Ingrid Stefan

About Ingrid

I am Ingrid Stefan, a third-year Media Studies student and an aspiring journalist from Romania. When I’m not writing, reading, or researching - whether it’s for uni or UKrant - I love to pack my bags and travel as much and as far as possible. Actually, I’m almost constantly planning my next trip somewhere. I’m also a fashion enthusiast and enjoy going on a thrifting adventure every once in a while, whether it’s in Groningen, Amsterdam, or even the secondhands in Vienna. Though Groningen is great for thrifting and there are a lot of opportunities for rebranding yourself on a budget.

Why Media Studies?

I chose Media Studies because I knew I wanted to be a journalist since I was 16, and was looking for a programme that could provide training in that direction. What helped the most in choosing this programme was a mix of thorough research into the course catalogue and participation in a month-long event, in which I could experience bits and pieces of a course every week and do a short assignment. Given that I was still living in Romania, that provided a good glimpse of what Media Studies in Groningen feels like.

Why Groningen?

The main reason why is that the University of Groningen provided the only Media programme in the country with specialized learning tracks, including the Journalism one, which was my main interest within the broader media. Also, Groningen is cheaper than other cities in the Netherlands (at least the ones that have a Media programme) and it’s a vibrant place to be in.

Future

Now, I’m almost at the end of my studies, but great plans are ahead. After taking a gap year to travel and get some more hands-on experience in journalism, I plan to come back to the Netherlands for a Master’s degree, probably the Journalism one in Groningen too, because it’s also the only English one which is oriented towards practice and not just academic theory.

Golden Tip

If I were to recommend something, it’s to get involved in activities relating to your studies of interest before deciding on it, ask questions and don’t be afraid of trying it out! Media is a very broad topic and within this programme you get the chance to gain an overview of it while also experimenting with more niche industries, like journalism or audiovisual culture, so that you can choose further on.