Between Europe’s Cultures and Languages
Studying abroad is not only an opportunity to develop language skills. Through UNIC, students can also become familiar with the academic structure of a foreign institution and appreciate the diversity of cultures that make up this unique alliance of 10 universities located in post-industrial cities.
Izabela used her year-long stay at Ruhr University Bochum to work on a thesis devoted to translation studies, a topic directly linked to Europe’s cultural and linguistic diversity, which is one of the values that strengthens the UNIC community.
My MA thesis focused on the assessment of conference interpreting quality. I am fascinated by how complex and demanding interpreting is. In my dissertation, I address the question of whether it is actually possible to assess the quality of such interpretations in a meaningful way, as well as who can and should evaluate them and how this can be done. I also conducted a focus group study involving conference interpreters in order to gain insight into the real opinions of people who work in this demanding field on a daily basis
– says the graduate.
Student Life in the Heart of the Ruhr Region
I will have very fond memories of my time studying in Bochum. Of course, there were moments of doubt and stress, but in the end I gained much more from this experience than academic knowledge alone. In the field of English Studies, I particularly recommend Ruhr University to those fascinated by culture and literature, as the range of courses in these areas is extensive. My own interests lie more in linguistics, but despite that I found courses perfectly suited to me. The academic staff teaching my classes clearly communicated their expectations of students and were extremely supportive. I also grew very fond of the campus itself, which was always full of student life. A large part of my thesis was written in the university library. Bochum as a whole is very student-friendly, with young people everywhere, and North Rhine-Westphalia is also beautiful in terms of its natural landscape
– Izabela reports.
A European Experience for Life
I was delighted to learn that a student from Lodz intends to remain in Bochum for another semester
– says the programme coordinator on behalf of RUB, Prof. Burkhard Niederhoff.
This demonstrates that the long and demanding process of aligning the curricula of both universities has produced the desired results and that our offer is attractive to Polish students
– adds the German scholar.
Izabela was a capable and active student who integrated exceptionally well into my seminar group
– emphasises the co-supervisor of the MA thesis, Prof. Christiane Meierkord.
The combination of the supervisors’ expertise (I am a sociolinguist, while Prof. Łukasz Bogucki specialises in translation studies) enabled Izabela to write an interdisciplinary thesis with a sophisticated methodology, which was assessed very highly
– concludes Prof. Meierkord.
How Can You Take Part in a Double Degree Programme?
Students enrolled in the MA English Philology programme at the University of Lodz who are selected for the double degree programme will graduate from both universities simultaneously (receiving two separate diplomas), provided that they spend one semester in Bochum, complete all courses included in the modified study programme, and subsequently defend their MA thesis under the supervision of two academic supervisors.
The University of Lodz also offers other double degree programmes within the UNIC Alliance. The agreements are bilateral, so it is entirely possible that students from Germany will soon be singing “Theo, wir fahr’n nach Lodz”.
For information about the English Philology double degree programme, please contact Prof. Michał Lachman: michal.lachman@uni.lodz.pl.
