“During my Bachelor’s in Integrated Safety and Security, I didn’t always have a clear idea of what I wanted to do after obtaining my diploma. To be honest, there were moments when I felt quite done with studying. I enjoyed my internships, so I would’ve been perfectly happy to start working straight away. But the closer I got to graduation, the more I realised I was ready for an extra step. I wanted to learn more, gain deeper knowledge – and besides, it’s easier to continue studying immediately than to return to university once you’ve already started working.
From Integrated Safety and Security to Psychology
I opted for the English-taught Master’s in Psychology. I know, it doesn’t sound like the most obvious choice after studying Integrated Safety and Security. But this master’s has a specialisation in Conflict, Risk & Safety – which actually aligns really well with my previous education! And funnily enough, I had considered studying psychology back in secondary school, so this feels like the perfect combination for me.
It was a bold move. I wasn’t exactly a standout student at HBO – just average, really – so I was curious to see how I’d fare at university. Luckily, I had friends who had already taken the leap, and based on their experiences, I decided to go for it too.
Doing the pre-master’s first
Coming from HBO, I first had to complete a pre-master’s. At the University of Twente, that’s usually a 30 EC programme designed to bring you up to the academic level required for the master’s. In my case, the pre-master’s was slightly longer – 45 EC, and took just over half a year. I took courses like research methodology, academic writing, and statistics. The focus is on conducting research at an academic level.
You do feel the pressure as a student, but that pressure can be incredibly motivating. I noticed that not just for myself, but for fellow students too – we actually performed better because of it.
Before starting, I had heard from many people that the pre-master's could be quite tough. You usually only get one resit per course, and you can’t retake the course the following year. So yes, you definitely feel that pressure. But I must say, it really pushed me to perform. And I saw the same effect in others.
Higher Pace
As for the level of the pre-master’s: I won’t deny that some parts were challenging, but overall, the programme is perfectly manageable. The real difficulty lies less in the complexity of the material and more in the rapid pace and the sheer amount of content to master. I discovered that doing more than required is often wiser than doing just enough. Falling behind on homework - even for a single week - can make it tough to catch up. During my HBO studies, last-minute cramming often worked, but that approach doesn’t hold up at university. I had to scale back my social life quite a bit. Still, the pre-master's only spans half a year, which makes it easier to handle.
And trust me, things get better from there! Once you’ve passed the pre-master’s, you can move on to the master’s. I’m not saying you can slack off, but I do believe things start to fall into place. And it gets more enjoyable too - while the pre-master’s focuses on ‘dry’, factual material, the master’s lets you dive deeper into the content. It’s great to see how the knowledge from the pre-master’s becomes applicable. It is a solid foundation.
Growth and Confidence
All in all, I’m really glad I took the leap to university. It was a great way to test my limits. I’m definitely not a fan of maths, so I was dreading statistics – as were many other students. But I kept up with the material every week, and eventually, it clicked! I ended up passing statistics with a good mark, which boosted my confidence. I believe the pre-master’s is doable – as long as you take it seriously and don’t underestimate it.
I’m curious to see what my master’s degree will mean for my future career. Of course, it’ll be nice to have that diploma, but what I find most valuable is how much I’ve learned – both academically and personally. And I’ve come to realise just how much more there is to learn. Just because you can’t do something now, doesn’t mean you won’t be able to in six months’ time.”
