A year spent in Spain passed quickly. The first semester was very difficult. The studies were conducted entirely in English. Although I knew the language well, it took me some time to get used to thinking and speaking in English every day. After the first pleasant introductory week, the next 4 months, five days a week, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (with a small lunch break), we had theoretical classes in three thematic blocks: Chemistry in Industry, Material Chemistry, and Industrial and Chemical Research. The thematic blocks included a total of 41 subjects. The theoretical lectures emphasized, among others, material chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, food chemistry, and polymer chemistry, as well as subjects like principles of starting your own business and writing CVs.

Classes at the university and internships

All subjects ended with assessments, in one of the forms chosen by the lecturer: colloquium, presentation, or report. During these months, there was very little free time, the classes lasted long, and each week we had 2-3 assessments, which started as early as October.

My teachers were scientists from the University and practicing chemists (employees of various chemical companies). Thanks to such a selection of teaching staff, students learned not only theory but also the principles of its practical application in industry. This gave us the opportunity to learn production methods for, among others, dyes, cleaning agents, drugs, and capsules with enclosed active substances.

After passing all subjects and obtaining the required number of points, we could start laboratory classes. It was a less intense period of study. The classes were conducted in smaller groups and for shorter durations. After each laboratory session, we were required to write a report on the conducted exercise and obtained results. During this time, we made more use of sports facilities, attended student parties more often, and went on trips.

The second semester consisted of internships in selected companies in Spain. Students from my field could find a company on their own and obtain its consent for the internship. There were also internships proposed by the University. I chose the first option.

The internship started in February and lasted until mid-July. The company I chose was Zoetis – a producer of animal drugs and vaccines. It is a well-known American company with a branch in Spain, employing about 250 people. I conducted research for my master’s thesis in the Quality Control laboratory. The topic of my project was the validation of the analytical method for the quantitative determination of a drug component using HPLC. The employees of Zoetis turned out to be very kind and collegial, always offering their experience and advice whenever I needed it. During the internship, I managed to significantly improve my Spanish. I completed the laboratory research with positive results.

Defense of the master’s thesis

In September, it was time to defend my master’s thesis, which I had to prepare, write, and submit to my supervisor by the end of July. The defense itself was very similar to that in Poland. In front of a three-person University Commission, I had to present the course of my research and its results. The Commission members were very kind, which greatly eased the atmosphere. The presentation lasted about 20 minutes, and the next 20 minutes were for questions from the Commission members. Since I had prepared well for the defense, answering the questions was not a problem. The work and its presentation were appreciated by the Commission. I am glad that the effort I put into my work was noticed.

Obtaining a diploma from a foreign university, which is always ranked among the top three universities in Spain, gave me immense satisfaction, and I think it will help me find a job both in Poland and abroad. It was a year of hard work, but I believe it was worth it. The kindness of the people around me ensured that everything I planned was realized without major stress. As a fun fact, my diploma will be signed by the King of Spain himself. 🙂

I also gained other valuable, very practical experiences, such as independently finding and renting an apartment, signing contracts with utility providers, opening a bank account in Spain, obtaining a residence card, insurance number, and handling other daily matters in a foreign country, in a foreign office, and in a foreign language. On the surface, simple matters that can sometimes pose significant problems in a foreign country. Importantly, I also made new acquaintances, and several Spanish friends visited me in Poland during the holidays. I won’t hide that I fell in love not only with Catalonia. For a few weeks now, I have been a very happy wife of a Catalan.

I met my husband a few years ago during Erasmus in Catalonia, in the town of Girona. He later moved to Poland, but life took a turn that he had to return to Catalonia after 2.5 years, and we were left with a long-distance relationship. Therefore, studying in Barcelona, and thus the help of the Foundation, certainly contributed to this marriage 🙂 because the distance to travel between the University and his place of residence (about 100 km, and even closer to the place of the internship) was much less painful, and we could see each other more often. 🙂

I wish all the best to this year’s MASPEX FOUNDATION Scholars, and to those who are still considering whether to apply next year, I assure you it is worth it. It is an opportunity that should not be missed.

Thank you once again to the Maspex Foundation for helping me realize my dreams. It was the adventure of a lifetime.

Basia Łopieńska