Zuzana Handlová

Interview with Zuzana Handlová

Field of study: MSc Bioanalytics
Stay abroad: Double Degree
Host institution: University of Chemistry and Technology Prague
Semester: Fall 2021

What made you decide, what motivated you to go abroad?
Academic reasons - obtaining a second degree and a university degree that allows me to do a PhD in Switzerland.

Why did you choose your host institution/country?
If you study bioanalytics, there is no other option than UCT in Prague to do a double degree. Also, I did my bachelor's degree in Prague and the idea of going back for a semester sounded great.

What is your everyday life like? What does a typical day at the host institution look like?
A typical day is very similar to the one at the FHNW. There are lectures according to the timetable. What is different is a class called lab project. This is a project that is specifically assigned to each student, who then works on that project in a lab in their free time. Depending on the lab, students can come whenever they have time to do an experiment or when the supervisor asks them to come.

Tell us about your research and your research findings during your residency.
My lab project took place in an analytical food science lab. I investigated sensory compounds in different types of spirits (plum, pear, apricot). I analyzed samples from different temperature points during distillation using a GC-FID instrument. My results were a comparison of all compounds found and their analytical profile during distillation.

What surprised you the most about your stay abroad?
I must honestly say that I was quite surprised by the quality of the courses in terms of language. As you may know, the Prague students are all studying their masters in Czech, so it is not very common for the lecturers to teach in English. Sometimes they had a hard time expressing themselves properly or finding the right vocabulary.

If I had known at the beginning that... What tip would you like to give to future exchange students.
First, you should take a close look at the study program and the courses offered at the host university. I had the experience that the study program for the double degree was changed only one month before I applied and I was very surprised that the courses were different from the ones that were published about two months before I applied. I had decided to do the double degree anyway, but I can imagine that someone might change their mind because of that.
Then it is quite important to plan the exams properly. At UCT, students can schedule their own exam dates. It is very important that all exams are taken on time.

Other special experiences you would like to share.
In general, Prague is a beautiful place to live. It is also much cheaper compared to Switzerland. I don't regret for a second that I decided to do the double degree in Prague.