Among the 4,000 students participating in this year’s Radboud introduction week, many are international. Vox asked some of them why they chose to come to Nijmegen, how they experience the beginning of their student life and what difficulties they face as international students.

27-year-old Mason Donabedian just arrived in the Netherlands a few days ago. He came from California to Nijmegen to study the Master of Ancient Mediterranean History. For him the choice was quite easy. ‘I was looking for an English master programme outside of the United States, and this programme came up quite early in the search process.’

‘I got an apartment, but it’s in a state of disrepair. It’s terrible actually’

So far, the introduction week has been a lot of fun, smiles Mason. ‘Radboud has been very focused on making sure our social lives are good, which is a refreshing thing for me, as American schools usually don’t care. But I’ve learned very little about what I am supposed to do school wise, which is slightly stressful.’

With the housing situation being complicated, Mason thought he got lucky. ‘I got an apartment a 20 minute walk from here, but I’m trying to get out of it. It’s terrible actually; it’s in a state of disrepair and the landlord is not willing to fix it.’ Despite the bad housing experience, Mason likes Nijmegen. ‘The city is very clean, and people here are so helpful. But the biking I have to get used to, I haven’t biked for 17 years.’

Kranenburg

For 18-year-old Lina Oltrogge, studying abroad was not her initial plan. She was looking for a Biology programme and the one at Radboud University looked inviting, ‘I think the campus is really great, everything is in one place. In Germany you have to go around the city to reach different university buildings.’ For Lina, the introduction has been a fun experience. ‘Everyone is really open and there is no pressure to do anything you don’t want to do. Half of my introduction group is also international, which is nice.’

Many international students have a hard time finding a room, as Lina also experienced. ‘I tried for a long time to find a room in Nijmegen, but it just didn’t work out. I found one on the German side of the border, a shared house in Kranenburg. I have to bike to and from the university each day for about 40 minutes or take the bus. As I moved out from my parent’s place, I now also have to do everything by myself, such as groceries and laundry. I still have to get used to that.’

‘I found a room on the German side of the border’

Even though housing challenges were definitely present for Lina, she is excited to build her life in Nijmegen. ‘I hope the introduction will continue to be fun and that my study load will be okay so that I can maintain a social life. So far, I only heard good things about the study programme, so I am not too worried.’

No housing struggles

18-year-old Gregor Bujda travelled to the Netherlands from Slovakia to start his Bachelor in Computing Science. Nijmegen seemed to be a perfect fit. ‘Everyone in my family studied abroad so that was a natural choice. Nijmegen was ideal because both my girlfriend and I found a study that we liked.’ Gregor is also very happy with the introduction week: ‘I love that we get to meet so many people from our mentor group and study, but also in general. And I love the sports day. I always wanted to boulder and now I could finally try it.’

‘I thought I was okay with cycling when I came here, but I am not’

For Gregor the introduction week is also not marred by housing struggles, ‘My girlfriend and I came here already in June and found a place through Stay4Pro. The contract is for one year and I believe they will also let us extend it.’ Coming to Nijmegen earlier also helped Gregor to settle in before the introduction week started: ‘I already work at Zara and have had the chance to explore the city. I find it really nice here.’

Just as with Mason, some things still require getting used to, ‘I thought I was okay with cycling when I came here, but I am not. I live 20 minutes by bike up the hill from the campus and it is quite hard. But I am getting used to it.’ Despite this small hurdle, Gregor is enthusiastic about his future in Nijmegen, ‘I am excited about the studies, and I think student life in Nijmegen is going to be great. Perhaps I will even be able to learn some Dutch.’