International perspective: moving to the Netherlands for university
Moving to a new country can be a challenge but exciting. Dóra Anna Szeles, a Hungarian student, shares her top tips and advice to those moving to study abroad, like she did, in the Netherlands
Dóra Anna Szeles
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To prepare for my study abroad journey, I watched YouTube videos about student life in the Netherlands. These videos shared some practical tips and tricks that proved useful later, but I did not see any videos about what really matters the most: settling in a new country. In this article, I will share some tips that will hopefully help you to adapt to your new life in the Netherlands.
Introduction week
Throughout the introduction week, I heard so many second- and third-year students mentioning that they had found their best friends during this event. I do not doubt that this does happen for some, but I felt like this put a lot of pressure on all first-year students. The truth about introduction week is that you will meet about 200 people, and by the next week, you will not remember the names of most of them.
If you put pressure on yourself to try to find your best friends right away, you will not enjoy the week as much as you should. Everyone is trying to make as many friends as possible, so speak to as many people as you can because you never know who you’ll connect with.
Student associations
Did you miss introduction week? Don’t worry. Universities in the Netherlands offer many opportunities to meet people and try new hobbies. Most universities have many student associations you can join.
I am a member of International Students Rotterdam, a student network that organises events for international students in Rotterdam. Joining this association helped me a lot, especially in the first few weeks, when I had not formed my long-term friendship group yet. I made many friends, and it helped to see the same familiar faces at each event.
There is usually a wide range of student clubs covering many different interests, such as sports, fashion, travel and business, so do not hesitate to check out the list of student associations on your university’s website.
The cost of studying at a university in the Netherlands
Student visas in the Netherlands
Scholarships to study in the Netherlands for international students
Work–life balance
Finding the right balance between your studies and your social life can be tricky, especially during the first few months when you are not yet used to the workload and you do not have a stable group of friends. My lifeline was befriending second-year students on my course. They know exactly what you are going through and they can help you a lot.
At university, the workload can be quite overwhelming, and sometimes you have to prioritise study over other things. Second-year students can help with sharing lecture notes and explaining what is important to learn.
In the Netherlands, there are two types of bachelor’s degrees: HBO (university of applied sciences) and WO (academic university education).
In WO programmes in the Netherlands, emphasis is placed on self-study. You will be provided with lots of materials (books, videos, exercises) to learn from, but the lectures often cover only a small part of the course; you need to be disciplined enough to learn most of the course material on your own.
I also recommend being prepared and trying to avoid leaving assignments until the last minute. Even if the workload seems lighter in the beginning, you will have to learn a lot.
Overall, WO programmes are more research-oriented and usually last for three years; HBO programmes are four years long.
HBO programmes emphasise practical education more than WO programmes with more in-person classes and small group sessions. It is important that you choose wisely and find the path that suits you.
In conclusion, moving to a new country can be challenging, and the adjustment period is not always smooth. But if you stay open towards other people, you will receive a lot of help from those around you.
