Charlotte Housset (Eumigs)
A year in Sweden at Linköping University
Charlotte Housset completed a Master's degree in Migration and Ethnic studies in 2024. This master's degree is part of the EuMIGS network, and offers the possibility of spending a year in one of the partner universities and obtaining a double degree. EuMIGS is the largest European network of universities in the field of migration studies. Here's your story.
How did your Master's degree in codiplomation go? Which university did you study at? How long did you study there?
I spent an academic year in Sweden at Linköping University to finish my double-degree Master's degree in Ethnic and Migration Studies. Over there, the school year starts at the end of August and finishes at the beginning of June. The master's program went well and I graduated in June 2024.
What motivated you to start the "Eumigs" Master's program? What motivated you to leave?
At the end of my third year as a bachelor, I was a bit confused about what I wanted to do next. I wasn't sure which stream to go into; was I going to follow my option in human resources management, or was I going to go for other Masters. I took some time to think about the courses I liked best and opted for sociology as a first step.
I then noticed this EuMIGS master's in sociology; it was taught in English and offered the possibility of studying abroad and earning a double degree. The subject was very topical, and I found it very interesting and enriching to be able to study in two different countries.
I've been a big fan of Scandinavian landscapes and culture since a school exchange year in Iceland in 2017. Travelling and discovering places and cultures are practices that are ingrained in me. When I saw that I could combine the opportunity to go to Sweden with studying a subject that interested me, I jumped at the chance. It seemed the most logical, relevant and interesting choice, including in terms of employability after my studies.
How did your stay here go?
Quite well, the way the subjects were taught was very refreshing and allowed you to go into each subject in depth. One subject was taught per period of time, with lessons and discussions planned in collaboration with our peers and the teacher, rather than following a more traditional framework, as in Belgium. It was hard work, but it paid off, and then Q2 was dedicated to writing my dissertation, which meant I could really focus on the subject without distraction and with much less stress, with the help of people I met during the stay who were in the same situation as me. The Master's program also offers the opportunity to build up a network with the other European partner universities in the EuMIGS program: we travel around Europe during the year to build up our dissertation topics and develop our relationships. We've been to Salzburg, Lisbon and Liège: we've had some great experiences.
As I'd been abroad before, my ability to adapt and speak English quickly came back, and it was easy for me to integrate into the different groups and the class. What's more, given the size of the class, the people were very approachable and understood what I was going through. They were a great help to me.
Things that surprised me:
- The program campus is in Norrköping, a small town 30 minutes from Linköping. It's possible to commute, but in my experience, the social life, meetings, etc. will be in this small town. Student life is still very much present.
- The drinking culture is very different, with many national laws governing it. At the beginning of my year, I went for a drink with my new friends. I only had one drink. One beer. And it's not possible to go out for evenings during the week, only at weekends. I'm not saying you have to have more than one drink when you go out for a drink, but it's a totally different way of approaching going out than the one you know, or usually see, at student parties in Liège.
- Darkness in winter, light in summer - don't forget your vitamin D.
- Nature is magnificent, and it's possible to hike, ski or travel around the country and Norrköping with relative ease.
What did you take away from the experience? What impressed you the most?
This experience has enabled me to meet people from different countries - in and outside Europe - in a very enriching and profound way; I've acquired a new way of experiencing the world around me. Evolving in a new foreign context allows for a great deal of introspection, and consequently a great deal of personal evolution in terms of what you need, want etc. The fact that the experience lasts a full school year makes it more authentic, I think, as you really have to adapt to the world around you to fully integrate. The teaching system is also, in my opinion, more adapted to individuals and I have very positive memories of it. I've also developed my academic English a lot and improved my oral skills, which is very useful for my employability.
What would you say to a student who's thinking of going abroad?
I'd say that it's very important to be able to experience a new context in a foreign country so that you can have a renewed sense of self and discover aspects of yourself that you didn't know existed. You should never shy away from a proposal, because it's often the ones that turn out to be the most surprising. You have to be able to challenge yourself with new experiences if you want to evolve, and I think an exchange is the best opportunity to do just that :-)
