Pre-departure:
Having a South African passport doesn’t make travelling abroad very easy – it requires a lot of emails back and forth and many forms to be filled in. Although this takes a lot of time it definitely makes you excited for what’s to come as it keeps your upcoming exchange on your mind constantly. With regard to the visa application the Netherlands will only grant you a 3 month Visa, from the date of your application for it, and upon your arrival you have to go to Town Hall for an appointment after which a few weeks later you will receive a residence permit (MVV). You only receive this about 3 weeks into your stay therefore it is crucial not to apply for your VISA too early as it may expire before you receive your residence permit.
Leiden University also requires you to set up times for various meetings before your arrival such as Town Hall, Intake Appointment and a meeting to sign your housing contract. Make sure to write down the time, date and place of each of these as you do not want to miss them! I also signed up for the Orientation Week for International Exchange Students which I would recommend as being essential. It’s a great way to meet everyone so make the most of it and talk to as many people as possible. The events are lots of fun and you get to know the city quite well in this week as well as great tips on where to eat, shop and go out.
With regard to the housing system for Leiden University it works on a first come first serve basis, and you can put your name down on the lost before being accepted by the University – it is therefore crucial to do this as soon as you find out that you will be going on exchange to Leiden. The student housing is really great as it is all international students and most of the options are really close to the Law Faculty.
In the days leading up to my departure I wasn’t too sure on what to pack, and with a 30kg travel allowance on Emirates I definitely over packed. But looking back I would suggest packing less than more – you can get everything you need here (including Rooibos tea). I would also recommend buying a winter jacket here as our South African winter jackets get teased for being “summer jackets” over here and definitely do not provide warmth against the European winter.
Experience at the Host University:
The courses at Leiden are very different to the courses back home. There is definitely a lot less structure to the lectures, in comparison to Stellenbosch, as they are run more as discussions. The lecturers require a lot more active participation and you are required to pre-read before class in order to participate. Some of the classes even have compulsory attendance and a mark is awarded for class participation. The lecturers, as with Stellenbosch, are very friendly and helpful and are happy to answer any questions. The reading material for most classes consists of various academic articles instead of textbooks which means you have to put quite a bit more work in to see how the content all links. The semester is split into two blocks which are each 6 weeks. I would strongly recommend splitting your credits evenly over the two blocks else you will end up with minimal classes and exams in one block and then all your exams in another block. The classes have a limit on many students can take them so choose your subjects early. Although possible it is hard to change subjects once the semester starts at they fill up very quickly. Also be aware that some classes are in the Hague campus which is a ten minute trip by train.
Leiden is a really beautiful town, a bit bigger than Stellenbosch, but has the some student vibe about it. When the sun is out everyone is outside – in the parks, in cafes on the canals or on their boats. Join ESN (International Student Network) as they organize great activities for international students and host events regularly – including drinks at the international bar (“Einsteins”) every Wednesday. Trying the local food is must – bitterballen, stroopwafels and croquetten to name a few.
I have been fortunate enough to travel whilst being here and have visited Hamburg, Copenhagen and Olso and have also planned a trip to Bordeaux and Ghent after exams. The best part about an exchange in Europe is being able to travel locally on weekends and experience new places. You can find very reasonable plane tickets and if you stay with other Stellenbosch students who are on exchange you save on accommodation. The Netherlands itself is also really small and cities such as Amsterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Rotterdam are all within a half and hour train trip and really accessible for day trips!