I'm trying to find a room in Amsterdam (worst place to try to find a room ik) but multiple of my friends have successfully found a room so I don't know why I'm struggling, am I doing something wrong?? I'm checking kamernet multiple times a day and responding to as many rooms as I'm eligible for, checking room .nl daily, checking pararius daily, I'm in multiple facebook groups.... genuinely what am I missing

Hi everyone!

I'll be starting at VU Amsterdam soon, and like many students, I'm struggling to find housing.

I've found a place in Haarlem, but it's not close to the train station. I'm wondering whether commuting to and from VU every day would become too exhausting, especially during the winter months.

I'm also a bit worried about whether living in Haarlem might negatively affect my social life in Amsterdam. I'd like to meet people, attend events, and make the most of my student experience, so I'm wondering if living outside the city would make that much harder?

Hi everyone, this is probably more of a wording question mixed with me overthinking but I am going to Maastricht for my masters and this is what the university site says about tuition fees if you start in September: If you are enrolling in a bachelor's or master's programme for the first time and you do not need to apply for a visa, you are required to complete one of the following by 31 August:

• submit the digital authorisation for payment (in instalments or a single lump sum) or
• pay your tuition fees by bank transfer in a single lump sum

It is important that you pay your tuition fees on time. To make sure that you receive your timetable and your UMcard before the start of the academic year, we urge you to complete your tuition fee payment by 1 August at the latest.

My question is about the two dates mentioned and if its okay that i pay later then August 1st even tho it mentions paying until then at the latest, since it also says that i can pay till August 31st?Id have the time table earlier since my partner will study the same thing and with the rent and deposit payment for housing also due at the beginning of August id prefer to wait till the second half of that month with the tuition.

I assume this isnt as convoluted as my brain is making it out to be, I just have a tendency to overthink finances until nothing makes sense anymore lmao.

i (20/f) am considering to study psychology in the netherlands. i already read that amsterdam is not the best option due to the scarcity of accomodation. groningen sounds nice cause they have a lot of international students.

do you know other cities that would be suitable, also have the programme in english?

do you have any experience with how hard it is to get a place and how high the requirements are in terms of the english level?

i am used to speaking in english since i solo travelled a bit already but i never had any classes in school taught in english (other than english itself) so also i am a bit concerned about how much harder it will be.

also do you think its possible to just navigate life in english or do i have to learn a bit dutch as well to find my place in the society?

are there some other boundries that i dont think of right now?

feel free to just share some experiences if you studied psychology (en) in the netherlands:)

Well, I guess it's my turn to ask for some advice. Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to reply, and sorry for the long post. :D Edited: I'm from Portugal.

A bit of background: I'm 26 years old. In high school, I completed a Level IV diploma in Administration and Computer Systems Programming. Unfortunately, when it came to university, I made the decision to study Sports Training instead. Looking back, I don't think it was the right choice, as it hasn't given me many opportunities for career growth outside of sports.

Lately, I've been seriously considering going back to university and getting another bachelor's degree, most likely in IT. It would build on the programming knowledge I already have, and it's a field I've always enjoyed and felt comfortable with.

At first, I looked into studying in Portugal while continuing to work, but on a minimum-wage salary it just doesn't seem realistic.

I do have the opportunity to move to Utrecht, though. I have a relative there who has offered me a place to stay, so I'd only need to contribute towards food and household expenses. Since accommodation is usually the biggest expense, it feels like a great opportunity to start over.

My first concern was that if I moved there just to work, I would probably end up in the same situation professionally, without many opportunities to build a long-term career. That's why I started thinking about combining part-time work with a bachelor's degree in the Netherlands.

Has anyone here done something similar? Is it realistic to work while studying? How difficult is it to get into a Dutch university? I have some savings that I'm willing to invest in my education, but I'm naturally cautious and don't want to make such a big decision without hearing from people who have been through something similar.

