While new students from all over the world arrive in Nijmegen, some others just arrived back home. How did they experience their time here and what's their golden tip for new students? This time, Yvonne Bouwhuis, from Canada. 'That party where you do not know anyone? Go to it!'

What would you have liked to know when you arrived at Radboud University?
‘I would have liked to know where all the good underground bike parking was, so I could avoid wet bike seat syndrome on rainy days. I’d tell my former self that is okay if you don’t have everything perfectly sorted out in the first few days, you have time. you don’t even have to pass that exam on the first go, they do Exam Re-takes here (but it’s better to pass it on the first go).’

What did you expect of Radboud University and Nijmegen when you arrived?
‘I expected it to be less international than it was. Before my masters I did my exchange year here and I thought maybe there would be a few more of us internationals but not a whole lot. Boy was I surprised when I turned up here and found the whole world in my residence building. the first new word I learned in the Netherlands wasn’t even in Dutch. it was Hungarian, Egeshegedre!’

Apart from studying, what did you do in Nijmegen in your free time?
‘In my free time I made it my mission to visit as many cafes as I could. Nijmegen has one of the highest ‘cafes per capita’ rates in the Netherlands so there is always a new favorite spot to discover.’

Do you have a golden tip for new students?
‘Yes! The party that the girl who you share notes with in your Tuesday morning class invited you to? GO TO IT. Even if you don’t know anyone else. Especially if you are the only international invited.’

Do you have one piece of advice for Radboud University, to improve it?
‘To improve Radboud, I would give the students who start in February some thesis prep before the summer starts so they can make use of it. A few of my friends had a summer of doing pretty much nothing followed by a semester of heavy course work and thesis at the same time, while those who started in September were able to take the summer to focus and finish up their thesis without worrying about courses. I think both intake groups should be able to use the time they have during their program to their advantage instead of wasting it.’

What has been your best memory from studying/living in Nijmegen?
‘Too many best memories to go into detail. Quick rundown: seeing people in the city carrying the bag I designed for the university, vierdaagse, post class drinks in the culture cafe, sitting by the Waal watching the sunset surrounded by friends.’

What did you like about the city?
‘I love Nijmegen because its big enough that there is always something new to discover or something going on a festival a concert and good party, close to big cities like Amsterdam and Brussels but still small enough to feel personal that you can go to the center and run in to someone you know from class.’