Reviews of Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (UNIVERSITY OF GRONINGEN) | Netherlands

Useful | 0

Kirstie D

University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Humanities, Undergraduate, Independent

Student life

Describe host city:

Students equally interact with the local and student community

Travel, Nightlife: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment

Activities: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment

Personal social experience

Activities

Nightlife

Travel

Overall

Personal comments

'De Zolder' ('The Attic') is memorable for its unique atmosphere and interesting beer. For a more mainstream night out, there are quite a few nightclubs on the main street. I rate 'Het Feest' as a fun place to go.

Useful | 0

Kirstie D

University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Humanities, Undergraduate, Independent

Housing

Type of housing: International student house

Arranged by: Independently - I had no other choice

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why?

Opportunity to meet students from all over the world. Good social life.

Personal assessment

Cost

Facilities

Location

Cleanliness

Space

Personal comments

I was lucky to get a room where I did. The demand for accommodation exceeded the places available.

Useful | 4

Kirstie D

University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Humanities, Undergraduate, Independent

Overall

I wish I had known...

There were 50 people trying to use the same phone - a bit of a nightmare at times!

In my opinion:

Everybody loved it, you will too!

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

Academic reasons

2

Culture

4

Costs

3

Activities

2

Campus life

2

Party / people

4

Weather / location

2

Personal recommendation

I think it's good for law, and it's one of the top six universities in the Netherlands.

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

Became familiar with another culture

3

Traveled

3

Improved language skills

1

Met people from other countries

4

Became more independent

4

Partied a lot

4

Experienced a change in life

4

Advanced my studies & career

2

Final comments

Apply for your housing early. There are 5 international student houses and they are very popular.

Useful | 0

Kirstie D

University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Humanities, Undergraduate, Independent

Academic

Course recommendations

I was in the Netherlands to improve my Dutch so I was allowed to take any courses I liked. The Japanese history course was very good, as were the Japanese language lessons in the evening.

My academic experiences

Quality of courses

Variety of courses

Access to resources

Interaction with teachers

Interaction with international students

Interaction with local students

Personal comments

I didn't need any specific grades to 'pass' the courses and so I couldn't participate in the homework. A lot of work, including essays, was done on a group basis rather than individually. Some of the international students found it hard to get used to this.

My opinion of the university assessment

Exams at end of course

Exams throughout the course

Essays and/or projects at the end of course

Essays and/or projects throughout the course

Overall

Useful | 1

Kirstie D

University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Humanities, Undergraduate, Independent

Languages

Language of instruction: Dutch

Local language was: Different than language of instruction

Was learning Dutch a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my Dutch

Was learning the local language a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my the local language

How much did you improve your Dutch?

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

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

My understanding of Dutch improved a lot thanks to my lectures being in Dutch. However, it was difficult to practise my spoken Dutch as the students and locals all wanted to show off their English rather than speak their native Dutch.

Useful | 0

Kirstie D

University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Humanities, Undergraduate, Independent

Expenses

Main source of funding:

Government assistance

Other sources of funding:

Family

Work opportunities:

I didn't want/need to work

Personal spending habits

The accommodation was far cheaper than my room in Cambridge. The phone was shared so I didn't use it as much. The nightlife was far better than at home so I went out more often. I could cycle to university so that was free.

Nightlife:

was more expensive than at home.

Telephone, Food, Travel, Overall, Housing:

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