‘I felt at home the moment I stepped on campus’

Ruaira Maitimu (18) from Woerden will be starting the International Bachelor Communication and Media (IBCoM). “Biggest challenge? That everything will be in English and most of my fellow students don’t speak Dutch.”

Why did you choose this programme?

“It’s an internationally oriented programme with a wide scope. I may want to work abroad later and I think this programme is a good way to prepare for that. Also important is that many of my fellow students are from abroad so I’ll learn about other cultures. That’s something I really enjoy!”

 Why did you choose EUR?

“I felt at home the moment I stepped on campus. EUR comes highly recommended and I like the ambiance. I felt both of these things are important when choosing a university.”

 Are you planning to live in student housing?

“No. I won’t be renting a place. That would be an extra expense and I want to save money to travel. I can commute between my home and the university with public transport. Maybe I’ll rent a place when I’m more used to the ‘university lifestyle’. After all, that’s part of being a student.”

 What are your expectations for your first year at EUR?

“I expect that I’ll have to resolve more things independently. I think you’re given much more leeway than in secondary school. I also expect that I’ll have to get used to the fact that the programme is taught in English and that most of my fellow students don’t speak Dutch. This is something I like, but at the same time it’s a challenge.”

 What are your good – or maybe less good – resolutions in the first year of your studies?

“My resolution is to start on time with exams and assignments. This is still something of a stumbling block for me. I also think it would be fun to join a study association or a faculty association (ACE), but I first need to find out more about this.”