Foreign Study In Amsterdam

Internationality and globalization become more and more present in today’s society. Therefore it is a great opportunity to decide to study abroad at some point in ones life. You get the chance to experience different cultures and you are afterwards perfectly prepared for an international way of life. Have you ever thought of a foreign study in Amsterdam? The University of Amsterdam for one is a popular choice as it is full of students and young people. If you have decided to study in Amsterdam, please make sure you consider the following checkpoints:

• Which study program to choose?
• Is the program accredited?
• Are there scholarships?
• What are the requirements and admissions?
• Is health insurance an issue?
• And last but not least, which type of accommodation to choose?

The last point, type of accommodation, is one that can be elaborated on as it applies to everybody.

Living in Amsterdam

The Netherlands in general does not have a tradition of on-campus accommodation. Most students live in or near their university town, meaning that the favoured choice is to rent studios and apartments in Amsterdam and to share them among friends or live in them on your own. This depends on how much you can afford. A preferred area to live in is the Jordaan area. This area is the home of many art galleries, especially of modern art. Jordaan is a former working class area which has become much sought after, as it is easygoing and peaceful, with lots of bars, restaurants and interesting little shops.

Locating an Jordaan apartments isn't that easy anymore since the former storehouses have become very popular in this area. In general it can be said that many students share apartments in Amsterdam as it is cheaper. Here one has to add though that most of these apartments in Amsterdam are unisex, which means all girls or all boys.

Hotspots for students in Amsterdam

As a student one is very often short on money, which is alright in Amsterdam as there are many discounts for students available. There are student cafés and eateries at most universities and hogescholen, which is another type of university in Amsterdam and offers students a nice lunch menu for discounted prices. Furthermore it is common to have an International Student ID-card (ISIC) which will grant you discounts at several places such as Museums, Restaurants and Cinemas.

Getting around in Amsterdam is not so bad either, because the public transportation is great and well organized. The centre has a dense tram network, which will pretty much get you anywhere you wish. Another option would be to take the Canal Bus which allows you to explore the city while sampling some canal views at the same time. There are also some discounts for students on public transportation as well. Check at your University, they can help you.

Two very hot topics that all foreign students love are clubbing and dinning. Clubbing is great in Amsterdam! There are many different options to choose from, from lounges to bars to clubs. The Escape theatre is one of the larger clubs in town with a capacity of over 2,000. It is usually rented out to different organisers which host parties. Just check the Flyers to see what’s coming next. Another club in Amsterdam is the Trouw. It is also a restaurant that serves international street food up until 2 am on Saturdays which is pretty amazing for Amsterdam standards. It mostly plays progressive electronic sounds with a laid back and no-frills atmosphere.

You are hungry after a long night out? Then the ultimate midnight snack is the falafel. It sure will excite your taste buds and it is very cheap. The best ones are on Reguliersbreestraat 45 and Muntplein 1 from MAOZ Falafel. After your late night snack it's just a short trip back home to your Amsterdam apartment! The choice of restaurants and cafés in Amsterdam in general is vast; you will be able to find restaurants from all over the world. You will also be able to find many vegetarian restaurants and bars in Amsterdam. Many restaurants serve breakfast, as most hotels also do for walk in guests, until about 10am in the morning.

I am sure you will enjoy your study in Amsterdam and have a lot of fun.