Department
Where did you spend your first semester
Phonetics & Linguistics
abroad?
Degree Programme (e.g. BA French and
Netherlands
Russian)
Type of Placement
BA Linguistics IP
University Placement
Year in which abroad
Where did you spend your second
2012/13
semester abroad?
Same place as the first semester
Before Departure
How would you rate your preparation by your department(s)?
Good
Please give details/feedback and suggest any improvements:
How would you rate your preparation by the Study Abroad Team?
Good
Please give details/feedback and suggest any improvements:
informative meetings
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:
How would you rate your own preparation ahead of studying abroad?
Could you have done more to prepare yourself before leaving UCL? If so, please give
details:
perhaps find out more about the academic calender and structure of my host uni
Could you have been better prepared by UCL? If so, please give details:
n/a
As part of your preparation, did you do any of the following (tick all that apply):
- Contact the Study Abroad Team
- Discuss your options with your Study Abroad Tutor
- 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?
Asking about travel grants available in the netherlands and if they were applicable to
me - yes, the information was very useful. Also questions regarding insurance etc.
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?
Tried to choose relevant courses.
What advice would you offer to students prior to making a decision about where to study
abroad?
Think carefully about what you wish to get out of the year - if you are focused on
academics, then choose a university that suits your interests.
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?
Make sure all the paperwork is sorted out well in advance so that the tedious stuff is out
of the way before you arrive and start having fun :)
Your Placement - University
Name of your host university:
Utrecht University
Location (city and country):
Utrecht, the 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?
Early 2012
When did your placement start?
September 2012
How did you get to your placement? Please give rough details of the journey and costs:
I came by car and ferry (8 hours...don't know cost!)
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?
We were given plenty of help with enrolling - just needed our housing contract and
passport i think.
Were any special orientation events/meetings provided for study abroad students? If so,
please give details.
There was an introduction week provided for all new students that was degree course
specific
Is there any advice you would give to future students ahead of enrolling at this university?
The terms are long and intense so be prepared...
Registering for Courses
How easy was it to finalise and register your course choices?
Very easy
Please give details of the procedures and how to choose or change courses:
Everything can be done over the moodle equivalent Osiris.
Was obtaining information about courses and timetables difficult or simple?
Simple
If difficult, what advice would you offer on how to obtain the information?
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
- Individual Tutors
Please give names of helpful individuals if possible:
Martin Everaet
Maaike Schoorlemmer
Yoad Winter
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):
Generally, all staff were extremely helpful and solved any problem that i came to them
with.
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:
Over the entire year, I took 8 course units, each coinsiting of at least 4 hours of contact
time per week (2 courses are taken per block, the year is made up of 4 blocks). The
work load was quite heavy but I'm not sure how many hours/week.
Please describe the nature of the classes (i.e. large lectures, smaller seminar groups etc.) What
was the average lecture/class size?
On average, my classes were very small - i.e. between 8-15 people, sometimes a few
more.
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.)?
I was assessed through presentations in almost every course, essays, homework
assignments, group work and essays. Most work that was completed was for credit.
Please comment on the availability and approachability of teaching staff at your host
university:
The staff were extremely approachable and helpful.
How would you rate the teaching at your host university:
Very good
How would you rate the selection of courses offered:
Good
How would you rate the intellectual level of the material covered:
Very good
How would you rate the difficulty of the courses at your host university compared to UCL:
Slightly more difficult than UCL
Please give details:
The classes offered more flexibility in what I chose to study - very interesting and useful.
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?
No
If yes, please give details:
n/a
Facilities
Library provision:
Two large libraries, very beautiful but very busy most of the time.
Access to computers, internet etc.:
Very accesible in all parts of the university.
Clubs and societies (type, range, and cost):
n/a
Sporting facilities (type, range, and cost):
n/a
Other:
Summary
Why did you choose to spend your year abroad at this university in particular?
Mostly because of the academic reputation of the university.
Are you glad that you did so?
Yes
Would you recommend this university to future UCL students?
Yes
Please explain why:
It is a very vibrant and international university, lots going on and very easy to meet
other Dutch and international students.
How would you rate the placement overall?
Very good
How would you rate the placement within the context of your degree programme?
Very good
Is there any specific advice you would offer to students considering a placement at this
university?
Be prepared for a heavy workload! ;)
Accommodation
What type of accommodation did you obtain?
Accommodation provided by your host institution
How did you obtain your accommodation? Please describe the application process, when you
applied, and when you received confirmation:
Through SSH, a housing service provided for international and dutch students.
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:
I paid between 520 - 590 euros/month all inclusive (except food).
How early could you move in?
Immediately before the semester started and left immediately after the end.
Did you have to vacate the premises during the holidays?
No
How would you rate the accommodation provided?
Very Good
Please describe the type of accommodation you stayed in, its location and level of comfort.
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?
I lived in 2 separate studios over the year, both had their own kitchen and bathroom.
THe first was located on the university campus (but out of town) and the second was
located on a more central campus. Both were provided with kitchen utensils etc but no
bedding.
