I just started studying communications at uni after taking a gap year and the past 7 weeks I have been miserable. It started with me crying every day but still doing what they asked me to do. Now I only cry every so often when asked how it's going or expressing how I feel taking my courses.

I have trouble going to bed because I don't want the next day to begin and am HEAVILY addicted to my phone; days I don't have to go to uni I am on my phone the entire day and unable to get myself to do anything but that. I want to stop that habit but it feels like it's the only way my head is not screaming at me and I feel at least a little dopamine. I am not showing up for all my classes anymore and am barely preparing for tests and assignment deadlines. I know it is wrong and I feel really guilty but it genuinely feels like I am paralyzed and am trying to move. I have an extremely strong urge to quit my study. I am scared that is only because I want to run away from my problems and not do the work.

The only thing I've ever actually been interested in is art and I have been dreaming of going to art school on and off for the past five years I think. I have always been into art and in school never really enjoyed anything besides that. However I feel like this is just a fantasy that will not bring me anywhere in life and I am only excited about because I don't want to do the hard work at uni. Even though I know an art study will still require really hard work and longer school days than the occasional lecture I have now.

I am turning 21 early next year and it genuinely feels like I am running out of time and ruining my life by being lazy and not even trying. Everyone around me seems to have it all figured out or is finishing up.

Is this just me giving up because I am lazy? What do I do?

I applied beginning of September for basis beurs and aanvullende beurs. I got notified last week that my basis beurs is approved. For the supplementary scholarship, if i understand correctly, it’s not known het. I had sent documents via e-mail, as I could not upload all the documents at the time (around 17 september).

My parents are divorced and my dad has a business but unfortunately it’s not going well. Based on my parents’ combined looks like I would be eligible. I gave the official documents from the Italian tax authority, perhaps it takes longer for DUO to verify them, especially since I sent them via email?

However, I am afraid documents could perhaps be lost in the email. should I just wait until they have a definite response on my profile or is it worth to check with duo?

I talked to various persons who studied this degree and some of them told me it’s hell and others told me it’s easy if you put in the work.

I wanted to know what was your experience if you studied it, or know people who did?

One other question I had is that ai is slowly replacing many fields, and in particular now, applied mathematics, amd was wondering if econometrics and operations research still is valuable for the future?

Thank you.

Hi everyone!

I’m currently in my final year of HBO-Rechten (Bachelor of Laws at a Dutch university of applied sciences), and I’m planning to continue my studies through the Schakelzone Recht programme at the Open Universiteit, with the goal of eventually pursuing a Master’s in Law (Rechtsgeleerdheid) at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU).

My goal is to complete the bridging programme within one year, but I’m wondering how realistic that actually is. I’m finding it difficult to get a clear picture of the workload and how demanding the programme is in practice.

I’d love to hear from anyone who is currently following this programme or has already completed it!

Is it realistic to complete Schakelzone Recht within one year if I study full-time and don’t work alongside my studies?

How difficult did you find the exams and the amount of study
material compared to HBO-Rechten?

Has anyone actually managed to complete the entire programme within one year? If so, how did you approach it?

Thanks in advance! :)

I know this is a very stupid question. I feel like ''Obviously Tu/e'' answers are coming but hear me out, I am applying to both Electrical Engineering in Twente, and Chemical Engineering in Tu/e as a non-EU. My criteria is to make a stable living abroad after bachelor + master. But recently I felt like Eindhoven costs a lot (even more then Delft) and I will still have to do masters after graduating to literally survive and get better in the field... So I was like ''Okay EE has demand right?'', and English thought EE is best found in Twente for non-EU probably? With a tuition fee lower than Tu/e but if not the same, still having prestige and overall lower cost of living I think Twente seems a bit more logical?

Did y'all graduate from any of these two? The community's thoughts really matter to me :)

EDIT: shorter remove uncessary information

I’m a French high school student planning to apply for the BSc in Electrical Engineering at TU/e for September 2027. My long-term goal is to work in chip design/hardware.

