The end of my Bachelor’s programme is near, which means that the time has come to look for a Master’s programme. While I usually consider my broad interests a great thing, it turns me into a walking dilemma when having to make important life decisions. In order to make this decision easier, I have come up with an organised step-by-step plan. In this blog, I’ll share this with you in the hopes that it will help you too in choosing your Master’s.

Overview of your interests

Creating a list or a mind map of your various interests will help you make sense of which topics you would like to study. Think broadly and freely, do not constrain yourself to just the field of studies you are completing your Bachelor’s in. Write down anything that comes to mind, you can always erase it later after considering it.

Think of your why

Now that you have a list of your interests, think of why they made the cut. What makes a certain topic or field so interesting to you? Why is it relevant to you and your future career? The things we are most passionate about are the ones we can usually also motivate easily. Finding your why will then help you figure out which of the interests you’ve listed are more important to you. Making choices based on your passion will direct you to a Master’s programme that suits you and will bring you closer to a career you’ll enjoy.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

No need to panic here! It’s totally fine if you don’t have a clear-cut answer to this question just yet - neither do I! Thinking about where you see yourself in a few years can be helpful for determining which programme will suit you, though. For me, this is a programme that will allow me to be creative and to challenge myself to look beyond the discipline of my Bachelor’s programme. I know I’ll enjoy working in an interdisciplinary environment and I am therefore also looking into programmes outside of my current faculty.

Talk to current students

Current students are a great source of information when it comes to Master’s programmes. They can share their experience, tell you about the different courses and give you a good sense of what it would be like to attend the programme. I always find it helpful to ask current students why they chose their programme. Hearing their motivation for their choice gives me good insights into whether the programme aligns with what I’m looking for. This can be useful for introducing me to programmes I might not have considered yet or help me reconsider some of my current choices.

Attend the Online Master’s Week presentations

Our Master’s week has just started, so there’s still time for you to learn more about all of the programmes the UG offers and ask your questions! Take a look at the schedule and sign up for as many presentations as you’d like. For more information and registration, take a look at www.rug.nl/masterweek! Personally, I’m attending 10 presentations this week across three different faculties. You have nothing to lose here, and these presentations will most certainly clarify whether these programmes are the right ones for you.

I hope these tips help you in choosing your Master’s programme. Do you have any suggestions for how to make this choice? Share them with us in the comments below!