A Blog about Education Abroad

Category: VU Amsterdam

  • Mia Uys at VU Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Mia Uys at VU Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Mia Uys

    BCom International Business 

    Semester Exchange in the Second Semester, 2022 at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

    Pre-departure:

     

    There were many aspects before departure that I now know I should have done better or not have bothered with at all. Firstly, Visa applications were quite a headache for me. Although my host university, Vrije Universiteit, did make the process simpler for me by eliminating the need to make a physical appointment at the Dutch Embassy to submit my documents to the IND, I still felt extremely overwhelmed. There were just so many documents I had to sign and submit that I was unsure off. Thus, I would advise you to do research on which documents they need and the deadlines for the Visa application and to not be afraid to ask others, such as representatives from the Host University, questions.

     

    I would also recommend that on the day you receive your Visa acceptance letter that you make an appointment at the Dutch Embassy closest to you. I had trouble securing an appointment to collect my MVV at the embassy, so to ensure that you receive your visa before you need to travel to your host country, I would put this at the top of my priority list. I would also advise others to utilize student housing if they are planning on doing an exchange in the Netherlands, especially at VU Amsterdam. Student housing is by far the cheapest accommodation you will find in Amsterdam, and you will have the benefit of the housing being relatively close to campus. Additionally, you will be living with other students, so it will be easier to make new friends and build a support network in an unfamiliar country. I would also recommend packing lightly, as you will need less stuff than you think for the next six months abroad. You will also want to bring souvenirs back to your family, friends, and off course, for yourself, thus you will need some extra space in your bags. In terms of winter clothes, I would also recommend buying them while on exchange if you are travelling to Europe, as the clothes are usually better quality and are cheaper than you would find in South Africa.

     

     

    I found that the university system in the Netherlands, specifically at Vrije Universiteit, differs quite a lot from South African Universities such as Stellenbosch. A semester is divided into three periods, where periods one and two are usually two months each, and period three only one month. You would typically have two modules each period and they would start and end in the specific period that they occur in. This is a big difference from Stellenbosch, where all modules would start at the beginning of the semester and end at the end of the semester. This would effectively mean that modules are completed at a much faster pace. Furthermore, where one would have 50-minute classes at Stellenbosch, one class here is usually two and a half hours long. Consequently, this would mean that there are less classes per week than what you would be used at Stellenbosch. In my personal experience, I did prefer Vrije Universiteit’s way of working, although work had to be understood and completed at a much faster pace than what I was used to, there were never periods that I felt overwhelmed with university work, thus I felt I had a good work-life balance. The big advantage of Stellenbosch is that work is done at a slower pace, so there is usually time to catch up with work if you fall behind, but you will experience at least two big periods during the semester when all modules’ assignments and tests happen at the same time.

    Amsterdam
    I would be lying if I said that I did not shed a tear as I landed in South Africa at the end of my exchange. It was wonderful for me to experience the nature and warm weather of South Africa again after being stuck in the cold for so many months. I also loved being able to see my family and friends and enjoy a lekker braai again. Living on the other side of the world for an extended period of time really gave me some perspective on various aspects in South Africa. Firstly, I realized that I appreciate the people of South Africa a lot; South Africans are extremely friendly and helpful to others, even strangers, which is not very common everywhere in the world. I have also realized that South Africa has amazing meat quality and taste, which I would now always remember to appreciate.
    However, the socio-economic challenges South Africa face has become more apparent to me after I have been living in a developed and high quality of life country for so long. It has reinforced my views that no-one should ever have to live in such poverty and violence that most South Africans must endure on a daily basis. Especially as a woman, I now find it extremely sad and unacceptable that every woman I know is scared to walk alone at night or travel into certain areas alone as result of South Africa’s high crime rate. Although South Africa, like every other country in the world, has its problems, there is no other place I would rather live for the long term. My study abroad experience has not only exposed me to many new and different places, people, customs, food, and cultures, but has also made me extremely proud to be a South African and to call this country my home. However, I did love the whole experience of studying abroad, thus I would like to sometime in the next 10 years go and live in a new country for an extended period to keep on broadening my horizons and experiencing new people and places.
  • Lizanne Visser at Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam in The Netherlands

    Lizanne Visser at Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam in The Netherlands

    Pre-departure:

    The first 6 months of your exchange year goes by way faster than one thinks. This is, however, a crucial period where most of the planning and administration of your semester exchange is finalised. It is very important to make sure that you have a “game plan” drawn up to ensure you get everything done in time because before you know it, you will be sitting on the airplane, taking advantage of the free wine ready to kick of your semester abroad.