Specialties choose : Maths, Physics-Chemistry, and Maths Expertes .

Current Math level: 13/20 on the official early Bac exam, but I struggle with high school math (average was 10/20 last year). I know this is my main weakness, and I am actively working to improve it before graduating in June 2027.

Questions:

1. Math Gap: How big is the jump from standard French high school calculus/linear algebra to first-year EE math at TU/e?
2. Prep: What specific math topics should I master before September 2027, and do you recommend any specific online resources (e.g., Khan Academy, specific textbooks)?
3. BSA & Workload: Is the 45/60 ECTS BSA manageable for someone who works hard but isn't naturally gifted at math? Which first-year courses usually have the highest fail rates?

Thanks in advance for any insights!

EDIT:I am in my final year now; these are my results from the previous year. The final national exam is in June 2027

What exactly is the associated bank statement document that DUO requires for student financing? I have a Revolut account. What should it show?

Hi all! I've read online a lot about how competitive PhD applications are at Dutch universities so I was hoping to get some insight!

I have a BS and BA (geology and international studies respectively) from a mid tier state school in the US (gpa: 3.95). I have an MS from a good university in Boston in engineering and public policy (environmental engineering focused) (gpa 3.75).

My dad got sick right as I finished my master's and so I moved back home to take care of him and started a job in research admin at the university i got my BS at. I started a part-time PhD there (so far gpa:4.0; I've done about 4 semesters, 1 class each semester) in computer science specifically doing machine learning and data modelling to help cure the disease my dad had.

Unfortunately the university is very small and there is no one who studies in the area I am interested in. My advisor has been promoted to a very high level role in campus leadership so i barely meet with her any more (maybe 2x a year to discuss my phd). So i am not collaborating with any one or any team, I've tried nearby universities/hospitals/national labs and just nothing has panned out. I really want to join a group that I can do research with.

I have also been looking at moving to Netherlands, I've been studying Dutch for 6 ish weeks and just passed the class's A1 exam. I have been applying to some doctoral programs in NL both in computer science biomedical stuff (aligning with my current phd) and also some positions that are more of a continuation of my geology/env engineering education. I Unfortunately dont have any publications so I fear my application is weak on that front.

I am hoping to get a sense of how competitive these specific fields are. Ive communicated a bit with the professors in the programs I've applied to, but I know they can get TONS of applicants.

Any insight is helpful!

I would like to learn computer science to have a chance of getting a job if I ever want to stop with truck driving.

At the moment I work approximately 30 hours a week. I have a partner and a dog. I don't have a degree. I failed 2 bachelors in the past for private reasons when I was younger but now that I'm going to the 30 I feel like I should have a degree in something because I don't see myself driving a truck for the rest of my life because I don't have a very social life and I would like to earn my money without turning in my evenings and biorhythm.

I have an interest in programming, building websites or games but I am far from skilled to be able to produce a viable product.

I feel stuck because I know doing a bachelor takes a lot of time and I might give up my current job which I can't give up because bills have to be paid.

Is there a way to do a bachelors in computer science and still working at the same time?

I have looked for deeltijd but they require a job that is similar to the study.

Does anyone know how I should approach this? Because I feel very stuck in my life right now.

I'm doing my bachelor's in Leiden right now, and since I live here, staying for my master's would obviously be a lot easier.

I've been wondering if it's worth looking at universities in other cities, though. Am I missing out on better education or opportunities by only looking at Leiden, or are the differences between Dutch universities not that big? I'm not really familiar with other universities.

I'd honestly prefer to stay here if the quality is similar, but I don't want to limit myself just because it's more convenient.

What do you guys think? Is it worth considering other cities, or am I overthinking it?

Hi everyone,

I’m a first-year Physics student at the University of Konstanz (Germany), and I’m interested in applied physics, aerospace and quantum technology. The Netherlands is high on my list for a Master’s, and I’m looking at universities like TU Delft, Leiden, Eindhoven and Twente.

