My name is Saskia Sanders and I come from Switzerland. Before I started with the Master’s programme Human Geography I did a Bachelor's in Geography at the University of Zurich (Switzerland), where I grew up. I started looking around for Masters outside Switzerland, because the Bologna process makes it possible that you can change university relatively easy between the two degrees. I thought studying at the UvA would be a great opportunity to find not only a Master’s that really suited my interests, but also to spend a year in another city. In order to choose a programme, I looked into the course outlines and the fields of research of the lecturers of different universities and programmes. I found that the Master’s programme in Human Geography at the UvA covered most of the topics I wanted to pursue. Of course, the fact that it is located in Amsterdam was a great plus too!

'I would recommend...'

I would recommend to closely look into the course outlines, think about which courses you want to choose and whether this would satisfy you. It was a good experience for me, because I knew which themes I wanted to pursue and I was very satisfied with each course I chose. Almost all courses provide the opportunity to enlarge upon a topic of your choice through writing an individual paper or holding a presentation.

'I find the atmosphere among students very enjoyable'

But of course, content is not the only thing, studying is only fun if the people, atmosphere, facilities, etc. are good as well. In this regard I would say that you do not need to worry at all if you come to the UvA. I found the atmosphere among students very enjoyable and also the lecturers are very approachable and helpful. Moreover, the facilities, especially for international students are very good. The fact that you can get a room via UvA is helpful – do make use of it, even if you have to pay a fee.

I wrote my Master’s thesis on sustainable clothing brands.  Even though no one in the department has done research in this field, I was very satisfied with my supervisor who was supportive and open for discussions without intervening in “my project”.