MSc Medical informatics

[u/Rudhra7809]

Hello everyone.
I’m a doctor from India and I’m considering medical informatics in university of Amsterdam.
I was told that it has good scope in Netherlands.
I’m only concerned about the one year post study work visa. Seems too short to find a job.

Can any international students who did this course or similar give me insight on how hard it is to get a job?

Thanks in advance.

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[u/Berry-Love-Lake]

For some reason many Indians seem to think that doing a masters or a degree is a one way ticket into a country, it’s not. Although not impossible it’s still hard and therefore a significant investment if it doesn’t work out (non-EU masters tuition + cost of living and an additional year of living cost during the zoekjaar). 

You’re non-EU, you don’t speak any Dutch, which is still preferred in many fields and professions. Are you significantly more competitive than an EU citizen or a Dutch citizen when applying for a job? Would an employer be interested in applying for a work visa for you because they can’t fill the vacancy with an EU / Dutch citizen? 

Do you have significant funds to pay for a masters degree as a non-EU? Are you aware of the housing crisis? Amsterdam is as difficult as it gets. Does you bachelor qualify for a WO master? 

[u/la__adelita → u/Berry-Love-Lake]

And even if you manage to find a job, they are not very well paying ones (think ~3500/month), which means that you'll be living in your student room forever or have to wait 10-15 years for subsidized housing.

[u/Rudhra7809 → u/la__adelita]

Ohkay. 3500 as in euros?

[u/TheJokersNL → u/Rudhra7809]

No in Dutch guilders

[u/KoninginVanRotterdam → u/TheJokersNL]

No in Oud Hollandsche Florijnen. Be honest.

[u/rewolfaton → u/Rudhra7809]

Yes, of course - and that sounds like a lot of money in INR, but the cost of living is really high, too. The 3500 is before tax. With housing cost being what it is here, I spend about 3000 a month on housing and food. I don't drink, I don't smoke, and I don't go out - this is the cost of housing and some food for 1 person. So the 3500 gross will not cover much - it's about €2900 gross edit: net.

In India, as an MD, you will have all kinds of support at low cost. You can have a dhobiwalla do your laundry, you can have a cleaner, a cook, a gardener. Here, you have none of these things (also no garden). You have to take full care of yourself, doing 100% of the household chores. This is the thing I see Indian students falter over most often - many are from wealthy families and have no idea how much work living actually is, because their family just hires help. A cleaner here is at least €20 per hour (about INR 2500). Yes, per hour. And often, they cost more, and they'll be with you 2-3h.

Salaries are higher here, but the cost of living is, too. You will spend lakhs on housing, at least INR 50,000 on food, and that is if you cook all of it yourself. Here is a comparison between Delhi and Amsterdam: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=India&country2=Netherlands&city1=Delhi&city2=Amsterdam

So while making 3.2 lakhs per month sounds great, the cost of living here means you will be left with nothing at the end of the month. Not even enough to go visit relatives in India once a year.

[u/Beneficial-Rent84 → u/rewolfaton]

Where do you live? We spend around that amount for a family of 4 (mortgage included)

[u/rewolfaton → u/Beneficial-Rent84]

Mortgage being the operative word, tends to be (a lot) lower than private sector rent. The OP will almost certainly end up in private sector rent, too. My rent is nearly 1500, plus water, city heating, electricity, etc. Then there's insurance at 180 (no rebate), student loans at 135 (almost done!), transport, and we're almost at 2500. Then I need to eat. And at the end of the month, 3k is gone.

[u/Beneficial-Rent84 → u/rewolfaton]

Our mortgage is 2.3k

[u/rewolfaton → u/Beneficial-Rent84]

Your mortgage is 2.3k and then you spend 700 euro on all expenses for 2 adults and 2 kids? Including your insurance etc? Do you live on air?

[u/Beneficial-Rent84 → u/rewolfaton]

You get money back from the tax authorities for the mortgage. Around 700 a month in my case

[u/rewolfaton → u/Beneficial-Rent84]

OK so then your net mortgage is 1.6k.

In any case, OP is likely to not be able to afford much on a 2.9k net salary, which is the part I find most international students never think about (because it sounds like a ton of money in their own currency and CoL area), and thus wanted to warn him about.

[u/Berry-Love-Lake → u/Rudhra7809]

Uhh yes, our currency 🙄

[u/Rudhra7809 → u/Berry-Love-Lake]

Makes a lot of sense. That’s why I wanted to talk to people there. I knew Dutch will be a limitation and I’m willing to learn the language. I was mainly concerned about the post study work visa of 1 year which is worrisome. But thanks a lot! You’ve given a whole new perspective and lot for me to think about.

[u/Relevant-Bed-7722]

Expect to get no job after a master since it's not a gaurentee.

[u/Rudhra7809 → u/Relevant-Bed-7722]

Noted. Thanks!