A Blog about Education Abroad

Tag: semester exchange

  • Adrienne Hendricks at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Adrienne Hendricks at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Adrienne Hendricks

    LLB Student

    Semester Exchange in the Second Semester, 2022 at the University of Amsterdam

    Pre-departure:

    The pre-departure period is one of excitement, nerves, and many deadlines. I needed a new passport to fill out my applications for the University of Amsterdam. I would suggest that as soon as you know you want to apply for an exchange or go through the interview process to get one if you need to relieve the stress of having to wait for it to be ready. If you go to home affairs, be prepared to take the day off for the application (even if you applied online) and the day of collection will take nearly the same amount of time. The visa process was simple in that I applied through the university, and they guide you through the process quite seamlessly. The process at the embassy for submitting photographs and collection is quite quick so nothing to worry about.

    I do suggest that you apply for housing and your residence permit as soon as applications open because housing in the Netherlands is in high demand. Furthermore, if there are any issues, reach out to the staff at your host university, they generally are very helpful and willing to assist wherever they can. Diarise all the important deadlines that you have so that you have a clear schedule and submit the documentation as soon as possible because the sooner you apply, the sooner they will respond. Furthermore, many of these deadlines fall during June exams. I went on the university website to find which documents were required and prepared them prior so that when the university asked for them I already had them ready and did not need to run around looking for them during exam season.

    Furthermore, another issue was buying my flight ticket. I found that Skyscanner was a good sight to compare different flights and find the one that best works for you. Furthermore, remember that to fly into certain countries such as the UK even for a layover may require an additional visa and that should be a consideration before booking a flight. Furthermore, it is best to book a flexible ticket in case things change and you need to fly on a different day.

    Another thing you should be aware of is that there are quite a few hidden costs that come into play before departure. For example, there are housing application costs as well as welcoming weeks and mandatory health insurance that must be paid fully before your arrival as well as a TB test on arrival. This should just be borne in mind during the budgeting phase.

    I would also suggest trying to establish a relationship with your exchange partner from early on because they can assist you with the application process and remind you of important deadlines. It’s also good to have a friendly face once you land.

    Experience at the host university:

    I chose to participate in the welcoming week programme organised by the Erasmus Student Network. It was a little bit pricey but when you do all the activities it is more than worth it, you get to do different things around the city such as canal cruises, silent discos, comedy shows and museum trips. It is also an excellent place to get to know people and make new friends.

    I thoroughly enjoyed the welcoming week, but it was difficult to switch from enjoying and discovering a new city to refocusing on my studies. I had to complete two law modules from Stellenbosch alongside my courses at UVA which was quite tough. I suggest that when you are choosing modules if you can see when the test week is you compare that to the Stellenbosch exam season and ensure that the test dates do not clash, and you plan your courses so that you have enough time to study for each exam. Also, try to confirm early whether your host university is willing to invigilate the first or second opportunity because my university would only invigilate the second opportunity for one of my exams because of the difference in time zones. Furthermore, remember that when the time changes due to daylight saving keep this in mind for any deadlines concerning the study abroad short course. Remember to submit at South African time.

    An Image of a group exchange students in Amsterdam
    Adrienne with her exchange friends

    One thing that is significantly different between the host university and Stellenbosch is that all your exams are written in one week at the UVA. In Stellenbosch we are used to having exams spaced out over a few weeks. Bearing this in mind you should prepare accordingly and keep in mind that you might write 3 exams in 3 days and that can be quite a taxing experience. Furthermore, be aware you might have to wait a month to receive results back so be patient and try to enjoy the time as much as you can whilst waiting.

    Also, don’t forget your study abroad submission deadlines. It may be very overwhelming dealing with new subjects and adjusting to moving to a new country but keep your short course in mind.

    Finally, the Erasmus Student Network plans travel opportunities to different countries. I suggest you go because it is an affordable way to travel, and you can meet so many new people. I went to Prague, and it was the highlight of my exchange because I got to experience a new city, met new people and saw snow for the first time. Travel is really easy in the Netherlands so take any opportunity to also discover other parts of the country.

