Melina Bardt (27) from Germany is ready to dive back into real-life philosophical discussions after Covid-19 forced her to (quite literally) take a step away from the busy life of university lecture halls. 

Which course did you choose in Nijmegen and why?

‘I chose the master’s program Philosophy of Mind. It’s a very unique specialization and I hope that it will prepare me for a research path in philosophy.’

What is your long-term plan?

‘Without trying to sound arrogant, I think most people who study philosophy ultimately aim for a PhD. Of course, I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future, but I would like my career to go into this direction.’

What are you looking forward to the most?

‘Since the Covid-19 situation forced us all to stay away from lively university life, I am really looking forward to being in the classroom again. I missed the discussions and philosophical debates with people from my discipline.’

Is there anything that stresses you out about the new academic year?

‘Actually, the thing I’m looking forward to the most also makes me a bit nervous – I am concerned that I lost the ability to efficiently lead a philosophical discussion, so I expect it to be challenging in the beginning. But I think that Covid has made everyone a bit more nervous than they were before, especially about new challenges. I’m looking forward to be back on campus now, but it’s going to be weird after two years of studying almost entirely at home.’