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Staying motivated
Last modified on 21-07-2022 15:51
If you’re motivated, studying on a daily basis will be no trouble at all. But how do you find and maintain this motivation?
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P&A: Science for Energy and Sustainability (master, joint degree)
P&A: Theoretical Physics (master, joint degree)
Pedagogical Sciences (master)
Pedagogische wetenschappen (bachelor)
Pedagogische wetenschappen (master)
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Philosophy of the Humanities and the Social Sciences (master)
Philosophy of the Humanities and the Social Sciences (schakelprogramma)
Physics and Astronomy (master, joint degree)
Political Science (bachelor)
Political Science (master)
Political Science (premaster)
Politicologie (bachelor)
PPLE - Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (bachelor)
Preservation and Presentation of the Moving Image (duale master)
Preventieve jeugdhulp en opvoeding (schakelprogramma)
Privaatrechtelijke rechtspraktijk (master)
Psychobiologie (bachelor)
Psychologie (schakelprogramma)
Psychologie (bachelor), NL
Psychologie (master), NL
Psychology (premaster)
Psychology (bachelor), EN
Psychology (master), EN
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Public International Law (master)
Publieksgeschiedenis (master)
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Rechtsgeleerdheid met HBO-vooropleiding (schakelprogramma)
Rechtsgeleerdheid met WO-vooropleiding (schakelprogramma)
Redacteur/editor (duale master)
Religiewetenschappen (bachelor)
Religious Studies (research master)
Russische en Slavische studies (bachelor)
Scandinavië studies (bachelor)
Scheikunde (bachelor, joint degree)
Science, Technology & Innovation (bachelor)
Security and Network Engineering (master)
Sign Language Linguistics (bachelor)
Social Sciences (research master)
Sociale geografie en Planologie (bachelor)
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Software Engineering (master)
Spaanse en Latijns-Amerikaanse studies (bachelor)
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Spirituality and Religion (schakelprogramma)
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Stads- en architectuurgeschiedenis (master)
Stochastics and Financial Mathematics (master)
Strafrecht (master)
Taalwetenschappen (bachelor)
Technology Governance (advanced master)
Television and Cross-Media Culture (master)
Theaterwetenschap (bachelor)
Theatre Studies (master)
Universitaire Pabo van Amsterdam (bachelor)
Urban and Regional Planning (master)
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Urban Studies (research master)
Vertalen (master)
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Intrinsically motivated choices
Making choices is an essential part of your academic career. From electives or minors to your thesis topic or Master’s, you can’t avoid it.
You can choose in various ways:
You can choose smartly: what is the most efficient choice?
You can choose strategically: what will benefit me most? What will be useful for my future career?
You can choose with your heart: what is important and means something to me?
Do you choose a degree programme or elective based on the subject matter and the content (intrinsic motivation) or because your friends happen to be choosing it too (extrinsic motivation)? If you’re genuinely interested in the content, you are more likely to succeed academically. You’ll be more confident, you’ll be curious and you’ll be eager to learn.
Take control of your studies
Taking control of your studies means taking your studies and yourself seriously. As well as motivation, this also requires discipline, independence, stamina, personal initiative, curiosity and enthusiasm. Not everyone possesses these qualities to the same degree, they don’t need to. The tips below will really help you with this.
Attend the non-mandatory lectures too. That way you’ll remain engaged with other students and with the study material.
Study in the university library. This will help you concentrate better, increases contact with other students and gives you a sense of solidarity.
Make arrangements to study with others. It’s more enjoyable and it’s good for your motivation.
Having problems with study skills, time management or reading techniques? Student Services offers a wide range of workshops and training courses that will be extremely useful to you both during and after your studies.
Take control of your student life
Try to get the most from your student life from day one. Taking part in the various group activities will help you settle in quickly to university life.
Get to know other students by taking part in the orientation programme for your degree programme.
Join the study association for your degree programme. (Alumni) meetings around a related theme will give you a better insight into your course and the various career options available to you.
Join a student association to chill out and socialise, and to meet students from other degree programmes.
Take a course at the Student Cultural Centre CREA and unleash your creative side through music, drama, dance and art.
Taking part in activities and initiatives alongside your studies will help you stay motivated and enhance your knowledge:
Become a (board) member of a study association or student association or a student committee such as the Introduction Week Committee or ISN (International Student Network).
Find a strategic part-time job. That way you can get to know your specialist field from the sidelines.
Show an interest in people and their work. This will be appreciated and it will give you more insight into the jobs market.
Keep up to date with current affairs and the news. Focus in particular on topics that are directly or indirectly related to your studies.
Study adviser
Having doubts about your choice of degree programme or problems with motivation? The study adviser can help you with this.
Training courses and workshops
The UvA provides additional support through information meetings, workshops, training courses and groups. You can learn more about these by clicking on training courses and workshops.