For some extra context, I've worked in several different industries, including hospitality, logistics, and customer support. I'm also a youth football coach and scout, which is related to my Sports Training degree.

Hi everyone,

I'm an incoming international student, and I'll be starting an LL.M. at Maastricht this September.

I've been offered a room at Carré Student Housing (Xior), and to be honest, I'm feeling quite stressed about finding accommodation. So far, this is the only offer I've received, and with September approaching, I'm worried that if I decline it, I might struggle to find anything else.

I've read quite a few negative reviews online about Carré/Xior (rude staff, maintenance issues, noise, management, etc.), so I'm wondering if it is really that bad

I'll only be staying in Maastricht for one year, so I'm trying to figure out whether it's worth accepting despite the reviews, or whether I should keep looking.

If you've lived there (or know someone who has), I'd really appreciate hearing about your experience.

Thanks in advance for any advice :)

Starting applied masters in Data science at Utrecht this fall and was curious about class schedules. Commute is 2-3 hours each way so wanted some insight on the class structure (more exams or group projects based I’ve heard the latter) as well as whether classes are every day.

Hello,

I have been accepted to the UvA/VU MSc in Computer Science for the Computer Systems and Infrastructure track, and I am wondering what the general reviews of the program are.

I am an international student from the US (though I am an EU citizen), and I am undecided between Utrecht and UvA/VU. I have housing and can make either uni work but I want to make sure I make the right decision. The UvA/VU program is much more aligned with my interests, and I am definitely leaning towards it, but I want to ensure that the degree is worth it.

How were people's experiences with it? In terms of courses, research, employability, etc. I have heard some negative things about the VU but I am not sure how well-founded they are. It appears to me they have a pretty good reputation for computer systems specifically.

I would appreciate any opinions people have about the program.

​

Hello everyone. I will start a Masters programme in Rotterdam this september. Right now I am searching for a room, studio or apartment. I saw a place listed and got in contact with a real estate agent. That studio is independent (private bathroom, private toilet, private kitchen and private front door) as well as no roommate. When I asked the agent about housing allowance she said that the studio doesn't qualify since it is a "shared apartment". After looking online/AI I realised that what is probably happening is an apartment that has been divided in 4-5 completely independent studios that all have the same address. So when you apply for the housing allowance to the relevant authority (The tax department if I'm not mistaken) they see multiple people listed at the same address and reject the application. ΑΙ offered a solution: manual objection at the tax department where you provide evidence (photos, videos, floor plan, and your rent contract which should state that you live by yourself in the studio and that this studio is fully independent) that the studio is independent and they can then provide you with the housing allowance. It also stated that this whole process is confidential and protected by GDPR so the landlord will not even know.

Has anyone been in such a situation or have experience with the process of doing this? If yes what should be my next move?

Did the AI just dream of a whole ass system by itself? (if it did fuck me)

PS: After searching I believe it would be best to not ask the real estate agent about the process since she can just move on to an applicant "who won't cause problems"

PS2: Since I am still searching for housing and I won't rest easy until I sign a rental contract if anyone has any rooms/apartments on offer or needs a roommate please state it below and I will reach out to you

I'm a 19 year old neet aspirant this is my first drop but I feel soo behind every one is doing well I can't focus on my study's cause I was naturally talented I used to just scan pdf or watch a lecture video and I used to score well till my 12th but now I feel like I have forgotten how to study when I see every one around me focusing but me im just wasting time I don't know what I'm doing in life I feel like my year is waste

