Department
Where did you spend your first semester
European Social & Political Studies
abroad?
(ESPS)
Netherlands
Degree Programme (e.g. BA French and
Type of Placement
Russian)
University Placement
BA European Social & Political Studies
Where did you spend your second
Year in which abroad
semester abroad?
2012/13
Same place as the first semester
Before Departure
How would you rate your preparation by your department(s)?
Very Good
Please give details/feedback and suggest any improvements:
The ESPS department was very helpful, however it should strive to coordinate itself
with the individual SELCS language departments and the SELCS study abroad team.
In fact, when I had my SELCS language department meeting the lecturers and
coordinators were unsure as to whether, being an ESPS student, I could follow courses
related to my specialisation topic.
How would you rate your preparation by the Study Abroad Team?
Very Good
Please give details/feedback and suggest any improvements:
Very helpful preparation and really appreciated the reminders to submit paperwork
before my YA.
Did you attend the Pre-Departure briefing organised by the Study Abroad Team in March?
Yes
If yes, did you find it useful?
Yes
Please give feedback/suggest any improvements:
It was very useful as it touched on all aspects/problems that we may have encountered
during our YA.
How would you rate your own preparation ahead of studying abroad?
Good
Could you have done more to prepare yourself before leaving UCL? If so, please give
details:
No, I do not think so.
Could you have been better prepared by UCL? If so, please give details:
The Dutch department should have informed us of certain bureaucratic aspects of the
Netherlands, such as the fact that students must ask themselves to be exempted from the
Council tax (which is extremely complicated for a non-native speaker), if they are not
living in university halls. Moreover, they should have better prepared us to "cope with
the typical Dutch directness", which can sometimes be very frustrating for a foreigner.
As part of your preparation, did you do any of the following (tick all that apply):
- Contact the Study Abroad Team
- Consult the resources in Moodle or on the Study Abroad website
- Consult previous students' study abroad questionnaires
- Consult your host institution's website
If you contacted the Study Abroad Team, what did you seek advice about? Did you find the
advice useful?
I sought advice about deadlines and submission of paperwork. Yes, the advice was
useful.
Prior to departure, were you given clear instructions by your department on what was
expected of you academically during your year abroad?
Yes
How did you prepare yourself for the academic aspect of your year abroad programme?
I based my academic decisions on what was told to me by the ESPS department, and not
my language department (as there was much confusion and lack of communication
between the two). I decided to choose courses which focused on my specialisation and
language skills.
What advice would you offer to students prior to making a decision about where to study
abroad?
Students should ask themselves first of all if they prefer living in a big city or in a
medium-sized town. Although I had personally chosen the latter (as the university had a
better academic reputation), I found it very hard sometimes to cope with the lack of
socialising activities/places, clubs, shops and restaurants (especially the opening times
thereof). Moreover, they should check to see if the courses offered by the particular
university appeal to them (and if they allow exchange students to join).
What advice would you give to students preparing to go abroad? What things should they
make sure to do ahead of beginning their year abroad?
Prepare to experience some culture shock. I was completely certain that I would have
been able to cope with living in any new country (as I am an EU student and had to
therefore settle in the UK), as not every city/town is London (with all its opportunities
and facilities).
Your Placement - University
Name of your host university:
Leiden University
Location (city and country):
Leiden, Netherlands
Was your university placement part of an ERASMUS or other exchange programme?
Yes
When did you receive confirmation of acceptance from the host university?
March 2013
When did your placement start?
September 2013
How did you get to your placement? Please give rough details of the journey and costs:
I flew from my home country (Italy) and, after a short train ride (15 minutes) from
Amsterdam airport, I reached Leiden. It cost approximately 90€.
Enrolment and Course Registration
Please describe the enrolment process at your host university. What formalities did you have
to complete, and, in particular, what documents did you need to have in order to enrol? (e.g.
carte de séjour, passport, nomination letter). As an international student, were you given any
special help with enrolment?
