Nadejda Michtalova
Dealing with a completely new way of studying the subjects you’re passionate about can be a challenge, but when it means you get given a huge range of opportunities, a taste of the real world and inspiration for where you see yourself living, then it makes studying a particular degree irresistible, right? For Nadejda Michtalovla it’s meant European Studies was exactly the right choice.
“I’ve long known I wanted to study abroad, and once I’d figured out what I wanted to study, an agency recommended NHL Stenden. It's common in Bulgaria, where I come from, to use agencies to help with university applications. They advise on both the subjects you can take and where you can do the degree that’s right for you. A significant factor for me was that I wanted to try a hands-on approach to education. My entire high school experience had been research-based and I wanted something different. And my passion for history, politics and diplomacy meant European Studies was a natural fit.”
Becoming more flexible
“The first project we did in the first term of my first year is probably the most memorable. We had to create the European Union from scratch. It felt odd as I barely knew the institutions and how they functioned, but that’s where the knowledge classes come in. They provide the background info you need to make a project work. It can take a little time to get used to this approach (it's part of what NHL Stenden calls design-based education), but learning to adjust to the method is what made me really like it. I still sometimes wonder how certain classes can help with the project topics they’re coupled with, but in the end, it always makes sense. I've found that it's increased my flexibility in the academic field and my way of thinking, and shown me what I could be doing in the professional field.”
“That’s probably my favourite thing about European Studies: through the different projects we work on, we get given a wide scope of opportunities. We go through the different stages of policymaking, write journalistic pieces, try out lobbying, develop our debating and presenting skills, and so much more. It’s given me a reality check about what I like to do and am passionate about. I might have changed my career orientation at least ten times since I started my degree, but I’ve never felt the need to change my bachelor’s.”
Falling for Brussels
“Although I’m still not sure exactly which direction I want to go in, I’ve got a good idea of where I want to be. It comes from what I think was the best experience in the programme so far: our field trip to Brussels. I absolutely fell in love with the city and it was amazing that we got such incredible tours of the institutions by professionals. As a class, it was an extremely bonding experience, and for me personally, it helped me decide that I really want to do my internship there. And who knows, maybe I’ll end up living there too.”
Get more information about European Studies on the programme page.