    I missed home about 3 months in but regular phone calls with my family and friends helped me throughout this experience. So take your time, be curious and enjoy every minute of exchange.

    Return to Stellenbosch:

    Upon my return home there was a deep sense of familiarity which felt comforting after 6 months away from home. I was able to take in the beautiful landscape of my home city, enjoy the warmth, and enjoy all the delicious traditional dishes I love. It was also a relief to be in a space where I was not always the singular person of colour in a space and to feel like part of a group and not an outlier. However, the realities of safety issues and constant Eskom issues were difficult to deal with. This made me long for the ease of travel, safety and reliability of everything. However, being able to see loved ones again and feel part of my community was something that I deeply required to be happy.

    My return to South Africa consisted of a lot of change, first a move from being on Stellenbosch University Campus to being back in Cape Town. Furthermore, I transitioned from being a student to a young professional. These transitions are significant and life-changing but I knew that I had succeeded in moving to another country on another continent. Furthermore, I was equipped with a new awareness of people, human interaction and how to navigate life’s uncertainties which made this transition somewhat easy.

    Being overseas on my own forced me to become well acquainted with my own company and whilst at first, doing activities on my own proved uncomfortable I began to become more socially independent and assertive in doing what I enjoyed. This helped me be more independent as I entered the working world and made my navigation of that space much easier. Before living in Europe I assumed that it was a cornucopia of opportunities and just a perfect place overall but my experience showed me that with all the benefits of living in Europe, there are also drawbacks such as the cost of living. I think the experience of studying international law has also opened up my mind about the possibilities available after my degree and not just practising law in South Africa but also within the international legal system. Overall, the exchange experience was filled with many ups and downs but the biggest takeaway for me is my personal development and how I can use these newly developed personal skills in the new spaces which I now occupy upon my return. Anyone who was the opportunity to go on exchange should seize the opportunity.

  • Annelie Wessels at Tilburg University, The Netherlands

    Annelie Wessels at Tilburg University, The Netherlands

    Pre-departure

    At first, I felt overwhelmed by what seemed to be a lot of admin from Stellenbosch University’s side. Little did I know that was only the beginning. I can, however, say that all the admin was totally worth it. An useful tip: make sure to scan through your e-mails every day in case you received important information or a deadline. Especially be careful when applying for your visa that you are on time and have all the necessary documents. Again, I can say that all the admin was totally worth it and the Dutch Immigration office, especially, made life very easy for me. They guide you step by step and tell you exactly what procedure to follow. After I applied for my visa it only took 5 days before it was ready for collection. Super service. And a lot of super service was yet to come.

    Accommodation

    I initially tried to get into Verbs, a hostel like environment, where a lot of international students live and each floor share a kitchen and a bathroom.

    As there is limited space, I did not get in and had to search for private accommodation. I made use of the website Kamernet.nl. There are also a lot of other websites (which Tilburg University will provide you with) and Facebook groups like I*ESN Marketspace and Students looking for a room in Tilburg/Homeless students Tilburg. I was very lucky to find an opening in a flat with four other girls, very close to the university (1km away from most of my classes). It was important for me to stay close to the university, as I biked everywhere and it can be a bit inconvenient to bike in the winter as it rains often. The university also has a train station that is like 1km away, so if you live close to the centrum, you can use the train or even the bus. There are various bus stops all over the city and one on campus. I preferred to pay a little more on rent and live closer and save on transport. My rent was €500 per month, where Verbs is much cheaper. There are also places like CobbenCampus where you can rent studios, but that costs are in the range of €900 per month. I would say you can get a decent room for €350 – €400. Make sure to get a rental agreement or contract as you would need it to register at the town council (Tilburg Gemeente).

    Registration and Orientation (Top Week)

    Tilburg University has a day specially set out for international students to register. Not much happens on that day, but, if you can attend it, it is very useful to do so. The university arranged with the city council to be present, so you can make an appointment to get your residence permit. The bank were also there for you to make an appointment to open a bank account. Super convenient.

