Experience report
ANR: 617273
Name: Erik van der Poel
E-mail: erikvdpoel@hotmail.com
Exchange semester: 2
Academic year: 2013-2014
Host University: Bradford university
Country: UK
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?
After I arrived at the airport, there was a pick-up service arranged. I applied for a stay at the university
campus, and got accepted. Before going on exchange the university sent me a number of possible
accommodation which I could apply for. I booked the accommodation in advance. The only downside
th
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was that the induction day was held at the 17 of January, and my room was just available the 19 .
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?
Bradford is a highly multicultural city, with a nice city center. However lots of buildings are deserted
and neglected around the center. The university is located near the city center, and therefore the
location is nice. Bradford, due to it’s multicultural status, has lots of curry restaurants which you
should try. Also, if you don’t like curry you could try the standard food chains in the centre. The
universities’ sport society is very active, and provides you with enough opportunities to sport, with a
on-campus gym, swimming pool, and a nearby sport field. The bar area is just a couple hundreds of
meters away, and gives an opportunity to dance at a night club, and hang out with the sports
societies. Also, every Friday the on-campus sports bar hosts a Friday Night Disco. Bradford is famous
for it’s film industry, and therefore offers a museum to visit. I would recommend visiting nearby
villages with organized trips, while the nature and villages are stunning.
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.
In Tilburg I study Bussiness Economics, (Finance), and I wanted to improve my overall knowledge
and understanding of global economics. Therefore I took a course in Financial Economics, Financial
market and banking, and international economics. These courses indeed provide me with more
understanding, and will help me in my future (academic) career. The level of the courses are slightly
harder in Tilburg, while Bradford provides a more practical approach to theories. While I studied at an
English university, the level of English was high which sometimes created confusement, but overall it
was understandable. Overall I’m very happy with my achievements, as I practiced my essay skills and
presentation skills, and of course improved my knowledge about economics. The campus consisted
of lecture building, administrative building, a library, and a gym. Everything you needed as student
was provided within the campus. However, if you study management, you had to take a free bus to
the management campus.
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 a culture week, where everyone could share their culture with eachother.
Next to that they organized a sportsfare to encourage you to play sports with local university teams. I
joined the Lacrosse team, to play sports and meet the local students. I was received very well, and it
was a enriching social and sportive experience. I met local university students, and understand their
student lives. At the induction day, and the incoming exchange students facebook page, I met some
people and after a night out at the sports bar, we kept in touch with eachother, leading to new
friendships. With a group of new friends, we’ve been to Edinburg, Dublin, Manchester, Liverpool, and
London. It was very nice to travel and get a better view at the United Kingdom. In contrast to the
Netherlands, travelling is cheap by the way.
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 used the money I saved in my savings account to finance the exchange period. The rent at the
campus was quite a lot compared to Tilburg, living costs are slightly more expensive in the UK as
well. The most money, besides food and drinking, is spend on rent and travelling, as I would
recommend other students to do this as well. The campus is very nice, and you meet a lot of people
there. Travelling broadens your view about the UK culture, and creates friendships. Campus housing
was €450,- travelling on average €150,- a month, food and drinking €200. Textbooks were expensive,
but at amazon you could find more cheaper ones(also library provides books).
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?
The UK is a western country as well, and apart from different brands and food at the supermarket, I
didn’t experience that big of a culture shock. When comparing countries from what I’ve experienced,
the student lif in the UK is slightly different then in the Netherlands. Whereas in the Netherlands
student associations are a normal way of developing yourself and meeting new people, in the UK the
sport societies replace this experience. I expected a big ‘pub culture’, where everyone has lunch and
a beer in the pub during the afternoon, and after that drinking a beer after work, however, at least in
Bradford this was not the case. I really liked the sport society culture, whereas you meet people and
keep in shape. When travelling to other Uk cities, I faced the ‘pub culture’, and it met my expectations.
The difference between Bradford and other cities I visited was mainly due to the influence of the
Muslim society. Bradford therefore also is known as a curry city and also referred as
‘Bradistan’(Bradford
+Pakistan).
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?
The other exchange students I’ve met mostly opened my view at other cultures and countries, and
somehow made me appreciate the Netherlands more. Different aspects among different countries
about subjects regarding student life, but also culture differences broadend my openmindness.
Exchange made me more a international citizen. By far my best experience is meeting new people
and friends throughout the whole world. I don’t really have bad memories about my exchange, at least
not at what I can think off. I always will remember the great times I’ve had with my friends at going
out, travelling, socializing, and the many things happened between them. For me exchange was a
dive in the deep, not knowing whom I was going to meet and how it would’ve been. Before exchange I
thought I wanted to work near my family and friends, being in the comfort zone. Now I realize I want to
experience more cultures and meet people all over the world, as I already mentioned, I feel more of a
international citizen nowadays.
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 towards future students. It will be a remembrance
never to be forgotten with great experiences and many new friends. At a certain extent, it shapes the
way you think and strengthens your personality. Bradford may not be the best city in the UK, but the
student live can be described as very nice. There are lots of international student who all want to have
the best time of their lives, creating a very nice ambiance. Compared to other cities in the UK,
Bradford may not be the most awesome city, but this creates a cosy, special ambiance among
students. As I visited other universities, and exchanged experience with students, campus and
student live may be the most rewarding in Bradford.I would recommend students to just bring there
clothes with them, and maybe even a tuxedo or suit, where sport matches require a suit jacket, and
every year there may be a gala. Other then administrative preparation, no other preparation is
needed. The first weeks they provide you with information needed to make it a succesfull year on
academic, bhut also on social level.
TOPIC: A picture is worth a thousand words
If you took any pictures or made any videos that you would like to share with future exchange
students, please include them (or e-mail them separately). Pictures that show your daily life or
symbolize your exchange period are especially interesting for future exchange students.