Dominic Kranholdt, Germany

Why the University of Groningen?

As a student of International Relations, I decided to study abroad. The University of Groningen (UG) staff convinced me during the master week with their expertise and good reputation. Being impressed by the flat hierarchy and the course programme International Political Economy, which can be individually tailored to your own needs, I decided to pursue my academic career at the UG. Additionally, as one of the Top 100 universities worldwide it has an excellent international reputation. Furthermore, the first President of the European Central Bank, Willem Duisenberg, the first woman who attended a Dutch university, Aletta Jacobs, and the Nobel prize winner Ben Feringa are alumni of the UG, which demonstrates that the UG is a highly diverse university with excellent research opportunities.

Groningen – the City of Talent

Groningen is not only a city for studying and connecting with other highly motivated and like-minded people, but it is also a place to live. One in four inhabitants is a student, which makes the city very dynamic and vibrant. Even if you are not able to communicate in Dutch, there are barely any language barriers due to the fact that almost everyone speaks (advanced) English. Therefore, I felt very well welcomed and integrated right from the beginning. However, you can take free Dutch courses at the University if you want to experience the Dutch culture even better. Besides that, Groningen offers several opportunities to realize your full potential. Ranging from a diverse nightlife to cultural, scientific and social events, you can truly say it is a City of Talent.

Biography

After finishing high school I took a gap year and moved to Australia and New Zealand to work and travel before starting my bachelor's in European Studies at the University of Passau. During my bachelor's, I studied Business Administration and Management in Spain for one year. In addition, I worked at the Goethe-Institute in Madrid. While pursuing a master's degree in International Political Economy, I worked in the economic affairs department at the Representation of Thuringia to the European Union in Brussels. Feeling the need to gain more practical experiences, I decided to do a second master's placement at the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations in New York City, which perfectly complemented my studies in Groningen. Within my course programme, I specialized in Trade, Investments, Sustainability, and European Policy-Making.