Testimonials
Do you want to know how our current and former students experience the programme? Then check out the interviews and videos with Thom, Leanne, Marcel, and Charlotte.
Thom Bravenboer (he/him) is a student
"I think the work pressure in the programme is very well balanced. There's a nice balance between how much time we have to spend in class with seminars and lectures and how much time we get to spend studying on our own."
Leanne van Kampen (they/them) works at the public library
"Ever since I was a kid, I have loved books and the English language. My dad and I would have this little tradition of him asking me simple questions and me responding in English to build my language skills."
"When the time came to choose a post-secondary education, English Language and Culture thus felt like a natural choice."
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Progression
"The workload of English Language and Culture builds up in a nice, steady way. During the first year, you start off with the basics, such as learning how to write an academic paper. As you progress throughout the programme, you are assigned longer, more complex papers. Still, I had enough freedom for a life outside of my studies. For instance, I did a board year at study association Albion. After all, one of the best things about studying at Utrecht University is the freedom to explore what Utrecht has to offer, both as a university and a city!"
Freedom
"Doing this degree taught me that although I love learning, I am not interested in pursuing academic research. I currently work at the public library and I’m not sure yet what my next step will be. At some point, I would like to work in the field of cultural heritage, but right now, I’m enjoying my freedom."
Marcel Withoos is a junior PR adviser
"While doing my Master’s degree in Intercultural Communication, I participated in the EUROCAMPUS programme as part of the European Master in Intercultural Communication (EMICC) in Coimbra."
"It was an amazing experience: being in an English-speaking environment, with people from 11 different countries, really brought an extra dimension to my Master’s degree."
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Internship
"But when I got back from Portugal, I had no job and no money for six months. After I wrote my thesis and spent some time worrying about finding a job, I ended up doing a work experience internship at an international PR firm. Jobs weren’t exactly growing on trees at the time, and I didn’t want to take a step back to a job that wasn’t a good fit with my degree. Then, what I’d been hoping for happened: after a three-month internship the firm offered me a job."
PR
"Now I work as an Account Executive or junior PR adviser doing interesting and diverse projects. I provide materials and events for new medicine or product launches for companies in the healthcare sector and big consumer brands. I can be writing a press release about a new beer bottle one day and giving interviews about a new medicine the next, all with the goal of getting the press to pick up my stories."
Charlotte Aarnoudse (she/her) is a student
"What do I want to do in the future? What did I like most in secondary school? The answer to both questions was languages. I chose English because it’s such a rich language with so many accents, varieties, and dialects."
"What struck me while visiting Utrecht University’s Open Days is how much I loved the atmosphere. Utrecht University is a big institution with many students, but it felt very personal as well."
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Theoretical and practical
"One thing that I appreciate about English Language and Culture is the focus on combining the theoretical with the practical. During one course, for instance, we had to perform research regarding different accents/idioms/pronunciations. Part of our research entailed visiting a secondary school and exploring our topic, which I really liked. The contact with our teachers is also very personal, mainly because English is a smaller Bachelor’s programme."
Personal growth
"So far, this degree has taught me that I am far more capable than I used to think. I see a lot of personal growth and a massive confidence boost during these past few years. For instance, I followed an educational minor during my studies, while I would not have dared to pursue teaching before. After finishing this degree, I want to enrol in a Master’s Professioneel Vertalen. My goal is to become a part time English teacher and part time translator!"
Mar Luijckx (they/them) is a student
"When I was in high school, I loved English classes on books and theatre plays. While I had always liked reading, I really discovered my interest in literature during those classes."
"After graduation, I wanted to study either Literary Studies or English Language and Culture. As I wanted to learn more about linguistics instead of solely literature, I ultimately applied to the latter."
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Customization
"Over the past years, I have found that the degree’s workload is doable but not easy. There is time for some extracurricular activities, but working next to studying is hard for me. The good thing is that the programme is very customizable, so there’s much space for you to choose your courses and when you’ll take them. You can always reach out to the study advisor in case you need some advice."
Personal interests
"One of my favorite things about Utrecht University is the number of fascinating (elective) courses. I took a course called Creative Writing, which taught me a whole lot about fictional works. I also followed the course Book and Film. Modern and Historical Narratives in Dutch and International Screen Adaptations, that focused on the process of transforming literature into movies. I even took a course from the Celtic Languages and Culture programme (From Táin to Tolkien and Beyond) during which we went to the Utrecht Science Park to see real letters written by author J.R.R Tolkien. You are truly free to explore your own interests."