During the summer of 2024, I completed a two-month compulsory internship at the Centre for Music and Science at the University of Cambridge. As a student of cognitive neuroscience and an enthusiast of choral singing and classical music, the research carried out by this faculty is very attractive to me.

I am very grateful for the guidance and support of my supervisor, Dr Peter Harrison, as well as the financial support of the Erasmus+ grant – without which I would not have had the opportunity to come to Cambridge and improve my academic and technical skills to such an extent in just two months.

In Berlin I was briefly introduced to the highly interdisciplinary research field of music cognition, but it was in Cambridge that I met people who are actively and passionately researching in this field. I am totally amazed by the diversity and creativity of the topics and research methods they use.

During my internship, my task was to source datasets, stimuli and experimental designs used in previous studies, and develop a comprehensive software framework that evaluates and compares the performance of different computational music expectation models on the same datasets and stimuli. I feel very fortunate to have worked with other lab members and my supervisor, who taught me many techniques and principles in coding and helped me solve many technical problems. My programming skills have improved a lot.

Interestingly, my work ethic also improved significantly during my stay here. As the rent is (unfortunately) quite high, I could only afford a rather small room with a single bed and a tiny wardrobe. I could not work at home without a desk. But luckily, as an intern at the Faculty of Music, I had 24/7 access to great work spaces and facilities. Almost every day I walked 45 minutes to the faculty to work on my project and 45 minutes back home. At first I was quite exhausted, but after a while I discovered that working in a space that was not my bedroom and getting a bit of exercise daily could boost my productivity enormously. In a way, going to another country and living a new lifestyle helped me rediscover ways to boost my productivity. I used to be frustrated by the long commute to university and work, and often skipped exercise, seeing it all as a waste of time that could otherwise be spent in bed or working on my project. The constraints of a new life abroad helped me find a better way to work efficiently and plan time for exercise.

Another unique aspect of Cambridge is its college system, which is very different from the FU. Cafeterias, dormitories and supervision are organised by the colleges, making college life a big part of the overall university experience. Going to my friend’s college for dinner after a long day and chilling with her college friends in the postgraduates’ common room definitely felt cosy and gave me a feeling of coming home. It also brought back many memories of my time as an undergraduate at Chung Chi College, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where I lived with my fellow students in dormitories and attended classes together. Being in this environment made me want to write to my old friends from my college in Hong Kong and my current friends in Berlin. Studying in Germany is so intense and at times competitive, that we sometimes forget that spending time and bonding with friends should also be a part of it. At least this is my experience being a psychology undergraduate and a cognitive neuroscience masters student.

Choral singing is also a big thing here in Cambridge. Almost every college has its own choir, which sings several times a week during term time at services in the college chapel. The quality of the singing is extremely high, and attending these ‚Evensongs‘ is completely free. This also gives you the opportunity to experience the architecture and acoustics of college chapels – many of these colleges are 500-800 years old and are beautiful and historic. As an amateur choir singer for many years, this is a wonderful opportunity for me to immerse myself in choral music on a daily basis. It has also rekindled my desire to sing more professionally. I will definitely find time to take singing lessons and join more choirs.

All in all, I am happy and grateful for all the people I have met in Cambridge. The memory of walking through the narrow streets and historic bridges of this beautiful city will definitely have a place in my heart for a long time to come.

Tips for other interns

Preperation

You should fill out and hand in all the necessary documents as soon as possible. Start looking for a place to stay early! Bring a waterproof/windproof jacket and a few pieces of warm clothes (even in summer), as the weather in England can be at times unpredictable!

Visa application

No experience, as I did not need to apply for a visa.

Internship search

I sent an e-mail to the group leader of this lab describing my research interest and skills, attached my CV and a Github repository with some of my example work.

Apartment search

You can find flat-shares on spareroom.co.uk. The website is quite similar to WG-gesucht.de in Germany. I was invited to an online interview with people currently living in the flat and only paid my deposit and rent on the day I get the key to my room. I did not have a contract as it was only a sublet from a current tenant who is abroad, but so far I have not had any problems.

Insurance

An insurance package can be bought from DAAD.

Formalities on site

Telephone/Internet connection

I continued to use the same Aldi-talk prepaid SIM card that I used when I was in Germany. You just need to turn on roaming and no extra fee has to be paid.

Bank/account opening

I opened a Revolut account and digital payment works everywhere in England. You can also change currencies without having to pay extra service charges (this does not apply to weekends).

Everyday life/Leisure time

Going out options

During term time, almost every college in Cambridge has Evensong a few times a week in their college chapels. Students and the general public are all welcome to join the service, and it doesn’t matter whether you are religious or not.

Punting is always fun, but sometimes people do fall in the river by accident (happens a few times every day, according to people who work on the river). Please stay safe if you do not know how to swim!

There are a lot of international restaurants on Mill Road if you are tired of college food. Many of these restaurants are very good.

Other

If you use the Waitrose app (can be downloaded onto your phone), every time you buy something from Waitrose, you can redeem a free hot coffee. Don’t forget to bring your own cup for it though!