Type of housing: Apartment/House

Arranged by: Independently - I had no other choice

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why? The housing company Duwo will help foreign students with short stay housing and its the easiest way to find an apartment. IF you want to look for your own apartment you should be aware about the housing shortage in Amsterdam which has brought up the prices and down the space. Start looking at least 3 months in advance - especially during the summer

Personal comments:
I lived at Poeldijkstraat which is in the Oud zoud, close to the biggest central park - Vondelpark. The apartments are quite expensive compared to Sweden, but the location makes it worth it. Its not too far away from the school, and if you take the bike you will reach the city within 15 min.

Describe host city: Students interact with the local community without much university involvement

Activities: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment

Nightlife, Travel: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment

Personal comments:
There are so many places in Amsterdam, Melkweg and Paradiso usually have nice concerts and parties. Club 11 is a nice club to go to, with a beautiful view of Amsterdam. As for cafes Kashmirs lounge, lost in Amsterdam are cosy cafes as well as the Rokerij. Twstd, the tetra bar and Wonder bar, are small bars adn Dj cafes, good price and they have most of the time Dj's playing all kind of music, my favourite hang outs. For parties my best experience was to keep an eye out for flyers to see what is happening or to go to record stores, such as outland records, In deep n dance, Sweaty records to check and ask for parties.

Course recommendations:
It is not dificult for a foreign student to follow the courses, evenif the methods is not the same as in France and the teachers are always there to help you.

Personal comments:
I have learnt to study in a more english way which differs quite a lot from the french one, and improved and learnt courses that I wouldn't follow in my home university.

Language of instruction: English

Main source of funding:
Other

Other sources of funding:
Personal savings
An ERASMUS grant
work

Work opportunities:
I worked during my study abroad experience

Personal spending habits:
I spen more on the telephone, because I only had a mobile phone so calling abroad became more expensive. I spend more on the nightlife not because it is more expensive but because I went out much more. On food and travelling I spend less because it was cheaper in Holland than in Sweden.

Nightlife, Telephone: was more expensive than at home.

Overall, Housing: was the same price as at home.

Food, Travel: was less expensive than at home.

I wish I had known...
I visited amsterdam before so i knew the city, maybe for the housing because although i didn't have problmes some of my friend had.

In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!