Going Dutch

Curious about life in the Netherlands, Natasha Lees swapped Auckland for Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen and came home with real independence.

Natasha Lees

Why I chose my host uni:

I’ve always been curious about the Netherlands and wanted to visit Europe to expand my horizon. I thought this could be a great opportunity for me to learn how people from half across the earth live. Are they different from us? Do we share the same humour? What do they eat? Are the stereotypes actually true?

Hanze was a great fit for my studies. It offered a programme in game design (which not many universities have), along with a wide range of minors. That made it much easier to cross-credit.

How I found applying to my host uni:

Applying to Hanze was pretty straightforward and easy. You’ll need your Official Transcript, Hanze Learning Agreement (AUT signed) and a passport photo ready to upload. As long as you’ve got everything prepared, the application itself is super smooth.

The visa process was clear but a bit more involved. After receiving your Letter of Acceptance, Hanze provides a checklist of all the things you need to go through. Since I used a New Zealand passport, I had to apply for a student visa, which included uploading documents and showing proof of funds (around €6000).

Once approved by the IND, I completed a biometric scan to receive my visa (took about 2–3 weeks). One important thing to remember is to always carry your student visa, especially if you plan to travel outside the Netherlands, as you’ll need it when going through customs.

How I found learning in a different academic system:

The main difference I noticed is that they allow resits. If you don’t pass on your first attempt, you usually get another month to improve your work and resubmit it for a new grade. Honestly, this helped me adjust quite a bit. It took some pressure off having to get everything right the first time, and gave me a bit more breathing room to improve if needed.

What I gained from this experience:

Personally, this experience gave me a better understanding of what life is like in the Netherlands, the lifestyle, the atmosphere and just how people live day-to-day. While I really appreciated what they have there, it also made me realise the little things I missed from New Zealand (like smoothie places such as Tank).

I made some great friends that I definitely want to catch up with again, and I became a lot more confident talking to people from different countries and backgrounds.

I’m also pretty proud of the independence I gained – living on the other side of the world and figuring things out on my own. It felt like a big step, and it was kind of cool being one of the few students from New Zealand since the locals were always surprised by that.