Electromechanical Vehicle Engineering
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Driven by Passion: James Keogh’s Journey from Berlin to University West
James Keogh, who grew up in Berlin and has Irish, German, and Iranian roots, pursued a one-year Master’s in Electromechanical Vehicle Engineering at University West. His decision was shaped by a combination of academic, personal, and cultural factors.
“There are a few reasons. One reason, I’m very into cars, and although it sadly doesn’t exist anymore, I’m a big fan of Saab cars, which are obviously from here. And, I would say that I greatly enjoy going out into nature, and I feel Sweden takes its natural preservation much more seriously than other places I have lived,” he explains.
With a long-standing interest in automotive engineering, James hopes to one day build race cars, a vision that brought him to Sweden, a country with a rich automotive legacy.
“I thought that in a place with automotive history, there would be a good connection,” he states.
Thoughts about Sweden and University West
James describes the atmosphere at University West as very welcoming.
“On campus, I found some nice people,” he says.
Meanwhile, outside the classroom, James found Sweden’s natural landscapes and car culture to be a major highlight of his time abroad.
“I enjoyed all the nature, and since I have a car, it allowed me to drive out to very nice places whenever I wanted to. Additionally, I fell in love with the Swedish car culture, from tuning to the American Oldtimers, all the way to the rally and rally-cross events,” he adds.
Having previously lived in Italy and grown up in Berlin, James didn’t experience much of a culture shock in Sweden.
Meanwhile, in his free time, James enjoyed working on his car and exploring the outdoors, like going to Lake Vänern or other nice lakes and forests.
Career and advice
James is currently completing his master’s thesis at a company in Helsingborg.
“I hope to, in the future, get into some sort of motorsport job,” he says.
For future students considering Sweden, James offers a practical and weather-conscious tip.
“Make sure you are prepared for lots of rain and enjoy the short time in spring when there are longer stretches of good weather,” he concludes.
