For admitted students in 2018

Hello to you all! I’ve received a few messages from people who are a bit lost, and here are the answers I can provide:

• Timing: The academic year generally starts late in August and ends by May.
• Practical matters: Go to the course web, click course schedule and select the previous year (2017/2018). I recommend you to do this because 2018 info is not ready yet, thus literature, schedule and other info of the courses from 2017 may give you some idea of what to expect. Course page:  https://bit.ly/2qwIqH9
• Environmental or Social Sciences?:  I want to make clear that you will not make calculations, measurements of the use of natural resources, or study the environmental processes and its management. That’s all about technical skills that you may have, or your colleagues may already have acquired. However, the first year you will learn about the social sphere, and the methods and theories to study it, such as interviewing or observation. Specifically, you will learn about how to make people come together to find solutions, about decision-making, and what social barriers are in place preventing actions by understanding the context and possibilities, how knowledge is developed, framed, and understanding people’s perspectives.
• Activities & Lectures are quite participative and interactive. There are reading groups, role plays, and other types of group activities during the year. Of course, all group assignments, research, and work are focused on environmental issues, thus you will learn about environmental matters through them. Therefore, the practical skills you will master are how to use social research methods such as interviewing, designing stakeholders workshops, facilitation of discussions, understanding conflicts,  and designing campaigns to achieve environmental goals.
• Former students: There is a Facebook group for almost every year, and also a group of graduate students. Here is the link: https://bit.ly/2vbiYfZ
• Living in Sweden: I am sure there is plenty of information out there, and you may be overwhelmed after reading all day long. My little input to your overload of information is that 99% people here speak English, and they do it very very well. There are also many international students, activities in town, and going out is cheaper at the nations in Uppsala. Biking to SLU is rewarding because of the views and forests all around, and the cold is not that bad if you wear a warm coat (second hand if necessary)… Just ask for advice once here.
• The SLU: Nice environment, facilities, and people. Much more here: https://www.facebook.com/studysustainably/

All this said, please do not hesitate in sending emails and asking questions. Invest some time and good luck!

Ana