Dain from the University of Tartu, Estonia

Dain Muru joined SULaw's Summer Progamme on campus for two sessions in 2022, and chose to attend four courses in total, both online and on site.

Dain Muru (photo: private)

The professors were very supportive, willing to discuss all the edge cases that were thrown at them and provided some valuable feedback

Why did you choose to participate in SULaw Summer programme 2022?

Truth be told, I wanted to do something challenging and to put my knowledge and skills to the test. I have been playing with a dream of obtaining my Master’s degree in another country, but I was unsure whether my legal knowledge and vocabulary would be sufficient for the task. It seemed I worried without a reason. My baseline was strong enough to follow every legal lesson, and even when I sometimes had trouble finding the right legal term I never felt left behind. Quite the opposite, the professors were very supportive, were willing to discuss all the edge cases that were thrown at them and provide some valuable feedback.

Which course(s) did you choose and why did you choose them?

I took World Trade Law, Critical Issues in International Human Rights Law, International Criminal Law and International Law, Peace and Post-Conflict Transitions. I chose those subjects mainly based on two criteria: they were (except one) on-campus and were also about some field I hadn’t deeply tackled. Before I arrived I had great plans to take one extra course, but in practice it turned out to be bit too much, so with regret I had to reschedule my plans. SULaw's Office of International Affairs was very supportive and attentive at all times.

What are your tips and tricks to make the most of the course(s) and your stay at SULaw?

Attend the lectures and do the work. There is no magic formula. Even though some subjects might not seem too difficult, the curve questions the professors throw at you might kick you out of balance if you are not prepared. Another way to look at it is once all the tasks and readings are done, it so much more blissful to enjoy the Stockholm and social activities.

What did you enjoy the most during your stay here in Stockholm?

I would say I generally liked the positive vibe the city and the university had. Of course I understand I saw only a small, better-off part of Stockholm, but in general it was great to have random chats with strangers, explore hidden streets and taste all the unpronounceable sweets. Even when it rained, which it did surprisingly rarely, I never got the sombre feeling.

It felt great to forget all the geopolitical troubles for a while and focus on being a simple student.

Why should other students choose to study our Summer programme?

It is surprisingly difficult to answer why someone should choose this program. Everybody has their own goals and everybody is at different points of their lives. I would say it is okay, if you just want to add that little extra sparkle in your CV. It is also okay, if you want to tackle difficult subjects, expand your horizons and become a better lawyer. And it is okay to just extend your summer and student life.

Stockholm University provides all the means and tools, it is up to you what you make of it. But what you do need to have, is the why. No amount of fika will motivate you to read Peace Agreements or International Trade Agreements voluntarily, unless you have a good reason.