Honours College: An opportunity you should seize
Challenge yourself, broaden your horizon and meet people from different background. Curious if the Honours College is right for you? Honours students Rebecca Bernasco and Pepijn Baggen share their doubts, experiences, and what they find so appealing about the programme. Rebecca: ‘I enjoyed one course so much that the assignments didn’t even feel like homework.’
Why did you decide to join?
Rebecca: ‘I first heard about the Honours College during an introductory talk at a lecture. My grades were good, though I had to work hard for them, so I wanted to see if this might suit me. At first, I thought it was only for “really smart students” and doubted if I’d fit in. I was also worried the courses might be too hard or time-consuming. But in the end, that wasn’t the case.’
Pepijn: ‘Some of my classmates were very enthusiastic about Honours. I was looking for an extra challenge, and while I initially thought the programme was just for top-performing students who wanted to excel in their field, I quickly realised it wasn’t like that at all. Honours is more about broadening your knowledge in other areas, which made it the perfect addition to my degree.’
Rebecca: ‘You can take the introductory course, “Science Skills Lab”, to see if Honours is right for you and whether it fits into your schedule. I signed up with the mindset of “I’ve got nothing to lose,” and I ended up really enjoying it.’
Pepijn
Name: Pepijn Braggen
Study programme: Data Science & Artificial Intelligence (2nd year)
Honourstrack: Bèta and Life Science
Honours courses so far: Science Skills Lab, Negotiation and Conflict Management
What is the Science Skills Lab about?
Pepijn: ‘In Science Skills Lab, you explore a current scientific topic and consider how it might shape the future. The course focuses on research skills, critical thinking, and presentation. It was a pleasant surprise and very different from regular courses. You work in small groups with students from various disciplines, which means you encounter a wide range of perspectives.’
Rebecca: ‘It’s a great way to get to know Honours and meet your fellow students. For our project, we explored the use of lab animals, interviewed university experts, and received excellent guidance. It was incredibly rewarding.’
Rebecca
Name: Rebecca Bernasco
Study programme: Biology (3rd year)
Honourstrack: Bèta and Life Sciences
Honours courses so far: Creative Writing, Tolerantie: geschiedenis en actualiteit, Sustainable Tourism (MOOC), Language, Power and Identity
Isn’t your bachelor’s programme already demanding enough?
Pepijn: ‘I won’t lie—it does take extra time. But the work is often more creative and project-based rather than traditional studying. It doesn’t feel like twice as much studying, but rather an enjoyable complement to my regular workload. With good planning, it’s manageable.’
Rebecca: ‘In Honours, it’s emphasised that your regular degree always takes priority. My programme has a lot of contact hours, so I can’t choose every Honours course due to scheduling conflicts. Luckily, many courses are held in the evenings, making them easier to fit in. Plus, the teacher are very understanding if you ever run into scheduling or deadline issues.’
Do you still have time for hobbies and a social life?
Rebecca: ‘Absolutely. The extra workload is manageable. I work alongside my studies, play sports, spend time with friends, and am active in my student association. Occasionally, evening classes can clash with things like training sessions, though.’
Pepijn: ‘I always have plans during the week and at weekends. I try to prioritise Honours projects so I don’t fall behind in my regular studies. One advantage is that most courses end with a report rather than an exam, so you can often get ahead.’
What’s the social aspect like?
Rebecca: ‘Meeting other Honours students is one of the best parts of the programme. It gets you out of your bubble because you meet people from different fields of study. This brings fresh insights and perspectives. I’ve made quite a few friends during the courses.’
Pepijn: ‘I haven’t met that many Honours students yet, but I did during the Science Skills Lab. You work in a small group, so you get to know each other quickly. Since we were all part of the science track, we had a lot of shared interests, which made it fun.’
What’s been your favourite experience so far?
Pepijn: ‘Interviewing a scientist. We spoke to a researcher at Naturalis about her project, “De Grachtwacht”, in Leiden. I’d never done anything like that before, so it was a really enjoyable and educational experience.’
‘My first thought was: You’re kidding, a saturday at uni?!’
Rebecca: ‘The Creative Writing course. Although some of the topics were deep or heavy, the safe environment meant everyone was open to sharing their stories and experiences. The course ended with a Saturday full of writing exercises at the university. My first thought was: You’re kidding, a saturday at uni? But the activities were so much fun I forgot all about that.’
What’s been the most challenging part?
Pepijn: ‘The deadlines can be tough. Sometimes you’ll have an exam, a project, and an Honours deadline all in the same week. It’s a lot, but it’s always doable.’
Rebecca: ‘For me, it was the course on Tolerance at the Faculty of Law. Most of the students were law students, and I had no background in law or politics. It took a lot of effort to follow the lessons and presentations.’
Any advice for students who are in doubt? Why should (or shouldn’t) you sign up?
Rebecca: ‘You’ve got nothing to lose! If you want to broaden your knowledge, deepen your understanding of your field, or meet people from other disciplines, you should definitely give it a go. Plus, you can choose the courses that interest you most. For example, I enjoyed Creative Writing so much that the assignments didn’t even feel like homework.’
Pepijn: ‘Go for it if you’re looking for depth and are curious about how your field connects with others. But if you’re already overwhelmed and it would bring more stress than excitement, it might not be the best choice for you right now.
However, if you have a bit of room in your schedule and want to broaden your horizons, I’d recommend trying it. You can always take the introductory course to see if it’s a good fit. I’ve never regretted it!’
Interested? Join the Orientation Course!
Want to get a taste of being an Honours student? Sign up for the first course in the programme: Science Skills Lab. You’ll work with students from other disciplines on a scientific topic with a societal angle, such as quantum technology, lab animals, or AI. You’ll interview scientists, design a poster, and present it at a symposium. Read the article about the last edition.
If you have any questions, visit the website or email honourscollege@science.leidenuniv.nl.