Dina Ivarson, Norway

Groningen – a fun and international student city

I chose to apply for a spot in the International Bachelor of Medicine in Groningen (IBMG) after hearing about the university and the city from a friend from home who was already studying in Groningen. I was definitely not disappointed. Groningen is a lively and energetic student city where there’s always a lot going on. Given that approximately a quarter of the city’s inhabitants are students, other young people and their charming, old, almost-falling-apart bikes surround you wherever you go. The IBMG is only one out of the many studies that are taught in English, which has made the city popular among international students, and you’ll often hear people walking behind you on the street speaking English. Most Dutch people also speak English fluently, so you don’t have to worry about a language barrier. However, if you’re staying in Groningen for a while I’d definitely say it’s worth the effort to make use of the free Dutch language courses offered to all international students by the university. That way you can really feel part of the community as you buy your cheese and vegetables at one of the weekly food markets in the city center.

Why the University of Groningen

Besides being located in a great city, the university is highly acknowledged and scores well on international university rankings. The education you get is high quality, and there’s a lot of options and support available if you’d like to get involved with academic research. The university also cooperates with a big network of other universities, providing many exchange opportunities in Europe (via the Erasmus program) as well as in the rest of the world. If you have any questions regarding study choices or challenges you face during your studies, each faculty has study advisors available to help you. The teachers are also very friendly and approachable, which ensures that you can really get the most out of every lecture or study group.

Biography

Dina Mehus Ivarson was born in Stavanger, Norway, in 1993. She came to Groningen in 2012 to pursue a BSc and later a MSc in Medicine. During the school year of 2014-2015 she was a year representative for the IBMG, and after she became a master student she has worked as a tutor for the bachelor students. Since the fall of 2016 she’s doing internships at the Isala hospital in Zwolle and came back in Groningen for the last part of her studies in the spring of 2018. After finishing her studies she will continue her medical training as a medical intern either in the Netherlands or in Norway.