Irish Studies Testimonials

DIANA PETERFI-MELNIC – “The Irish Studies MA at “Babes-Bolyai” University adheres to international standards in terms of curriculum and the overall quality of education, but of course, that wouldn’t say much about what makes it unique. I joined this MA programme after taking a year-long break from university, at a time when, like most students my age, I had nothing more than a few confusing ideals to tell me where I want to go in life. Two years later, as I am about to graduate, there are still little doubts lurking in my mind, but I know for a fact that it would make me happiest to one day become a professor myself. What changed? For me, the most meaningful part of this MA remains the group of professors I encountered here. What makes the programme unique, I would say, is what these people bring to it – the knowledge, of course, but also their friendship, their support, and their guidance. I had the honour to meet, during the course of these past two years, scholars whom I admired as authors of must-read bibliography. I participated in a Joyce summer school that probably changed the course of all my future research. Finally, I had the opportunity to travel the country while delivering papers for various conferences. But I owe all of these experiences to my professors, because it was their teaching, their advice, and their recommendations that helped shape not only my MA program, but likely my future career as well.”

IULIA HUICULESCU – “What’s interesting about having taken the Irish Studies MA is that I am sure if I were to join again and follow the same syllabus, I would discover and rediscover new ways to look at culture. Regarding enthusiasm for their subjects, these teachers are deeply interested and interesting. I couldn’t have made a better choice to round up my studies.”

VLAD MELNIC – “Now, days before I am about to defend my MA dissertation, it’s becoming more and more clear to me what I have gained from following the Irish Studies programme at “Babes-Bolyai” University. For one, the friendship and apprenticeship I enjoyed from the professors teaching here will stay with me for the rest of my life. Their willingness to help, give feedback, provide bibliography, and offer us opportunities to write and publish is invaluable and unquantifiable for me. It is also imperative to mention that their openness was exercised in an academic context that puts great strain on them – from immense workloads to outdated national laws. In retrospect, if I were given the chance to turn back time, I’d do it all over again, with even more pathos. If this were not enough, during my time at the Irish Studies MA, I have found a passion for Irish culture and civilization, not to mention literature, film, and language. I had the opportunity to meet some of the foremost academic names in Irish studies, on a global level, people hailing from as far as Ireland itself, the U.S., and Australia, and whom I personally hope to encounter again, in the future. Last, but definitely not least, I was given the chance to help organize the second CEMS conference, which we were fortunate enough to hold at our department, and I feel as if it was a once-in-a-lifetime event to see and interact with such acclaimed philologists, all in one place. This MA gave me more, much more than a graduate degree and I can only hope that one day I’ll be able to return the favour!”

ANONYMOUS – “I didn’t follow my passion. I had no clue what my passion was. I didn’t follow my friends. We were a light-headed bunch. I applied to the Irish Studies MA Programme on a whim: two more years of reading and a study trip to an island. Some time later, I find it more natural to care about Irish arts, culture and current events than about those of my people. That’s probably not right. But the programme worked.”