Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences | Bachelor Global Studies

Historical Grievances in the Headlines: Analysing US Newspaper Portrayals of Canada’s Indigenous Residential School Discussions (2015-2021)

Lee-Ann's elevator pitch
How do media reflect societal discussions on reconciliation and historical accountability in countries like Canada and the United States, where residential schools tasked with “assimilating” Indigenous children in the 19th and 20th centuries caused ongoing historical harms? 
This study examined how US mainstream and Indigenous newspapers framed Canada's  discussions on this topic. While the findings reflected important nuances, the research revealed an important tension: 
mainstream media often privileged more narrow understandings of Indigenous-settler reconciliation, centering on the role of national institutions, whereas Indigenous outlets tended to situate reconciliation in the wider context of settler-colonial history and Indigenous rights. The study underlines the media's crucial role in influencing how people understand historical grievances, even beyond borders.

  Faculty of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences | Bachelor Gezondheidswetenschappen/Health Sciences

Responses of Significant Others and Their Impact on Pain and Quality of Life in Spinal Cord Injury: A Cross-Sectional Study

Sara's elevator pitch
Chronic pain affects over 65% of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), significantly reducing their quality of life (QoL). This study investigated whether perceived responses from significant others - negative, solicitous, or distracting - mediate the relationship between pain severity and QoL in 115 individuals with SCI-related chronic pain. This study found that partner responses correlate with increased pain and lower QoL but do not mediate their relationship. This highlights the direct impact of pain on QoL and emphasizes the need for tailored interventions addressing both pain management and partner dynamics.

  Faculty of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences | Bachelor Geneeskunde/ Medicine

Anna-Lucia's elevator pitch
In the Bachelor in Medicine, we don’t write a thesis in the third year. Instead, we put our theory into practice in patient contacts. I’ve seen myself grow both on an academic and personal level the past few years. I’ve gained more confidence in myself and my capabilities, both through my studies and my time as an Honours student, studying the effect of animal-assisted mindfulness on the well-being of students. Thanks to the Honours Programme and my contact with psychiatric patients in the third year, I know now what I want to do in the future: I want to contribute to research suggesting alternative approaches to combat mental illnesses and to make mental health care more humane.

  School of Business and Economics | Bachelor Fiscal Economics

The influence of the inheritance tax on economic dynamics

Laura's elevator pitch
The inheritance tax is a widely debated fiscal tool aimed at redistributing wealth and promoting equity. My thesis analyzes its influence on economic dynamics, focusing on its effects on individual behaviors, wealth accumulation, and societal fairness. While the tax aims to foster equal opportunities, design flaws - such as loopholes exploited by the wealthy - undermine its effectiveness, shifting tax burdens to the middle class and diminishing economic growth. By examining studies on both positive and negative impacts, this thesis emphasizes the need to reform inheritance tax frameworks to better balance fairness, economic efficiency, and wealth redistribution.

  Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences | Bachelor European Studies

Suburban Soundscapes: the Art of Resistance in the Parisian Banlieues

Alice's elevator pitch
What role does culture play in contesting structures of inequality? My thesis on urban resistance in Paris explores this very question. The city of Paris is marked by segregation between the city centre and its suburbs, the banlieues. These neighbourhoods have long been stigmatized as sites of crime and poverty, which legitimized institutional measures such as excessive surveillance and unequal resource allocation. Within these structural barriers, cultural production, particularly hip-hop, emerged as a powerful tool for residents to challenge stereotypes and reframe their identities. From here, I examined how the residents of the Parisian banlieues resist institutional stigma, in order for them to assert their agency against spatial and social marginality. Informed by postmodern scholarship and Rivke Jaffe’s work, the lyric analysis revealed the remarkably empowering role of cultural production. Through music, residents resist their isolation by promoting alternative narratives that transcend structural constraints, achieving international connectivity.

  Faculty of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences | Bachelor European Public Health

Improving Fertility Preservation for Male Cancer Patients: A Scoping Review of Barriers and Facilitators

Ariana's elevator pitch
Up to a third of men lose their fertility after cancer treatment, which negatively impacts their quality of life. Still, there is a significant underutilisation of fertility preservation despite recent advancements. My thesis provides an overview of research on factors influencing fertility preservation in male cancer patients, both from the patient and healthcare provider perspective. Using a theoretical framework, the results show a range of intersecting personal, environmental and clinical factors influencing patients' and providers' decision-making. Recommendations to overcome barriers include formalised care pathways and a multidisciplinary team, with the support of EU guidelines integrated within the EU cancer frameworks. 

  Faculty of Law | Bachelor European Law School

Shift in Protagonists: Collusion in the Pre vs Post-Algorithmic Market

Renata's elevator pitch
My research explores algorithmic collusion by examining its technical, economic, and legal dimensions. I argue that determining whether algorithmic collusion falls within the scope of Article 101 TFEU requires a reasonably detailed understanding of the underlying AI technology, mainly to understand the correlation between algorithmic behaviour and foreseeability. I also argue that a differentiation should be made between algorithmic collusion on what is considered a competitive versus an oligopolistic market, concluding that certain forms of algorithmic collusion in traditionally competitive markets could be encompassed by Article 101. My line of argumentation is also guided by my belief that competition law should be proactive, not just reactive, and thus ready to address emerging challenges.

  School of Business and Economics | Bachelor Economics and Business Economics

A Theory of Discrimination Induced Consumption

Alexander's elevator pitch
My thesis investigates the implications of discrimination (for example in the labor market) for group value and the consumption of conspicuous products among social groups. This is done by establishing a framework for which demand for a particular bundle of goods is dependent on the social position of distinct groups in society. A distinction is made between "identity preservation" and "identity switching". For both cases, theoretical results show that the seemingly inferior group in society consumes the conspicuous bundle more with the introduction of discrimination.

  School of Business and Economics | Bachelor Econometrics and Operations Research

Replicating Portfolios Using Convex Neural Networks

Kees's elevator pitch
Imagine trying to value or hedge a complex financial product, like one with non-linear payouts. Traditionally, this involves intricate calculations that can be time-consuming and error-prone. My thesis explores a novel solution: using machine learning and mathematics to create simplified portfolios of basic financial instruments, like call options, that can replicate these complex payouts. By combining neural networks and optimization techniques, I developed an algorithm that breaks the problem into smaller, manageable parts. This not only makes the process more accurate but also faster and more reliable for real-world financial applications. The approach could significantly enhance tools for traders, risk managers, and financial engineers, making financial markets more efficient and robust.

  Faculty of Law | Bachelor Dutch Law

Evaluatie en aanbevelingen voor het EU-cybersanctieregime: een focus op attributie binnen het Gemeenschappelijk Buitenlands en Veiligheidsbeleid

Shereen's elevator pitch
How can Europe better defend itself against the growing threat of cyberattacks? With increasing attacks from state and non-state actors targeting critical infrastructure, the European Union has implemented the EU Cyber Sanctions Regime. Designed to deter and respond to malicious cyber activities, the regime faces critical hurdles in attributing attacks to specific actors; a process complicated by fragmented intelligence, political roadblocks, and ambiguous legal standards. My research delves into these challenges, exploring how they undermine the regime’s effectiveness and proposing targeted improvements to enhance intelligence sharing, streamline decision-making, and clarify legal definitions. Strengthening this regime is not just about protecting Europe today, it is about shaping a safer digital future for generations to come.