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author
Beatrice Giovannoni
Beatrice
faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences
academic year of the stay
2022/2023
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author
Beatrice
faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences
academic year of the stay
2022/2023
Leiden University
traineeship
study stay
short-term mobility
other
How does Beatrice rate their stay?
university
city
accommodation
financial demands
about university | organisation
What made your university special? What were the facilities where you studied and the university equipment like?
The university was great, I loved the fact that many events and conferences were organised during the semester. Classes were really engaging and professors were always willing to organise interesting events for the students. I also loved the various study spaces of the university.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about your "adoptive" university? What made it special? What were the premises where you studied and the university facilities like?
I both followed a course and did an internship. The course was not too different from the ones I attended at Charles University, it was very interesting and engaging. I liked the fact that, instead of writing an essay, as a final work I had to draft two policy papers. Regarding the internship, the organisation were I worked was extremely welcoming and treated me like a real colleague. Would definitely recommend it!
What is student life like at university?
There are some students' associations and a buddy programme for international students to get to know the university better. There are also interesting electives and honour classes, even though I did not take any. I don't know if there are introductory courses for language and culture.
Did you study in English or in the language of the host country? What language requirements does the university have?
I always communicated in English and it was the sole requirement.
about the city
What was your impression of the city? How would you describe it? What is interesting to see here?
Leiden is a calm and student-oriented city. I lived in The Hague, which is a bit busier and cosmopolitan. Personally, I love both!
about finances
In your experience, how far does the scholarship go? What percentage of your expenses did it cover? What is your opinion on prices in the country in general?
The scholarship was really helpful. The rent in the Netherlands tends to be quite expensive, but I was able to find a good deal. The scholarship allowed me to cover the rent and most of expenses related to grocery and basic needs.
Please advise your classmates on how to save money—Where to shop? What services can be used to save money?
Saving money is possible by going to supermarkets like Aldi and Lidle and reducing the amount of times one goes out for drinks, coffee, or meals. To do something among friends, it is normal to go to someone's house for dinner rather than going out. To save money on public transport it is good to get a bike. Second-hand bikes are normally quite cheap and in good conditions. However, the Netherlands remains an expensive country.
about accommodation
What type of accommodation did you choose? Would you recommend it to others? If not, what type of accommodation do you think is best based on your experience (dormitory, private apartment, private dormitory, shared room, etc.)?
I found a room in a private residence for students, this is why it was much cheaper than normal. Unfortunately, due to the housing crisis in the Netherlands, one cannot be too picky because it is really difficult to find a room or an apartment. I don't know how the university's dormitories work.
about experiences
Did you use your stay to travel around the country/Europe? What are your best travel experiences? What would you not recommend?
I visited a few cities in the Netherlands and I went to Brussels a couple times. I really recommend to visit the country, especially the countryside, and take advantage of the extremely efficient trains system.
Language and culture: what cultural differences did you notice? How did you cope with the national language? Was it also the language of your studies? Do you feel that your language skills improved during your stay?
In the Netherlands everyone speaks English, so it is really easy to find your way around and communicate with people. The main cultural difference that I noticed is that, if you want to do something with someone, you have to schedule it early in advance. It is rare that a Dutch person will accept a spontaneous invitation!
about experiences
Did you use Erasmus stay to travel around your country/Europe? What are your best travel experiences? What would you not recommend?
Language and culture: what cultural differences did you notice? How did you cope with the national language? Was it also the language of your studies? Do you feel that your language skills improved during your stay?
Did you use Erasmus stay to travel around your country/Europe? What are your best travel experiences? What would you not recommend?
final rating
Why here? What makes this location special? Why would you send your friends to your country/city?
The university is amongst the best in Europe, the quality of teaching is really high, and the events organised are always extremely interesting. The Hague is a great to be if someone wishes to work for international organisations because there are plenty of them in the city.
live-saving tips
If I went again, I would definitely remember to pack...
An umbrella and rain-proof clothes for the fall and winter season. Also vitamin D pills.
Before leaving, I would like to know that...
Life can be really expensive but there are plenty of discounts available if one is able to look for them.
What surprised me most was that...
The beauty of the spring with its flowers and the very long days with the sunset at 10 PM.
The hardest thing for me was...
The weaather and the little amount of daylight in the winter. I often felt down and lacking energy.
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