Honours alumnus Jovan reflects on his experiences in the programme

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Jovan, I am 25 years old, and I study pure mathematics at the University of Cambridge. A little bit about myself, I come from Macedonia, a small, but beautiful country in southeast Europe. I did my bachelors degree in mathematics at the University of Groningen, and before that completed a bachelor's degree in economics, business and informatics in Germany. My greatest passion in life is naturally mathematics, but outside of my studies, I enjoy spending time in nature, especially the mountains back home. I am an avid tennis and skiing fan, I enjoy baking, and have an ever-growing interest in gardening and beekeeping.

What is your current status and how did the Honours Programme shape your career path?

As briefly mentioned, I currently live in the UK and study at the University of Cambridge. In particular, I am enrolled in the highly prestigious Part III of the Mathematical Tripos programme at the University of Cambridge. This programme dates back to the 19th century and is widely regarded as the most intensive and challenging taught mathematics course in the world.

Moreover, Cambridge is a magnificent town with a lot of history, prestige and a well-established name for groundbreaking research and academic excellence. Therefore, I feel incredibly lucky and deeply grateful to live and study in Cambridge.

It is needless to say that my education in Groningen has played a fundamental role in my success so far and in creating the opportunity to study at the University of Cambridge. A significant part of that experience was the Honours Programme. While my academic results in mathematics were undoubtedly crucial in gaining admission to Cambridge—as well as to other prestigious institutions I applied to, such as ETH Zurich and the University of Oxford—I firmly believe that my extracurricular involvement, particularly in the Honours Programme, gave me a distinctive edge. The Honours Programme demonstrated my ability to go beyond the standard academic curriculum and excel outside my comfort zone in mathematics. It stands as a strong testament to my interdisciplinary aptitude and my willingness to push beyond conventional academic boundaries.

How did the Honours Programme enrich your learning experience and prepare you for your master programme?

The Honours Programme is excellent at fostering students’ability to engage with fellow honours students from different backgrounds, providing a great opportunity for honours students to establish connections and exchange ideas. For me personally, the Honours Programme provided exactly what I was looking for. I had the opportunity to explore a wide range of topics from various fields—ranging from religious studies to organizational studies and personal development. On the other hand, I also saw the Honours Programme as a welcome escape from my regular studies. I’m sure many students would agree that being constantly focused on your main field of study can be overwhelming, and at times you feel close to burnout from focusing on the same subject. Attending the Honours Programme once or twice a week allowed me to shift my focus away from mathematics and engage with something completely different. This change of pace reinvigorated me and helped me return to my mathematics studies with renewed energy. It was undoubtedly beneficial both for my academic performance and my mental health.

Overall, the Honours Programme was instrumental in the development of my confidence. It enabled me to quickly adapt and thrive in the academically demanding environment at Cambridge.

What skills or knowledge did you learn throughout the programme that you found most useful, and what are you most proud of from your honours experience?

Personally, I am someone who is relatively introverted. Pursuing a degree in mathematics doesn’t necessarily encourage one to become more outgoing, so the part of the Honours Programme that required me to step outside my comfort zone—to engage actively with fellow students and to be creative and bold—was especially valuable. It has definitely helped me the most to become much more outgoing and start valuing the importance of forming deep and meaningful connections. This helped me build a professional network beyond my usual mathematics clique, and it also helped me gain a broader perspective about the university and its various programmes.

Given that doing a degree in mathematics does not necessarily stimulate you to become more outgoing, for me the part of the Honours Programme that required me to step out of my comfort zone, engage actively with other students and aim to be creative and bold, has definitely helped me the most to become much more outgoing and start valuing the importance of establishing deep and meaningful connections.

As for what I’m most proud of, it would be the two research projects I completed as part of the deepening programme. I worked independently, allowing myself the freedom to think creatively and explore ideas in depth. This led to the development of two projects that I’m very proud of—in the fields of Population Dynamics and Bayesian Networks. Since my ultimate goal is to become a researcher, these projects will always hold a special place for me. They were my first real experience of what conducting research feels like.

What advice do you have for current honours students?

My greatest advice to current honours students is to appreciate the unique experience the Honours Programme offers—and to use it wisely as a stepping stone in your academic and professional journey. Additionally, I would advise honours students to use the opportunity to do a research project, connect with fellow honours students and lecturers from other faculties, and use the programme as a chance to develop skills for tackling complex and interdisciplinary challenges. Finally, I would also like to say, make sure to enjoy the Honours Programme, it is a lot of fun and carries immense value!

Would you recommend the Honours Programme to prospective students and why?

Absolutely—I would recommend the Honours Programme to all Bachelor’s first-year students at the University of Groningen who are eager to go beyond their regular studies. If you're looking to challenge yourself, expand your skill set, build meaningful connections across disciplines, and adopt a broader, more interdisciplinary mindset, then the Honours Programme is the perfect addition to your student life at the University of Groningen.