When did you do the IDA master?
2023-2025
How was the IDA Master helpful for what you are doing right now?
Somewhat. I’m working in People Operations (HR), which is more related to my previous masters in Work, Organisation and Health Psychology.
What was your favorite course? And why?
I really enjoyed the first few courses in the first year where we could explore various psychological differences, such as in personality, intelligence, etc. – they really made me think and I really valued the insights I got from the papers and discussions we had in class. I also really liked the traineeships and my thesis since we could choose to dive deep into a topic of our choice.
What was your favorite moment of the time as an IDA student?
This is difficult to think of a favourite moment, but I really liked the time spent discussing the class contents with the other students – it was very satisfying sometimes since we could match in our level of excitement and interest about various topics and have a foundational knowledge about the topic. Also taking my own time to dive deeper into a topic or get into a flow whilst reading and annotating a scientific paper on something I was fascinated by was super nice too.
What was your motivation to finish your studies?
I think my genuine curiosity about the topics and my determination to finish within the two years.
Did you experience stress or pressure in your studies, and if yes how did you deal with it?
Accepting that it was a part of it, having a good plan and being intentional with my time. Also just relating about it with my classmates was also helpful, knowing we were all experiencing it in our own way.
What can you advise current or future IDA students?
I’d say try to get really into knowing how you learn and work best, and what motivates you to keep going (e.g., working with others, alone, writing things out, searching for more papers because you’re so curious, etc.). And take this time to dive into what interests you most in psychology. It’s a difficult study but if you’re committed and find something in each course that interests you (even just a little bit) it’ll feel worth it.
How was your overall experience in the master?
Really good. I enjoyed the courses, I had a good cohort and I had time to explore so many topics in psychology.
What did you do in your international traineeship and how did you like it?
I supervised a study at the University of Chichester about leadership impression management and how this influences well-being and behavioural outcomes of employees at work. It was quite interesting since we could make use of an Experience Sampling Methods (ESM) design, plus I could visit the university, attend a short conference and learn about the other research being done there.
Are you still in touch with other alumni students?
A few, yes.
How did you experience the relationship with your teachers?
The teachers were very open and helpful. It was really nice to have a more close relationship with them than I experienced in my bachelor studies, especially during the traineeships since I did require some more guidance and support in these courses.
Did you know from the beginning what you want to do after your master? How did you find out what you would like to do?
I already did a masters beforehand, in Work, Organisation and Health Psychology in Nijmegen. Thus, I planned to perhaps combine my studies in some way, now I started off in HR and I’ll see where that leads me. I considered the option to go into research or do a PhD but I never felt a strong pull in that direction.
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