What is the pre-master course exactly?
“During the pre-master we get a mix of the main courses of the bachelor, and we get to write a bachelor’s thesis. So basically, it’s a one-year crash course in which you treat the fundamentals about Europe’s history and how Europe works. I completed the pre-master course last year and am now studying the master’s programme in European Studies – Global Policy and Governance Challenges.”

Why did you choose to do this pre-master?
“I did a bachelor’s in business economics in Italy. After completing this degree, I realised that my interest in political science was bigger than my interest in economics alone. And as I feel very European, I wanted to study in depth what the European Union is about. In Italy, there is not a great shared knowledge about what the European Union does and how it works. The more you learn about it, the more you realise it is embedded in our daily lives. So, I wanted to follow this pre-master’s course to gain the basic knowledge you need to get on board of the European Studies master’s programme.

What is your background?
“Before the master’s I did the bachelor Arts and Culture at FASoS. I also have a degree in event management. During my internship, I worked for an AI-powered start-up database for sustainable business and green technologies. I was mainly in charge of their social media content creation and strategy. I helped to increase their followers, but I worked on creating meaningful engagement as well.”

Why did you decide to choose this programme?
“Before arriving in Maastricht, I completed a bachelor's degree in International Relations in my home country, Italy, with a specialisation in corporate development. Hence, it was a logical choice to opt for the master’s programme in Globalisation and Development Studies (GDS). This programme equips us with the skills to define and act on development issues. I selected Maastricht University because of its excellent reputation and the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) teaching method. The emphasis on critical thinking, expressing one's opinions, and engaging in debates strongly resonated with me. Moreover, the collaborative learning environment in small classes, the focus on research, and academic writing also played a significant role in my decision.”

Why did you decide to choose this research master’s programme?
“I decided on this research master’s programme because Maastricht University has a great reputation, especially for European Studies. What really drew me in was the small, student-centred environment, and the flexibility to shape my own academic journey. Plus, there are so many extra activities, seminars, and opportunities to explore. In the second year, you can even opt for a double degree, an internship, or an Erasmus exchange.”
 

Why did you decide to choose this master’s programme?
“I completed the bachelor’s European Studies at Maastricht University, specialising in Politics. During that time, I had the opportunity to do an internship in a high-level position at Amnesty International. However, I felt that this job didn’t align with my long-term goals. I am looking for a more dynamic environment where I can contribute to technological developments, because I believe that politics and legislation should move in that direction. That’s why I chose this master’s programme.”

 

Why did you choose this programme?
“I did my bachelor in European Studies in Maastricht. During that time, I also did an internship at the European Parliament. This is when I realised that I have a strong interest in policymaking and how this is influenced and shaped by lobbying. This master’s programme offers me a theoretical and practical approach to public affairs together with another possibility for an internship in the fourth period.
Honestly, I was looking to go to Amsterdam or Leiden. However, along the way, I have met a lot of European Public Affairs alumni. Some of them work for the European Parliament, in other institutions or in the corporate world. They were all so enthusiastic about the opportunities the programme offers. After some research, it became clear that Maastricht is the right place for me for this next step.”
 

Why did you decide to choose this master’s programme?
“I chose this master's programme because of my academic background. I completed my bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences at Erasmus College in Rotterdam, which provided a broad and interdisciplinary education, with courses in sociology, business, and philosophy. For my Master's, I sought a programme that allowed for specialisation and exploration across various research areas within Arts and Sciences. The Cultures of Arts, Sciences, and Technology programme was the perfect fit for me. What particularly appeals to me is the programmes approach, which starts by addressing societal urgencies and then delves into these topics from various disciplinary perspectives, including philosophy, history, and sociology.”