Kate (Sem 2, 2023)

My Exchange at The University of Amsterdam

I found out about the 360 International Programme through its advertising with the Global Studies Degree. I always knew that when I came to university I wanted to participate in an exchange! I chose to go to the University of Amsterdam as an oppurtunity to explore a new country, be connected to many other countries around me and to be able to experience Dutch/European culture and arts. My first impression/feelings arriving in my host country was excitement! I felt like I was starting a new chapter of my life and I was excited to see what adventures I would have in the next six months. However, I was also nervous as I was in a completely new city, all alone, and faced with a lot of socialising and making friends in the coming week. My accommodation was really nice, despite living alone, it was very connected to the city. 

Orientation with the University of Amsterdam was probably one of my highlights because it was when I was able to meet most of the friends I had while in Amsterdam. It was really well run – one week of events from morning until late every day. I got to spend a lot of time around other exchange students and made friends who made my time in Amsterdam so amazing. 

The courses at my host university were not as hard as I expected! They had been painted out by the University as a step up from Auckland but I found them no to be that bad. The only problem was they didn’t record their lectures! I really liked the differing content they have over there from UoA and the different viewpoints provided. The campus was a very beautiful building in the heart of the city so it was great. There were a lot of great study spaces. 

The cost of living in Amsterdam was pretty similar to Auckland in the end. I found supermarkets to be much cheaper, especially fruit and vegetables. But eating out was insanely priced! 

The highlight of my trip was definitely the friends I made and all the adventures we had. This leads to the biggest piece of advice I would give, which is to go to all the Orientation events put on by your university and participate in as many opportunities as you can in the first few weeks as it is there you will meet likeminded people who you can share your exchange with!

Studying in Amsterdam was one of the best choices I have made. It is such a unique and cool city. You can bike everywhere and feel so safe while doing so! I definitely saved a lot of money on public transport with biking. The city feels like it is built to be lived in and enjoyed by humans. There are markets on every day, cafes on every corner, parks across the city, people outside all the time. 

Q&A

What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?

I really enjoyed the new viewpoints provided by my lecturers and classmates. My courses mainly focused on European history and everyone around me was very knowledgeable about these subjects. It felt cool to be living in the places I had been learning about.  

Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?

Orientation activities I would highly recommend. Also taking part in CREA – a creative arts centre at the University of Amsterdam. They had mini courses in things like painting and singing and dancing and this was a great way to meet new people. 

What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?

1. Take all the opportunities offered to you, especially in the first few weeks. It is crucial to attend these events to make friends!
2. Don’t stress too much about the level of work/study. It was very reasonable and not too hard and you aren’t overseas to spend all your time studying!
3. Explore the city on your own! Amsterdam is such a safe city and there are so many areas to explore. It isn’t necessary to wait around for friends to go out with, you can do it yourself too!

How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?

I budgeted around 10,000 for my exchange, not including rent. I found this to be enough, however sometimes I wish I had a bit more when it came to travelling outside of the country. However, this amount gave me so many great experiences in and outside of Amsterdam! For future students I would definitly look into schemes run by the government for international students. In the Netherlands, international students who lived alone in self-contained apartments were entitled to a housing subsidy, which was very helpful. 

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

My most significant takeaways about my experience abroad was the importance of being comfortable on your own. Living abroad can be so lonely even if you have lots of friends. I lived alone which was a big adjustment to me, as I wasn’t used to waking up and coming home to an empty house/room. But I learnt throughout my exchange how to be comfortable and happy living by myself and also having fun experiences by myself. But at the same time, how great and exciting it is to make and have new friends from around the world. They really enrich your life with different viewpoints and ideas and it is great to now have connections all across the globe!

Do you want to share anything about travels you did outside your host city/country?

Travelling outside your host country is a must, especially in Europe. Flixbus has so many great deals.