481 reviews
4.08 / 5 based on 481 reviews

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marianne_reber
Student life
Describe host city:
Students equally interact with the local and student community
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Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Activities, Nightlife: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
Mazzo (Rozengracht)
CREA cafe
Museumsnight
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marianne_reber
Housing
Type of housing: Apartment/House
Arranged by: Host university
If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House
Why?

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marianne_reber
Languages
Language of instruction: Dutch
Was learning Dutch a key decision factor?
No, it wasn't.
How much did you improve your Dutch?
My level before: Basic phrases
My level after: At ease in most situations
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
In general, there were no major problems as all Dutch people speak English very well which helped when I did not know how to express myself in Dutch. The bad thing about it was that people could get impatient when you kept trying speaking Dutch while it would have been easier to communicate in English
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marianne_reber
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Family
Other sources of funding:
Personal savings
An ERASMUS grant
Work opportunities:
Personal spending habits
The rents and food are more expensive than at home and, of course, I travelled more in Holland. Moreover are there no student discounts for public transport as Dutch students don't have to pay anything (what, however, doesn't apply for foreign students)
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Food, Housing, Travel, Overall:
was more expensive than at home.
Telephone, Nightlife:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
don't use public transport, but buy yourself a cheap bike
get yourself bonus cards (for free) at the supermarkets
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marianne_reber
Academic
My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course

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marianne_reber
Overall
I wish I had known...
I should have been aware of the fact how difficult it is to find accomodation in Amsterdam. The university is not of great help. I won my room by the university room lottery (so I was just very lucky) , but could not stay there for the whole year. On the private market it is very hard to find something and there are many people who try to fool you
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In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
Everything is a little bit unorganised, but most people are willing to help you . The relationship with the professors is very personal and friendly.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Get yourself a BIG lock for the bike
Don't arrive too late in Amsterdam in order to find yourself accomodation
It is no bad idea to gete yourself the museumscard and the train kortingskaart when you stay in the Netherlands for a year: it is worth it.
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