Applying for a Master: The Overwhelm of Choice (and why Stockholm was definitely the best one!)

Applying for a Master’s felt like standing in front of an endless buffet – everything looked exciting, but choosing just one? Overwhelming. I knew I wanted to go abroad (because adventure!), but stay somewhere in Europe to keep things practical.

Still, that left me with a lot of countries and programs to sort through. So yeah, I did what every confused future student does: spend hours scrolling through university websites, trying to make sense of program descriptions, attending online fairs, or reading blogs and other people’s experiences (just like you’re doing right now! ;D). There were so many good options that it honestly felt impossible to decide.

Finding my direction:

Turns out that, before I could even think about where to go, I had to figure out what I actually wanted to study – which is SO MUCH HARDER than expected. That really is a whole process on its own. I was curious about lots of different fields, but nothing just clicked right away. Slowly though, I started narrowing it down: I wanted something that combined academic challenge with real-world impact, and an environment that encouraged creativity and independence. For me? I definitely landed on Ecology. Yay, figured that out! But once I did, the next challenge was finding the right place to study it.

However, you could also reverse this process! If you’re just super keen on one specific place, try looking through the university’s programmes (and hope one fits!). Or do both at once, mix and match until it clicks and works. Honestly, there is no secret recipe that makes the perfect Master’s programme stew (sorry…). But, with a little research, a bit of introspection and reflection as well as a little support from friends and family, everyone can make it!

So… why Stockholm?

After weeks (perhaps rather months) of researching, one city kept popping up again and again: Stockholm. The city and the university’s programme – It just stood out. And now that I’m here, I can confidently say it was the best decision. I’ll gladly tell you why:

First and foremost, the level of education is genuinely impressive. Professors are approachable, experienced, and, most importantly, they care. You feel like your education actually matters to them. From classmates to staff, everyone is kind, helpful, and supportive. There’s this sense that people want you to succeed, not just get through your studies. Which, for me, was new (and very refreshing). You get to study in small programmes where everyone, teachers and students, know each other (important as you will call everyone by first name, of course!), creating an easy going study environment. Additionally, depending on your programme, you get a lot of flexibility to choose courses and build your own academic path. I feel like this kind of freedom makes studying much more personal and engaging.

All those clichés about Sweden – nature, diversity, calmness, and work-life balance – are actually true. You can have a full study day and still make it to the forest, gym, or a fika with friends before sunset. Which is incredible, might I say. Life here feels calm and balanced in a way that’s easy to get used to.

Still, Stockholm has all the perks of a capital: culture, innovation, networking, and international vibes. A big city with endless opportunities, but that never feels overwhelming. Stockholm is the perfect mix of big-city energy and natural beauty. You can go from a lecture to a hike in about ten minutes. And I mean that! My campus is literally in a national park (yes, with actual sheep grazing nearby, I even took photo proof). Studying surrounded by trees and fresh, clean air? Not complaining.

I’ll admit, I sometimes miss the student cafeteria (“Mensa”) from back in Berlin, but fika breaks, with loads of coffee, tea, cinnamon buns, and chatting with friends make up for it. It’s a tradition I’ll definitely keep wherever I go next.

Looking back…

Looking back, all the hours I spent researching and comparing universities (including a lot of second-guessing my decisions) were worth it. In the end, it’s really not just about rankings or prestige. It truly is about finding a place that fits you. And for me, that place turned out to be Stockholm: where I’m learning, being challenged, growing, and learning to balance my life (with many cinnamon bun breaks).