Reviews of Universiteit Twente | Netherlands

Useful | 6

Pedro P

Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, Undergraduate, University Agreement

Housing

Type of housing: A room in the city, on Campus and a residence

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: in the residence - Macandra

Why?

Because even though there are better conditions on campus, Macandra is located in the city and the social life is a lot more intense. (NOTE: the rating of the accomodation is refered to Macandra)

Personal assessment

Cost

Facilities

Location

Cleanliness

Space

Personal comments

First I lived in a room at De Klomp (in the city) which, apart of being extremely expensive, the conditions were not so good. After I mooved to a very nice room on Campus. Really big, clean, quiet and incredible internet facilities. In the end I moved to Macandra where I met a lot of nice people and also my friends from my course. The conditions are not as good - the room is quite small, no internet and you have to share the kitchen with other 29 people. Still worth it!

Useful | 1

Pedro P

Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, Undergraduate, University Agreement

Student life

Describe host city:

Student life dominates the city

Activities: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment

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

Personal social experience

Activities

Nightlife

Travel

Overall

Personal comments

"The Edge", Atak (Disco -> Alternative Rock - Sat, Techno-House - Thu, and concerts sometimes), The Kikker (bar), Friends Too (bar), Rocks (bar), Delirium (the best bar/disco, unfortunately closed too soon).

Useful | 1

Pedro P

Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, Undergraduate, University Agreement

Academic

Course recommendations

I followed the Technology and Management program for international students where all of us were from different countries. Since not all international students spoke a very good English at the begining there was some benevolence from the teachers, but it was very interesting.

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

No. I think it was a year when I learned a lot of interesting subjects, had nice teachers (most of them) and the lectures were interactive and comunicative. The environment among the students was great!

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 | 2

Pedro P

Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, Undergraduate, University Agreement

Overall

I wish I had known...

No, everything was perfect like it was.

In my opinion:

Everybody loved it, you will too!

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

Academic reasons

3

Culture

3

Costs

2

Activities

3

Campus life

3

Party / people

3

Weather / location

1

Personal recommendation

That they always keep with all the facilities and opportunities for the international students.

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

Became familiar with another culture

2

Traveled

3

Improved language skills

3

Met people from other countries

4

Became more independent

4

Partied a lot

4

Experienced a change in life

4

Advanced my studies & career

3

Final comments

Highly recommended experience at most aspects: academic ,social and personal experience, independence, improving a foreign language (english) and getting in touch with lots of different cultures. About traveling tips, first of all get a bicicle. You can get some nice second hand bicicles on Campus at U-Tecno or by Lili (a Vietnamite guy who buys and sells bicicles). But it's indispensable. As for the train traveling, I highly recommend you to get a discount card as soon as you can. It's valid for one year and you get 40% discount everytime you travel (you get it payed back in just a couple of travels). Personally I'd also recommend you to get the Enschede Pass (E-Pass) that gives you discount in some restaurants and shops, as well as museums and libraries. You can also have free entrance in the best disco in Enschede -ATAK.

Useful | 1

Pedro P

Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, Undergraduate, University Agreement

Expenses

Main source of funding:

Family

Other sources of funding:

Personal savings

Work opportunities:

I didn't explore any work options

Personal spending habits

The food price is not so higher or almost the same as in Portugal as long as we look at the prices. Telephone for the obvious reasons. Nightlife because I had a lot more in Holland than in Portugal but it's still like the double or triple price. Travelling is really cheap, fast and easy, I just spent more because in Portugal I never travelled so much.

Travel, Telephone, Food, Nightlife, Overall:

was more expensive than at home.

Housing:

was the same price as at home.

Accessibility of student needs

Second-hand text books

Second-hand household items

Computers / Internet

Administrative

Money from home

Personal comments

Nothing relevant.

Useful | 0

Pedro P

Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, Undergraduate, University Agreement

Languages

Language of instruction: English

Local language was: Different than language of instruction

Was learning English a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my English

Was learning the local language a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my the local language

How much did you improve your English?

My level before: At ease in most situations
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)

How much did you improve your the local language?

My level before: Did not speak it
My level after: Did not speak it

Language difficulties

Social

Educational

Administrative / Institutional

Overall

Personal comments

Learning dutch: only if you have to, or if you're crazy enough to like it! :-) Improving english: even if it's not your intention, you'll get better for sure, besides EVERYONE there speaks english.

Universiteit Twente

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