What to

study?

It's difficult for many scholars to choose 'the right' study.

Studyfinder.nl is a handy website that has information of more than 2,000 international programmes in the Netherlands, providing short descriptions of a course, the institution, the admission requirements and contact details. But always double check the information with the university's original website as well.

STUDYFINDER

Students-for-students platforms, digital open days, or webinars

Get yourself a better impression about what universities can offer, by considering the following options:

After Covid-19 struck the world, universities have digitialized their open days, during which students who are interested get the chance to chat with a teacher, follow a digital lesson, or get study advice. Some universities even organize speed datings as one of the ways through which they try to provide information, aiming to bring some atmosphere across.
Universities do their utmost to showcase their university by letting their own students post video's about the education they follow. And in some cases, students by their own initiative have unified forces through web-platforms in which prospective students can get linked directly to current students to get more information about the study they would like to do: a kind of LinkedIn, not for professionals but for prospective students.

Other options

Do a career test. Sometimes these test are freely available online.
Get yourself an in-the-workplace-impression. This may give you a better idea of how a profession of your interest works out in reality. Find someone in your network who wants to show you around at his/her work for a day.

When choosing is difficult...

Check the IKIGAI model!
It very practically shows the balance between:

doing what you love
doing what you are good at
that which you can be paid for
what the world needs

The combination of these four factors form the reason for which you want to wake up every day 🙂

Make a future picture

Make a future picture of your life by asking yourself:

"What do I want to achieve with my study?"
"Do I want to return to my home country after my study?"
"How can I make a difference in this world?"

See how your study choice fits into your future vision. Having a clear picture of your passion also helps you writing a better Letter of Motivation later in the process.

Discuss your 'IKIGAI' with someone else

IKIGAI is a Japanese concept that helps to find the "reason we want to wake up in the morning". Sometimes we are not aware of the qualities that others see in us. Discussing your IKIGAI with someone who knows you well, may bring valuable insights to the surface, that you can use as input for decisions for your future.

Liberal Arts & Sciences

If you don't know what to study yet, the programme 'Liberal Arts & Sciences' might be an appealing option to you.

It is an interdisciplinary programme that helps you broaden your horizon and gives you 3 years time to think about the major that you want to choose after you have gained your Bachelor-degree.

Another benefit is that most programmes are offered a residential setting (depending on the institution, please check), which means it's like living at a boarding school. So you don't have to worry about housing and because you live in a community, you can easily form long lasting friendships.