Tom Morin

University :University of Groningen

Course:  BSc Psychology

Which year you are in:1st year

Home Town in UK : Northampton

1. Why did you choose to study abroad?

Tuition fees and it’s a very different experience.

2. How would you rate the assistance of the university before you arrived (the application process, finding accommodation, sorting out financial matters)?

Very mixed. In some matters they were very helpful but the actual application process was very complicated, which almost lead to me not being accepted in RUG at all. There seems to be a lot of bad information from the university and useless people, but once you find what you need the university has been quite helpful.

3. How would you rate the assistance of the university when you arrived (orientation etc)?

Personally, they’ve been OK as the Psychology department did the first block of enrolment and such for its students, outside of that its felt very much like ‘here’s a list of things to do, so now go and do them’ without much help. Groups outside of the university, such as Erasmus Student Network, have been very helpful though.

4. Did you feel prepared when you arrived and/or what surprised you?

I’m not sure I’m prepared now, to be quite honest. Like I said in reply to Q1, there’s a lot of bad information and I’m not completely sure what there is left to do.

5. How would you rate the learning environment (teaching style, studying with other international students, non-native English speaking lecturers)?

It’s similar to what you’d expect from any British university, but with fewer seminars. All the lectures and such are in English, all the university websites are available in English and even outside of university everybody speaks English (although this is a Dutch thing). Everybody I’ve met on the course speaks very good English, except for the occasional difficulty with accents or where they’ve learnt something in English which is different to how native speakers may say it.

6. Would you recommend studying abroad to a 17-18 year old Brit who might never have thought about it before?

Absolutely. I wouldn’t replace the last few weeks with anything.

7. Is there anything you wish someone had told you at the time you applied?

The right information, mostly.

8. Would you recommend your course, university, city to British students?

Yes, all of it.