A Blog about Education Abroad

Author: Donavan Louw

  • Evaggelos Pelekis at KU Leuven

    Evaggelos Pelekis at KU Leuven

    Pre-departure:

    From the moment of confirmation of acceptance for exchange a flush of euphoria streams through your body as you realise exactly the magnitude of the adventure that lies ahead. Suddenly studying acquires several more dimensions as very soon you will fly to a distant corner of the earth. There awaits a whole new chapter of your life that still remains mysteriously unbeknownst to you.

    As I am a Greek citizen it was not required of me to undergo any formal procedures, my luck was such that I did not even need to visit an Embassy for a visa. What luck, considering the worrisome experiences in the process of acquiring a visa others have had! I had to complete a Learning Agreement in order to get my course selection approved. The mere range and variety of the courses on offer excited me very much.

    (more…)

  • Jeanne-Marie at LUCA School of Arts

    Jeanne-Marie at LUCA School of Arts

    Pre-departure:

    The application to be accepted into the program was not as difficult as I expected. All that was expected of me was to write a two (2) page motivational letter explaining why I would like to be considered for the transition fellowship program, and submit my academic records of previous studies. Once I received the notice that I was accepted into the program, my course supervisor, Keith Dietrich, corresponded back and forth with LUCA School of Arts to agree on the course requirements once I arrive. I was also asked to send documents to the administrative staff from LUCA (including a certified copy of my passport and ID). I could choose between LUCA in Gent and LUCA in Brussels. I decided on Gent, as I liked the idea of living in a smaller city compared to Brussels.

    Jeanne-Marie Roux - Jeanne-Marie Roux_photo1 (more…)

  • Kristen at Leiden University

    Pre-departure:

    Your European adventure is going to require a lot of planning and administration – deadlines are important. First and foremost, when choosing your subjects, look to see which campus your classes will take place. Leiden University is divided between Den Haag and Leiden. Majority of students I met had no idea that Leiden was made up of two campuses before arriving here. Where your classes take place will affect where you choose to live. I would recommend living in Leiden, unless your classes are in Den Haag, as Leiden is more student centered. Travelling between Den Haag and Leiden can become a pricey endeavor especially if you are commuting almost every day. If this is the case, I strongly recommend that you consider opening a Dutch bank account as this allows you to obtain a personalized OV chip card that offers a range of benefits including discounts.

    (more…)