Alumni dreams #277

Filippo chose International Studies because of his long-standing passion for languages. Since a young age, he had been fascinated by language learning and studied as many as seven languages over the years. While he knew that languages should play an important role in his university career, he did not necessarily see himself following the more traditional paths of language studies, such as teaching, interpreting, or academia. BA IS therefore appealed to him because it allowed him to continue developing his language skills while also exploring politics, economics, and international affairs.

He chose Russia and Eurasia as his study region after already beginning to learn Russian independently. He was eager to continue studying the language in a more structured way, while also gaining a deeper understanding of Russia and the broader region where Russian had played an important role. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which had begun only a few months before he started the programme, also shaped his decision, making the region feel even more urgent and relevant to understand.

For his bachelor’s thesis, Filippo focused on EU enlargement and rule-of-law reforms. His thesis, titled Rule of Law Reforms in Western Balkans and Post-Soviet EU Candidates: ‘(Dis)similar Dualism’ amidst Enlargement and the Russia–Ukraine War, analysed the reforms required by the European Union from candidate countries, particularly in relation to anti-corruption policy and the judicial system. Through a comparative analysis of Albania, Serbia, Georgia, and Moldova, he examined how different post-socialist countries either aligned themselves more closely with the EU or moved further away from the EU path during a period of major geopolitical disruption.

During BA IS, Filippo was especially proud of maintaining strong academic performance while going through difficult personal periods. His dedication allowed him to graduate cum laude and be nominated for the Golden Stork thesis award. Another major highlight was the PRINS course in cooperation with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As one of the team leaders, he helped manage a consultancy project with around ten students and later presented the results to ministry officials, gaining valuable experience in teamwork, responsibility, and professional communication.

One of the most important skills Filippo took away from BA IS was the ability to write, reason, and work critically under pressure. The programme’s writing-intensive structure helped him improve his academic English, broaden his specialised vocabulary, and learn how to structure research papers and argumentative essays. More importantly, BA IS taught him to question arguments, including his own, and to build positions based on evidence.

After graduating in 2025, Filippo began a Master’s in European Affairs at the School of Public Affairs of Sciences Po in Paris, following a policy stream focused on the European Union’s international relations and external action. During the same summer, he also completed an internship at the Politecnico di Torino, working in the department for international cooperation and university alliances.

Filippo is now specialising in policy analysis and the institutional, legal, and practical dimensions of the European Union. As a convinced Europeanist, he hopes to connect his knowledge of Russia and the post-Soviet sphere with his interest in Europe and EU external action. In January, he will begin a six-month internship at BusinessEurope in Brussels, taking an important next step into the EU policy world.

To current and prospective BA IS students, Filippo’s advice is to understand the broad and multidisciplinary nature of the programme, and to use it wisely. He recommends gradually building a direction through electives, minors, internships, and research topics, while also making the most of the opportunity to learn a less commonly studied language.

We are cheering you on as you take your next steps in the European policy world, Filippo!

Alumni dreams #282

Elina chose International Studies because of the wide range of subjects and themes the programme brings together. What stood out to her was that BA IS felt like a combination of International Relations, Cultural Studies, and Regional Studies, allowing her to explore different fields while still seeing how they connect. She chose Russia and Eurasia as her study region because of her roots in the area, even though she grew up in the Netherlands. For Elina, the programme became a valuable opportunity to reconnect with the language and culture while also learning more about the region’s politics and economics.

For her bachelor’s thesis, Elina wrote about Soviet cartoons as a tool of ideological messaging. Her thesis, titled Framing the Ideal Citizen: Discourse and Ideology in Soviet Cartoons, analysed how cartoons were used to influence children, shape their beliefs, and cultivate values aligned with Soviet ideology. The project was her favourite part of her university years, as it allowed her to bring together knowledge from different courses while writing about something personally meaningful. Having grown up watching Soviet cartoons, like many other Eastern European children, Elina was able to connect her academic research to her own cultural memories.

During her time at BA IS, Elina was particularly proud of the consultancy project she completed with the Ministry of Justice and Security. Her group performed very well, and she was selected as one of the team members to present their findings and recommendations to the ministry. This experience gave her the opportunity to apply academic knowledge to a practical policy setting and to contribute to a project with real-world relevance.

One of the most important lessons Elina took away from BA IS was the importance of making the most of the freedom university offers. Whether through creating memories with friends, taking classes outside the main curriculum, doing a minor, or studying abroad, she believes the experience is shaped by what students choose to make of it. For her, BA IS was not only about obtaining a diploma, but also about using the time to invest in herself and grow as a person.

Just before graduating in 2025, Elina was offered a job at Bank Mendes Gans, part of the ING Group. She accepted the offer and started working during the summer, but soon realised that she also wanted to continue her academic journey. Since she had already applied to several Master’s programmes, she discussed the possibility of combining work and study with her manager. Thanks to the support of her organisation, she was able to arrange a schedule that allowed her to attend lectures and tutorials while continuing to work.

Elina is now completing a Master’s in Crisis and Security Management, with a focus on intelligence and national security. Alongside this, she has received a job offer from EY as a cybersecurity consultant. She enjoys the corporate environment and is excited about this next professional step, although leaving university behind after graduation will be a significant transition. In the future, she is also considering pursuing a second Master’s degree at Leiden University.

To current and prospective BA IS students, Elina’s advice is to enjoy their time at university as fully as possible. There will be moments of stress and struggle, but also moments of freedom, laughter, friendship, and growth. She believes these years help students create some of their best memories while establishing who they are as people.

We are cheering you on as you take this next exciting step, Elina!