Experience report
Name: Remo Kleij
E-mail: remokleij@gmail.com
Exchange semester: fall 2014
Academic year: 2014/2015
Host University: IE Law School
Country: Spain
TOPIC: Admission, arrival, housing
How was your arrival organized? Did someone pick you up from the airport/station? Was an
orientation or introduction activity organized? How was accommodation organized? Does the
university provide you with accommodation? What kind of accommodation does the university
provide? Did you have to book your accommodation in advance or did you have to search for a place
to live after you arrived?
My arrival was very well organized. The first day at the university was an orientation at their campus
in Segovia, and the first two weeks were launch weeks to get started. I had to provide myself an
accommodation myself, but the university provided a list of organizations who could help and via the
university you could get a price discount for their services. I personally booked the accommodation in
advance.
TOPIC: Location of university/city
Please describe the city you lived in. Where is the university located in the city? What is the best
place to go to eat/drink/dance/do sports/etc.? What are interesting things to see and do in your host
city? What was different than in Tilburg?
Madrid is a very lively city with a lot of lively neighborhoods. My university was in the neighborhood of
Salamanca, which is a fancy but cool, lively neighborhood. It’s also a business district. Nice
neighborhoods in Madrid are Salamanca, Chueca, Malasaña, La Latina and there are many many
more. Interesting things to see are for example the Retiro Park, the royal palace, templo de Debod,
teleferico and both the soccer stadiums. Besides this the city has just an amazing, lively atmosphere.
There are great bars and restaurants everywhere and they are always full of people. What is different
from Tilburg is of course the size and the atmosphere. Madrid is a widespread metropolis where
Tilburg is a small compact city.
TOPIC: Academics
Which courses did you take and why? Which courses would you recommend? What did the courses
add to your program at Tilburg University? How does the university compare to Tilburg University
concerning the level of the courses, use of extra material, level of English, workload, etc.? Overall,
were you happy with your academic achievements during your exchange? Please describe the
campus of your host university.
I had the following courses:
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European Union Law
Introduction into common law systems
Economics
Accounting
Entrepreneurship
International Law
These were interesting, intense courses in which I learned a lot. There is not a lot to recommend
because these courses were mandatory. I think the level of the courses, use of extra material, level of
English and the workload is quite similar to Tilburg university. The way of working is different though.
The groups are smaller, more like high school classes and there is a lot of group work. I was happy
with my academic achievements in Madrid. It was a lot of work but it was interesting and I learned a
lot. The campus exists of multiple buildings spread out in the neighborhood.
TOPIC: Social life
Which social activities organized by the university or students? Did you have contact with local
students? Did you have contact with other exchange students? How did you get along with the local
students and other exchange students? Did you travel to other places/countries during your
exchange?
The university organized some cocktails and of course the orientation day. I had a lot of contact with
as well local students as with the other exchange students. We were one big group and there was not
really a separation between the locals and the exchange. I got along with both very good. During my
stay in Madrid I traveled to one other place, which was Granada.
TOPIC: Living costs
How did you finance your exchange period, apart from the grant you received from Tilburg University?
What were your living expenses abroad like compared to Tilburg? What did you spend most of your
money on? What would you advice future students to spend their money on? Please outline your
approximate monthly budget whilst on exchange: housing, food, textbooks, etc.
I saved money before I went. I spent a lot of money compared to what I spent in Tilburg because of all
the dinners, parties, trips and other activities. I would advise future students to spend their money on
whatever they prefer. There are so many things to do in Madrid. You can go out a lot, eat out a lot, go
to musea, go on trips. My monthly budget was: 500 for housing, 500 for other living expenses such as
food, drinks, going out. I did not have to spend any money on textbooks.
TOPIC: Culture
Did you experience culture shock while on exchange? How would you compare your host culture to
your own culture? What did you learn about your own culture while on exchange? What was different
about your host culture than you expected? What did you like and not like about your host culture? Do
you feel you learned a lot about your host culture, and if not, what would you like to learn more? How
would you describe your host countries culture? If you travelled to other cities/countries during your
exchange, were they different than your host city/country, and how?
I did not experienced a culture shock. The culture in Spain is more laidback and relaxed. In Spain
most of the people have for example dinner after 22:00, and they have a pretty big lunch. Speaking of
culture it was basically what I expected. I learned from my own culture that we are more punctual and
a bit better organized when it comes to planning things. I liked almost everything about the Spanish
culture, aside from that sometimes in for examples stores they could work a bit faster and more
efficient. I think I learned a lot about Spanish culture. It is a laidback culture where people really enjoy
their foods and drinks. I also think they prefer working long above working hard and efficient.
TOPIC: Personal development
What did you learn from the people you met during your exchange? Would you do things differently if
you had the chance, and what would you do differently? What was your best experience, and what
was your worst experience? What will you remember for ever about your exchange period? What was
the most important lesson you learned about yourself during your exchange period?
It’s not that I specifically learned something from the people I met, I just had an amazing time with
them. Everybody was very open and I got a long really good with the people from my university, my
house and the people I met. I would not do anything different. I would describe the whole exchange
as my best experience, and me having to leave as my worst. I will remember forever all the amazing
people I met and the wonderful lively atmosphere in Madrid. The most important lesson I learned
about myself is that I adapt really easy to different environments and that I can bond with people in a
pretty small period of time. Also I was not homesick at all, but I also did not expect to be.
TOPIC: Tips for future students
Would you recommend an exchange period? Would you recommend your host university? What
should prospective students bring with them/leave behind? What preparation is required for going on
exchange to this destination? Was there anything you should have done in preparation that you didn’t
do?
I would definitely recommend an exchange period, I think it will be good for a person’s personal
development to get out of your comfort zone. Also I would recommend my host university. It is very
well organized, it is in a nice city with nice people. There was not a lot of preparation for going to this
destination because it is in the European Union. So basically the only thing you have to prepare are
the administrative things with the universities and Erasmus, book a flight, pack your stuff and go.
There was no preparation I should have done that I did not.