Elif Doganyigit

from Istanbul Bilgi University/ Media and Communication Systems and International Relations| studying at AUAS Faculty of Digital Media and Creative Industries

I want to be a journalist so when I saw the International Journalism program in HvA; I knew it was the right choice for me.

I study media back home which includes studies of all sorts of media outlets. So, I was not able to focus only on journalism. That is why I love my minor program in HvA. The best part of it is how you learn things by practical teaching, not theoretical way. In this way, you become more experienced and now what you like to do the most.

The school lets you borrow all the equipment you need such as cameras, recording devices, etc. I love how we always have projects to work on and make a portfolio for ourselves. In that way when I apply for an internship or a job; I have work that I have done which proves that I am experienced and qualifies for the job. The other best part of the minor is that you can travel with your lecturers to do fieldwork. I get to go to these cool places where I can learn how to work to report and so on.

Also, Amsterdam is a great place to go for an exchange. There is a lot to do so; it is easy for you to keep yourself busy and enjoy the city. Everywhere is close to each other and it is just so easy to bike around. I only have three days of classes which makes it much easier for me to travel and hang out with friends during the week. I have time for both classes and my social life. It is like the best of both worlds.