    After that, TOP week follows. It is like orientation week at Stellenbosch where the international students get divided into groups with mentors and get to do a lot of fun things during the week. I made my best friends during TOP week. I would highly recommend.

    Covid-19

    Our classes got cancelled in middle March and we immediately switched over to online teaching. All our classes and presentations were done online. Except for our March exams that were moved to June, we did not lose any classes and our schedules continued as normal. My exam finished two weeks later than planned, but luckily we could finish the semester more or less in time.

    The lecturers were all very helpful and understanding and made a lot of effort to make the transition as easy as possible. It was thus very important to have a stable internet connection and a decent laptop (with a webcam) as all our classes, presentations and tests were done from home. Our exams were done through Test Vision or Proctorio.

    Coming back

    I extended my time in Tilburg with a month. I asked my landlord for two extra weeks and spent the other two weeks either travelling or with friends. I initially struggled to get a flight through the embassy or SAA, but I found one with KLM. Their service was extremely quick and effective and I would recommend flying with them (direct). I also applied for self-quarantine so that I could quarantine at home and not at a government facility.

    General

    I cannot express enough how much I enjoyed my exchange. In spite of Covid-19, I had the best six months of my university career. I tried to stay positive during the difficult times and just embraced everything.

    I made some really good friends (both international and Dutch). I would recommend for you to join a club or an organisation. I play table tennis, so I joined the table tennis team of the university and we played league matches and trained every week. That was super fun.

    I also joined a church (Ontmoetingskerk) where I joined their international meeting group, Connect. There I made some Dutch friends as well as met a lot of international students.

    I think it is important to take part, does not matter where, as long as you are willing to get out of your comfort zone, meet new people and experience new cultures, ideas and adventures.

    Although Tilburg is not a typical Dutch city, it is a student and family city with a lot of international students and you will easily feel at home. Small enough for you to experience all parts of it and find your place, but big enough to have a lot of fun places, shops, bars, restaurants and parks.

    I made use of the public transport in the Netherlands (with a weekend vrij subscription on my OV-chipcard) and were able to see more than 20 Dutch towns. I also went to Bratislava (Slovakia), Prague (Czech), Vienna and Salzburg (Austria), Zurich and Luzern (Switzerland) and Frankfurt and Cologne (Germany). I think if it wasn’t for Covid-19, I would have travelled more, but I am happy with what I did in the time that I had. Also make sure to try some Dutch cuisine when you are over there. They might surprise you.

    I would go back in a heartbeat.

  • Nina Robinson at EM Strasbourg, France

    Nina Robinson at EM Strasbourg, France

    Pre-departure

    As part of Stellenbosch’s International Business degree, students are given the opportunity to spend a semester abroad. It was the semester I’d been waiting for since applying for the degree, and it is still hard to believe that it’s over. Since First year I’d dream of spending my exchange in France, so I chose Strasbourg as the city where I’d be staying for the next four months.

    Once getting accepted into EM Strasbourg, all the organising, planning and appointments started tumbling in. I could finally focus on researching and getting excited about one specific place: Strasbourg. Getting a French visa was a very smooth process. I did it all through Capago in Cape Town and had my visa within three weeks.

    One of the more stressful parts pre-departure was securing accommodation and doing research on which accommodation would most suit me in Strasbourg. The university offers student accommodation which is definitely the most affordable option. However, it works on a first come first serve basis, so if you are thinking about staying in a residence you need to make sure you are sitting at your computer the moment the application opens. I stayed in a residence called Paul Appell. It was perfectly located being a 15 minute walk to the school and a 15 walk to the heart of town. There is also a university restaurant in the residence which offers three course meals for 3,30 euro! Other residences that I would recommend would be La Marne and La Somme, both of which are situated directly opposite the school but are a bit further from the center of town. There are also a lot of private accommodation options if you don’t think a residence would suit you. Many students stayed in shared apartments with other exchanges or French students which is a very nice way to get to know locals.