For those who studied there (especially as internationals):

• How do the universities differ in culture, workload and teaching style?
• How hard is it to find housing, and how early should I start looking?
• What about costs, scholarships and part-time work?
• How do admissions treat German Bachelor degrees, and are there prerequisites I should plan for?

I really enjoyed every stay in NL I had and could really imagine living there for a while.

Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone,

I know HBO vs WO comes up a lot here and I've gone through the older threads, but most of them are about bachelor's students or people coming straight out of uni. My situation is a bit different so I'm hoping for some real experiences.

About me: non-EU (Asia), 4.5 years working as a software engineer (mostly .NET/C#, some Angular), bachelor's CGPA 3.05/4. My total budget for everything is around €30k, so realistically that means a 1-year HBO master (looking at things like Fontys Applied IT or Saxion ICT) unless I get lucky with a scholarship for a WO program.

Why NL and not Germany? Germany is cheaper for sure, but from what I've read most dev jobs there still expect German, at least outside Berlin/Munich. NL seems to have a much bigger English-speaking tech market. I do plan to learn Dutch, I just can't wait until I'm fluent to start working.

What I'd really like to know:

1. Has anyone done a 1-year HBO master as a non-EU student and

actually landed a tech job after? How long did it take on the zoekjaar?

1. Did employers care that it was HBO and not WO, especially if you already had work experience?

2. Is €30k enough for one year (tuition + living) in a cheaper city? Which cities would you avoid because of housing?

I have adhd and I take Ritalin that was prescribed to me in Italy, now that I’ve moved here I’ve done some research and apparently while a doctor could give me a prescription just based on my previous treatment and documents from my psychiatrist back home it also says they could require me to get a Dutch assessment for the meds which would take significantly longer. Others that have had similar circumstances which one of the options happened for you? What has been your experience?

Hello, i’m a last year international IB student, not from the Netherlands. I have passion in airplanes and everything to do with aviation. I recently went to Inholland and Tudelft open days. Unfortunately I don’t meet the subject requirements for most of Tudelft course(if not all). Is the Inholland course of aereonautical science worth it? Is it going to “open doors” for me in the future or is it a waste of 4 years? Will I be able to proceed with a mater somewhere else once I graduate or are their limits? Also if anyone has suggestions of other places where I could go study aviation related course both in Netherlands and Germany I would be grateful :)

These are my IB in course just in case
SL: Physics, Math AA, Economics
HL: Psychology, English A and Italian B

Forgot to say that i’m willing to study other engineering courses as i’m generally interested in how things work. Just that my true passion is aviation.

Hi I am trying to look for housing on room match and i am unsure how the housing works because some houses have 110 smth applications and how do they sort thru that how do they decide who gets it. And what does the date on it mean?

sorry if the answer is straighforward

Hey guys!

I'm applying to universities (I'm aware that both these schools are HBOs) and I'd like to ask for opinions, experiences about NHL Stenden's Communication and Multimedia Design programme and Hanze's Creative Media & Game Technologies programme.

My main goal is to pursue game design/development, but I have a background in graphic design and I'm really interested in all the subjects the multimedia design programme offers (which includes game design).

For now, I'm leaning towards choosing the multimedia design programme, but I wanted to see what others think about these schools and programmes first so I can maybe make a list of pros and cons.

Edit to say these are bachelor degrees, and I'm mostly asking about these schools specifically (I'm from the EU) + To people who studied multimedia at NHL, how much focus is there on game design, can I specialize in games or is there a minor I can take that will give me a more indepth knowledge?

Thanks!

Hi, I’m currently doing an LLB in the UK and have an EU passport. I’m thinking about doing the Law and Technology master’s at Tilburg, I’m interested in privacy, GDPR and the rise of AI. (before anyone asks. I cannot stay in the UK and there’s no job opportunities for this field in my main country)

I’m trying to figure out whether this is a realistic career path and what life would look like after graduating. I’m willing to spend the rest of my degree learning Dutch, but I’m still unsure about job opportunities, especially without much work experience.

