been traveling to Sweden before and enjoyed the nature and culture, so it made sense to go to Sweden.”

Katharina’s first thought was to move to Gothenburg or Stockholm, but she decided that a smaller city would fit her better. Browsing the website universityadmissions.se she found the environmental science programme at Umeå University, almost by accident.

”It felt right. I wanted to include more societal and political aspects of natural sciences in my education, I felt that was missed during my Bachelor’s.”

Small groups

What was it like to come here and begin your studies?

”I’m always a bit nervous about new situations. But we were a small group that met for the first lecture and we grew close really quickly. I also joined the university’s buddy programme for the first semester and joined a choir outside of university.”

In her spare time Katharina likes to go hiking. She often takes the bus to areas around Umeå for long walks together with her dog. 

”It’s our family’s dog and my parents brought him here after the first course, when I had settled in and knew it would be possible to care for him beside my studies.”

In the programme they were only four students starting that year and in most courses there were seldom more than six to ten students. That was one of the differences compared to Germany, Katharina says.

One of the aspects I liked most about the programme was the project-based learning

”The first course was seminar and discussion based, I didn’t have that at all in Germany. It was really nice, we prepared papers and sustainability reports and then discussed different aspects and approaches.”

”One of the aspects I liked most about the programme was the project-based learning.”

Familial and appreciative

Instead of taking up to five courses at the same time, Katharina appreciated that courses were done one at a time. That gave a chance to dig deeper into the subjects and she liked the mix of lectures, seminars with discussions, group projects, excursions, field work and lab work.

What did you think about your teachers?

”In Germany you address your teachers by title and last name, so they felt more distant. Here the atmosphere is more familial and I noticed that everybody is very appreciative towards you. The feedback you get is always very helpful and constructive, so that has been a very nice experience” she says.

For her Master’s thesis project, Katharina delved into issues regarding environmental consequences of mining. She studied metal concentrations in lake sediments in the Skellefteå area and their impact on invertebrates connected to the sediments.

Did you do your project in a research group?

”Yes, it was part of a PhD project and I had two supervisors, a PhD student and a professor. Before, I thought that I definitely didn’t want to go into research, but now I’m thinking a bit about it.”

The project also gave Katharina the chance to continue as a lab assistant at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience. She is just finishing two months working with preparing samples and carrying out sediment analyses.

Applying for internships

When we meet up Katharina only has a few weeks left in Umeå. She will return to Germany, travel to see friends and family, take language courses and prepare for her next step.

”I have applied for internships with different non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and institutes in East and Southeast Asia. I will probably go to Thailand and a NGO working against human and wildlife trafficking. They also cooperate with park rangers to help them protect habitats for tigers and other wild animals, so that is what I could join. I haven’t said the final yes to them yet, but it would be for half a year.”

And after that?

”Maybe I will do a PhD, but I will also apply for other jobs. My ideal is something where I can do both field work and office work.”