    I left for Strasbourg at the end of August, and it was still 30 degree weather. So make sure you pack clothes to get you through some hotter days. I would recommend buying a winter coat there as there are so many better equipped (and fashionable) options available. I flew Emirates, which meant I was allowed two check in bags (something that you will be very thankful for when coming home). Strasbourg airport is very small and didn’t have many flights flying into it, so I flew to Frankfurt and then took a Lufthansa bus to Strasbourg which was a very quick and easy option.

    Living and studying in Strasbourg

    Studying at EM Strasbourg was very different to Stellenbosch- but in the best way. The school itself is not situated on the main campus, but instead a few minutes walk away. It’s a very impressive and modern building where most exchanges had all their classes. Classes were a big shock to me. Most classes are either 3 or 4 hours long and have only about 25 students in them- all of which are exchanges. I was expecting to have class with some French students, but all the classes offered to us were solely for exchange students and therefore taught in English. Having such a small class was quite difficult at first as it meant a lot of participating and engagement, which does not happen in a usual 200 student lecture. This ended up being a great way to meet people as after a 3 hour lecture all 25 of you have no option but to get to know each other.

    The courses that EM offer are one of my favorite things about the school. They are so diverse and were so different to any courses I have previously taken. The courses I chose were Introduction to European Economic Policy, which gave me an insight into the inner workings of the European Union (especially interesting due to Brexit); Economy of Happiness; French B1; Intercultural Management; Business negotiations and Grape and Wine Knowledge. My personal favorites were Business Negotiations which included workshops where we got into groups of six and role played business negotiators. Grape and Wine Knowledge was another favorite as Alsace is main wine region in France and the course included a wine tasting in a beautiful wine producing town called Ribeauvillé.

    Strasbourg is incredibly central within Europe, which meant that weekend travels were very easy for us. We took full advantage of all the budget transport options such as FlixBus and Ryanair which allow you to travel to most cities very cheaply. I was fortunate enough to travel to Germany, Poland, Denmark and discover a lot of France.

    The French culture is something that took a while to get used to, and also really made me appreciate South Africa and cultures back home. Most people in Strasbourg don’t tolerate a lot of English- specifically when doing any admin regarding university accommodation. The residence’s reception, grocery stores and restaurants only spoke French and most of the time wouldn’t attempt any English. This really did force me out of my comfort zone as I had no other option but to practice my French. The language barrier is very real, but apps such as Duolingo is very a good tool to start learning the basics of the language.

    Strasbourg itself really does look like something out of a fairytale. There are canals that form what is called ‘Le Grand Île’, with picture perfect bridges and Hansel and Gretel looking houses. The city is small enough that you get to know your way around pretty quickly, but by the time I’d left I still hadn’t discovered half the things there is to see. My favourite time of being in Strasbourg definitely has to be December. The city transforms into an actual winter wonderland with Europe’s biggest Christmas market open every day for a whole month and the most magical Christmas lights hanging in every street. My favourite memories are my friends and I gathering at the markets with our Vin Chaud, strolling through the festive streets.

    Returning home

    I was lucky enough not to have felt very homesick while I was away. I adapted to my new life in Strasbourg quickly and found comfort in a group of other exchanges who became like a second family. Saying goodbye to Strasbourg and everyone I had met there was emotional and knowing that this experience that I had waited three years for was actually coming to an end was a very surreal thought. However, the thought of returning home was also very exciting as it meant seeing friends and family again and enjoying a month of summer holiday.

    I’m not going to lie though; the actual return home was a bit underwhelming and anticlimactic. I remember before leaving on exchange, a previous student told me that coming home felt like stepping off those moving ramps you get at airports- and that couldn’t be a more accurate description. For the last four months your life has been a whirlwind of traveling, meeting new people, learning new things and being completely independent. Coming back home and having that all stop comes as a bit of a shock to the system. Exchange exceeded all my expectations and I couldn’t be more grateful for this experience. It inspired me to open up options of going abroad after studying, but it also made me appreciate South Africa and everything that this country has to offer.