Student blogs

Now that we’re approaching the midpoint of the second semester, I had time to reflect on the first half of my year in the Master’s Programme in Bioentrepreneurship. The first semester is designed to provide you with a foundation in key concepts and theories, while the second semester focuses on practical skills needed for success in the field. A maximum of two courses are taken simultaneously, so for the purpose of this post, I will divide the first semester into two timelines that have overlapping courses?.

Timeline 1: 08.28-10.22

Two of the six courses in the first semester are taken in the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH). It is only a 15 minute bus ride to the beautiful KTH campus from Karolinska Institutet. The first three courses in the programme are taken on both campuses: Theory in Bioentrepreneurship and Communication in Bioentrepreneurship in KI, and Industrial Management in KTH. Industrial Management is a longer course that spans through both Theory and Communication in Bioentrepreneurship courses.

Theory in Bioentrepreneurship is a nice introduction into the programme and offers a rather creative approach to the field. It provides insight into the different types of entrepreneurship and how they relate to the field of bioentrepreneurship. Similarly, the Communication in Bioentrepreneurship course offers a smooth transition into effective communication strategies and pitch delivery that can help you convey scientific and business concepts to different audiences. Both of these courses are taught at KI and are usually enjoyable and very well manageable in terms of time and difficulty to students?.

As mentioned, Industrial Management is a longer course that is essentially divided into three parts and… has three exams? But trust me, this is much better than having one huge exam at the very end. You can also retake exams – but it’s better not to rely on that. The first part of the course is theory-based and the second two are calculation-based. I would say this course is quite intense, but it is also one of the most informative and interesting ones. You learn management, finance and accounting fundamentals that are surely essential in the business world. With efficient time management and dedication, it is a very manageable course. TIP: buy the exercise book – it is the best way to study for the exams?.

Timeline 2: 10.23-01.14

Don’t worry. You will have a winter break. Although the course dates technically span throughout the winter holidays, there is at least a week that can be squeezed in for some vacation time. The second part of the first semester also consists of three courses that have a similar layout. Once again, the last three courses of the programme are taken on both campuses: Project Management and Market Analysis in KI, and Strategic Management Control in KTH.

Project Management delves into various methodologies used in project coordination and covers a range of topics related to managing projects effectively. It stresses the importance of efficient communication strategies, team building, and leadership skills that are crucial for successful project management. This is a rather short course and is fair in terms of time commitment. The Market Analysis course is also taken on KI campus. This was one of my favorite courses because it was interactive, informative, and was taught by MBE alumni! It covers a variety of topics that influence the supply and demand of goods and services in a particular market. Everyone I’ve spoken to in our programme found this course exciting? .

The Strategic Management course is taught on KTH campus and covers topics related to the development and implementation of long-term business strategies. It contains a group assignment and an exam. The content is informative and not too overwhelming (as long as you keep on track – I did not and had to suffer the consequences?). Although the final exam was open-book, it was around 6 hours and quite stressful. It is necessary to prepare well for this course in order to do well. A general note about KTH courses – many students find them more difficult than KI courses in the first semester.

I was not used to this course layout when I came to Sweden. I was used to taking five or six courses simultaneously and having an exam period at the end of each semester. I like the Swedish system much better because It provides enough time to focus on each course. The most important thing is to trust the process and not overwhelm yourself when there is no need. Stay tuned for the recap on the second semester, and wish me luck on my PP1?.