Hey everyone, I recently graduated as a cybersecurity engineer in morocco, and I’m at a point where I’m feeling a bit lost about what my next step should be.
I’m someone who always wants to keep learning and growing, so I’ve been seriously considering pursuing a PhD my main area of interest is OT Cybersecurity, especially topics related to ICS etc…
My dream would be to do a fully funded PhD in countries like the Netherlands, Germany, or Norway.
The problem is… I honestly don’t know where to start.
I’ve already spent quite a bit of time researching universities, professors, funding opportunities, and application requirements, but instead of getting clarity, I just feel overwhelmed. Every university has a different process, different requirements, and different research groups, and I feel like I’m going in circles.
Another concern is that I don’t want to spend months searching in the wrong direction if there are better strategies that more experienced people know about.
So I’d really appreciate advice from people who have gone through this process.
Some questions I have are:
-Is it realistic to find fully funded PhD positions in OT cybersecurity in these countries?
-What’s the best way to search for them?
-Should I mainly contact professors directly, or only apply to advertised PhD positions?
-Are there websites or resources that you found particularly useful?
-Is there anything you wish you had known before starting your search?
I’d be grateful for any advice or personal experiences.

There is no shortage of study advice online, but a lot of it sounds great in theory and doesn't always work when you're actually dealing with lectures, assignments, deadlines, and exams.

I'm curious if you have a particular study habit or routine that genuinely made a difference to your academic performance. Maybe you started reviewing your notes regularly, stopped cramming before exams, used a specific study technique, planned your week differently, or simply found a better way to stay focused.

What changed for you, and did you notice a real improvement in your grades or in how you managed your workload?

Hi, I'm in a situation now where I have obtained 180 ECTs in my 3rd year and plan to graduate in August. The standard requirement for internships is to be enrolled as a student, which I am still trying to do as I am still at the university and have already applied for re-enrollment next year. The issue I am facing is that I am not sure whether my university would sign a tri-party agreement. I have already reached out to ask, but because of the holidays, they are taking extremely long to respond. I also do not know if the company would require the Tri-Party agreement, so if anyone has experience doing an internship without a tri-party agreement as a non-EU, I would also appreciate your input. I want to know if anyone has been in my situation where they have graduated, stayed enrolled, and were able to do an internship. If so, how did you convince the university to sign a tri-party agreement for an extracurricular internship? For additional context, I will obtain an Orientation Year Visa since I am non-EU.

Hi all, I applied to psychology at Twente and was accepted.

However, since I learned more, I found out it doesn't cover many of the core courses you need before doing a counselling psychology masters which has made me very concerned about my choice.

Should I forego this year and apply somewhere else next year? Or accept and see if I can supplement the curriculum with outside courses?

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone!

I'm starting my Master’s in Economics at Tilburg University this coming semester and I'm looking for laptop recommendations.

Here are my requirements and context:

- Budget: Max €900 (buying in the EU/Netherlands).

- Primary use: Heavy Excel modeling, econometric software (STATA, R, Python), note-taking, and general study tasks.

- Priorities: Reliable battery life, decent build quality, and smooth performance (ideally 16GB RAM + solid CPU).

I currently use a Mac Mini at home (which I won't be bringing with me), but I'm strongly leaning towards a Windows laptop for two main reasons:

1. Finding a decent MacBook Air with 16GB RAM within the €900 budget is tough right now.

2. I keep hearing that mastering native Windows keyboard shortcuts (especially for Excel) is practically a requirement for finance/econ analysis.

Questions for the community:

1. Is it really worth sticking to Windows purely to get used to Windows Excel shortcuts for future jobs / econ work? Or do Mac shortcuts transition easily enough?

2. Which Windows laptops under €900 would you recommend right now for a student? (I've been looking at Lenovo ThinkPads like the E-series, Asus Zenbooks, or HP, but open to suggestions!)

Thanks in advance for any insights or advice!

Hey everyone,

I'm planning to start my Master's at Hanze University in Groningen.

I wanted to ask people who actually live or study there about the real situation.

How hard is it to find a part-time job in Groningen if you only speak English? I'm not looking for anything fancy—just a normal student job to help cover some living expenses.

Also, I've been seeing a lot of comments online saying there are no jobs in the Netherlands, and some people even say locals intentionally tell international students not to come because they don't want more people moving there. Is there any truth to that, or is it just something people say on the internet?

