Celine Buri, Germany

Why Groningen?

20% of the students at RUG are Internationals! People come to study in this vibrant student city from all over the world, so don’t worry, you won’t feel alone. There are countless of student associations for every possible interest. ESN Groningen offers an introduction week for new international students and events throughout the year. But you can also join the study association of your programme or ACLO, the university-owned sports center, to participate in interesting events, trips and to meet new friends from the Netherlands or somewhere else.

The university offers free Dutch courses for international students, which makes it easier to connect with the locals (apply early though, everyone wants in). However, almost everyone is fluent in English, so you will feel at home right away.

If all of that is not enough for you, you can enjoy the dynamic social life in the city. Groningen is a typical student city with a lot to offer, from museums to the huge number of cafés, bars and parks to take a break from studying.

Why the University of Groningen?

For me personally, it was a no-brainer to apply for a programme at RUG (that’s how most students call the university here). After I finished my bachelor’s degree in Germany, I gained some practical work experience. During that time, I realized that I only wanted to pursue a master’s degree that would significantly improve my professional skills and really fit my personal interests and goals. While writing my bachelor thesis, I noticed that a lot of research in the area I set my focus on came from Groningen. Studying at a department with excellent international reputation and learning state-of-the-art knowledge would be a big step in reaching my goal – so I applied and not even 4 weeks later I was accepted.

Since then, I had an enriching and exciting journey in Groningen. The flat hierarchies really help creating an interesting learning environment and professors are always happy to help when you have questions. On top of that, the university offers a lot of help and support throughout your studies, from the application procedure to finding a job.

Biography

In my bachelor’s, I studied Business Administration with a focus on marketing and strategy at the University of Trier in Germany. Additionally, I gave tutoring to children with a migration background. Moreover, I had the opportunity to move to Dublin for a semester, where I realized that I wanted to spend more time studying abroad. After interning at a fashion multinational, I therefore found myself moving to the Netherlands to start my master’s in Marketing Management as well as a whole new life.

If you have any questions about the application procedure, studying and living in Groningen or anything else, please feel free to contact me. I am happy to help!