In 2026, Pascal Jeiziner and Valentina Gäumann completed their theses at Linköping University, gaining invaluable academic insights while fully immersing themselves in Swedish student life.
What made you decide to go abroad?
I came across this opportunity because I approached Prof. Dr. Hemm-Ode about a project in the field of neuroengineering. She mentioned early on that a very interesting project was coming up at Linköping University. Before that, I had not given much thought to going abroad for my studies. However, the longer I thought about it, the more I realized what a great opportunity it was. There were several considerations, but the main reasons that ultimately convinced me to go were that I really enjoy traveling, that it would look good on my résumé, and that I would have the opportunity to significantly expand my academic network. The project itself was also very interesting.
Why did you choose your host institution/country?
Mainly because the project was based there and because I approached Prof. Dr. Hemm-Ode about the opportunity.
What does a typical day at the host institution look like?
I got up at around 7, ate breakfast, and then hopped on my bike to the lab. There, I had a nice desk and workspace and spent most of my time coding. After two hours of work, we always had the all-important Swedish “fika” break. This was always great, and we often had very interesting conversations during that time. It was a wonderful way to get to know Swedish culture. Afterwards, I did some more coding until lunch. After lunch, I continued coding, and at 3 p.m. another “fika” break awaited us. Especially as it got warmer toward summer, we often had an ice cream break outside in the summer sun. After that, I did a little more coding before going home, making dinner, and playing video games with my friends or watching a series.
Tell us about your research during your residency.
I was not strictly working in the lab, but I still did some really interesting research on fiber tracts in the brain. My goal was to find out whether it is possible to extract information on certain fiber tracts from a cohort of MRI images and compare it to real patient data. The research was very interesting, and I managed to make some findings that will be included in an abstract for a conference in the autumn. Part of the work may even end up in a published paper.
What surprised you the most about your stay abroad?
I was surprised by how welcoming Swedish people are. I think they sometimes get a bad reputation online for being cold and distant. However, I found the opposite to be true. All the people I met were very nice and welcoming.
What tips would you give to future exchange students?
I would really recommend trying to get an apartment through Studentbostäder. I got my apartment through the university in a Heimstaden building and had quite a few problems with my housing in general. The whole building was old and in need of renovation. I had to pick up quite a few things from IKEA before I was settled in, but overall, the room was fine. However, the kitchen was really bad. When I arrived, it was so dirty that it was unusable for me. Looking back, I should have searched for a new apartment right away. The state of the kitchen did not improve during my stay, so I could not use it properly. From friends I visited, I saw that the kitchens in the Studentbostäder apartments are much nicer and often cleaner. I also had to move out early and scramble to find a new apartment for the last two weeks because the university needed my room for summer schools. This was not a very pleasant experience, especially because I already had a lot to do and needed to finish my work there. However, I have to say that the apartment situation was the only negative experience I had during my time in Sweden. I would also encourage everyone going there to get a bike early on. Bikes can be found very cheaply, and the bike paths are great.
Are there any special experiences or memorable moments you would like to share?
My highlight was the weekend trip I took to Kiruna. Experiencing Lapland in winter had been on my bucket list for a long time. Seeing the northern lights in person was especially memorable and is an experience I will not forget anytime soon.
Take your chance to study abroad!