    I decided to work towards qualifying for semester exchange from my first year of law after hearing about it from a friend who was leaving on her exchange later that year. So, be aware that your pre-final year marks are what gets you into the exchange programme and you must meet a minimum requirement. At that time, she was in the pre-departure phase and I remember her advising me that if you are not a “list” person now, be sure to acquire that skill before you embark on your “build-up to the exchange”.

    The ‘planning’-phase happens on top of a very full final year programme. In this period, you must apply for your VISA and/or passport and secure your accommodation. Deadlines are very important. Get a huge calendar to put on your wall so that you can manage your time effectively between your academic work and your preparation for the exchange. Do this to ensure you do not miss any crucial deadlines that could possibly stifle your exchange prospects.

    The first exciting step is finding the right partner university for you. The most important things to keep in mind is your personal interests, your budget, the language, if the host-university provides financial assistance and the accommodation options available. Vrije Universiteit was my first choice from the start. The reason being that they offered courses that fit my background in science and technology. They also offered financial assistance in the form of a “housing stipend”. The reality of the exchange is that it is very expensive. Housing is extremely expensive and scarce in many of the European countries and without the financial assistance offered by the VU, I am not sure I would have been able to take part in the exchange. Another bonus was that the VU helps you find and secure accommodation, something I know not all partner universities do. This really makes the process of finding suitable housing easier. They offer a variety of options that corresponds to your budget.

    There are other costs involved that you will be responsible for e.g. your visa and passport application and administration fees to the host institution. In preparation for the costs I decided to take up part-time work for the 6 months I was still in Stellenbosch. In this way I could finance most of the expenses. With regard to the VISA application, VU also assists you with the initial steps of the application. They handle the application from their side and you only submit all the necessary documentation to them through an online portal that guides you step-by-step.

     

    Experience at Host University:

    As I indicated above, I chose Vrije Universiteit based on the courses they offered. I chose courses in the area of technology law. The semesters are also structured somewhat differently to ours back home. One semester consists of three periods. In the first period I chose Internet Governance and Robot and Artificial Intelligence. The third course was a master’s course in technology law that stretched over period 1 and 2. An important consideration when choosing your courses (and your host university) is WHEN you return to South Africa. I had to return in January which means I had to take all my courses in period 1 and 2. Period 1 would run from September – October and Period 2 from October – December. In addition, you must also give yourself enough time to be able to do the self-study work for Company law and Law of evidence.

     

    As the names of these courses suggests, the content very relevant and dynamic. Classes are in the form of seminars which means you always need to be prepared and come to class with an informed and defendable opinion. In contrast to classes of 200 students, here you are in a small room with a maximum of 40 students, so at some point you are going to have to speak up or be asked something. Unlike at Stellenbosch, most of the subject matter dealt with in class, is from prescribed academic articles. So, you spend loads of time reading. I found this refreshing and stimulating because you are exposed to many different perspectives on the topics covered. After a period, there is a week of exams where you then “write-off” the particular courses. This structure was very beneficial because it meant after period 1 exams in October, we could solely focus on Law of Evidence and Company Law exams.

     

    VU is a very modern university. The architecture of the buildings is a stark contrast to the Old Dutch style at Stellenbosch. Modern art and sculptures are exhibited all over campus and this provides a very inclusive learning space.

