Which master did you take? And where?
I am currently studying for a Master’s degree in Communication and Influencing at Radboud University in Nijmegen.

Were there any admission requirements?
The only admission requirement is that you have obtained a Bachelor’s degree in CIW. It does not matter which university you obtained it from. Based on this, you can submit an application to the board of examiners for an admission declaration. The website clearly indicates how to do this: http://www.ru.nl/opleidingen/master/communicatie-en-beinvloeding/toelating/

Why did you choose this programme?
I have been to different master’s programmes in different cities. I really wanted to stay in Tilburg, but the master’s degree in Tilburg didn’t appeal enough to me to continue studying there. The Communication and Influencing master’s programme in Nijmegen, on the other hand, does. Within the master’s programme, as with the bachelor’s programme in Tilburg, you have the freedom to choose a certain specialisation. These relate to ‘Health Communication’, ‘Marketing Communication’ and ‘Organisation & Innovation’. You are not obliged to choose a certain direction, but if you follow 30 ECTS or more of the 60 ECTS to be obtained in a certain direction, this specialisation will be mentioned on your diploma. Furthermore, there are four compulsory subjects and a thesis, you have to follow one optional subject and there is the option to do an internship. You can do this instead of a professional project. I found the option of gaining practical experience very interesting, because it is difficult for me to determine what I can and want to do with it from a theoretical point of view. However, this practical experience is not only offered on the basis of an internship, but also through group assignments that are part of the compulsory subjects, with which you will draw up an advisory report for an existing company. You will then visit the company to ask what the wishes or shortcomings are and together with your group you will then come up with a suitable solution and finally present it to the company.

Which courses did you follow?
Communication, behaviour and influence: This involves, among other things, how we can influence the behaviour (health behaviour, traffic behaviour, behaviour in favour of the environment, purchasing behaviour, etc.) of people by means of communication
Data collection and analysis: Explanation about the different SPSS tests and how the output should be read and interpreted. Very handy for the thesis.
Fundamental research: Researching a certain form of communication (such as films or stories) that you eventually write an article about.
Communication, identity and reputation: These include communication strategies during a crisis, how companies can improve their reputation and which factors influence the reputation, the influence of CSR activities, how companies keep employees satisfied, etc.
Thesis: In the middle of it
Internship: Next year
Optional subject: Next year

Did you get a room there?
I didn’t get a room there because for the study especially, because I don’t live very far from Nijmegen. I really wanted to get a room myself, so I chose to do so voluntarily. Instead of Nijmegen I went to live in Arnhem and this is a great place to travel.

What was it like?
The content of the training so far is really good. The master’s degree certainly fits in well with the bachelor’s degree CIW in Tilburg and I didn’t feel for a moment that I was lagging behind the students who had followed the bachelor’s degree in Nijmegen. I also had very nice teachers who, despite the large number of students, always gave me a quick response to questions and help when needed.

Was it difficult to switch over?
I didn’t really have to get used to the content and layout of the courses. A university in a new city has also been very easy for me. What I did have to get used to was the difference between the bachelor and master in the amount of work that was planned each week. It was a tough time and it is therefore important to keep track of everything from the start in order to avoid stress just before the exams. If you do this, then the exams and assignments are certainly doable.

Did you know anyone else who also followed this master’s programme?
I didn’t know anyone who had followed or was going to follow this master’s programme. This is, of course, a pity at first, but it should certainly not be a reason not to choose a course. In the end, you always get to know new people, and that was the case now as well. In addition, you can travel anywhere with your public transport and it’s extra fun when you see your friends from Tilburg again.