26/02/2009 | Alumni Profiles , Newsletter

Alumni profile: Master of Laws

Marina Aksenova challenged herself to study in a different way than she was used to when she embarked on her LLM. She speaks with topgradschool.com about her experiences of studying abroad for a masters degree in Amsterdam.

“An international degree is very well regarded in Russia and being able to obtain a masters degree abroad significantly increases your chances of getting a job,” Marina Aksenova says from her position as an associate in the international arbitration practice of a Russian law firm.

A graduate of the International University in Moscow, Marina became interested in public international law while she was studying for her undergraduate degree. She wanted to continue studying the subject at graduate level to deepen her knowledge in the area and in addition, to experience studying abroad in an international environment.

“I fell in love with the University of Amsterdam purely by accident.”

“I fell in love with the University of Amsterdam purely by accident,” she says. “I was doing my internship in Germany during the penultimate year of my undergraduate degree. By then I already knew that I wanted to continue my studies but I didn’t know where. I took a day trip from Germany to Amsterdam, liked the city a lot and when I passed by the university building, I decided that I wanted to study there. When I came back from the trip I went on the internet, read very positive reviews about the University of Amsterdam, found a program that suited me well and after a few months applied.”

As they say – the rest is history. Marina was accepted on the course and so began her experience of studying abroad for a masters degree. “I like meeting new people, having relative freedom to plan my own time to study and the opportunity to learn another culture. The challenge was to study in a different way from what I was used to.”

“Studying for my masters degree was more focused on self-study, research and critical thinking. It was an excellent challenge.”

Marina said universities in Russia put a big emphasis on learning under supervision, particularly during an undergraduate degree. “Studying for my masters degree was more focused on self-study, research and critical thinking. It was an excellent challenge,” she says. “I learned to look at problems from the broader, more analytical angle. I deepened my knowledge in the area of public international law, which I think helped me to receive an internship with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. I also learned to understand other cultures better, which is a big plus for working in an international organization.”

Now working as an associate in the international arbitration practice of a law firm, Marina’s work requires her to draft procedural pleadings and memorandums on the various legal issues, participate in court proceedings and prepare cases for international arbitration. “I like the contentious nature of my job and I have to work on the persuasive arguments for the pleading. I plan to continue gaining practical experience but also to study for a PhD because I want to deepen my theoretical knowledge and develop as a researcher. I would like to teach/research part-time and to practise law in a law firm or an international organization.”

Marina believes she was lucky to find an excellent public international law program in the university and location of her preference and as a result of such a positive experience, would definitely encourage others to study abroad for their masters degree.
However, she does wish she had paid more attention to searching for her student accommodation in advance. When she arrived to study at the University of Amsterdam, all student housing had been taken and she had to locate a flat privately.

“This experience broadens your horizons. It helps in better understanding your career goals and the objectives at work. It also contributes to your personal growth due to the intense cross-cultural communication and learning. I had an opportunity to work in an international organization and an international law firm. I can say that these are very different and very valuable experiences.”