The enrolment process was a bit complex, as the international coordinator of the
Faculty of Humanities was very busy at the beginning of the academic year, so it was
quite difficult to arrange a meeting. Moreover, she did not respond to emails or phone
calls. I needed to provide the Confirmation of Admission which I had received from
Leiden University in June and the Confirmation of Registration in the Town Hall.
Were any special orientation events/meetings provided for study abroad students? If so,
please give details.
Yes, there were two days at the end of August for Orientation. Mainly tours of the
campus/library.
Is there any advice you would give to future students ahead of enrolling at this university?
Expect lack of organisation and efficiency, as not all universities are as organised as
UCL, and don't panic if you don't receive replies to emails or confirmation of course
selections.
Registering for Courses
How easy was it to finalise and register your course choices?
Very difficult
Please give details of the procedures and how to choose or change courses:
I had chosen courses on the basis of the previous year prospectus. This meant that some
courses were not running and/or clashed. I therefore had to change many of them,
however the International Coordinator of the Faculty of Humanities would not reply to
my emails, nor, when I visited in person, would she give me any information on how I
could address the problem. She would only postpone decisions. I therefore had to wait
almost a month before I was confirmed all my term 1 courses. Moreover, the same
problems arose in term 2. I wasn't allowed to enrol for some courses (with no
explanation) and I therefore had to make some changes, which in turn caused me to
miss the first week of lectures for one of my courses.
Was obtaining information about courses and timetables difficult or simple?
Average
If difficult, what advice would you offer on how to obtain the information?
Keep checking the prospectus page, Blackboard and Usis, as the information is
sometimes different.
Academic Life
At your host university, who helped you with the academic or administrative aspects of your
year abroad? Please tick all that apply:
- Departmental Coordinator
- International Office / Erasmus Office
- Individual Tutors
Please give names of helpful individuals if possible:
Dr. Isabel Hoving was very helpful, as she allowed me to take her 6-week course, even
though I had missed the first week of lectures.
The most helpful member of staff was Joyce van Leeuwen of the Onderwijsbureau
Bestuurskunde, who, unlike the international coordinator of the Faculty of Humanities,
was very efficient, quick in replying and helpful.
Please indicate what kind of help you received (e.g. with course registration; general
academic advice; specific assistance with coursework; specific assistance with dissertation
preparation; instructions concerning coursework; instructions concerning assessment):
I did not receive much help regarding course registration and advice, as every
faculty/department is unaware of the requirements and processes of the others. The
whole system was very inefficient and confusing, and there was no interdepartmental
organisation. Instructions concerning coursework were sometimes vague, and needed to
be clarified with the lecturers themselves.
Please comment on the number of classes you took and how many hours a week that
constituted in the classroom. Please also mention the amount of work you had to do outside
class on average:
I took 7 courses. All lectures are 2 hours long, except for the advanced classes which are
three hours long. A week I roughly had 9 hours of lectures. The work outside class
depended on the level of the course and the ECTS. For a 5 ECTS course individual
study was not much, about 4 hours a week to do.
Please describe the nature of the classes (i.e. large lectures, smaller seminar groups etc.) What
was the average lecture/class size?
The average lecture size was approximately 20 people. Less for advanced courses and
Dutch lectures (about 5-10 people).
Please describe the mode of assessment for the courses you took (e.g. written/oral exam,
essay/project etc.) and its timing (e.g. mid or end of year). Were there coursework
requirements (presentations, essays etc.)?
Assessment was mainly based on essays (about two weeks after the end of the course,
with an informal possibility of extension). Some courses also had exams (very informal
venue, no invigilators etc). Assessment timing was throughout the year, i.e. both during
the course (e.g. at the end of a block of topics), before Christmas/Easter holidays, a few
weeks/ a month after the end of the course.
Please comment on the availability and approachability of teaching staff at your host
university:
Teaching staff was very approachable and willing to help students, regardless of
department.
How would you rate the teaching at your host university:
Average
How would you rate the selection of courses offered:
Good
How would you rate the intellectual level of the material covered:
Average
How would you rate the difficulty of the courses at your host university compared to UCL:
Much easier than UCL
Please give details:
Very interesting courses, some of which are not offered at UCL (e.g. on gender and
sexuality, Dutch presentation and debating). However, the level of difficulty was not
very high and no course asked for/rewarded original thought/independent research nor
did it challenge students to put in extra effort.
