Reviews of Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen (KUN) | Netherlands

Useful | 0

Cécilia G

Université Sorbonne Nouvelle: Paris III, Paris, France
Law, Comparative / Law with Languages, Graduate, Erasmus

Languages

Language of instruction: English

Local language was: Different than language of instruction

Was learning English a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my English

Was learning the local language a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my the local language

How much did you improve your English?

My level before: At ease in most situations
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)

How much did you improve your the local language?

My level before: Did not speak it
My level after: Basic phrases

Language difficulties

Social

Educational

Administrative / Institutional

Overall

Personal comments

Courses of law and political sciences in English: quite difficult but very interesting and worth taking these courses. The courses of German are very difficult to follow for French people, because the level of German in the Netherlands is very very high.

Useful | 1

Lizi V

Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria
Business Studies, Undergraduate, Erasmus

Languages

Language of instruction: English

Local language was: Different than language of instruction

Was learning English a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my English

Was learning the local language a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my the local language

How much did you improve your English?

My level before: No problems in any areas (including slang)
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)

How much did you improve your the local language?

My level before: Everyday knowledge (shopping, directions, etc.)
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)

Language difficulties

Social

Educational

Administrative / Institutional

Overall

Personal comments

What I found a bit annoying was, that most foreign students didn´t even try to learn Dutch. A lot of them went to Nijmegen to learn English. University is offering free "social Dutch" courses, but in the first semester only for students who don´t know the language, yet, thus, it wasn´t really interesting for me. Looking forward to the "advanced" class which starts next month.

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nicolas m

Université Robert Schuman (Strasbourg III), Strasbourg, France
Law, Graduate, Erasmus

Student life

Describe host city:

Students equally interact with the local and student community

Activities: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment

Nightlife, Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment

Personal social experience

Activities

Nightlife

Travel

Overall

Personal comments

However it's quite difficult to say that one place is better than another because my point of view is subjective. But if you go to nijmegen you have to go there during the festival of the city, otherwise you can go to bascafé for the cocktail's nights, merleyn because of the good music, o'shea's for good beers and exchange students and odessa because of the live jazz bands

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Elaine M

University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Law, Undergraduate, Erasmus

Languages

Language of instruction: English

Local language was: Different than language of instruction

Was learning English a key decision factor?

No, it wasn't.

Was learning the local language a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my the local language

How much did you improve your the local language?

My level before: Did not speak it
My level after: Everyday knowledge (shopping, directions, etc.)

Language difficulties

Social

Educational

Administrative / Institutional

Overall

Personal comments

At the start of the year a Social Dutch course was offered to the international students. I took this course and found it very useful but there is very little need to speak Dutch in the Netherlands and in fact finding anyone willing to converse in your limited Dutch compared to their fluent English is near impossible, even when out shopping, asking directions etc.

Useful | 0

anonymous

American University in Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Management Science, Graduate, Independent

Overall

I wish I had known...

That it's very difficult to find an accomodation in Holland.

In my opinion:

Most people loved it.

Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important

Academic reasons

4

Culture

3

Costs

4

Activities

3

Campus life

2

Party / people

3

Weather / location

2

Personal recommendation

Sometimes it needs a little bit more organization. Some things here are not very good organized.

During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot

Became familiar with another culture

4

Traveled

4

Improved language skills

4

Met people from other countries

4

Became more independent

4

Partied a lot

4

Experienced a change in life

4

Advanced my studies & career

4

Final comments

It's a very good place to go! You will find a lot of friends here. The best thing for me is to meet so many people from so many cultures and countries!

Useful | 1