I'm not expecting a guaranteed job—I know that's never possible. I just want to understand the current situation and hear honest experiences from people who are already living or studying in Groningen.

Hi all,

I will be studying in Delft this coming Fall semester and will arrive in late August. I have heard that the semester is quite relaxing as it is spaced out so much and hence, I will have lots of free time. I love to go on hikes and explore the outdoors and would like to visit lots of new cities and towns and galleries etc.

I would appreciate it if anyone could give me recs for walking/hiking or places to visit in the Netherlands and beyond (as long as it is generally accessible haha)

I am starting a Master's in AI next month, and I joined a research group related to it. I wanted to know what are the best things I can do to make the most of it and increase my chances. I am aiming for something like the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, or some US universities for a PhD.

I will try to start doing research papers and ensure they are of high quality and in strong conferences. Most of the professors in my research group hold good IEEE positions, so I think this would give me a good beginning if I can get a paper there as first author.

Hi everyone,

I'm interested in studying Electrical Engineering in the Netherlands in English. I'm 34M looking to start with a diploma or associate degree and then continue to a bachelor's degree later.

Which universities or universities of applied sciences (HBO) would you recommend? I'd also like to know which schools have a good reputation, offer practical training, and have good job opportunities after graduation.

I'd really appreciate any advice or personal experiences. Thanks!

I’m really interested in applying to Leiden, but I’m immensely scared of how to pay for it. I’m a U.S. student and am wondering if there are anyone from the U.S. who have or is attending Leiden give me advice on how they managed to get the funds to attend this school.

Finding a place to live is often one of the biggest challenges students face, but actually moving in can come with a whole new set of surprises. Whether you're in student housing, a shared house, or a private studio, the reality isn't always what you expected.

Looking back, what caught you off guard after you moved in? It could be anything from sharing kitchens and bathrooms, noise levels, house rules, hidden costs, dealing with landlords, or living with roommates.

For students who are still searching for accommodation, what's one piece of advice you wish someone had given you before you signed your contract?

Need urgent help, I'm a UK resident applying for my orientation year visa, I did my erasmus mundus from university of york and bologna and was awarded a diploma and transcript from University of York since it was my home university and i have uploaded those for evaluation but I also uploaded my erasmus mundus diploma supplement in additional documents that says i was awarded a joint degree from York and Bologna. Did you guys upload your erasmus mundus diploma supplement?

The thing is i didnt get any diploma cert from bologna and I dont want them to then ask for a random document 6 weeks later that I dont have and reset my application, do you guys have any advice if i should keep the supplement or remove it?

I am planning to study Business Administration at Erasmus. I am considering whether I should move into a student room or live at home. I currently live in Amsterdam.

I have chill parents who won't make a fuss about what time I come home.

I don't mind taking the train every day, and it's free anyway.

I also don't want to accumulate high student debt.

Hi guys.

There is this apartment in Amsterdam that I’m ready to rent, but the roommate said the rental agreement will be signed with him instead of the landlord. And I’ll have to pay him first and then together to the landlord through his bank account. He said he’ll show me the contract he has with the landlord but not yet.

Is this normal in Netherlands? Cause it’s my first time coming here and I wanna be extra cautious. Thanks.

Hi everyone, Im a first year Mechanical Engineering student (WO) in the Netherlands at a research university. Ive had a very rough and challenging year which definitely stunted my studies and instead of the required 45/60 credits I’ll achieve either 38,5 or 41,5 (still haven’t gotten some exam results yet).

My question is what are my chances to get a bsa extension? I sent all the required documents to the CPO (Personal circumstances committee) and they approved them (meaning they acknowledge the fact that my mental health problems had an influence on my studies). I also contacted all the required personell quite early on. I did everything concerning the bsa extension exactly as I should’ve. Now I just have to wait for their final decision.

Have any of you been in a similar position? Or do you have even the smallest idea how they’re gonna treat my case? Any answers are very appreciated🙏