The STUDY in Study Abroad

Things to Know About Dutch University 

Coming into study abroad, I knew that I would be attending one of the top schools in the Netherlands. I was enrolled in one class through IES Abroad called “Highlights of Dutch Art” which I absolutely loved. I selected classes that were as close as I could get to my major at Vrije Universiteit. Going to university in the Netherlands was one of the biggest shockers during my study abroad experience. 

• Class size
  • I go to a small undergraduate college and I had never been in classes with more than 30 people! 60 people to a class was a huge adjustment. 
• Teaching style 
  • I felt as if the courses were taught like graduate school—huge emphasis on self instruction and less help from the professors. 
• Student life 
  • As opposed to college campuses in the United States, schools are less focused on creating student life groups on campus. There were some campus groups that I saw flyers for, but they were not circulated widely. 
• Student body 
  • A lot of the students I met in my classes were also international students. I didn’t interact with many of the Dutch students and felt that the international students were more welcoming. 
• Professor feedback
  • It took a long time to receive professor feedback on work. 
• Grading system 
  • The Dutch grading system is a 1-10 scale. This is very different from the US system of A-F and for IES Abroad and in order to gain credit from our home university, you need to achieve at least a 5.5 on your exams. 
• Final exams 
  • There is a HUGE emphasis on final exams and I took one that made up 100% of my final grade. This is very different from the US where there is a larger emphasis on group work and collaboration 
• Lecture/Seminar 
  • Some classes met multiple times a week for a lecture session and for a seminar which could serve as a small group meeting.
• Course Intensity 
  • Overall, I wasn’t expecting the courses and the workload to be so intense. 
• UvA vs. VU 
  • According to some of my friends who studied at UvA, they felt that their classes weren’t as challenging but were still difficult.  

While you’re here: 

• Ask for help
  • Reach out to professors and TA’s as they can be a huge help with assignments and studying (you just need to initiate the help!) 
• Make sure you balance school and travel 
  • You are studying abroad to travel and experience the city—try and explore different coffee shops and libraries to study while also taking time for yourself and your travels!
• Take IES Abroad courses 
  • This is a great way to meet people in your program and make new friends while being in a classroom setting that is more similar to the US. 

I hope my experiences at school in the Netherlands helped prepare you for your studies when you arrive!