Juliëtte Brouwers is a second year student at Urban Studies. She grew up in Zwolle (the Netherlands), and now lives in Leiden.

Juliëtte Brouwers is a second year student at Urban Studies. She grew up in Zwolle (the Netherlands), and now lives in Leiden.

Why did you choose Urban Studies?

I first studied Political Sciences in Leiden. Along the way I got doubts about the study, so I did a Coursera Online Course about Urban Studies, which I liked very much. That made me decide to register for Urban Studies.

Do you regret your choice for Urban Studies?

No, not at all. To the contrary, I enjoy it very much. I like the fact that it is different from Political Sciences which is very theoretical. Urban Studies has a good mixture of theory and case studies. Especially the case studies are something I enjoy. During the courses we get many examples from real life.

Also, I like the fact that Urban Studies is a small-scale study. I like the atmosphere and the fact that I’m not just a number. I can even call some tutors by their name. The teaching staff is generally quite young. And there also is a good mix of Dutch and international students.

Is the teaching staff knowledgeable enough?

Yes, I think so. The teaching staff is very enthusiastic about their field of research and they also show it.

What do you think of the level of the courses?

The lecturers are from different disciplines. I know they can’t integrate everything from their own background, also because the courses are new. Sometimes different lecturers repeat the same things, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In that way, we as students remember things better.

The level generally varies depending on the subject and on the lecturer. Sometimes the level of the exams are on a different level than the course itself, either easier or more difficult. So there should be more consistency.

What do you think of the study climate at Urban Studies?

I mostly hang out with international students. Sometimes I notice that the Dutch students cling together. There is a language barrier, sometimes it easier to speak your native language and for the Dutch students of course it’s easier to stick to their own group. During class the tutors mix groups on purpose sometimes.

What do you think of the study programme?

It’s multifaceted which I like very much. As students we also get quite a lot of freedom to choose our interests. I get the freedom to choose my future path.

I think the themes are also very interesting and well chosen. In the second year we can specialize, so in the end you partly make your own degree. I like the freedom of choice.

I would have liked to have more creativity in the programme, like arts in urban spaces. Nothing is done with a project such as New Babylon, an art/architectural project by Constant Nieuwenhuys.

https://stichtingconstant.nl/new-babylon-1956-1974