Before beginning university in my home country, I spent more than three months working in the Netherlands. I enjoyed the country so much that, after only a few months of studying back home, I decided to take a risk.
I left my previous programme and applied for International Law at The Hague University of Applied Sciences.
It was a major decision, but I knew that remaining on a path that did not feel right would be a greater risk than beginning again somewhere new.
The Netherlands is an open and beautiful country. One of its greatest advantages for international students is that English is widely spoken, so communicating in everyday situations is rarely a major problem.
The university and my programme also deserve recognition. The Dutch education system suited me very well because it gives students a great deal of independence.
A significant part of the work must be completed individually. You are expected to manage your time, prepare for classes, and take responsibility for your own progress.
However, this independence does not mean that students are left without support. The system feels designed to help students learn effectively rather than simply make education more difficult.
At my university, the academic year is divided into four study periods. This means that students are assessed on material from a shorter period instead of having to revise everything studied over half a year at once.
For me, this makes the workload easier to organise and the material easier to understand.
Although I expected an international environment, I was still surprised by the cultural diversity among the students. The university brings together people from more than 150 nationalities.
The teaching style was another major change. There is a strong focus on group work, classroom participation, and interaction. Students are expected to express their opinions, discuss different perspectives, and cooperate rather than remain passive during classes.
Studying in such an international community teaches you far more than academic content.
Respect, communication, and the ability to find compromises become essential everyday skills.
I was fortunate to join a tutorial group whose members genuinely wanted to work together. Not every group functions perfectly, and students may have very different habits or expectations.
However, when you remain open, curious, and willing to understand other people, it becomes much easier to form friendships and build productive working relationships.
Living and studying abroad also requires realistic financial planning.
Accommodation is one of the largest expenses, while the total monthly budget depends heavily on your lifestyle, location, and spending habits. Cooking at home and managing your money carefully can make a significant difference.
International students may also be able to work alongside their studies. There is often at least one day during the week without scheduled classes, which can be used for part-time employment.
Finding a job without speaking Dutch may not always be easy, although opportunities do exist. The situation depends greatly on the city and local labour market. Tourist destinations and larger cities may offer more English-speaking positions than smaller locations.
Students should not assume that part-time work will cover every expense immediately. Pay may depend on factors such as age, and it can take time to find suitable employment.
For that reason, it is best to arrive with savings and treat a job as additional support rather than your only financial plan.
My admission process involved a great deal of paperwork, and without Kastu, I probably would not have reached this university.
The team helped manage the application requirements and guided me through every stage. As long as I provided the requested documents, I knew that the rest of the process was being handled correctly.
That support allowed me to focus on the decision itself rather than constantly worrying about forms, procedures, and deadlines.
Looking back, leaving my previous university and starting again in the Netherlands was a bold choice, but it gave me the academic environment and international experience I was searching for.
I became more independent, learned how to cooperate with people from completely different backgrounds, and began studying a subject that felt much closer to the future I wanted.
Sometimes changing direction is not giving up. It is finally choosing the path that is right for you.
I would gladly choose Kastu again and recommend their support to anyone who wants to study abroad but feels overwhelmed by the application process.
