Student Story Suzan

I’ve always found Biology an interesting subject at secondary school. After researching different programmes, I came across HAS. This course is broad and well regarded, which means there are many directions I can grow into during and after the programme.

I’ve never really known what I wanted (and still don’t completely), but during my studies I’ve discovered that, for example, the plant specialisation isn’t for me. I’ve also learned to be more independent and to take initiative on my own. Ultimately, you figure it out in the end!

The opportunities this course provides. The first two years follow the standard curriculum, but afterwards you’re given freedom. And I’ve taken full advantage of that! My internships in Thailand and on Texel were, without a doubt, the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had during my studies — plus the friends I've made along the way :). This was especially meaningful for me because I was free to do what I wanted, and I really appreciated that freedom.

In Thailand and on Texel — two extremes within marine biology, but equally fantastic. In Thailand, I worked on research into reef rugosity and its impact on fish. We were allowed to dive every day to collect data on the reef and its fish. A challenge there was staying focused on the project and not getting distracted by the stunning surroundings.

On Texel, I worked on a project that's part of the SIBES initiative, studying the distribution of Ruditapes philippinarum, an invasive species in the Wadden Sea. I even spent two weeks at sea, taking samples across the Wadden Sea. It was truly incredible and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The challenge here was the statistics — together with my supervisor, we initially wanted to do too much, which wouldn’t fit into the 24 weeks of my internship.