Mobility specification

Country:Netherlands

Institution:Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

City:Amsterdam

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Education / Department of Social Education

Study level abroad:Bachelor

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Does the university offer enough courses in English?they have tons

Are your credits converted?yes

Can you give an example?I had a course that was worth 5 credits abroad but 4 credits at MUNI, so I got 4 credits.

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Working with the students' attention span - the teachers had really well planned lessons, which were interspersed with practical exercises from the practice we were trying out. Because of this, I was able to stay focused for the entire 2 hours and never thought to look at the time. I left the class with both theory and practical exercises. At the same time, the tutors managed to create an incredibly good safe space and became our friends - they even offered that if we were homesick or feeling lonely, we could text them and they would go for a coffee with us for example.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Absolutely, for example ESN Amsterdam organises an introduction week, but also events throughout the semester (trips, karaoke, parties, speedfriending, lunches, cruises, etc. The university has many other societies that organise events in English (and if not, they all speak English anyway and have no problem with English), for example FLOOR.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories
Special examination conditions (e.g., extended time, quiet rooms)
Crisis intervention
Support for LGBTQ+ students (e.g., safe spaces, counseling services)

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:25000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?The cost of the drugs, but luckily insurance reimburses them. At the same time, public transport is also quite expensive, but fortunately we all rode our bikes always and everywhere, in all weathers.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?In the Netherlands they are pretty crazy about loyalty promotions/cards. Every store has a loyalty program and all you have to do is download the app and sign up. Not only in supermarkets you can get discounts that way. In other stores you can not only save money with these programs, but also get a birthday present etc.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?perfectly

How does public transport work in the city?runs like clockwork

And what about transport outside the city?runs like clockwork

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?In public transport the card swiping works as in Brno. Anyway, for better tickets and clear timetables with maps, routes and prices I recommend the GVB or 9292 app. But I definitely recommend renting a bike from SwapFiets (you pay a subscrbition of about 20eur per month and you get full seris).

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?yes

How do you rate the availability of healthcare?mostly fine

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?In Amsterdam, absolutely every street is beautiful and sometimes I recommend just going and "getting lost". Anyway, there are many museums here - the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum (both of which can be found on Museumplein), Anne Frank's huis (I really recommend that one) and also popup interactive museums like the Mocco museum or Lumieres de Fabrique.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Zaandam (a beautiful little town with a house that is made of several houses), Zaanse Chanse (the mills - 20 minutes by train from Amsterdam and there is free cheese tasting!), Den Haag (the so called second capital, there is a beach with a pier and a Ferris wheel). Rotterdam is a more modern Amsterdam, you can find skyscrapers, so called Cube houses and there are an incredible number of great businesses everywhere.

Share your best experience:With my friends from Belgium and Switzerland we went to The Hague for a day. It was windy and rainy all day, and we almost got blown away on the beach, but we had a great laugh and it was a very nice day.
The other moment that is definitely worth mentioning is when another friend from Switzerland accidentally kicked her phone into the Amstel river and then went to fish it out (it was about 11°C), she surprisingly fished her phone out and then went to the party with all of us.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?no

How did you get to the place?Plane

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is one of the best in Europe and everything is clear. You can get to the centre in no time by train (and just plug in your mobile/card and unplug at Amsterdam Centraal Station) and it's really not hard to navigate.

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?Rolls! And definitely some traditional Czech food for the international friends you meet. Plus, we had an international brunch at school and everyone made some traditional food from our country. Definitely don't forget a raincoat/umbrella either - you can buy that everywhere though.

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?It was an unforgettable experience that gave me a new perspective on the world and I met many new people who will always remain in my heart. I would definitely recommend a trip abroad to absolutely everyone, I believe you won't regret it! Feel free to message me on Instagram @itsvasek and I will be happy to convince you.