Why did you choose Radboud University?
Radboud University offered me a unique study programme nowhere else to be found in the Netherlands: a combination of learning a foreign language to (near) fluency, business, communication, and linguistics. This in combination with the focus on culture and varied choices in minors makes it possible for you to get into contact with various fields of work and research to explore your specific interests.
How did you experience the transition from high school to university?
During the introduction, you really get a university crash course, in which you explore the city, campus, and all facilities together with your peers and with second or third year students. Through fun social activities, you acquire all the necessary information to start your academic year smoothly and without stress. This was all a very pleasant experience for me, and this made the transition from high school to university easier than expected!
What do you like about the Bachelor's programme? And has the programme also challenged you?
The variation of topics within the study programme made sure that you never got bored. One day we would be talking about a specific language community in Azerbaijan, while the following day we would dive into the use of emotion in marketing for example. There will always be a subject that you find less interesting of course, but given the various research fields discussed each semester, you will never be bored. Because of this, the programme challenges you on the one hand to use your enthusiasm and motivation to create beautiful and in-depth essays for the topics that you really like, while it also challenges you to be open to explore and tackle topics that might be more difficult for you, and that might be out of your comfort zone.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
While there are quite a lot of new students each year, our studies assures that the main way of education is in smaller work groups. Normally these consist of 10 to 20 students, which leads to a 'class' feeling as you might know from high school. This really helps in socializing as you get to see the same people multiple times a week. Moreover, given that our programme asks for a lot of teamwork in group projects, the class automatically becomes more and more close to each other. You also get well acquainted with your professors, and build strong relationships with them. Especially in the language classes, professors often give classes in all Bachelor's years, and you therefore get to know each other better and better throughout the Bachelor's, which makes for a very pleasant atmosphere.
What are your plans once you have received your Bachelor’s degree?
Within our programme, and given the coverage of various work fields, students end up in all kinds of jobs/studies after the Bachelor's. In my last year, I personally became interested in climate change communication and the influence of language on that, and I even wrote my thesis about that. Given my enthusiasm in this process, I have decided to continue this path by studying Environment and Society next year, also at the Radboud University of course! We see students staying within our faculty, but also frequently going to the Management Faculty, or to Social Sciences. This dynamic atmosphere and varying interests of students make the Bachelor's such an interesting choice, and a great way to explore your wants and needs even more profoundly.
Are you involved with the study association of your programme?
The university offers a great range of associations or committees to join to socialize, but also participate in the organisation of our university. A lot of students choose to do so within their study association, as this is very useful for networking, but also for making new friends! I however decided to explore a different side of the university. I wanted to have a say in the organisation of my studies and of the faculty, so I have joined the programme committee and the Faculty Student Council of Arts to represent the needs of our students. Here I have been busy with the quality of our education, for example through evaluating courses regularly, but I also got to vote on new regulations for example. Other fun things I participated in were the sustainability committee, in which we organised clean-ups and lectures for example, being a student assistent that for example participated in the creation of an application for learning Spanish vocabulary, and being a mentor for new students! As you might hear, Radboud has dozens of options and associations to join to fully live the student experience, and there is something fun for everyone!
What do you like about Nijmegen?
Nijmegen is a city which has something to offer for everyone: perfect parks to have picnics in and relax, an active nightlife, but also great restaurants from Afghan food to vegan fast food: everything that you need is there! The city is also very close to the campus, which makes it very accessible either by bike, bus, or even by taking the train for a few minutes.
Did you visit any information meetings at the campus before you signed up for your studies?
Before starting my studies, I attended two open days, but was also a student for a day, in which I got to see a day in the life of a student of my studies. We went to lectures and classes together, and sat down and chatted about the studies. While open days are a great first step to get to know the studies, actually seeing the 'real deal' gives an even better image. This really helped me out in taking away my doubt and in making my final decision.
What would you advise students when choosing a study programme?
I would advise students to not pick a study programme based on what might lead to an amazing salary, or to easy job hunting, but rather pick something for which you actually have a passion. This makes studying way more fun and easier! Also make sure to compare similar programmes, such as the difference between Communication Sciences at the Social Faculty, and Communication and Information Studies at the Faculty of Arts! These sound very similar, but the differences might actually be bigger than expected.