My interest in studying abroad began when I participated in an Erasmus+ project. That experience showed me how exciting it could be to live in another country, meet new people, and discover a different culture.
At first, I considered several destinations. After reading the experiences of students studying in the Netherlands, I became increasingly interested in the country and eventually applied to several Dutch universities.
Before receiving an admission decision, I had to complete a number of assignments prepared by the university. The process was sometimes challenging, but it was also interesting because it gave me an early understanding of what the programme expected from its students.
Kastu supported me throughout the application. They regularly reminded me about missing tasks and approaching deadlines, which helped me stay organised and avoid overlooking anything important.
The process required effort, but I never felt that I had to manage every step completely alone.
My first months at university were not the easiest. I had to adapt to a different academic system, unfamiliar surroundings, and a completely new daily routine.
However, during that first month, I already met many new people, including students from outside my own programme. These friendships made the transition much easier and helped me feel part of the university community.
The studies remained interesting from the beginning. The lecturers know how to attract students’ attention and explain their subjects in an engaging way.
When a lecturer is genuinely enthusiastic about the topic, even demanding classes become much easier to follow.
The most difficult part of moving to the Netherlands was finding accommodation. The entire experience involved so many problems that it would take a long time to describe them all.
At the time, it was extremely stressful. Looking back now, some of the situations are almost funny, especially because I eventually found a place that truly felt like my own home.
For a period of time, I had to live around 100 kilometres from the university. This meant long daily journeys and very high transport costs.
Public transport in the Netherlands can be expensive, particularly for international students who may not receive the same transport benefits as local students. Neither the university nor the available public support could solve this problem for me, so it became one of the greatest disappointments during my first months.
My advice is to begin looking for accommodation as early as possible and carefully calculate the cost of travelling from any room you consider. A cheaper room far from the university may become much more expensive once transport is included.
Despite these difficulties, the overall experience has been close to what I expected. I do not regret deciding to come to the Netherlands.
At the beginning, I also had moments when I wondered whether moving abroad had been a mistake. That uncertainty is normal when everything around you changes at once.
But gradually, you begin to see how different life can be. You learn how to solve problems independently, communicate with new people, adapt to another education system, and create a life in a place that initially felt unfamiliar.
Studying abroad is not always easy, but that is exactly why it teaches you so much.
The challenges with accommodation and transport were real, but so were the friendships, interesting lectures, new experiences, and personal growth.
If you are uncertain, prepare carefully and remain realistic about the difficulties. But do not assume that fear means you have made the wrong decision.
Sometimes it simply means that you are beginning something completely new.
