My name is Martim Perestrelo, I am Portuguese, and I just finish my studies in EIT InnoEnergy Master’s in Renewable Energy programme. Currently, I am developing two start-ups alongside some colleagues and friends and my goal is to launch both successfully!
Starting a master’s programme abroad is an exciting experience in your life! You will be able to live independently in a new city, meet new people, learn about other cultures, experience different lifestyles, and much more, all while studying at one of Europe’s greatest institutions!
Now the question is, how can you achieve all of this while still focusing on your studies? During my two years in Master’s in Renewable Energy, I observed many students struggling with this, including myself! It is critical to understand how to maintain a healthy balance between social and academic life. Let me share some tips after having completed my two years of studies.
The first weeks
The first few weeks after relocating are the most productive, and you can accomplish a lot if you follow some easy steps:
- Arrive early to avoid losing out – many universities urge students to arrive one or two weeks before courses begin to engage in orientation events designed just for them!
- Plan ahead, set reminders, and arrange everything using a calendar – The nicest part about the first couple of weeks is that you won’t have much work, but this may also be a disadvantage if you don’t organise your schedule and miss that one essential introduction meeting you had in your first week.
- Make use of your spare time – the only moment when free time will not be an issue is during your first few weeks of university. Take advantage of this and avoid focusing on tasks that can be handled later. Rather than going to Ikea to purchase those must-have hangers, go explore the city with your friends! Participate in some student-organised activities or join one of your university’s numerous clubs!
Keep up with classes
It can be tough to continue completing all the activities you did in the initial weeks as lessons become more serious, especially when you participatein Innovation & Entrepreneurship Journey such as ESADE Business School! Nevertheless, this is not difficult if you develop a modest habit of keeping up with all the subjects you have.
First and foremost, try not to miss any lectures. If you are tempted to skip a class, make sure to book another one on the same day so that you Have double the reasons to attend.
Second, plan your day so that you may practice what you learn in class for one or two hours. This is a wonderful approach to stay updated while also avoiding those long night sessions you may have to put in before a test.
Third, and most importantly, find a study partner, someone with whom you can relate and who has similar study habits as you. Studying together accelerates learning and increases productivity.
A healthy lifestyle
Your health, specially what you eat and how much exercise you get, is something that may quickly go out of hand. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not an easy chore, but it has a significant impact on your academic performance.
Avoid consuming unhealthy foods during weekly lectures or study sessions. The most typical thing for students to do is to buy fast food, whatever it may be, so that they can get back to studying as soon as possible. Avoid this by preparing meals at home or eating at the cafeteria, and if you’re in a rush, try to buy from a healthy café or restaurant instead.
Make time for workouts. Due to a rigorous schedule, it may appear impossible to devote some hours of your day to exercise during the week. This couldn’t be further from the truth, and it’s simply a matter of carefully managing your calendar.
Set aside some time for yourself. It is also critical to take advantage of leisure time and have fun. According to studies, this boosts productivity and reduces stress, so having some minutes or an hour rest between study sessions can be beneficial!
Before Exams
A lot of students stress out before exams and have the habit of studying for hours even before the exam day. My suggestion for striking a balance between relaxing and remaining prepared before exam day is as follows:
- Set aside the morning if you wish to undertake some topic revisions – an excellent way to help with this is to take notes throughout all study sessions!
- Find someone to revise with — two heads are better than one and studying things with a friend might help you learn essential things you might have missed otherwise.
- Dedicate the afternoon to yourself. Plan anything with your buddies that will allow you to relax and have fun. This will assist you in clearing your thoughts and having a clear mind the following day!
- Get a good night’s sleep — This is possibly the most crucial thing you can do. Avoid doing all-nighters the day before an exam by going to bed early and sleeping for at least 7-8 hours.
Being the best student
Many of my friends believe that getting the finest marks possible is essential for being the best student and finding the most promising career following graduation. I tend to disagree… In my experience, grades are not the only component to make it in the labour market Let me be clear: I am not suggesting that grades aren’t essential; they are, or else they wouldn’t exist. What I mean is that they should not be the only point of focus.
For starters, grades are tough to use to convey how much you know about a subject. They are usually the result of an exceptional study session. What is important is to understand what you’re learning.
Second, several students can have the same grade so these are not sufficient to tell the difference between one student and another one. Besides, in none of my job interviews have I ever been asked about my GPA.Most interviewers asked questions about areas I was interested in and that were relevant to the position itself.
Third, meeting new people is a vital component of being a student, and it is often overlooked. This will benefit your future self in many ways: it will allow you to have contacts in different countries; it will aid your professional career by knowing people in different industries; it will help you expand your LinkedIn profile, it will broaden your mentality and sense of variety; and, most importantly, it will offer you friends for life.
Overall, balancing your education and social activities is crucial for your personal growth and making the most of each EIT InnoEnergy Master’s programme! In my case, the last two years were an amazing experience which helped me grow a lot as a person and as an industry professional!
by Martim Perestrelo, EIT InnoEnergy Master School alumni