Reviews of HES Amsterdam (HESASD) | Netherlands

Useful | 0

Stewe B

Högskolan i Halmstad, Halmstad, Sweden
Business Studies, Undergraduate, Erasmus

Housing

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 assessment

Cost

Facilities

Location

Cleanliness

Space

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.

Useful | 0

Pia D

Stockholm School of Economics, Stockholm, Sweden
Business Studies, Graduate, Erasmus

Expenses

Main source of funding:

Other

Other sources of funding:

Personal savings<br> An ERASMUS grant<br> Other

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.

Accessibility of student needs

Second-hand text books

Second-hand household items

Computers / Internet

Administrative

Money from home

Personal comments

If you need furniture or household items go around the city, beacsue in Holland they have a wounderful recycling tradition, that everyone leaves their things outside on the street, once a week, so who ever needs anything can take it before the garbage men do! Some things are a real catch!

Useful | 1

FloGraue

Fachhochschule Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
Business Studies, Undergraduate, Erasmus

Languages

Language of instruction: English

Local language was: Different than language of instruction

Was learning English a key decision factor?

No, it wasn't.

Was learning the local language a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my the local language

How much did you improve your the local language?

My level before: Everyday knowledge (shopping, directions, etc.)
My level after: At ease in most situations

Language difficulties

Social

Educational

Administrative / Institutional

Overall

Personal comments

I already studied Dutch 2 years at the FH Dortmund, before I came to Amsterdam. So I already had a good knowledge. Now the problem is that the language at the HES is English. Of course, I decided for a few courses in Dutch to improve my Dutch skills. But I have to mention that it is sometimes very disappointing when you want to talk in Dutch. A lot of people here in Amsterdam think it is very polite to answer in German. So you have to convince them that you want to talk in Dutch!

Useful | 0

Astrid F

Fachhochschule für Wirtschaft Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Financial Management, Graduate, Erasmus

Overall

I wish I had known...

no

In my opinion:

Most people loved it.

Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important

Academic reasons

4

Culture

3

Costs

3

Activities

3

Campus life

3

Party / people

3

Weather / location

2

Personal recommendation

You will love Amsterdam! Good organised student life, helpful university staff, nice student housing.

During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot

Became familiar with another culture

3

Traveled

3

Improved language skills

3

Met people from other countries

3

Became more independent

3

Partied a lot

3

Experienced a change in life

3

Advanced my studies & career

3

Final comments

Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful cities on this planet. You must visit the festivals if you will be there in the summer time. Amsterdam´s centre is not very big-that is why a bike is a very good way to save travel expenses. Besides everyone goes by bike in Amsterdam-it`s easy to get one there.

Useful | 0

Dania F

EPSCI, Cergy-Pontoise, France
Marketing and Sales Management, Undergraduate, Erasmus

Housing

Type of housing: On campus

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: On campus

Why?

All the exchange students are together so you can meet people from eveywhere in the world and the ambiance is just great!

Personal assessment

Cost

Facilities

Location

Cleanliness

Space

Personal comments

There are 3 buildings for the exchange students, two that are quite old and one brand new which is closer to the new school building. The two old ones can some times be quite disappointing but it is still okay to live there.

Useful | 0