From Bachelor to Master: Learning by doing

You work on practical assignments that go beyond the basics and have more freedom to work independently and make your own choices. This way, you deepen your expertise and further develop yourself within your area of interest.

Sonia Kurzaj studied International Business and is now pursuing the master’s program in Sustainability Transitions at THUAS. “For me, this master’s felt like a logical next step. I can keep learning while also developing skills that I’ll need later in my career.”

Getting a degree as quickly as possible

Sonia’s choice for a professional master’s was very deliberate. She weighed different options and also considered the practical side. “If I had chosen a university master’s, I would have had to complete a pre-master first. I wanted to get my degree as quickly as possible and then start working.”

The transition from Bachelor to Master

Sonia finds the transition from bachelor’s to master’s level less significant than she expected. According to her, this has to do with how her bachelor’s program was structured. “My final bachelor year was quite relaxed. I only had one elective, did an internship, and wrote my thesis.” She recognizes that same independent way of working in her master’s program. “We now have about one class per week and do the rest ourselves: reading literature and working on the portfolio. I’m used to working that way by now.”

Theory and practice truly combined

In the master’s program, the combination of theory and practice plays a major role. Every week, there’s a lot of literature on the schedule. “We have many readings each week, that’s the theoretical part. During classes, that theory is explored in more depth. We discuss everything together, ask questions, and dive deeper into the material. The knowledge gained is then applied in the transition labs. Everything we learn, we use there. That’s how theory and practice truly come together.”

Leadership and Confidence

The master’s program offers space to choose which skills you want to develop, for example in leadership and communication. “I chose cross-cultural communication because it fits well with developing leadership. And my leadership skills have really improved!”

Looking Ahead

Sonia sees many benefits for her career. “A master’s ultimately also opens up more career opportunities.” In the short term, Sonia is focused on finding an internship. “I’m currently looking for an internship, preferably in marketing, digital marketing, or events. After that, I hope to find a great job, for example through a traineeship or an entry-level position. I mainly want to gain more hands-on experience within an organization.”

Advice for bachelor students

For students who are unsure about pursuing a master’s, Sonia has clear advice: “It’s important to take a step back and think carefully about where your interests lie. There are so many different master’s programs. Choose something that truly excites you.”