Report from the semester abroad at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen (NL)
I spent my semester abroad at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen (NL). Hanze University is a partner university of HFU, which made it relatively easy to get my credits recognised.
I liked Groningen very much from the start. With its canals, small cafés and bars, and old brick houses, it has a lot of charm. Due to the high proportion of students, the city is very international and open, and there are also many opportunities to meet new people outside of the university.
Everything went smoothly when I arrived. Fortunately, I found a room in student accommodation some time in advance. Later, I often heard that some students had great difficulty finding accommodation, so I can only recommend that everyone start looking early.
Before my first lecture, there was a welcome event where I got to know the other international students in the faculty and some of the lecturers. Everyone was very friendly and helpful, and I felt at home at Hanze right from the start.
The other international students were among my closest friends from start to finish. I was also very happy to have contact with my roommates, especially at the beginning. Through various projects and group work at the university, I also had plenty of contact with Dutch students.
I met many wonderful people here, and I am quite certain that I will remain in contact with some of them. Due to the relatively small class size (approx. 30 students), the relationship with the lecturers was very personal, and everyone was very helpful and supportive. Since the courses were conducted entirely in English, there were no communication difficulties.
In general, there are many leisure activities in Groningen, including museums, cinemas, bars, and clubs. When the weather was nice, I spent a lot of time in a park (Noorderplantsoen). The Citybeach and the Hornsemeer (a lake on the outskirts of Groningen) also offer opportunities for swimming. In addition, the ACLO Student Sports Organization offers a wide range of different sports.
But there is one thing you absolutely need in Groningen − a bicycle!
The area outside the city can be explored on a bike tour, for example. The sea and the island of Schiermonnikog are only about 30 minutes away from Groningen, and cities such as Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Rotterdam can be reached by train in 2-3 hours.
In conclusion, I am very happy that I decided to spend a semester abroad at Hanze University. I met lots of new people and learned about different cultures, and I had a great time overall. In my opinion, Groningen is the ideal student city for an exchange semester. With so many things to do and the charm of the city, I immediately felt at home. The semester was definitely an enriching experience for me, and I can highly recommend it to everyone!
Hanna Schuster
