Details

• Netherlands
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

Beyond adhering to the official timelines and guidelines no particular preparations were required. Prior to my exchange semester, I did not engage in any thorough planning. Nevertheless, after receiving the admission confirmation from VU Amsterdam, I would highly advise future exchange students to begin their search for housing immediately. Amsterdam’s housing situation is highly challenging, with very limited availability and high costs, making the process of securing accommodation demanding.

2. Accommodation

I found my accommodation "Hotel Jansen Schinkel" through the university’s official website. Immediately after receiving confirmation for my exchange semester, I contacted the Hotel (which is some kind of student housing) and asked to be placed on the housing waiting list immediately. I would recommend to do so, as a very large number of students apply for these spots. At the same time, I searched for private accommodation together with a friend, as we initially planned to rent a small apartment together. However, it quickly became clear that it was almost impossible to find any accommodation in Amsterdam for a limited period of four months. There were hardly any available options at all, regardless of price, which made the search extremely frustrating. In the end, I stayed at Hotel Jansen Schinkel. Overall, the accommodation was suitable for my stay. Although living directly in the city in a small apartment would have been preferable, the housing situation made this unrealistic. The accommodation was located slightly outside the city center, but it was still well connected, and the university could be reached within a short time by bike (around 10 minutes). The area felt safe and despite not living directly in the city center, the location was practical and suitable for everyday life. It took me about 15-20 minutes to get to the city center with my bike. Generally, I would strongly recommend to get a bike, as public transportation was about a 15-20 minute walk away and cycling was by far the fastest and most convenient way to get around. Looking back I wish I had known in advance how difficult it is to find any accommodation in Amsterdam, especially for a fixed and relatively short period such as four months. While the student housing suited my needs, understanding the severity of the housing shortage earlier would have helped to set more realistic expectations.

3. Academic life at host university

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is mainly organized around a single campus location, which is situated outside the city center. Having most facilities concentrated in one area was convenient for daily university life. In general, classes and academic activities took place on this main campus. Occasionally, exams were held at a secondary location, namely the Sportscentrum, but apart from that, the academic infrastructure was largely centralized. From an academic perspective, achieving high grades at VU is widely considered difficult. The grading scale ranges from 1 to 10, but grades above 8.5 which would correspond to 1.0 at WU, are rarely awarded. Through conversations with local students, I learned that many of them had never received a grade of 9.0 or higher and that even an 8.5 is uncommon and often associated with an exceptionally high workload and a certain element of luck. I completed the first four courses of the Minor in Entrepreneurship. Each course was divided into lectures and tutorials, but there was little overlap between the two formats. Lectures primarily covered the material relevant for the final exam, yet attendance was generally very low. Tutorials, on the other hand, focused almost exclusively on group-based work. Participation was expected, and although attendance was not always formally recorded, students were assigned to groups of around 5 members. These groups were responsible for completing group projects as presentations and written submissions that required a significant time investment. A major challenge was the lack of clarity surrounding many of the group assignments. In several cases, neither the purpose nor the expected outcome of the tasks was clearly communicated, which made it difficult to assess performance or understand what was required to achieve a good result. Because group work accounted for a large proportion of the final grade, this uncertainty added considerable pressure. Group dynamics also played a major role: when group members were less motivated or less concerned about their grades, the workload often shifted unevenly, resulting in a substantial amount of additional effort for more committed students. In addition to group projects, there were individual assignments and, in some cases, peer evaluations, where students were asked to assess each other’s contributions. Overall, the written exams typically accounted for only around 30 to 60 percent of the final grade, with the remaining portion based on group work, assignments, and peer assessments. For me, the exams themselves were the least challenging part, as they were manageable with around one to two weeks of focused preparation, provided that one attended the lectures or at least kept up with the lecture slides throughout the semester. The real difficulty lay in the group projects, where success depended heavily on group composition, unclear expectations, and grading criteria that often felt inconsistent and unpredictable. While the workload throughout the semester was consistently rather high and required continuous engagement, I personally felt that the academic learning outcome did not fully reflect the amount of effort invested. Compared to my experience at WU Vienna, where courses are generally more clearly structured and academically coherent, the minor at VU felt less effective in terms of knowledge acquisition.

5. Every day life in the host country

Everyday life in Amsterdam was something I truly enjoyed, and the city left a very positive impression on me overall. I felt comfortable and safe at all times, including in the evenings. I regularly went out alone and cycled home by myself at night without ever feeling unsafe. This sense of safety mainly reflects the areas where I lived and spent most of my time and while I am aware that not all parts of the city may feel the same, I personally never encountered any unpleasant or unsafe situations. Public transportation did not play a major role in my daily routine, as cycling was by far my primary mode of transport. I used my bike at all times of the day, even in very cold weather and eventually it simply became second nature. Since the nearest bus or tram stop was about a 15–20 minute walk from where I lived, relying on public transport was often inconvenient. Occasionally, I cycled to a station and continued by tram or bus into the city, but overall public transportation was relatively expensive (compared to Vienna) and less efficient compared to cycling. I would highly recommend renting a bike through "Swapfiets", which costs approximately 20–30 euros per month. The service is widely used in Amsterdam, including by locals, and offers multiple pickup locations throughout the city. You can choose from different bike models, pick one up for the desired period, and simply return it at the end of your stay. Repairs and theft insurance are included, which makes the system very practical especially for exchange students. In general, cycling was significantly faster than using public transportation. Most destinations within the city could be reached within 15–20 minutes by bike, whereas the same trips often took 30–40 minutes by public transport. In terms of social life, leisure activities, and sports, Amsterdam offers a wide range of options and is comparable to Vienna in this regard. It is a highly international city with a large student population and constant activity. Overall, living in Amsterdam was an incredibly enriching experience and I would definitely choose to do it again if I could. It was one of the most memorable experiences of my studies.

6. Testimonial

Overall, my experience in Amsterdam was extremely positive and something I will remember for a long time. During my stay, I made many new friendships, both with other students from WU who were also in Amsterdam and with people from the Netherlands, Germany and other countries. These were connections I would most likely never have made otherwise, which made the experience even more meaningful. Choosing Amsterdam as my exchange destination felt like the right decision from the start. It is a lively, international city with a great atmosphere. Even though it is not very large, you quickly get a good overview of the city and feel part of everyday life there. People are open, there is always something going on, and the city never feels boring or empty. Of course, university life was sometimes demanding, but this never outweighed the overall experience. In the end, the stress related to studying fades into the background. What really stays with you are the memories, the people you met, and the everyday life you built for yourself during those months. Looking back, the exchange experience was absolutely worth it. Living in a different country, being surrounded by new people, and stepping out of your comfort zone is incredibly rewarding. Even if the beginning feels overwhelming or comes with some doubts, it pays off in the end. If I had the chance, I would do it again without hesitation.