Hi everyone,

I am a Dutch citizen and I am planning to start a university study in the Netherlands. I am trying to understand whether I could qualify for the DUO supplementary grant (aanvullende beurs).

My situation:

I am Dutch.
My mother is Vietnamese and currently lives in Vietnam.
My parents are divorced.
My mother has a very low income (around minimum wage / about €200 per month).
She is also supporting my younger brother, who is currently studying at university.
I will be studying in the Netherlands and applying for DUO student finance.

I am wondering:

Does DUO consider my parent's income if they live outside the Netherlands?
Would my mother's low income make me eligible for the supplementary grant?
Will my father's income also be considered after divorce?
What documents would DUO require from a parent living in Vietnam (income statements, tax documents, etc.)?

I would really appreciate any advice from people who have been in a similar situation.

Thanks!

Anybody on the waitlist for Tilburg, Maastricht, Utrecht and Leiden for the clinical psychology masters (dutch cohort)? If so, which ones and whats your top choice?

I'm trying to find a room in Amsterdam (worst place to try to find a room ik) but multiple of my friends have successfully found a room so I don't know why I'm struggling, am I doing something wrong?? I'm checking kamernet multiple times a day and responding to as many rooms as I'm eligible for, checking room .nl daily, checking pararius daily, I'm in multiple facebook groups.... genuinely what am I missing

Hi everyone, I would really appreciate some advice about choosing my university.

I am originally from Spain and I am currently in Montreal Canada , where I completed an AEC in International Business Management (I took Gap Year). Since I speak 5 languages, I decided to take this path abroad because always wanted international experience before continuing with my Bachelor’s.

I am now applying to study International Business in the Netherlands, but I am unsure which university would be the best choice for my future.

My options are:

* University of Twente (my first choice, but I have an IELTS issue)

* Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences

* Hanze University of Applied Sciences

* NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences

( I got 2 offers from Hanze and NHL Stenden)

My IELTS situation:

* Overall: 6.0 and 6.5

* Except Reading: 5.0 (some universities require 5.5 minimum in each skill)

I am worried because Twente is a WO (research university), and I know it has a different academic pathway compared to Universities of Applied Sciences (HBO). My long-term goal is to continue with a Master’s degree in the future, possibly related to international relations/diplomacy.

For people familiar with Dutch universities: which option would you recommend for someone with my background and goals? Would you choose a WO university if possible, or is an applied sciences university also a good path?

Thank you for any advice!

Hi all,

I was accepted into Maastricht’s LLM in human rights and was wondering how well they set up students for jobs after graduation. I heard that they offer internships during the year but was hoping a potential past student could chime in on how job prospects look after graduation

Ik heb binnen 1 maand een 21+ toets om de the hague uneversity of applied siences binnen te komen, Echter heb ik een probleem. Ik heb een pakket gekocht via de website (hellotest) hierin kun je oefenen toetsen maken en voorbereiden. De 21+ toets bestaat uit 8 onderdelen waarvan 2 nederlands, 2 rekenen en 4 IQ gerelateerd. Ik scoor voor rekenen en IQ gedeeltes goed, maar voor mijn nederlands scoor ik juist slecht. De 2 onderdelen zijn woordanalogieën en woordrelaties hier scoor ik slecht vanwege mijn lage nederlandse woordenschat. Heeft iemand ervaring met de 21+ toets en het nederlandse gedeelte hiervan of heeft iemand een idee hoe ik mijn woordenschat het beste kan uitbreiden?

Hello, if you've applied to pre-master's at Maastricht University, when did you hear back about the decision notification?

Also, is there a selection process, or is it just that if you meet the minimum requirements, you are accepted? They had a motivation letter as one part of the application, so I'm slightly confused about what role it plays.

Thanks a lot for any insights.

Just ranting and saying words here. I'm an upcoming freshman at UvA and I've been engaging with people on students groupchats since March. The academic year starts in a little over a month and the amount of people who JUST started looking for housing is insane. I started looking in late March and secured housing by the end of May and I assumed most people would manage it similarly. On various chats you can see 10+ new messages daily from people looking for housing with crazy and unrealistic requirements (deadass saw today a post from someone looking for a room with a private bathroom and a 1000 euro budget).

