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? First, Oliver Mason, from the United Kingdom. 'Don't try to find a job on the side.'

What would you have liked to know when you arrived at Radboud University?
‘I had all the information about the city, but more information about the courses and the study approach would have been better. It would also have been good to receive practical information about credit cards and banks, for example that you often can’t use Mastercard and that it can take a while to open a bank account. I would have told my former self to look into learning a bit more of the language because you are only here for a short period of time and it’s useful to know a bit of the language when you settle into a place. If you are a master student, you won’t have time to learn the language, so learning some basics is useful.’

What did you expect of Radboud University and Nijmegen when you arrived?
‘My bachelor’s university was a lot smaller, so I knew it was going to be different somehow. I did not know what to expect really, so I didn’t think about it. Having expectations is a good thing in one way, but I suppose you should take it as it comes and see how everything goes.’

Apart from studying, what did you do in Nijmegen in your free time?
‘I have been studying a lot, and hanging out with friends, but I haven’t had that much time to do anything extracurricular. As an international master student (for my courses anyway), you can expect to have limited free time, except to study, and you’re not going to be able to work – so don’t try to find a job on the side.’

Do you have a golden tip for new students?
‘Don’t buy food from supermarkets! Buy food from outside the supermarket if you can, so in places such as little vegetable- or meat shops. Meat, vegetables, and things have better quality there, and are cheaper. Also, make sure you get a bike!’

Do you have one piece of advice for Radboud University, to improve it?
‘It would have been nice to have more of the university activities in English, as well as in Dutch. The language barrier does not make it easier for people like myself as a non-Dutch speaker.’