Krystyna in Amsterdam

As a law student in Donetsk, east Ukraine, Krystyna Bakhtina wrote her second-year thesis about the European Union, where she developed a deep interest in European law. When she heard about the opportunity to obtain a Master's in European and International Law at the University of Amsterdam, she jumped at the chance.

Think for yourself

'What I like about the education style at the University of Amsterdam is the students’ autonomy. You are taught to think for yourself, rather than repeat what the professor has told you. It is good to be stimulated to think out of the box. And the level of education at the UvA is high, so that when you complete the programme, you are prepared for working in an EU context.’

Apart from gaining broad knowledge about EU operations, Krystyna also acquired practical skills, such as planning ahead. ‘Especially when it is time to start working on your final thesis and preparing for the exams, you really have to pay attention to deadlines.'

Extracurricular activities

One important piece of advice Krystyna would like to give future students is to actively seek out relevant extracurricular activities. 'I visited the United Nations offices and the International Labour Organization in Geneva on a students’ association trip, and there was a trip to EU institutions in Brussels as part of the European Competition Law course. These trips offer valuable additional insights. I think it is important for students to learn about practical applications of what they’ve learned. Look for traineeships, ask the professors of your favourite courses if you can help them out with research, or do some work for an NGO.'

Krystyna worked for two NGOs during the year of her master's studies. 'These days, it’s not always easy to find a good job - even for a law school graduate. So it definitely helps  to show that you know how to apply what you’ve learned.'