Details

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

1. Preparation

I received my accommodation through the university lottery system. Getting a place this way is quite a risky game because you never know in advance whether you will actually secure a spot. That’s why the most important thing is to have your accommodation confirmed beforehand, as it gives you certainty and peace of mind. Regarding transportation, I traveled by direct night train. It was very convenient and not too expensive. It costs around 100 euros one way, and you can bring unlimited luggage. That’s why I chose this option.

2. Accommodation

It is very, very difficult to find private accommodation. That’s why I applied through the university lottery system. Afterwards, I found out that there are actually many financial support options available. If you live alone in a studio with your own kitchen, the Netherlands provides financial support. You can also receive additional money if you work a certain number of hours. However, it is very difficult to find a job. I ended up living in a student dormitory with a shared kitchen but my own private room. I can definitely recommend it. In my dorm, there were mainly Master’s students, and everyone was very nice.It was about half an hour away by bike. I usually cycled there every day. I can definitely recommend using a bike because public transportation is relatively expensive. There is a monthly subscription for around 15 euros, which gives you about a 40% discount on public transport. However, I mostly chose to cycle. I rented my bike from Swapfiets, which was very convenient.

3. Academic life at host university

I studied at UVA, and in many ways it is quite similar to WU. Everyone there is extremely friendly and helpful if you have questions. In the courses, there is a lot of group work, many presentations, and quite a heavy reading workload. That was a noticeable difference compared to WU. I would say that UVA is slightly more demanding than WU. Overall, though, it was definitely manageable, and the people were very nice.

5. Every day life in the host country

In everyday life, I mostly used my bike because it’s the most common and easiest way to get around. You can easily rent a bike through services like Swapfiets. Overall, I felt very safe. Even at night, for example when going out, I generally felt secure. I would say it’s quite similar to Vienna in terms of safety. In my free time, there was a lot to do. You could simply walk around the city, go shopping, or travel to places like Belgium or explore different parts of the Netherlands. UVA also offers a gym membership. For around 30 euros, you get unlimited access to workout classes and the gym facilities. I used it myself and would definitely recommend it.

6. Testimonial

The experience was absolutely amazing and it definitely helped me grow. I would say that I have become more independent and can make decisions more confidently on my own. What made it especially great was the city itself and the people I met there. I met so many different people from various countries, especially from Denmark and Norway. It was a very diverse group of people, and I was able to build meaningful friendships. You can really look forward to what’s ahead of you, and I wish you the best of luck!