People want to either live alone, despise the idea of living outside of Amsterdam or generally being slightly inconvenienced when well, it's not a time to be picky in any way. I feel like majority of people relied on a housing lottery from the university or generally believed they'd be "the lucky one" with finding budget housing last minute, winning the lottery or finding someone who'd let them stay on their couch. Upcoming students get warned about the housing crisis in every possible way. University of Amsterdam itself warned on their website that if you don't have secured housing by August, you should drop the idea of studying in the Netherlands all together, yet students seem not to take it seriously enough.

With so many apps available for almost every part of student life, some end up becoming part of your daily routine while others get deleted after a week.

Which app has genuinely made your life easier as a student? It could be something for keeping track of your schedule, managing money, finding study resources, planning meals, navigating public transport, buying or selling second-hand things, or simply staying organised.

What's the app you would recommend to a new student, and what do you mainly use it for?

Hi, I'll be taking the Boswell Beta Math B exam in August, but I was wondering if anyone still had some old exams they could share?

I know there's a couple on their website but I'd really like to have more practical material.

I suppose I could always still use old VWO Wis B exams (as I speak/understand Dutch) but of course the former's ideal.

Thanks!

Hey, so basically I have no idea what I'm doing regarding health insurance, and I desperately need help because I don't know what plan to choose. I also only have a concept of how health insurance works in the US, and I have no idea how it actually works in NL.

My biggest priority is psychiatric care and medication management, as I have an existing bipolar disorder diagnosis. I don't know what coverage for this looks like, especially if I choose to go private to avoid wait times. I'm also worried about what coverage looks like if my diagnosis changes or if I get new diagnoses added on. Everything else I'm not as worried about, as I'm in good physical health (as far as I'm aware...), so the priority definitely lies in the psychiatric realm. I should also probably see a psychotherapist, but the psychiatrist is 100% the priority here.

I know that I need to see a huisarts/gp to get a referral to a psychiatrist. That's it that's all I know. I have no idea what happens after that. I think it should be easy to get a referral since I have a diagnosis already and take a mood stabilizer.

Does anyone have any thoughts/advice/recommendations? I don't know which insurance to choose. I do not plan to work through my studies, since I know there's a distinction there. If there's an option that allows me the flexibility to start working without changing my insurance, please let me know, but I don't know that an option like that exists. Again, I know basically nothing. Thanks!!

Hi everyone!

I'll be starting at VU Amsterdam soon, and like many students, I'm struggling to find housing.

I've found a place in Haarlem, but it's not close to the train station. I'm wondering whether commuting to and from VU every day would become too exhausting, especially during the winter months.

I'm also a bit worried about whether living in Haarlem might negatively affect my social life in Amsterdam. I'd like to meet people, attend events, and make the most of my student experience, so I'm wondering if living outside the city would make that much harder?

Well, I guess it's my turn to ask for some advice. Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to reply, and sorry for the long post. :D Edited: I'm from Portugal.

A bit of background: I'm 26 years old. In high school, I completed a Level IV diploma in Administration and Computer Systems Programming. Unfortunately, when it came to university, I made the decision to study Sports Training instead. Looking back, I don't think it was the right choice, as it hasn't given me many opportunities for career growth outside of sports.

Lately, I've been seriously considering going back to university and getting another bachelor's degree, most likely in IT. It would build on the programming knowledge I already have, and it's a field I've always enjoyed and felt comfortable with.

At first, I looked into studying in Portugal while continuing to work, but on a minimum-wage salary it just doesn't seem realistic.

I do have the opportunity to move to Utrecht, though. I have a relative there who has offered me a place to stay, so I'd only need to contribute towards food and household expenses. Since accommodation is usually the biggest expense, it feels like a great opportunity to start over.

My first concern was that if I moved there just to work, I would probably end up in the same situation professionally, without many opportunities to build a long-term career. That's why I started thinking about combining part-time work with a bachelor's degree in the Netherlands.

Has anyone here done something similar? Is it realistic to work while studying? How difficult is it to get into a Dutch university? I have some savings that I'm willing to invest in my education, but I'm naturally cautious and don't want to make such a big decision without hearing from people who have been through something similar.

For some extra context, I've worked in several different industries, including hospitality, logistics, and customer support. I'm also a youth football coach and scout, which is related to my Sports Training degree.