If you attended a university where the language of instruction was not English, did you
experience any language difficulties?
No
Did your tutors make allowances for your not being a native speaker?
Yes
If yes, please give details:
I was allowed to take one exam in English, instead of Dutch, as the course was quite
complex.
Facilities
Library provision:
The library system was quite bad, as many books are not displayed on shelves, but can
only be found using the library catalogue and then requesting them (they are put into
lockers). This means that I was unable to do independent research for essays or my
dissertation, as I was only able to do online searches.
Access to computers, internet etc.:
Access to internet was not very good, as every time I arrived at the university I had to
register my device which was very time consuming. Moreover the internet connection
would cease a few yards away from the university buildings, which was not very handy
if one wanted to study outside.
Clubs and societies (type, range, and cost):
Not much choice, most were cliquey and expensive for students. Moreover, clubs and
societies were very disorganised and would frequently change time/place of meeting
without informing students.
Sporting facilities (type, range, and cost):
Not great range, less expensive than UCL.
Other:
Cafeteria and eating facilities were extremely bad, both in range offered and pricing
(more expensive than a café outside the university). Moreover, the facilities were only
open for two hours at lunch and an hour and a half at dinner, which meant that if
students had late lectures, they would not be able to eat at university.
Summary
Why did you choose to spend your year abroad at this university in particular?
Very good international and national reputation. Interesting choice of courses and very
good lecturers. Moreover, I did not want to be based in Amsterdam, but in a smaller
and more study-oriented city.
Are you glad that you did so?
Yes
Would you recommend this university to future UCL students?
Yes
Please explain why:
The lecturers are very good and the courses, although not very intellectually stimulating,
are extremely interesting and different from what they offer at UCL. Leiden is so close
to The Hague, Amsterdam, Utrecht and Rotterdam, that it is able to combine less chaos
(since its smaller) and the ability of regularly going to larger cities.
How would you rate the placement overall?
Good
How would you rate the placement within the context of your degree programme?
Good
Is there any specific advice you would offer to students considering a placement at this
university?
Be daring when choosing courses, as some are very unique and not offered at UCL. Be
insistent with the International Coordinators, so that they will help with course choice
etc, as they are quite inefficient and prone to forgetting what you ask.
Accommodation
What type of accommodation did you obtain?
Private accommodation
If you stayed in private accommodation, please indicate whether this was a personal choice,
or whether you did so because accommodation was not provided by your host institution:
Personal choice
How easy was it to find accommodation?
Easy
How long did it take you to find accommodation?
Ten days
Did you stay in temporary/short stay accommodation while you looked for something
permanent? If so, please give details:
My boyfriend helped me look for accommodation, so while I was still in Italy, he stayed
with a friend, who lived in Delft.
Please give details of how you found your accommodation. When did you start looking, and
where did you look? Please list any websites, agencies, newspapers or other resources which
future students might find helpful when looking for accommodation.
My boyfriend and I started looking for accommodation around 20 August. We used
online websites and real estate agent directories. Marktplaats is a very good website, as
it has private listings as well (no commission to real estate agents). We found our
accommodation however with a real estate agent, Remax.
Please describe the type of accommodation you stayed in, its location and level of comfort.
Did you live in a shared flat/live with a local family/other? Did you have a single or double
room? What were the kitchen and other facilities like? What was or wasn't provided (e.g.
bedding, kitchen utensils)? Did you feel that the accommodation represented good value for
money?
The accommodation was about 5 km away from the main university campus. It was in a
very safe neighbourhood, with a small shopping centre nearby (200 m). It was a private
flat (nothing was shared) with a private terrace. There was a receptionist on weekdays
and there were washing machine facilities located in the basement. It was furnished, but
no utensils etc were provided (bedding, cutlery etc). It was excellent value for money as
my boyfriend and I each paid 412€ a month (825 in total), including all bills (except
council and water/recycling taxes), for a 90 sq m flat with terrace.