    Lizanne cycling through campus
    Lizanne cycling through campus

    Living in the Netherlands exceeded all my expectations. The moment I got my bicycle (the main form of transport in the Netherlands) you get a sense of independence you cannot easily find in SA. Finding parking or having to pay for parking is never a problem. The fact that a global city like Amsterdam is accessible with a 20 min bike ride still blows my mind. The city is organised and efficient and I will really miss how safe and easy it was to get around in town. Whether by bike or public transport, the city is at your fingertips 24 hours a day. It was one of the most beautiful things biking through the canals of Amsterdam 2 o’clock at night marvelling at the lights and old buildings that surround you. You could either buy a second-hand bike in the Netherlands at a reasonable price or in most of the cities you can rent a bike from “Swapfiets”. A very successful start-up in the Netherlands that rents out bikes and provides you with roadside assistance when you break down or experience difficulties though a simple app on your phone.

     

    Another remarkable aspect of the Netherlands is the fact that you can reach many other European countries with a 3-hour train ride. During my stay I had the privilege of seeing parts of Germany, Belgium and had an incredible weekend in Paris. We mostly made use of a cheap bus service, Flixbus that offer trips to many destinations at very affordable prices.

    Lizanne enjoying a cheezing Dutch experience
    Lizanne enjoying a cheezing Dutch experience

     

    Return to Stellenbosch:

    Experiences like this are not without its own difficulties. I had to get used to living with 11 other people in a house where we had to share facilities. This took me out of my comfort zone.  However, I feel this really equipped me for my future as I learned a lot of patience, how to deal with multiple personalities and the importance of effective communication. You experience a lot of individual growth which I think is very important as you embark into the next adult phase of work life.

     

    As my exchange ended, I really looked forward to returning to South Africa. I missed my friends, I missed Häzz and I missed the familiarity of my hometown I love so much. I also had a lot to look forward to upon my return. My adjustment back home was therefore not as challenging as they warned.

     

    At this point in time I am happy with staying in South Africa but the prospects of moving to Europe for a few years is not off the table. Life is about exposing yourself to as much as possible and living abroad opens your eyes and broadens your mind by challenging all your preconceptions of the world. Each country experiences their own difficulties and social issues and by engaging with local people you learn a lot about how these countries function and deal with their respective problems. I believe a semester exchange is very valuable in shaping your opinions about your own home country and really makes you appreciate what you have back home.

     

    I encourage everyone who finds themselves constantly curious about embarking on this wonderful journey. Not only do you get a unique educational experience, the skills you learn go much further than just equipping you for life in the legal world. You come back an informed, well-rounded individual and with new energy to take on the next phase of your adult life.

    Lizanne taking her little sister for a night out
    Lizanne taking her little sister for a night out
  • Leon at VU Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Leon at VU Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    I had the opportunity to spend about five months in Amsterdam, attending the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU). I will try and focus on as many practical tips as possible!

    Pre-departure:

    The visa process was handled by VU. The cost was €200 at the time of my application. Do pay careful attention to the required documents you need to submit. My documents were rejected twice due to minor technical details. Once my visa was approved, I needed to hand in my passport at the Dutch consulate in Cape Town and within a few days my visa was ready for collection. On arrival in the Netherlands, I had 90 days to collect my residence card.

    In terms of accommodation, I chose the residence options offered by VU. I would highly recommend doing the same, as finding housing in Amsterdam can prove to be very difficult and expensive. Furthermore, being with other international students means it is easy to meet new people. The housing application fee was €200. The residence was between 5 to 10 minutes cycling from the university, and about 30 minutes by metro or bicycle from the city.

    As the exam dates for my VU courses were not yet available when I booked my flight ticket, I booked my return flight for the very last day of the exam schedule in February. In the end my exams ended about two weeks before my return flight. Therefore, it could be a good idea to purchase a flexible ticket when booking your flight ticket.

    You are likely to return with a fair amount of things purchased abroad, especially if you are there during winter. Consider the luggage allowances when booking your ticket. The Middle Eastern airlines such as Qatar and Emirates tend to be more generous with luggage allowances.

    Experience at the Host University:

    Arriving:

    I would highly recommend taking part in any welcoming events offered by your university. It is the period during which you meet the most people, and forms the basis for the rest of the semester. There are certain compulsory steps when arriving in the Netherlands, such as registering with the municipality and undergoing a TB test. However, the international office of VU clearly guides you through each step.

