Anouk Roeling

What was important in making up your mind?
It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do after IBCoM, but I wanted to make sure that it would follow up on the international and critical perspective that IBCoM taught me. I wanted to choose a programme that would line up well with my ambitions to become a journalist.

What made you decide to choose for this master?
As I mentioned before, during IBCoM I did not really have a clear idea what master I wanted to do. Luckily, the flexibility in the IBCoM curriculum provided me with the opportunity to explore other areas besides communication and media. Besides following courses from History and Business Communication, I also took a minor in sociology in the area of development studies. I got so enthusiastic and inspired by this, that I decided to continue my studies in sociology.

How would you describe the connection between IBCoM and your master?
The courses in IBCoM teach you a lot more than just media and communication. It teaches you to take a step beyond the status quo and to think critically about developments we see in society. This line of thinking is something that proves to be very useful in this Master.

How would you describe your master?
The programme Sociology: Urban Studies is mostly about life in cities. We learn a lot about social divisions and spatial design, but also about the role of the economy in cities. In addition, we also study the role of cities on the global level. Besides these core courses, it is also possible to choose electives. In my case, I chose a course on Modern Families for example, in which we study the dynamics of families within different societies.     

In hindsight, what would you have liked to know before, what you know now?
Not that much to be honest. But to give a piece of advice, make sure you chose your electives wisely. They can be a very valuable asset in exploring what you like as well as preparing you for a master that does not follow up on communication and media for the full 100%