A Year in the Applied Ethology and Animal Biology Master’s Program: My Insights and Experiences

Hej everyone!

Welcome! If you’re here, I assume it’s because you’ve been accepted into the fantastic Master’s program in Applied Ethology and Animal Biology at Linköping University (congratulations!), or you’re curious about a student’s perspective on this program.

As my final post as a student ambassador, I’d like to share my experiences from the past year in this Master’s program. While there may be some changes next year, I believe the core essence of the program will remain the same. So, let me tell you how amazing this program is!

The journey begins with an excellent introduction to ethology and animal biology in your first course. This is a perfect way to review your previous knowledge, ensure you haven’t missed any crucial concepts, and familiarize yourself with them in English. Following this, you dive deeper into various subjects, such as neurobiology, genetics, statistics, and zoology. This broadens your understanding of different areas in ethology and shows how interconnected it is with virtually every field of research in animal biology.

In my experience, which may differ slightly from yours due to program updates, all courses included group work, with groups typically assigned by the professor. The grading system here completely different to what I was used to, ranging from U (Fail) to 3 (Pass), 4 (Pass with credit), and 5 (Pass with distinction). Some courses didn’t have a grade at all, just a Pass or Fail. You’ll encounter varying amounts of group work across courses, so good organization is crucial: start working early, and you’ll do fine! Most courses also had writing exams, usually conducted online during the examination period or on the last day of the course.

Despite the workload, this program offers plenty of free time to relax with friends in a club or sauna, travel around Sweden or Europe, and gain practical experience alongside theory. By the end of the first year, you’ll have spent countless hours studying different animal behaviours, analysing them, and presenting your findings to your class and professors. This hands-on experience is invaluable!

One of my favourite courses was Zoo Biology, hands down the best course I’ve ever taken. We spent the entire course at Kolmården Zoo, studying animal behaviour, attending lectures from numerous experts, engaging in critical discussions, and sharing our opinions. It was an incredible bonding experience with classmates, filled with amazing memories.

I hope you have a fantastic year, and I look forward to hearing from you next year! Here are some pictures from my first year to give you a glimpse of what’s in store for you.