University of Groningen

Obviously there are many good things, like the facilities, most of the lectures contain good quality. In my opinion the university lacks in communication and transparency (could be due to Covid-19). Some important information we receive too late and they do not always have a good explanation of why they do it like the way they do it. With some online practical lessons, some lecturers don't show their face on the webcam and you cannot ask questions. This makes it really impersonal and I would rather watch a YouTube clip about the same information where I can see their face than watch some practical lessons.

I would recommend this university to any student who is aiming at working in an international environment. The balance between theoretical background knowledge and its "hands on" application in real life settings is great. In all subjects there is a theoretical and practical (usually in groups) part which really allows you to learn how to apply the theory. Furthermore in this way you are also able to work with people from all over the world. The workload is indeed very high, so you have to be ready to work for it but if you keep on track with the readings you do get satisfaction out of your work. I would highly recommend it due the hundreds of opportunities that it gives you. During coronatimes the level of the education online was still incredibely high and still allowed for enough contact with teachers and other students.

The programme of European Languages and Cultures at the University of Groningen is an interdisciplinary programme, which offers a diverse and dynamic learning environment. It is possible to choose among different majors (Linguistics, Literature and Culture, and Politics) and even combine two of them. For my degree, I chose Politics as major and Literature and Culture as minor. In my experience, these two subjects complemented one another and I was able to receive a suitable preparation for my current Masters, namely Euroculture. The focus of my courses was on contemporary Europe and how it functions politically as well as how it is shaped culturally. On the political side, I studied a lot of theories, as well as contemporary phenomenons, such as populism and migration. On the cultural side, I studied the implications and effects of cultural representations of contemporary society, as well as theories that served as a tool to analyse current cultural practices. Additionally, due to the interdisciplinarity of the programme, the job opportunities are diverse, both in the public and in the private sector. I am currently looking for a traineeship at the EU. The environment at the University is international, professors are very available and there are job opportunities too for students who are studying there. For example, I am currently working as a student assistant, by assisting in language classes of my native language, Italian. Despite living in uncertain circumstances due to the pandemic, the University has provided students with support, the staff has been very available and understanding, the buildings are still open (with respect of the due measures) and, although differently, the experience has remained positively challenging and engaging.

I'm studying psychology at the RUG and I am super satisfied with the course. I feel that I am learning a lot. The professors and lecturers are competent as well and the working groups for certain courses are well organized. Within the curricular, there is an emphasis on self-regulated learning which I believe is a really important concept to learn and on which the university could assist more. Overall I believe that the university should emphasize collaborative work with student association - since there are so many and they have so much potential - in which the students can develop outside of academia to become more competent in projects based work, such as in the working field, entrepreneurial endeavours or multicultural working groups. All in all, I am happy to be at the RUG. I would definitely recommend it!

During my Masters in Marketing, I learned a lot about topics that interest me using a blend of academic articles and real practice cases. The professors were knowledgable and accessible, the requirements and expectations clear and the course material was provided (lecture slides, grading forms and lecture video recordings) which is a big plus as it makes it less stressful to study. The programmes are improved with the involvement of students through direct feedback and collaboration with student associations such as Quest. Most of the other students in this programme were motivated and agreeable to work with. The faculty campus is quite modern, clean and nice to be in. Some improvements could be: a better preparation/support for students to find work when graduating as my classmates and I felt a bit confused about our position in the job market; and a more social aspect since despite the presence of some social associations, students in the programme felt that they lacked the closeness that other programmes have. It is also important to mention the city itself. Despite the location that could be a bit far for international students, the city is a great place to be a student. It is a historical (and affordable) Dutch city with some entertainments (pubs, cinema, park, live shows…) and some amazing people. It can be daunting to be a newcomer at first and get accustomed to the culture, food and weather but if you make an effort, in no time you will be at home. I made some very close friends here and met a wide range of characters. If you find a programme that suits you and from which you will learn and gain value, I would recommend studying at this uni.

I really like to study at the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. I feel like the communication is right and I also have the idea that everyone feels welcome over here. I think that is a really important thing to have as a university. There are probably a lot of things that could be better but compared to my other schools etc. I think the RUG is doing really great overall.

What i really like is the diversity in the course, the students and the teachers. i feel they are very competent, and guide you in the right way to learn. However, I also feel they could have done more in the time of corona. I do not have a single class in person, and their online services are not exactly perfect. Meanwhile, they overload us with messages to not commit fraud but have to cancel an exam because they don't have the platform up to date.

I definitely feel that my degree at this university is valuable and it comes with it’s perks. But i also feel that they could improve upon student life, as the college as such offers nothing other than education. some cultural or sports events would be good once in a while.

I like that there is a large number of international students. The student life in Groningen is great as it is a young and vibrant city. In my programme you need to teach yourself a lot (if you do not have data science/analytics background) as the learning speed is rather fast. but I really have the feeling that I learn even better that way as I need to be more involved with the content. Therefore, the effort is worth it.