International Bachelor Communication and Media

Why did you decide to study IBCoM?

I chose IBCoM due to the unique combination of both communication and media that make IBCoM a truly enticing program that encourages self-development and critical thinking in a variety of fields. Choosing IBCoM means that you are ready to follow an unabating academic path that provides a knowledgeable satisfaction in any following pursuits.

What do you find most interesting about IBCoM?

What I find most interesting is the learning approach that is used through many different outlets such as classic lectures, tutorials and seminars. Also, the structure of the programme itself that provides students with a chance to pursue an internship and go on exchange is quite different and appealing to me. However, the programme itself is filled with such interconnected and interesting courses that you truly have the feeling that IBCoM is a whole and not just a dispersed combination of courses.

What kind of struggles did you encounter and how did you dealt with them?

As an international student, the main challenge I thought I would face was integrating in the Dutch culture. Luckily the international environment at Erasmus eased my worries and incorporating myself in the social life was seamless. Any struggles that might appear along the way in IBCoM or generally Erasmus are almost unnoticeable thanks to the support provided by peers and staff.

Why did you decide to study IBCoM?

I chose IBCoM because it spoke to me in many ways, primarily because of the international environment. With truly international professors and mixed classrooms, the teaching offers so many transcending perspectives. The discussions we have are based on academic articles, which come to life during discussions. It really shows you how people have diverse perspectives, and I am learning so much from viewing the world in new ways.

What do you find most interesting about IBCoM?

Some of the moments I enjoy the most are when I walk out of a lecture full of new and wondering thoughts. IBCoM teaches you to have a critical perspective, meaning that what you learn exceeds the classroom and becomes a part of your daily thinking in life. It makes me reflect on and question things and use real-life examples in my assignments.

What kind of struggles did you encounter and how did you dealt with them?

I think one of the challenges to IBCoM is that it is so diverse. It is hard to define exactly how communication is used and how important it is, nonetheless, we all know it is a big part of human life. As I embraced more courses and met scholars, I see how many positions are offered to communication scholars and the many interesting and forceful assignments people can work with afterward. It makes me more certain that the field is valued, and that the degree can bring me many options with great potential.

IBCoM has already given me such options and taken me in an exciting direction, as I have been able to start an internship besides my studies in a consultancy firm. Later, I will be able to try this full-time since it is a part of the IBCoM curriculum too.

Finally, the city of Rotterdam supports the international spirit and offers creative people many outlooks. For me, moving abroad also meant exploring more things and places on a daily basis, without it being limited to traveling, as Rotterdam has excellent art museums and vibrant places to go.

A few years before starting my studies at Erasmus University, I visited Rotterdam with my family during my summer break. The city immediately captured my heart: so vibrant yet relaxing, so thrilling yet peaceful. Moreover, experiencing the Woudestein campus and its facilities was unique, since not every university in the Netherlands has a private campus! After that summer break, I instantly got the impression that this is where I want to start the next chapter of my life.

Interdisciplinair 

What I appreciate about the International Bachelor Communication and Media is its interdisciplinarity. It covers various fields of study, which is helpful towards determining career paths. During my first year, I discovered that I want to pursue a career in journalism. I joined IBCoM not being certain about my career goals, so I am thankful that the bachelor assisted me in making my choices.

IBCoMpanion programme

Given the fact that I have never lived abroad prior to moving to Rotterdam, settling in and making friends was quite a challenge. I was unsure about how to spend my time besides studying. Nonetheless, IBCoM truly puts in effort to ensure that incoming students engage with their environment and immerse themselves in studying and socializing. One example is the IBCoMpanion programme, in which second-year IBCoM students’ mentor first-year students, share their study experiences, and organise events aimed at inclusivity of the first-year IBCoM students. It was an incredibly helpful experience and so entertaining to the point that as a second-year student, I am an IBCoMpanion myself!

After visiting Rotterdam for the first time, I immediately knew that I wanted to study there. Being from a small town in Germany, the international atmosphere about Rotterdam was something I also wanted to reflect on in my study choice. It then didn’t take long for me to discover and go for the International Bachelor Communication and Media. It connects an international environment with a diverse curriculum that enables me to get insights into various career paths.

Nowadays, I have friends from all over the globe, which is helpful for my personal life, but I also believe that I can benefit from it career-wise. As my fellow students are also future colleagues, the study helps to develop a diverse and extended network. This is supported by the internship and the student exchange, which are also both part of the study and help you further familiarize yourself with topics of your preference. The favourite part about this study program is that it allows you to go into many different directions in the future. Which means that you can decide during your studies what the right career path for yourself personally is.

It is also important to mention that living abroad and in an international environment can be overwhelming at the start if you have never done so before. Cultural differences can lead to unknown situations, which require adaptation, respect and experience. However, this is also part of being an international student and building your own character, which is why I think IBCoM offers the perfect foundation for personal growth.

For me, the International Bachelor Communication and Media for me was an unexpected choice. I heard about the program through a friend, and I signed up for an Open Day after researching the curriculum a bit. After attending the lectures and talking to students I was fully convinced that IBCoM was the perfect study for me. From that point forward I’ve given IBCoM my full attention.

One of the most interesting parts of IBCoM for me is the agency granted to students when it comes to their course selection procedure. And the ability to delve into many institutional fields such as business, politics, and entertainment. Students who have an affinity for media and communication are bound to be a match with this program, as they can fully immerse themselves in how these fields interact with other fields.

One of the many lessons IBCoM has taught me is to how to be adaptable to change. Once the program starts you will start a constant process of change; you will have new ideas, beliefs, and habits. Once you reach the second year of IBCoM your academic and professional career will start to flourish in ways you didn’t even consider. Your determination and motivation will guide you to new extremes while creating irreplaceable memories with your international classmates.

After spending my gap year travelling and meeting new people from different backgrounds, I wanted to remain that international environment during my studies. When first visiting the Woudestein campus I already felt that the international spirit advertised towards the outside was readily recognizable towards the insight. Afterwards, it did not take me long to realize that the international Bachelor Communication and Media fulfilled all the expectation I had.

Not only does IBCoM offer a very diverse curriculum which allows you to explore a broad range of fields and career paths, but it also encourages you to follow your personal interests by choosing your own Focus Areas. I look forward to putting the theory I learned thus far into practice during the internship and expanding my horizon by making new friends and being part of new experiences during the exchange.

Aside the academics, learning with and from people from all over the world while being accommodated with openness, tolerance, and helpfulness, is what makes being part of the IBCoMmunity truly exciting! As an international student myself, I know how overwhelming it can be to start your studies abroad.

Especially since I started my studies during the pandemic, I was worried about my academic performance and not being able to settle down in Rotterdam. Looking back this concern was unjustified. Through the support and efforts from EUR as well as my fellow students I quickly felt comfortable and confident, at the university as well as in my personal life!