Studying abroad - Netherlands

top_drawer_2

Hello

I'm looking into studying for a MSc in the Netherlands. Is anyone else doing something similar, how is it for you?

I made a huge mistake in choosing my degree / university and ended up in a miserable wet drab city, studying with lecturers who couldn't give a %^&* , alongside students who also could give a %^&* It was a hugely interesting, wide ranging and useful topic but it's been absolutely useless in getting me a job!

I'm determined not to make this same mistake again but I am not a natural planner and I'm not sure where to start with properly planning.

Where do I start in researching things? I've settled on 4 - 5 courses that I'm particularly interested in- they're at different universities so I've emailed each of the tutors and spoken with them about my prospects of being admitted to the course. I'm doing a kind of related course via coursera to expand my knowledge of the area.

I've asked for advice on the The Student Room to see if I can find other people who are undertaking the same / similar courses but this has fallen flat with no responses. I've also looked around for other student forums where it might be more active without success.

What else can I do?

dizzie

Hi Top-Drawer,

One of my sons is currently doing his BSc in the Netherlands. I can't comment on an MSc specifically, but my thoughts are as follows:

1. You get some good and some bad lecturers in all courses....and in all countries. Maybe you could enquire at the universities that you are interested in as to whether they could put you in touch with one or two or their current students so that you could hear about their study experiences on the course you are interested in.

2. English taught Batchelors and Masters programmes attract students from a diverse range of countries. My son has friends from all over the world now. So you should get a great cultural experience!

3. The Dutch are very direct. To a British person they can seem a little rude because they are so direct....but I kinda like that they call a spade a spade.

4. As far as job prospects are concerned, do the universities offer any help with linking you up with companies/prospective employers?

5. I have no idea what you intend to study but my feeling is that the fact that you've thought a little outside the box and gone to study in another country might make you stand out, particularly when applying to a multinational company.

6. The Netherlands are pretty cold and wet, just like the UK, so no change there to worry about. The roads are flat....a bike will be compulsory, and you'll need eyes in the back of your head to negotiate both motor vehicles and the bikes as a pedestrian. Still, it keeps you on your toes! Public transport is way superior to the UK.

7. I hear that Amsterdam is pretty expensive for a student, but elsewhere in Holland, living costs (give or take) are often similar or slightly cheaper to much of the UK. My son pays around £55 a week for his student accommodation (large room, shared bathroom and kitchen facilities.....and that is inclusive of all utility bills and internet! Bargain!)

8. They all drink beer in Holland on nights out...and it's sold in little bottles. They seem to like Beer Cantus type events.....which involve drinking and singing. However, I'm told that talking to someone in a nightclub whose first language is not English can be a bit tricky! That said, I guess it can be hard enough to make yourself heard in a UK nightclub?....I don't know...those days are long behind me.

9. Tuition fees in the Netherlands are usually way cheaper than the British Universities charge, even though many of the Dutch universities rank above their British counterparts on the various world ranking sites!

10. You won't have to learn Dutch. In fact most Dutch people speak better English than many English people (scary). Besides, Dutch looks a really difficult language to learn to me, but maybe I'm just a whimp. That said, you're bound to pick up a few grocery words just by going shopping in your local Albert Heijn store (Brill deli counter in Albert Heijn!)

So there you are! I don't know if that has been much help, but if you have any further questions that you think I might be able to help with, feel free to PM me.

LeahKStewart

Hi there, I'm also in TSR! It's a great place although, it can be hit/miss when the question is very specific i.e. if I'm not watching at that moment it'll probably go past. Totally understand your feelings on the UK uni programmes - so many odd systems/ideals are clashing making it quite hard environments for all but the most single-mindedly determined to get much good out of it. Thankfully I spend my 3rd year (of a 4 year MSci course) in Sweden in a small, but very international, university town of Lund. THAT's where I saw smart courses that the lecturers were in control of and loved to teach. I took their MSc level courses which were in English and, of an average class size of 20, not more than 2 were from the same country. Such a cool international mix! Met several people from the Netherlands and they're so friendly. Second everything dizzie says. Your pro-activity in contacting tutors directly is spot on. Be sure to check out the research being conducted at the different universities. If you're interested and have something to add to that, you'll probably end up being involved in more official ways beyond the course, because there's a culture of intellectual inclusion there, which I think you'll enjoy. Might also be worth seeing if there are any student facebook groups, or things like that, related to the universities you're looking at. Then you can get a student perspective too, though I'd say this is less important than connecting with those running the courses and doing the research. Good luck and enjoy the adventure!