Choosing a study abroad: 'It never really occured to me that studying abroad was a possibility'

Thinking ahead

'Initially, it never really occurred to me that studying abroad was a possibility. In coming from a small, rural area, the set path after secondary school would be either going to a university somewhere in Ireland to achieve third level education or taking up a trade such as plumber or an electrician and paving your life that way. For me, I knew that I definitely wanted to go down the academic route so studying in Ireland was what I had set my horizons on up until this point.'

Day zero

'I attended a fair for my school where various universities and other organisations which we could use after we finish our education were present. I went to this fair to have a look at my options for universities in Ireland, but while there I noticed a stand for studying in Europe. I was reluctant at first, but my mom gave me the push to go and talk to them and from there the path was set. I pretty much decided in that evening that I was going to study in Europe and the next step was to establish whereabouts. Since I already knew the course I wanted to follow, the only thing I had to do was pick where to do it. At this time, there was only one institute I could find who offered a course in the field of Human Resources and a few short months later I began my first year - at Tilburg University!'

Clean slate

'It did not take long for me to realise that this was not the course for me. Despite the fact that it was a wonderful organisation, in Dutch research Universities they tend to take a much more theoretical approach to the subject and this just was not where my strengths lay. After a few months of thinking, aided by the coronavirus outbreak, I made the decision to leave the university and go back to the drawing board. The idea of a University of Applied Sciences struck me as something which would suit me much better – which I think is very important when deciding what kind of institution to attend. Universities of Applied Sciences take a much more practical approach and, in my own experience, teach you how to do the job rather than teach you how to learn about the job as I’ve found in the alternative establishment.

I began at Saxion in 2020 and have had a wonderful time since. Aside from the pandemic, which no doubt put a damper on the lives of everyone since it began, my experience in Enschede has been invaluable. Expanding my friendship network with the countless international students rowing a similar boat, starting a new chapter in my academic career and learning more things about myself and who I am as an individual as time goes on are just some of the key highlights I‘ve found since the path I’m following brought me here.'

What about you?

'In order to find the ways to pave the correct path for you, the reader, it’s important to take into account all the tools you’ve got in your inventory. Maybe you’ve got strengths which point you more towards the theoretical, university path? Or maybe the idea of a more practical approach fits you better? Whatever it may be, I can say from personal experience that to take this into account can be indispensable. If you’d like to explore more of what Saxion has to offer, please have a look at the Digital Discovery Days and pop by to explore and ask some questions!'