Comments from former students
Baris Baysal (Turkey)
Why did you apply for the master program at Dalarna University?
I had several reasons when I applied to Högskolan Dalarna. There wasn't much economics programmes through the universities I have checked in 2003 and the ones that I found were too expensive in private schools. When I started to look more in to Högskolan Dalarna, I realised it was really close to Stockholm which is one of the best cities in the world and it was in a very traditional part of Sweden. I figured that this fusion would create a nice atmosphere throughout the study programme.
What are you doing now?
I am working as a Project Finance Assistant Manager in Corporate
Loans Section in the biggest financial institution in Turkey; Is Bank. In its July 2007 issue, the Banker Magazine published the results of the "Top 1000 World Banks" survey, where rankings were made in terms of Tier I Capital, according to banks' consolidated financial statements as of 31.12.2006. With its USD 6.8 billion Tier I Capital, as defined by Basel's Bank for International Settlements (BIS), Isbank ranked 102nd in the world. According to the rankings of the Banker Magazine, which is marked as one of the most prestigious publications in the banking world, Isbank has the largest Tier I Capital both in Turkey and in the Middle East.
What experience did you take with you from our school and program?
The experience I had during my 2 years of stay in Sweden was quite unique in means of both academic and social. This has certainly broadened my vision and became a milestone in my life. I tried to involve in the Swedish lifestyle as much as I could during my stay in the time left from my studies. I had the opportunity to study economics in a European country which would be very important especially in my area of study. The 2 thesis works I have pursued with great help from my supervisors have provided me with substantial knowledge and vision before I have got my job in the 102nd biggest bank in the world.
Catia Cialani (Italy)
Why did you apply for the master program at Dalarna University?
In 2005 I was looking for Master of Science in Economics to attend abroad. I checked different Programmes in Sweden. At the end I decided to enrol in the Master in Economics at Dalarna University because in that program I could take 2 courses in Econometrics and 3 courses in Microeconomics.
Econometrics and Microeconomics are the subjects I was interested the most and I would say that the knowledge and skills you get from them are fundamental, necessary and required both if you want to proceed your studies in Economics and if you want to work as an economist.
Moreover, the same University also offers a Master in Statistics; I was also interested in taking some courses in that Program.
What are you doing now?
I am a Ph.D. student at the Department of Economics at Umeå University, in the north of Sweden. I have started my career there in Fall 2007. My research interests is the Environmental Economics, in particular I am working on Green Accounting and Welfare Measurement.
What experience did you take with you from our school and program?
The organization of the University is amazing! Everything is well planned and organized. As a student I received the best assistance I could desire, from the reception to the administrative and teachers staff. All of them were very professional, friendly and helpful.
At Dalarna University the student is at the centre of University life, everything is organized in the way that the student can feel comfortable with the environment and perform very well in the exams.
The staff of reception will help you not only about your “school stuff”, but also how to “survive in the Swedish society”. They will fix you any troubles.
International office organizes many activities and trips to facilitate especially the integration of foreign students. I suggest not to skip anyone of the activities they organize.
Student Union was a weekly appointment for me, the right place to meet new people and get know Swedish culture.
The staff from the library will be your advisors to find many books and international articles. They will take care of you in many ways. Their patience has not limits.
Dalarna University is not so big, so you can adjust and feel at home very soon. And after a little while, you will know almost everyone. This is the advantage to study in a small University. Borlänge is not a big city too, but living in a small community allows you to hang around and know everything in a short time and have very efficient services.
It also mean that all students live very near. We lived in the same area at the border of Campus. So we could often meet, take part in all parties, and of course study together. The accommodation is a walking distance from University. It was so nice to go to University on foot or by bike and meet my classmates and friends along my way.
Transports in Borlänge are really good. Connections with nearby cities are efficient. You can easily go to Stockholm, commute there and enjoy the entertainments of the Capital of Sweden.
My social and student life at Dalarna University was exciting. I met students from countries form all over the world and I could share with them my culture, education and life experience.
About the Master’s program in Economics, I must say I learnt a lot from courses. I found very useful to attend the B-level courses. They are the basic for C and D level courses. I suggest all students to take them even if they have already attended in their previous studies. The approach to those subjects can be different as well as the books you will use. You will become familiar to study Economics in English, you will build up your technical vocabulary and at the end your preparation will be more consistent. It is also useful to brush up your previous knowledge in Economics and you will feel more confident when you face the advance and graduate courses in the same subjects.
I am satisfied about everything I have learned in the programme. I have learnt a lot especially how to write a scientific paper during my C and D-level theses. I could freely say that the program has met enough my expectations and my previous studies at Dalarna are making my life as a Ph.D. student easier.
In many courses I wrote some essays and gave some presentations. I think it is very useful to learn how to present the results of your work and debate with your classmates about some topics.
At the end of the Program I had skills in computer softwares, I knew how to carry out a research and how to give formal presentations.
What I really liked in the Master’s program was the relationship I could establish with my teachers. All of them were extremely available, kind and friendly. The relationship between students and teachers in Sweden is not so formal (at least compare to my studies in Italy), so you do not feel so distant from your teachers, you do not hesitate to ask them questions and advices.
All teachers were very well organized, punctual and professional. They use the FRONTER to exchange materials with students about courses. This platform was the best tool of communication between students and teachers.
Finally during Master’ studies, student has an active part of the Program; student can say what he/she thinks; for example he/she can give contributions and suggestions to the teachers on how to improve the courses.
As a person, after this study experience, my life has become richer of knowledge, not only about economic theories and econometric models but as a person who has studied in an international environment and that now see things in many different perspectives. I feel more open minded, full of good memories and friends. I hope that in the future I can have some of my classmates, now spread in the world, and some of my teachers as colleagues.
Do Thai (Vietnam)
One of the reasons for my application to Dalarna univeristy is free tuition. But after two years at Dalarna I knew that Sweden offered more than free studying. I had lived in a very nice country with friendly people, moreover I had studied advanced knowledge in economics with very good professors.I am now phd student at Louisiana state university, USA, I will return to Sweden in the near future.
