What do you like about the specialisation and why?
I really like the fact that the EU specialisation creates a very broad idea of what the EU looks like in all its complexity. As a Master's student with this programme, you become very specialised in the topic of the EU in a short time. I also like the way the courses are set up in a different way than in the Bachelor's. The group of students is much smaller and everybody is better prepared which creates more room for good discussions in the classroom.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
I really like the atmosphere of the Master's track. Because of the open environment, there is space for quality conversations and discussions between the students and the teacher. This is a very nice way to study and it also teaches students to think more critically than if they would just listen.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s?
The time I need for preparing classes is more than I expected. Often teachers take participation into account for some part of the grade, which means it is important to always come to class prepared. Additionally, most professors don't really use presentations anymore during the Master's, the class discussions are all you get. That means it is very important to pay attention and participate. I was struggling a bit with the workload in the beginning, but you definitely get used to it!
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
I am planning to extend my Master's with one semester to do an internship. I hope to do this with an embassy or a political organisation. I am writing my thesis about the effects of authoritarian values on attitudes towards the EU.
Why do you think it is important that there are people with this degree?
I think, whether you like it or not, the EU is a part of the future of the Netherlands. With this Master's degree, we become specialised in a system that is extremely important, but that very few people really understand. We can (help) make informed decisions about the future of the Netherlands and the EU.