Minorities & Multilingualism

“After two years of Applied Law (HBO-Rechten) I needed a programme that would challenge me, one where I could research rather than search. M&M is an interdisciplinary programme that combines anthropology, politics, history, sociology, linguistics and multilingualism. The programme has motivated me to be active, and all the support has made it possible for me to take extra course units, do volunteer work at LGBT organisation COC and the Frisian youth association FYK, serve on the board of DAG (student movement for democratization at RUG), and be chairman of the study association Multi. The small class size makes it possible for the professors and lecturers to focus on individual students and lead an active discussion. Living in Groningen gives a boost to your student life, as it is a vibrant, young and exciting city.”

“I decided to study Minorities and Multilingualism because I wanted to understand the underlying causes of the difficulties in dialogue between majority and minority groups. So far the programme has helped me develop critical thinking, speaking and writing skills, and has given me all the basic tools I need to analyse the complex reality of minority groups. What I particularly enjoy is the close contact between lecturers and students, which is made possible by the small scale of the programme. I also had the opportunity to engage in extracurricular activities. With other students I founded the study association of the programme and I’m part of the Programme Committee where education issues, such as evaluation of courses, are on the agenda. I think it’s very important that staff and students work together to improve the curriculum.”

Hey everyone! My name is Alissa, I'm 20 years old, from Germany and currently ain my second year of Minorities & Multilingualism. In addition to my studies, I am an Honours College student and the Secretary of Multi, our programme’s study association, which means that I am responsible for all matters related to communication.

In my free time, I love to spend time with friends, listen to music (a lot) and enjoy learning foreign languages. I am quite the language nerd - as of right now, I speak eight languages and I'm always keen to add another one to the bunch, the more, the merrier. In fact, I also started learning a new language in my first year of M&M, I picked Russian as my elective and have continued taking it in my second year.

Why Minorities & Multilingualism?

M>M is an interdisciplinary programme that offers a unique perspective on important societal matters. Essentially, we learn to become diversity managers - first we need to understand the different dimensions of societal issues, then we are gradually equipped with the tools to solve them. Thanks to the flexible programme structure and small-scale education of M&M, I was able to figure out my personal interests, namely minority rights and multilingual education. There is a lot of room for individual preferences and every fellow student of mine has opted for a different path when choosing their elective courses. Last but not least, I love the open and supportive atmosphere within the programme. Students and lecturers know each other very well and there is room for any question or concern.

Why Groningen?

When I first came to Groningen for the Open Day of 2020, I immediately fell in love with this cute little city and its vibrant student culture. Even though I started studying during the COVID-pandemic, I had a great first year. I got to socialize, make friends, try out new things and develop myself as a person. There are so many things to do in Groningen, ranging from joining student associations, volunteering and participating in cultural activities, to picking up sports, starting a student job and going out. I can’t imagine a better place to start into this new phase of your life! On top of that, the University of Groningen is one of the very few universities in the world to offer a programme about minorities and multilingualism, which makes it feel even more special.

Future

I dream of working for an international organization like UNESCO or an EU-institution. Not only would this give me the opportunity to work in an international environment, but I could also make a change in the fields of minority rights and education policy. During the past year, I have also developed a strong interest for international relations. Therefore, I am excited to see in which direction this year will take me and what Master’s programme I will end up joining in a few years.

Golden Tip

Take your time to figure out your strengths and passions! At times, it may seem like everyone else has it all figured out, but I can assure you that this is not the case. Follow your interests, try to not only think of your study as the basis for your future career, but as something you should enjoy. Most importantly, always take care of your mental health! A good support system of friends and/or family is very valuable and they can help you through tough times.