Student testimonial
Margherita - Student BSc Soil, Water, atmosphere
My name is Margherita, I am a third-year student of BSc Soil, Water, Atmosphere and come from Italy. After one unsuccessful year at university in Italy, I stumbled on BSc ‘Soil, Water, Atmosphere’ on Google. I was looking for an Earth sciences programme which would allow me to explore the sciences of the Earth system, including the atmospheric part and meteorology. After I had gathered some information, I knew it was the programme for me and I did not think twice about moving to Wageningen.
What I like the most about Soil, Water, Atmosphere is that it is extremely focused on the physics and the chemistry of the Earth processes and their interactions.
Why did you choose the bachelor Soil, Water, Atmosphere?
“What I like the most about Soil, Water, Atmosphere is that it is extremely focused on the physics and the chemistry of the Earth processes and their interactions. Another plus for me is that in the three years you explore many phenomena and look at them from different perspectives
A strength of this programme is that it is very practical: it allows you to catch a glimpse of what it means to work in the field. As much as the pandemic allowed, I really enjoyed the practical’s in the laboratory, especially during the chemistry-related courses, such as ‘Soil quality’, in year 2.
Moreover, given the relatively small size of the study, it is possible to build a relaxed and friendly relationship with the professors throughout the years; all of them are experts in their field and it is extremely interesting to talk and hear their story and professional experiences.”
Where there things in the programme you were struggling with as an international student?
“Although sometimes it has been hard to learn terminology or phenomena which were new to me but not to my fellow Dutch classmates, I never really felt out of place in the programme as an international. Everyone speaks English fluently, and tries to me make you feel at home, both my classmates and my professors.”
Did you miss anything in the programme?
“No not really, the programme covers many aspects of the Earth System. However, of course there are still topics that are beyond the scope: the focus is on processes that happen around the Earth’s surface. Hence, the deep underground (including topics like volcanoes and earthquakes) is not part of the curriculum. This is why I like that a whole semester in Soil, Water, Atmosphere is dedicated to free elective courses, so that one can decide which topics to complete their degree with. I chose to go on Erasmus exchange to Portugal in my third year; I wanted to expand my knowledge on the ocean and the sea systems within my bachelor studies, so that I could more easily orient myself for my master’s degree.
All in all, I would recommend the programme to anyone who is interested in a complete overview of the Earth system and its processes. The bachelor gave me a solid and practical preparation, which is not easily found in other universities with which I feel ready to move on to a master’s programme. As an international student I would choose the programme again and so far, it has been a wonderful experience to have studied at one of the best universities in the world in the field!”
How do you experience living in Wageningen?
“As an international student, living away from home can get hard at times, Luckily, Wageningen is very cosy and small, so it is easy to meet new people and friends. What I started to notice when meeting new people is that the beauty of Wageningen is that it brings together a large group of people, many internationals, with many common interests, such as nature or sustainability. In these three years I have always met very interesting people from different backgrounds who have taught me a lot. Furthermore, I have experienced a personal growth which I had not expected at first. In Wageningen there is always space for constructive debates on many different topics which I am interested in. This taught me to be sensitive to the topic of sustainability but also, to analyse things from a scientific perspective. Altogether I can say that studying in Wageningen was one of the best choices I made, and I still enjoy living in Wageningen to the fullest. “