Radboud Scholar, Alisha from India, Pursues a Master’s in Biomedical Science at Radboud University, Netherlands

I am Alisha, and I am from Mumbai, India. I did my Bachelor's in Life Science and Biochemistry from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. My degree consisted of subjects like genetics, human anatomy and physiology, neuroscience, etc, and my personal favourites were human anatomy and physiology. I knew, from the very beginning, that I wanted to go into biomedicine, which is why I pursued a master's.

I did my Master’s in Biomedical Science from Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands.

Radboud Scholarship Details

The scholarships I received were the –

• Radboud Scholarship Programme (~11000 euros per year)
• Partial RadboudUMC Studyfund (~8000 euros per year)

from Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands

Educational Background

My GPA from my bachelor's was 3.74 (out of 4.00) (First class with Distinction)

I participated in a lot of extracurriculars during my bachelor's- roles including volunteering and leadership roles. I only did one internship at a laboratory in my field, but more are always recommended.  I was also part of the editorial team of my department at the university. All these experiences helped me as a person, but also were relevant for my motivation letter.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Radboud University?

How Did You Find Information About Radboud Scholarships and Radboud University?

Most of my research was done through the internet. I did attend some university fairs in my city, but they were mostly representing universities in the UK, the US, and Australia. For universities in other countries, I researched which universities offered the program I wanted, then looked at other factors such as tuition fees, scholarships, and countries, to narrow my search.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

I took the IELTS (Score: 8). The preparation was mostly through some mock tests and an IELTS prep book.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the Radboud Scholarship(s)?

With the programme application, I had the option to apply for the scholarship as well, so I did not do anything extra. (This was more than 5 years ago, so it might have changed now)

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Dutch?

The classes were conducted in English

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Academically, Not Knowing Dutch?

No, since classes were taught in English and most people speak English, it is not an issue academically. However, it is always recommended to learn the local language.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

Probably having a wide variety of experiences in my bachelor's helped my application.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

What I lacked was more biomedical/laboratory experience, and it would be nice to have that. I would have liked to be more prepared for the interview as well.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

Try to get as much experience as possible. Not only in your field but also in other areas. Not only will that help you grow as a person, but that growth will come through in your application and also in the interview.

Also, know your academic basics about your field really well.