“After graduating European Union Studies I started with a graduate-traineeship in Brussels with the Benelux Union. European Union Studies is a really good start if you want to work in Brussels. Everyone here is expected to have a high level of EU knowledge, something that you will be taught in Leiden."

My training in EU law at Leiden was very helpful “My first job was doing research on the implications of two pieces of EU-legislation on cross border healthcare in Europe, and specifically within the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. My training in EU law at Leiden was actually very helpful because I knew instantly where to look for information, official documents and probably even more important, how to read all these documents without getting lost. “

Advising on risks and opportunities that arise from EU-decisions “After that I got a job with Harwood Levitt Consulting, a Brussels based public affairs and political risk strategy consultancy. Here I work for and with clients in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector, advising them on risks and opportunities that arise from EU-decisions, as well as their messaging and other communications with EU-institutions, trade associations etc. “

A high level of EU knowledge “It helped me to have knowledge on EU law and EU institutions, because I deal with this in my work every day.  All the other courses are perhaps less relevant for my current job, but especially important if you get in touch with others in Brussels and talk about what’s going on, you need to have a broad knowledge of what is happening. That is why networking, reading the news papers and getting the latest rumours is a must in the Brussels bubble.”

"I work as a European subsidy advisor for the province of South Holland. It’s a big field and the work is diverse: from a farm at Texel that works with salty strawberries to a university that works on artificial lungs. People often do not realise how much influence the European Union has on the provincial level. You can have a lot of influence on what’s happening around you."

Broaden your horizon of job opportunities "When I was studying, everybody was focused on working in Brussels for the European institutions, but there are so many job opportunities on a regional or local level, where you are still working with EU related issues. I would advise students to look into those jobs as well."  

"The European Union Studies track is a great way to not only develop your knowledge, but also to learn how to analyse, reflect and debate on a variety of issues. I tried to be engaged in as many things as possible. I volunteered with human rights organizations like Amnesty International, I was a research assistant, and I took courses from other master programmes. I think all of those things showed that I am invested and interested, which helped when I applied for jobs."

Contributing to change on important issues "I work in the European Parliament as the secretary-general of the LGBTI Intergroup, which is a cross-party group that promotes LGBTI issues. I applied for this job, because I wanted to advance important issues and to contribute to bigger projects than just my own career. A project that I feel proud of is a resolution, that was mostly drafted by myself and that called on legal action against Hungary for their anti-LGBTI law. It was proposed as the main text of the parliament and adopted a few weeks later by a broad majority. I look back on that as a moment of pride for myself, because things were coming full circle."

International environment "I look back on my studies with fond memories. Since you meet so many people from various countries, you are exposed to different realities. This still helps me today, because I'm working in an international environment."