A month ago I got an email saying they got all the needed documents. Today I get an email that there are things missing not saying anything about which documents are missing exactly. I double checked and everything seems good.
It's very weird.

Hi everyone, this is probably more of a wording question mixed with me overthinking but I am going to Maastricht for my masters and this is what the university site says about tuition fees if you start in September: If you are enrolling in a bachelor's or master's programme for the first time and you do not need to apply for a visa, you are required to complete one of the following by 31 August:

• submit the digital authorisation for payment (in instalments or a single lump sum) or
• pay your tuition fees by bank transfer in a single lump sum

It is important that you pay your tuition fees on time. To make sure that you receive your timetable and your UMcard before the start of the academic year, we urge you to complete your tuition fee payment by 1 August at the latest.

My question is about the two dates mentioned and if its okay that i pay later then August 1st even tho it mentions paying until then at the latest, since it also says that i can pay till August 31st?Id have the time table earlier since my partner will study the same thing and with the rent and deposit payment for housing also due at the beginning of August id prefer to wait till the second half of that month with the tuition.

I assume this isnt as convoluted as my brain is making it out to be, I just have a tendency to overthink finances until nothing makes sense anymore lmao.

Hi everyone,

I'm an incoming international student, and I'll be starting an LL.M. at Maastricht this September.

I've been offered a room at Carré Student Housing (Xior), and to be honest, I'm feeling quite stressed about finding accommodation. So far, this is the only offer I've received, and with September approaching, I'm worried that if I decline it, I might struggle to find anything else.

I've read quite a few negative reviews online about Carré/Xior (rude staff, maintenance issues, noise, management, etc.), so I'm wondering if it is really that bad

I'll only be staying in Maastricht for one year, so I'm trying to figure out whether it's worth accepting despite the reviews, or whether I should keep looking.

If you've lived there (or know someone who has), I'd really appreciate hearing about your experience.

Thanks in advance for any advice :)

Starting applied masters in Data science at Utrecht this fall and was curious about class schedules. Commute is 2-3 hours each way so wanted some insight on the class structure (more exams or group projects based I’ve heard the latter) as well as whether classes are every day.

i (20/f) am considering to study psychology in the netherlands. i already read that amsterdam is not the best option due to the scarcity of accomodation. groningen sounds nice cause they have a lot of international students.

do you know other cities that would be suitable, also have the programme in english?

do you have any experience with how hard it is to get a place and how high the requirements are in terms of the english level?

i am used to speaking in english since i solo travelled a bit already but i never had any classes in school taught in english (other than english itself) so also i am a bit concerned about how much harder it will be.

also do you think its possible to just navigate life in english or do i have to learn a bit dutch as well to find my place in the society?

are there some other boundries that i dont think of right now?

feel free to just share some experiences if you studied psychology (en) in the netherlands:)

Hi everyone,
I’m an incoming non-EU international student moving to the Netherlands for my master’s this September.
After months of searching, I finally found a room that is within my budget and in a great location close to my university. The only problem is that registration at the address isn’t possible.

Given how competitive the housing market is, this honestly feels like my only realistic option at the moment. I’ve been rejected from countless places, and I’m worried that if I let this room go, I may not find anything else before my program starts.

I’m hoping to hear from people who were in a similar situation, especially non-EU students.

1. If so, did you register at a different address instead? How did that process work, and did you face any issues because of it?

2. How did you manage your BSN, residence permit, bank account, health insurance, and other administrative requirements?

3. Looking back, was it worth the risk, or would you strongly advise against it?
   If you had no other realistic housing options, what would you have done?

I’m not looking to break any rules, I just genuinely don’t know what the least risky path is anymore. I’d really appreciate hearing about your real experiences, especially if you had to register somewhere else temporarily and how that worked out for you.
Thank you so much!

Hello,

I have been accepted to the UvA/VU MSc in Computer Science for the Computer Systems and Infrastructure track, and I am wondering what the general reviews of the program are.

I am an international student from the US (though I am an EU citizen), and I am undecided between Utrecht and UvA/VU. I have housing and can make either uni work but I want to make sure I make the right decision. The UvA/VU program is much more aligned with my interests, and I am definitely leaning towards it, but I want to ensure that the degree is worth it.

