Reviews of Universiteit van Amsterdam (UVA) | Netherlands

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Anna G

Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Philology, Graduate, Erasmus

Overall

I wish I had known...

NO, I like suprises too.

In my opinion:

Everybody loved it, you will too!

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

Academic reasons

4

Culture

4

Costs

2

Activities

3

Campus life

4

Party / people

4

Weather / location

2

Personal recommendation

It is very good institution, with very high academic level.

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

Became familiar with another culture

3

Traveled

3

Improved language skills

3

Met people from other countries

4

Became more independent

3

Partied a lot

3

Experienced a change in life

3

Advanced my studies & career

3

Final comments

It's very difficult to ride a bike with an umbrella ;)

Useful | 1

Cristina V

Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, United States
Sociology, Undergraduate, CIEE

Housing

Type of housing: Apartment/House

Arranged by: Home university

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why?

It was a great location and place although I had a terrible roommate.

Personal assessment

Cost

Facilities

Location

Cleanliness

Space

Personal comments

The housing couldn't have been better, however I managed to be the only one from my program that ended up with a 40 year old Vietnamese teacher from another program as a roommate. She was a terrible roommate, never slept at night always studying. It was the worst part of my experience there.

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Nicole W

University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Law, Undergraduate, Independent

Overall

I wish I had known...

Just the tricks you learn when travelling around, the cheap and efficient ways to do it.

In my opinion:

Most people loved it.

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

Academic reasons

3

Culture

3

Costs

2

Activities

4

Campus life

4

Party / people

4

Weather / location

4

Personal recommendation

Is a great University with plenty of activiites and thing to do for international students

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

Became familiar with another culture

3

Traveled

4

Improved language skills

2

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

check out the cheap cheap flights you get with all the new small airlines. Credit cards not always taken in Amsterdam, set up your own bank account once there to keep costs down and make things easier.

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Rebecca S

Goucher College, Baltimore, United States
International Relations, Graduate, Independent

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

The Dutch speak English better than most other European countries I have visited, so it made learning the language a little more difficult considering the natives would rather speak english to you than you speak dutch to them. Still, I found once a Ducth person saw your willingness to learn their language, they were very helpful, patient, and pleased.

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Jordi T

Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Financial Management, 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: At ease in most situations
My level after: At ease in most situations

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

I have just learned some basic phrases of Dutch, although I would like to learn more in the future. Especially if I decide to work in Holland. My level of English before coming here was advanced. In Amsterdam I have used English very offten, both in the academical and the social activities. I have improved my fluency and my vocabulary.

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