Mobility specification

Country:Netherlands

Institution:Saxion University of Applied Sciences

City:Deventer

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2020/2021

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Economics and Administration

Study level abroad:Bachelor

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

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?it's alright

Are your credits converted?yes

Can you give an example?All my credits are recognised as C's, see European Credit System for Higher Education (ECTS).

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?The teaching was less focused on memorizing theories and more on practical examples.
0% frontal "slide reading" - everything is a workshop or team project.
Professors are genuinely interested in what you think.
Most courses only have one final "deliverable" so no midterms to worry about.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Buddy programm: a home student will pick you up at the train station, give you a tour of the campus and help you with the bureaucracy.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories
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:15000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?Deposit for the dormitory €500 right at the signing of the contract.
Wheel repair €45 (first week defect 🤦‍♂️).
Fee for "OV-chipkaart" €7,50 - you can't buy a train online without it.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Buy a second-hand bike and cook your own food.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?almost without problems

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

And what about transport outside the city?runs like clockwork

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?Historic centre with brick warehouses on the IJssel waterfront.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Zandaam, Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, Apeldoorn.

Share your best experience:In general, I guess for travelling, discovering new places, learning new information, wandering around Dutch cities and landscapes. Specifically, it's tasting Bangladeshi and Iranian cuisine, going snowballing with roommates who have never seen snow in their lives, and a trip to Zaandam. I also fondly recall nightly bike rides in and around the city, getting double fined for disturbing the peace, or catching a family of mice that took up residence in our room.

💅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
Train
Bus

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?Schiphol Airport is 110 km away (1 h 20 min by train) - the last direct connection leaves around 23:00.
Check-in at the dorm only on weekdays 9-17 h - arrive early, otherwise hotel.
Rain fronts: a good quality waterproof jacket and backpack cover is more useful than an umbrella.

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?Universal extension - the sockets are identical, but there are few of them on campus.
EU first aid kit + pocket medicine - Dutch pharmacies are more expensive and closed on weekends.
Student ISIC insurance - also applies to sports.
Canvas bag - supermarket charges €0,70 for a plastic one.

🥳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?Six months at Deventer opened up the world to me: practical teaching, bicycles instead of cars and friends from five continents.If you want to study in an international cauldron and discover new cities every weekend, you should pack your bags now!