How were people's experiences with it? In terms of courses, research, employability, etc. I have heard some negative things about the VU but I am not sure how well-founded they are. It appears to me they have a pretty good reputation for computer systems specifically.

I would appreciate any opinions people have about the program.

I'm a 19 year old neet aspirant this is my first drop but I feel soo behind every one is doing well I can't focus on my study's cause I was naturally talented I used to just scan pdf or watch a lecture video and I used to score well till my 12th but now I feel like I have forgotten how to study when I see every one around me focusing but me im just wasting time I don't know what I'm doing in life I feel like my year is waste

​

Hello everyone. I will start a Masters programme in Rotterdam this september. Right now I am searching for a room, studio or apartment. I saw a place listed and got in contact with a real estate agent. That studio is independent (private bathroom, private toilet, private kitchen and private front door) as well as no roommate. When I asked the agent about housing allowance she said that the studio doesn't qualify since it is a "shared apartment". After looking online/AI I realised that what is probably happening is an apartment that has been divided in 4-5 completely independent studios that all have the same address. So when you apply for the housing allowance to the relevant authority (The tax department if I'm not mistaken) they see multiple people listed at the same address and reject the application. ΑΙ offered a solution: manual objection at the tax department where you provide evidence (photos, videos, floor plan, and your rent contract which should state that you live by yourself in the studio and that this studio is fully independent) that the studio is independent and they can then provide you with the housing allowance. It also stated that this whole process is confidential and protected by GDPR so the landlord will not even know.

Has anyone been in such a situation or have experience with the process of doing this? If yes what should be my next move?

Did the AI just dream of a whole ass system by itself? (if it did fuck me)

PS: After searching I believe it would be best to not ask the real estate agent about the process since she can just move on to an applicant "who won't cause problems"

PS2: Since I am still searching for housing and I won't rest easy until I sign a rental contract if anyone has any rooms/apartments on offer or needs a roommate please state it below and I will reach out to you

Hey everyone, I recently graduated as a cybersecurity engineer in morocco, and I’m at a point where I’m feeling a bit lost about what my next step should be.
I’m someone who always wants to keep learning and growing, so I’ve been seriously considering pursuing a PhD my main area of interest is OT Cybersecurity, especially topics related to ICS etc…
My dream would be to do a fully funded PhD in countries like the Netherlands, Germany, or Norway.
The problem is… I honestly don’t know where to start.
I’ve already spent quite a bit of time researching universities, professors, funding opportunities, and application requirements, but instead of getting clarity, I just feel overwhelmed. Every university has a different process, different requirements, and different research groups, and I feel like I’m going in circles.
Another concern is that I don’t want to spend months searching in the wrong direction if there are better strategies that more experienced people know about.
So I’d really appreciate advice from people who have gone through this process.
Some questions I have are:
-Is it realistic to find fully funded PhD positions in OT cybersecurity in these countries?
-What’s the best way to search for them?
-Should I mainly contact professors directly, or only apply to advertised PhD positions?
-Are there websites or resources that you found particularly useful?
-Is there anything you wish you had known before starting your search?
I’d be grateful for any advice or personal experiences.

Hi, I'm in a situation now where I have obtained 180 ECTs in my 3rd year and plan to graduate in August. The standard requirement for internships is to be enrolled as a student, which I am still trying to do as I am still at the university and have already applied for re-enrollment next year. The issue I am facing is that I am not sure whether my university would sign a tri-party agreement. I have already reached out to ask, but because of the holidays, they are taking extremely long to respond. I also do not know if the company would require the Tri-Party agreement, so if anyone has experience doing an internship without a tri-party agreement as a non-EU, I would also appreciate your input. I want to know if anyone has been in my situation where they have graduated, stayed enrolled, and were able to do an internship. If so, how did you convince the university to sign a tri-party agreement for an extracurricular internship? For additional context, I will obtain an Orientation Year Visa since I am non-EU.

Hi all, I applied to psychology at Twente and was accepted.

However, since I learned more, I found out it doesn't cover many of the core courses you need before doing a counselling psychology masters which has made me very concerned about my choice.

Should I forego this year and apply somewhere else next year? Or accept and see if I can supplement the curriculum with outside courses?

Thanks in advance!