Did you live with local students, or with other foreign students? Were the halls a good place
to practice your language skills and interact with local students?
I mostly met other internationals in halls and we communicated in English.
Would you recommend this accommodation to future students?
Yes
Is there any other advice you would like to share with future students looking for
accommodation in your host town/city?
It was very easy to find a place through SSH but they are more expensive than through
independent landlords (however, also more reliable).
Finance
How much money did you need on arrival (e.g. for housing deposits, rent and other start-up
costs)?
Probably around 1000 euros
1. Cost of Living
Rent (per month):
520-590 euros
Bills (electricity, gas, water, internet, phone etc.):
10 euros (phone)
Books (overall amount spent on books during your stay):
0
Food (weekly):
40 euros
A (simple) meal (in a cafe or restaurant):
7 euros
A coffee (in a cafe or bar):
2 euros
A beer (in a cafe or bar):
2.20 euros
A cinema ticket:
9 euros
Local travel (weekly):
free if using bike! 10-15 euros if by bus
Entertainment (weekly):
20 euros
Any other regular costs:
In total, how much did you spend per month on average?
800 euros
How would you rate the cost of living in your host town/city when compared to London?
Cheaper
Please give details. Were there certain things which were more expensive than in the UK, and
others which were cheaper?
Medicines etc were more expensive, but rent and food etc were cheaper than London
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:
I found a job through the university in a research project, but this was by luck. During
the introduction week, we were taken to a job agency who could help international
students find part time work.
Does your host institution help with finding part-time work?
yes
3. Banking
Did you open a bank account in your host country?
Yes
If yes, was it easy to open an account? Please describe the process and what documents were
needed. Did you have to make a minimum deposit to open the account?
Yes, i had set this up before arriving. No minimum deposit. Just required passport and
online forms provided by the university.
Which bank did you open an account with?
Rabobank
What type of account did you open? Were there any charges, and was it easy to withdraw
money within your host country using this account?
Student account - i think there was a charge of 15 euros on opening. Yes, it was very
easy to use the card and draw out money.
Would you recommend opening a local bank account? If so, which bank(s) or account(s)
would you recommend?
Definitely since no shops in Utrecht accept Visa, so you must rely on drawing out cash if
you don't have your own card.
General
1. Social Factors (Opportunities and Ease of Meeting People)
How much interaction did you have with local students?
Quite a lot since my course was a mix between international and dutch students.
How much interaction did you have with other international students?
A lot - from my course and from my halls of residence.
In your experience, what were the best ways of meeting people?
Through my course, through ESN activities or through housing.
If you were studying in a country where the local language is not English, how often did you
speak the local language?
Sometimes
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?
I used Lebara which gave a free sim card and had free calls to the same network - very
expensive to call internationall though!
Transport
Was local transport good or bad? Please give details of local transport you used:
Local buses are ok, but do not run at night. The best way to get around is by bike which
is cheap and easy!
What was the cost of local transport? Are there any special deals or discounts for students?
There are only discounts for Dutch students on the local buses, but it is possible to get
off-peak discounts on the trains.
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?
Yes, i travelled a lot around the Netherlands and the train network is very good (pretty
cheap and easy).
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:
I enjoyed a busy social life whilst here, mostly with my coursemates, but also with other
international friends met through the ESN activities etc. Lots of house parties too.
Is there any advice you would give to someone preparing to live in your host city/country?
I hope you like beer...and can cycle!
Did you experience any problems/difficulties while living in your host city which you would
like to share with the Study Abroad Team?
n/a
Study Abroad - Summary
Did you find your year abroad rewarding academically?
Yes
Please give reasons for your answer:
The work was both interesting and challenging, as well as covering a lot that i had not
come across in UCL. What's more, i had to learn to make presentations which for me
was a personal challenge and now a valued skill!
Did you find your year abroad rewarding in non-academic respects?
Yes
Please give reasons for your answer:
It was invlauable to spend this time abroad - it was great both for independence but also
for the chance to consider my future career and living choices in a new context.
How would you rate your year abroad experience overall?
Very good
Please give reasons for your answer:
I found the host university very welcoming and academically excellent, but more
importantly, the people i met here have become very close friends. I have also had the
opportunity to develop non-academic skills (in particular photography) which may
greatly impact my post-UCL choices.
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:
Is the same
c) My independence:
Has increased greatly
d) My self confidence:
Has increased greatly
e) My intellectual development:
Has increased greatly
f) My personal development:
Has increased greatly
g) My ability to make decisions:
Has increased greatly
h) My ability to explore and create opportunities:
Has increased greatly
i) My ability to cope with difficult situations:
Has increased slightly
j) My ability to solve problems:
Has increased slightly
How would you rate the support you received from your department at UCL during your time
abroad?
Good
Please give details/feedback and suggest any improvements:
Sometimes difficult to get hold of my departmental tutor, but otherwise very helpful.
How would you rate the support you received from the UCL Study Abroad Team during your
time abroad?
Very good
Please give details/feedback and suggest any improvements:
no problems
Are there any other comments you would like to make?
n/a