Lauren McIntosh

‘My advice to new students is to be involved.’

The Lund University experience ‘made me feel prepared for working life’

Choosing media and communication studies
Lauren has a Bachelor in History, and after that, she says she ‘wanted to add more value to my qualification by situating my historical knowledge with modern issues. That was why I wanted to study media and communication, it was a way of putting history into context’.

The Lund University experience ‘made me feel prepared for working life’
She goes on to say that the part to years in Lund has ‘helped me with gaining a theoretical base in media and practical knowledge in my field. The programme, combined with the experience from the many student associations and the network that comes from that has made me feel prepared for working life after university’.

Advise to future students of the programme
As Lund University is a big university, there is lots to do alongside your studies. You can choose among different social clubs (‘Nations’), as well as specific associations, that focus on various kinds of activities – everything from theatre and radio to lectures and seminars of foreign affairs or sexual health – just to name a few. Lauren took advantage of this and recommends others to do the same, as well as participate actively in the class room, with the teaching staff, saying ‘my advice to new students is to be involved. The staff have a wealth of knowledge on the subject, and the university provides many different opportunities to gain practical experience’.

Writing a thesis
During the last semester of the programme, students write a master’s thesis in media and communication studies. Here, Lauren explains her topic and what she believes she gained from the process: ‘My thesis was about constructions of multiculturalism, identity, and voice by news media representation in Australia. The study highlighted problems with media ownership, the national narrative and new constructions of racism in the public sphere. Undertaking a project of this size is a quick way to learn more about research. Managing a project of this size teaches you the analytical skills needed for life after university. The supervision here at Lund is designed for independent work, but gives you guidance and support throughout the course.

After graduation
Not long after graduation, Lauren got a job in Lund, ‘I have started working as the international head of marketing and communication for a tech company in Lund (GWS)’.

Sidansvarig: michael.rubsamenkom.luse | 2020-06-15