What was the average monthly rent? What was included in this cost (e.g. bills, internet, food
etc.)? Please give as much detail as possible about the costs associated with your
accommodation:
Monthly rent was 412€, including internet, electricity and water bills. It did not include
council, water, recycling and waste disposal taxes, which were about 30€ a month.
However, students can ask for remission of these taxes.
Did you live with locals, or with other foreign students? Were you able to practice your
language skills and interact with local students in your accommodation?
I lived with my boyfriend who is doing his Master's at Leiden. I was able to practice my
language skills with neighbours and the receptionists.
Would you recommend this accommodation to future students?
Yes
If yes, please give the address of the residence and, if possible, contact details for the owner:
President Kennedylaan, 101 - 2343 GL Oegstgeest - Nederland.
What type of accommodation would you advise future students to look for (private flat,
shared flat/house, stay with local family etc.)?
Private Flat, as it is much cheaper than university provided accommodation.
Which parts of your host town/city would you recommend living in. Are there any parts of
the town/city which should be avoided?
No part should be avoided, as Leiden is extremely safe. I would consider living a bit
outside the city centre, as prices are unreasonably higher in the centre of Leiden.
Oegstgeest and Voorschoten are very nice places.
Is there any other advice you would like to share with future students looking for
accommodation in your host town/city?
Don't be put off by estate agents who say there is no accommodation: something will
come up!
Finance
How much money did you need on arrival (e.g. for housing deposits, rent and other start-up
costs)?
1000€
1. Cost of Living
Rent (per month):
412€
Bills (electricity, gas, water, internet, phone etc.):
20€
Books (overall amount spent on books during your stay):
100€ (don't expect to find books in the library, as it only has one copy of most books)
Food (weekly):
30€
A (simple) meal (in a cafe or restaurant):
15€ (more expensive than in London)
A coffee (in a cafe or bar):
2€
A beer (in a cafe or bar):
2.5€
A cinema ticket:
7€
Local travel (weekly):
7€ for a return train ticket. 3€ for a return bus ticket.
Entertainment (weekly):
6€
Any other regular costs:
In total, how much did you spend per month on average?
700€
How would you rate the cost of living in your host town/city when compared to London?
More expensive
Please give details. Were there certain things which were more expensive than in the UK, and
others which were cheaper?
Accommodation and cinema are much, much more expensive in London. However, food,
clothes, books and entertainment are much cheaper in London, as there are no student
discounts or low budget options in Leiden.
2. Working
Is supplementing your income through part-time work a viable option?
Yes
If yes, do you have any advice about what type of work to look for, or where to look? Please
give the names of any employers or agencies you worked for, and any newspapers, websites
or notice boards you would recommend:
If you know a bit of Dutch, finding work is very easy, as there are many vacancies in
most shops and supermarkets.
Does your host institution help with finding part-time work?
Yes, there is a part-time work service.
3. Banking
Did you open a bank account in your host country?
No
No: If no, why not? How did you access money while abroad?
I used my Italian debit and credit cards.
Would you recommend opening a local bank account? If so, which bank(s) or account(s)
would you recommend?
Yes, if you are a UK/international student (much easier to deal with the Pound-Euro
exchange). No, if you come from a country which uses the Euro.
General
1. Social Factors (Opportunities and Ease of Meeting People)
How much interaction did you have with local students?
Not much, as local Dutch students do not interact with non-Dutch people, even if they
speak very good Dutch. They are sometimes mannerly, but remain distant and cliquey.
How much interaction did you have with other international students?
A lot of interaction, which was also a very handy way for all of us to practice our Dutch,
without being judged. There are a lot of international students, from all over the world,
and most of them are very friendly.
In your experience, what were the best ways of meeting people?
In lectures, in clubs, at ISN events.
If you were studying in a country where the local language is not English, how often did you
speak the local language?
Often
2. Mobile Phones
Would you recommend getting a mobile phone with a local tariff as well as/instead of your
English mobile?
Yes
Please give details. Are there any mobile providers you would recommend?
Lycamobile offers the cheapest rates on a pay as you go sim.
