Originally from the Netherlands, Emma is currently a digital marketing consultant in Belgium working for famous international companies. The Master’s degree also sparked her entrepreneurial side as she is also the owner and CEO of freelance company Simply Social Content. Besides work she is an active volunteer for AIESEC in Leuven as Head of Marketing where she leads a team of nine people within the marketing field as well as gives workshops and webinars on marketing, pitching and mental health.

• Course: MA International Communication

Tell us a bit about yourself and what drew you to communications.

I am a curious adventurer from the Netherlands with a big love for international experiences and other cultures. I have fallen in love with all forms of communications ever since I completed my undergraduate degree in Digital Media and Communications. I really wanted to know more about different types of communications.

What made you choose the MA International Communication

With an already practical undergraduate degree in my pocket, I was looking for a challenging Masters course that was both internationally focused and practical. The reason I chose the course is because it offered insight and expertise in multiple areas of the international communications world in a practical way. A big part of the charm was the promise of traveling between countries, learning new cultures and meeting lots of people to add to my network.

How did you find working with your lecturers?

The teachers really motivate you to strive for excellence. With their field expertise and the way that they care about their students it is hard to not enjoy the classes. The assignments are fun, helpful and frankly the best way to prepare you for the working field. Everybody on the course wants to be there, so the atmosphere in the classroom is super positive and encouraging. Never in my school career have I ever met people that build each other up as much as they do on this course.

What has been your favourite thing about your time studying at Leeds Beckett?

It is hard to choose a favourite thing, so I will choose two. I loved the connections I made in the short amount of time I was in each country. Even now, I am still friends with my course mates. But I also really liked the practical aspect of the course such as the IKEA project we did, or the time that our teacher Rudiger encouraged us to do an extra project for Intereg Europe because he believed in us.

What advice would you give someone thinking about studying this course?

You have to adapt quickly since you study at three universities. It is a challenge but it is all worth it because you get to experience different cultures, meet amazing people and you become part of a community that lifts you up. Make sure that you connect with the group you are working with, keep up with homework and enrol in different student societies to get the most out of this amazing opportunity. The process can be a little different than you are used to, with a triple Masters you need to be proactive with making sure everything runs smoothly at every uni. Make sure you know who to contact in case of trouble or questions and always double check with your course mates to make sure you get the same information. And my last advice is to enjoy it!