    Academics:

    In terms of academics, there was quite a difference in format compared with Stellenbosch. Each semester is divided into 3 periods, and modules run over a single period. So, for each period you focus on a maximum of 3 courses. I took a minor programme in Real Estate Investment and Management. A minor is a “package” of five courses that follow a similar field of study.

    Classes lasted between two and three hours. In terms of difficulty, I found it easier to perform well than at Stellenbosch. However, I felt that the classes were based much more on practical learning as we had regular field trips and speakers from the industry. I had rather interesting lecturers – one flew in from Switzerland, one was the former head of the real estate division of the Dutch Railways pension fund, and another co-authored papers with a Nobel Peace Prize winner. The course I enjoyed the most was Behavioural Finance, as it integrated finance with psychology.

    Other practical matters:

    Bicycle: In Amsterdam, a bike is essential. A really popular service is Swapfiets, a bicycle rental company that charges €15 per month. I was fortunate enough to find a second hand bicycle to buy for €50 and as such did not use Swapfiets.

    Bank account: I needed a bank account in the Netherlands. I would highly recommend N26. It is a digital bank, meaning you can open the account online. I initially opened an account with ABN Amro, but found the process much slower than with N26.

    Medical Insurance: For the first 90 days I could use my South African health insurance, but thereafter I required Dutch health insurance. Based on the VU International Office’s recommendation, I selected a policy from AON. It was very comprehensive, and cost €1.8 per day. I was uninsured for a period of five days, so rather apply early to ensure your new insurance begins as soon as the other one ends.

    Public transport: Transport in Amsterdam is expensive (see more below). To use the trains, metro, trams and busses, you require an OV chipcard. During my time in Amsterdam, a new service called NS Flex was introduced. It is essentially a subscription you load onto your OV chipcard that allows discounts on trains. There are different options, but for €30 per month, I could travel for free over weekends on all Dutch trains, and received 40% discount outside peak hours during the week. However, this was only valid on trains, not busses/trams/metro.

    Cost of living:

    Amsterdam is known to be an expensive city. I found supermarkets to be similar to us in terms of prices. However, restaurants, bars and clubs are incredibly expensive when compared with South Africa. Public transport also tends to add up, with a return ticket to the city centre costing about €5. A day pass costs €8. Therefore, cycling is advisable, but this is of course weather dependent.

    Travelling:

    I was very fortunate to be able to travel extensively during the semester.

    Busses: Busses are very affordable in Europe. However, they can be unreliable in terms of timing. I used the following companies: Flixbus, Ouibus, Regiojet.

    Flights: Google Flights is possibly my favorite travel tool. If you are flexible with destinations, you simply enter dates and Google Flights finds the cheapest places to fly to. Using this tool, I found seven flights for €200 in total. Budget airlines include Ryainair, easyjet, WizzAir. Be aware of baggage restrictions to avoid penalties. Also consider that return prices are often simply two one-way tickets added together, so sometimes it could be cheaper to fly into one airport, but fly out from another, visiting a different city while doing so.

    Trains: Although I love train travel, it is expensive unless you plan long in advance. I used trains mostly when I needed to be sure of arriving on time, or when airports were far outside the city. As a temporary European resident, I have been told that one qualifies for the Interrail rail pass. It is expensive but allows for flexibility and comfortable train travel.

    Accommodation: Hostelworld, Booking.com, Airbnb.com. When travelling in larger groups, renting an apartment on Airbnb can prove to be a better option. Otherwise hostels are likely your best bet.

    Return to Stellenbosch:

    I landed the day before classes began in Cape Town. Although glad to see family and friends again, I would have liked the exchange to have lasted a full year. When you only have one semester and try to fit in as much as possible while travelling, studying and experiencing your host city, it can feel a bit rushed.

    Coming back home made me appreciate things we have here more. The natural beauty, warm people and relaxed way of life is often taken for granted. I landed just as load shedding began, which was quite an interesting concept to explain to friends I made in Amsterdam!

    Following my exchange, I am investigating possible Masters or graduate programmes, either in Europe or the USA. I did not feel academically disadvantaged at all compared to students from other countries in my classes abroad.

    I would highly recommend an exchange to anyone interested. It completely changes your perception of the world and the opportunities it offers.