Meron Mekonnen, Ethiopia

Why Groningen?

Living in Groningen has been a delightful experience. Groningen personifies a “postcard perfect” Dutch city. The city centres are surrounded by beautiful canals and picturesque parks, with attractive sceneries. The people in Groningen are very welcoming and eager to assist you if you need any help. Almost everybody speaks English - which really helped me a lot as I am a non-Dutch speaker. You might hear people usually mentioning Amsterdam or the Hague when asked about the Netherlands, but it would be an understatement to say Groningen is the place to be, at least that is my experience.

Unfortunately, I was not able to fully experience the “international student” life due to the pandemic but be that as it may, I had come to see wonderful places and meet great people in class (the online environment has not stopped us from creating wonderful memories) and at the international student housing I lived in, which has enabled me to know amazing people from all over the world and share cultures and experiences.

Why the University of Groningen?

The reason why I chose the University of Groningen is a simple question for me; because it is the UNIVERSITY OF GRONINGEN. The University has an exemplary academic profile and international accreditation. It is one of the Top 100 rankings in the World University Ranking and Best Global University Ranking 2021. The program I chose to take, Public International Law, is also one of the Top-Rated Programs in the world. Moreover, the University offers several scholarships to international students.

The professors were dedicated, welcoming and gave very insightful lectures. They are very encouraging and bring out the best in students. The University’s library has an easy access, whether it is online or in person, and has all the materials needed for studies. The international office was also very helpful, always replied promptly and assisted me for questions I had with regards to the courses, enrolment or any other technical issues. That being said, the University really lived up to my great expectations.

Biography

Meron Mekonnen is an international student from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She received her Bachelor’s law degree with Very Great Distinction in Ethiopia. Meron came to Groningen in 2020 to pursue her Master’s degree in Public International Law, with Scholarship. Before coming to Groningen, she worked as a legal affairs and investment treaty expert at the Ethiopian Investment Commission. She was a research assistant and served as the Vice Chairperson of the Programme Committee of the LLM Programme at the University of Groningen.