Karishma Hiro Ramchand, Portugal

Why Groningen?

I grew up in big cities and had never really considered some smaller ones but after some searching, I came across Groningen. In general, I was really set on moving to the Netherlands. Aside from the yummy Stroopwafels, frites en fritessaus, appeltart, and poffertjes, the Netherlands is also a very open and liberal country with a great economy. The language is a somewhat approachable language, but you can easily get around without speaking Dutch. Once I had set my mind on this, I did a little bit of research and came across Groningen and saw that it would be the perfect place for me to start my next chapter in life and let me tell you it did not disappoint me!

Groningen is the perfect student city. The city is small and gives off more of a town like vibe. When you walk/bike though the old-century streets you can see that each nook and cranny has its own story to tell. Also, there is a certain unique energy in this city which is indescribable. The city is filled with students from all over the world making it a great place to make some lifelong friends and expand your horizons by meeting people with different perspectives on life. If you love the outdoors then you can also find luscious parks, cycle paths, markets, cute little stores, and if you are looking for a bit more fun there are a bunch of bars (and unlike in other cities, the bars have no closing times, so the party doesn’t end until you leave) as well as many restaurants. While the city is small there is always something to do or some sort of event happening so I can assure you that will not get bored.

If you do decide to come to Groningen, you will end up making some of the best memories (apart from your academic achievements) and it will become your home away from home before you know it.

Why the University of Groningen?

The University of Groningen is one of the oldest and highest-ranking research universities worldwide. However, one of my main reasons of applying here was the programme I wanted to follow. The economics programme was not purely focused on economics and gave me a wide range of options for my future. The bachelor allowed us to specialize in the second year and offered the opportunity to go abroad for a semester. Additionally, I got to follow up my bachelor programme with the master’s degree which was a nice transition. Apart from just academics the university also provided many opportunities to expand my skills. This was quite important for me as I am quite a proactive person. There are opportunities to become a mentor, teaching assistant or join the prestigious honours college which enables students to become more competitive candidates for future employment opportunities.

Biography

Hi! My name is Karishma Hiro Ramchand. I am 23 years old. I am ethnically Indian; however, I was born in Lisbon, Portugal and lived there for a few years before moving to Dubai, U.A.E. I completed my BSc Economics and Business Economics with a specialization in International Economics and Business Economics here in the University of Groningen. I cannot forget to mention that I also received the opportunity to go on an exchange semester during the final year of my bachelor in Xi’an China which was an enriching experience. I went on to follow the MSc Economic Development and Globalization which I will graduate from in July 2021.

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!