Student Profiles

Current student profiles  

Eleonora Gajdosova, second-year BA European Studies and Modern Languages student

I chose to study at Essex because it ranks highly in the fields of European culture and history. Moreover, the modern language teachers are all native speakers or bilingual so the quality of the teaching is extremely high. I wanted to strengthen my English skills, experience studying abroad and gain an international perspective on European affairs.  

As my course is interdisciplinary, I have the advantage of being able to choose modules from a wide range of different areas. My language modules are highly interactive which gives everybody in class the opportunity to improve their oral skills. I have found my sociology modules really interesting as they incorporate elements of immigration, ethnicity and citizenship. These modules have helped me realise that I would like to pursue a Masters degree in this field.  

Being president of the Czechoslovak Society has enhanced my public speaking skills and given me the confidence to try new things. My friends and I were founding members of the Society as we wanted to unify students from both countries and enjoy our respective cultures here at Essex.

Oliver Butts, third-year BA European Studies student  

I chose to study at Essex because of its excellent academic reputation and the great variety of modules on offer. The prospect of a year abroad in Europe was incredibly alluring and was fundamental in my decision to choose BA European Studies. Settling into life at Essex was very easy, especially after moving in with several new flat-mates and joining sports clubs and societies during Freshers’ Week. Academically, the staff put in a lot of effort to help students acclimatise and progress. I believe any student who shows a real interest in their subject will be taken great care of by the Centre. I have also been able to study a wide range of modules and in particular the politics and history ones have been really interesting. I am sure a career that enables me to travel within Europe and allows me to keep in touch with modern political developments is exactly what I’m after and I believe my degree from Essex will be able to provide me with the skills and experiences that I need.

Maria Lindelien, third-year BA European Studies with Politics student  

Coming to Essex has been a great decision! It’s offered exactly the right modules and subject areas I wanted to study and the compact, friendly campus is excellent. Settling in was surprisingly very easy and I have enjoyed every year so far. Academically, I have coped well and even though the subjects I am studying are varied and interdisciplinary, I am very happy with how I have progressed. I am going to Madrid very soon to study abroad and I’m really looking forward to it; I’m sure it will be an amazing experience!

Graduate student profiles  

Mirjam Moll, BA European Studies with Modern Languages ’09

After graduating, Mirjam moved to the Netherlands to study MA European Studies, with a focus on international relations, at the University of Maastricht.  

I chose to study at Essex because it offered a flexible course that allowed me to study more than one modern language. It also had an excellent reputation for both languages and politics.

Academically, I found my lecturers to be extremely encouraging and helpful. The course was really tailored towards my way of studying and I was able to take modules that interested me. It was possible for me to study both French and Italian alongside each other, which I found exciting and diverse.  

Another aspect of my course that I found really rewarding was my year abroad, which I spent in Paris. It really helped me put my language skills into practice and enabled me to learn about a different culture. Overall, I really gained a lot from my time at university and am proud to say that I was a student at Essex.

Marie Denninghaus, BA European Studies ’09  

I chose Essex because I liked the course and it offered a lot of flexibility. The Colchester Campus is also conveniently close to Stansted Airport and London. Settling in was much easier than I thought it would be, especially socially because you make so many new friends even within the first week. Our course coordinator knew every single one of us personally and I received lots of help and support from the staff.

I have just completed my Masters at UCL and will shortly be starting a traineeship with the European Commission, Directorate-General for Education and Culture. My degree will be highly relevant for this and I am sure that I managed to secure this traineeship because of my academic background in European studies. Another important factor are the language skills that I acquired during my studies and my year abroad in France, which are very valuable now that I am applying for jobs.  

The people that I met and the friendships that I made will always remind me of my time at Essex; both academically and socially Essex was exactly the right choice for me.

Liisi Vahtramäe, BA European Studies with Spanish ’10  

I chose to study at the University of Essex because of its high academic achievements and excellent international reputation. Settling into a new way of life was easy for me both socially and academically. Living in the Towers gave me excellent opportunity to meet lots of new people and make lifelong friends. The lecturers within the Centre were very helpful and friendly. They always supported me with any problems and continued to advise me during my year abroad in Spain.  

Knowing a language is a very useful skill and enhances your career options. I have not decided yet if I would like to be a diplomat or translator but in both cases knowing foreign languages is essential. The year abroad in Spain also broadened my mind and improved my communication skills.  

Directly after graduating I started a month-long internship at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Estonia. I have recently applied to the Estonian School of Diplomacy and for a position as a translator in the European Parliament where the requirements include having the knowledge of three European Union languages and a passion for Europe, which my degree in European studies has provided me with.

Study abroad profile  

Elina Praakel, fourth-year BA European Studies with German student  

On her year abroad, Elina studied in Germany at the University of Trier. She has since returned to Essex where she will complete her degree.

I wanted to study at a university which offered a high-level of education and was close to London. Essex was perfect for both of these requirements. I found getting used to the university life to be quite easy as it was not hard to meet new people and make friends. The best way to settle in was definitely to join different societies and be active. One of my favourite modules I have taken so far has been the History of the Cold War. The modules I have taken on politics and languages will also be particularly useful for a future career.  

I spent my third year abroad at the University of Trier in the West of German and I had a great time. I studied several different and interesting modules and even got a chance to study some subject areas which I wouldn’t have been able to at Essex. I travelled a lot in Germany, France, Luxemburg and Belgium and met a lot of new people with whom I am still good friends with today. I spent a whole year in Germany and it gave me a great chance to practice my German language skills and I was able to immerse myself in the German culture and lifestyle. I lived on campus accommodation which was just a ten minute walk from the university. My accommodation was also in a perfect position, located on a green hill with excellent views.  

Being on a year abroad is definitely an excellent opportunity that I would strongly recommend for other students. By getting to know another culture and language you also learn a lot about yourself and being away from family and friends makes you appreciate them more and, most importantly, makes you a more mature and independent individual.