Why Rotinda chose Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience / Cognitive Neuroscience

Studying at Maastricht University (UM) is a personalised, life enriching experience that prepares you for the future, both professionally and personally. Our bachelor’s and master’s programmes are designed for students who have an intrinsic curiosity in human behaviour and health. Students ‘who want to go the extra mile’ on a professional and/or personal level. What’s your extra mile?

Rotinda, 22, is from Turkey and decided to stay in Maastricht for the 2-year Research Master in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience / Cognitive Neuroscience. “I have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Maastricht University and decided to take a gap year and join a research group in the Neuroscience Faculty. Just as I was about to start, everything changed because of Covid-19.”

Rotinda’s extra mile in health: “Sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone to build the future you want for yourself. I want to develop my social skills by being an ambassador for this Master.”

“I knew I wanted to do a master’s in Cognitive Neuroscience, but hesitated between the 1-year master’s programme and the 2-year research master’s. I chose this 2-year programme because my career goals are to work in fundamental research which is what this programme especially focuses on. In Cognitive Neuroscience you look at the functions of a healthy brain. For example speech acquisition or learning and memory. I find it fascinating that a brain is malleable and changes over time, with age, disease or perhaps trauma. There is still so much to discover.

It’s very exciting to finally do what I’ve always wanted to do. It’s a small-scale programme and in my view, Problem-Based Learning works even better in a master’s programme because everyone is so engaged and committed. The professors are happy to share their knowledge and the research facilities are exceptional. That was also another reason for me to stay in Maastricht.

For me it’s also about building my self-confidence because I’ve never before sought to be in the spotlights. Now, as an ambassador I need to step up to build the future I want for myself.”