Transport
Was local transport good or bad? Please give details of local transport you used:
Local transport was quite good. Trains were excellent: cheap, always on time, quick and
completely clean and safe, most had also free wi-fi. Buses were very good: most had free
wi-fi, were very clean and safe; however buses often leave a few minutes before the
stated departure time, do not run very often and do not run at all at night, and they are
more expensive than in London.
What was the cost of local transport? Are there any special deals or discounts for students?
Cost of buses was too expensive for the service provided and length of journey. There
are deals for local students who receive studiefinanciering from the Dutch government,
but not for international students who stay less than a year.
Trains are very cheap, and I recommend getting an OV-Chipkaart with an annual
Daluren abbonement (50€ a year and gives 40% discount on off-peak travel). No
discounts for students if you do not get a monthly/annual subscription.
Did you travel more widely within your host country or within the region? How easy was it
to travel, and was it expensive to do so?
I travelled a lot both withing the country and the region, especially by bike, as Leiden is
very near to Amsterdam, The Hague etc. By bike is the easiest and cheapest way to
travel.
Life in your Host Country
Please comment on the social life and entertainment in your host city/country, or any other
aspects of life there which you would like to share:
Not many clubs nor much social life in Leiden, even on Friday night or at the weekends.
Locals go to nearby cities (The Hague, Rotterdam or Amsterdam).
Dutch people can often be very rude for no reason, even in shops/cafés, and most of
them either say they do not speak English or reply in English even if you are speaking to
them in Dutch, which is extremely frustrating if one is trying to learn the language.
Is there any advice you would give to someone preparing to live in your host city/country?
Expect people to be rude and not as polite as in London. Do not get bogged down if they
reply to you in English, as Dutch people like to practise their English, even if you're
trying to learn Dutch.
Did you experience any problems/difficulties while living in your host city which you would
like to share with the Study Abroad Team?
Some organisational difficulties regarding course selection, as the International
Coordinator of the Faculty of Humanities was extremely unhelpful, disorganised and
inefficient. I was left for almost two months (from August to October) without a
confirmation of my course choice, which, when adjusting to life in a new country, was
an unnecessary and avoidable source of stress and confusion. Moreover, the Dutch
Department should prepare students a bit better to cope with Dutch "directness", i.e.
the fact that Dutch people can be extremely rude.
Study Abroad - Summary
Did you find your year abroad rewarding academically?
Yes
Please give reasons for your answer:
I was able to take a variety of courses which are not offered at UCL and which were
extremely interesting. In particular, I took two courses on gender issues which have
been extremely helpful for me in deciding my future career path.
Did you find your year abroad rewarding in non-academic respects?
Yes
Please give reasons for your answer:
I was able to live Dutch life to the full, especially visiting the country by bike, and
meeting new people.
How would you rate your year abroad experience overall?
Very good
Please give reasons for your answer:
I learned that I can live in a non-Anglosaxon country, with a different culture and
norms. I am really going to miss my bike rides.
Do you feel that you have developed skills which will be of use to you in future?
Yes
a) My cultural awareness:
Has increased greatly
b) My language proficiency:
Has improved greatly
c) My independence:
Is the same
d) My self confidence:
Has increased slightly
e) My intellectual development:
Has increased slightly
f) My personal development:
Has increased greatly
g) My ability to make decisions:
Is the same
h) My ability to explore and create opportunities:
Has increased greatly
i) My ability to cope with difficult situations:
Has increased greatly
j) My ability to solve problems:
Is the same
How would you rate the support you received from your department at UCL during your time
abroad?
Very good
Please give details/feedback and suggest any improvements:
I received all the support I needed from my department (ESPS).
How would you rate the support you received from the UCL Study Abroad Team during your
time abroad?
Good
Please give details/feedback and suggest any improvements:
The SA Team should send confirmations of having received all the paperwork. Not only
did I not receive confirmation, even when requested, but I was also told in November
(after the deadline had passed for the first batch of paperwork) that I had not sent my
Confirmation of Arrival (which I had done in September).
Are there any other comments you would like to make?
The Dutch Department should prepare its students better, both from a language point
of view as well as a social one.