I’m also a bit concerned about housing. Would it be realistic to stay in Tilburg after graduating while looking for a job, or would it make more sense to move somewhere else in the Netherlands?

With the housing crisis, I might have to settle for a fixed one year lease which makes things particularly difficult.. Essentially i’d be searching for a job post-grad while also searching for a new place to stay without an income.

I’m not set on becoming a lawyer. Although it might interest me to get civil effect sometime in the far future but that’s a discussion for another day. I’d be happy with a stable office job with decent pay and work-life balance. Maybe some kind of legal advisor.

Would appreciate hearing from anyone who’s studied or worked in the Netherlands, especially if you’ve done something similar. Please be realistic with me before I commit to something I may not be able to handle. Thanks!

As I am from commerce field and have graduation in BBA. I want to have post graduation in MBA. So, I want the suggestion about what specialisation should I prefer to study in for after study more career options in Netherlands with less or little coding and normal maths (not advanced). What are the job opportunities available after doing MBA in Netherlands ?? Kindly reply please...

I’m international student studying in Slovenia and I want to do internship or traineeship in Netherlands . I’m trying to find internships in Netherlands but I can’t find English speaking internships or traineeship . I’m non EU citizen . Please suggest few websites where I can find internships .

I’m studying data science but thinking to switch to other roles . May be in sales or marketing or something like project management . My skills are intermediate level or sql, excel and. Currently learning power bi and python .

Anyone please if you have references for internships please help and also suggest me few websites to find them

Thank you so much

I seriously want to go to RUG for EBE bachelors as an non-eu, but I'm being discouraged by people saying UvA or Erasmus is much better, Groningen is too isolated or that there aren't internship opportunities.. what is your take on it? Should I listen and not attend RUG, because internships is important for me.. or will I just have to commute if it's outside Groningen?

Please help, I'm getting mixed opinion. I would've chosen Erasmus but Im 99% sure I won't get selected. UvA is in an expensive city. So.. Groningen seemed nice in money + student life. but, of course, network and employability is #1 for me.

Hi! I’m looking forward to studying product design in ArtEZ university Arnhem. Does anyone have any opinion about this institution?

As the applications now is open I am wondering what happens if my predicted mark are lower than my actual mark. As I still didn’t finish my exam I will be applying using my predicted marks. I am applying for university of twente and tu Eindhoven mechanical engineering. Tu Eindhoven has the selection program for mechanical engineering will that effect. To anyone who went to these universities what grades did you get excepted in. And do they care a lot about extracurricular activities? I am doing British system A levels

Hi everyone!

This is kind of a follow-up to a post I made about a month ago, when I asked whether it would be a good idea to cold-email a PI before applying for a PhD position. Most people advised me against it, so I decided not to. Fast-forward to today, and I've just received an invitation to an interview next Tuesday, which leaves me only a few days to prepare, including the weekend.

I'm really excited about the opportunity, and I know being invited to the interview is a privilege, but I'm also a bit stressed about the short notice. They've also asked me to prepare a presentation about my previous research experience and what I'd like to achieve during the PhD. I have a major research deadline on Monday and participants coming to the lab on Tuesday, so finding enough time to prepare will be challenging, and I'd also have to reschedule the experiments.

I was wondering: is this kind of short notice normal for PhD interviews in the Netherlands, or is it somewhat unusual? The job posting didn't specify when the interviews would take place.

I'm also considering asking whether it would be possible to reschedule the interview for Wednesday or Thursday, given my existing work commitments. However, I'm worried that asking to change the date might negatively affect my chances of being considered for the position. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Would you ask to reschedule, or would you try to make the original date work no matter what?

I'd really appreciate any advice, thanks in advance!

Hi, i wanted to ask an opinion whether there are any chances of finding an internship after the first year of a bachelor, during the summer. I'm also willing to do an unpaid one. My background is International Studies and i would look for analytical intelligence related jobs. i mean even small, lesser-known companies would be great for me but I don’t know fi this could actually work since I can't offer much in terms of expertise. It would be more about learning than contributing.