For this week’s interview in Faces, we had the opportunity to speak with Indy van Heijst, a 23-year-old master’s student in Accountancy from the Netherlands. Indy is currently spending a semester abroad at Shenandoah University, a small institution located in Winchester, Virginia, just 1.5 hours from Washington, D.C. Motivated by her curiosity about American universities, Indy decided to add this semester abroad to her program through ISEP, an organization that connects students with global study opportunities. Despite some initial challenges, such as transitioning to online classes and adjusting to the campus culture, Indy is embracing the American experience and looking forward to exploring the U.S. during her stay. Read on as she shares insights into student life in America, cultural differences, and her travel plans. How does university life in the USA differ from what you experienced in the Netherlands? Perhaps due to its size, with approximately 4,000 students, Shenandoah University offers a unique academic environment characterized by small class sizes. All of my classes accommodate a maximum of 15 students, and attendance is mandatory for all lectures. Another change I have experienced is the prevalence of numerous small assignments. While at Tilburg University I typically had one final exam and one group project, at Shenandoah University I have almost weekly quizzes and assignments for each course. Additionally, as previously mentioned, I reside on campus in dormitory accommodations. One notable difference from the Netherlands is that I share a room with another person, which is an integral aspect of the American university experience. Luckily, my roommate is very nice and we have already bonded. I also have a meal plan that includes 18 meals per week, which allows me to enjoy meals in the dining hall or at three small restaurants on campus—Moe’s Southwest Grill, The Spread, and Bento Sushi—where I can order food. What has been your favorite aspect of studying in the USA so far? Especially interesting to see was the official moving-in date. As international students, we arrived on campus earlier than the majority of students due to two additional orientation days that provided information about the university, our visas, and various other topics. On the official move-in day, student-athletes assisted the incoming freshmen with their belongings, creating a welcoming environment. Additionally, the marching band and cheerleaders were present, contributing to a vibrant atmosphere with their performances. How do you find the academic workload compared to your university back home? Thus far, I find the academic difficulty to be lower compared to Tilburg University. While the overall workload may be slightly higher due to the numerous weekly assignments, the complexity of the material is noticeably less challenging. Additionally, I expect that the workload at the end of the semester will be lighter compared to what I experience at home, particularly since not all courses conclude with a final exam. What aspects of American culture have you found most surprising or interesting? Many aspects of American culture have aligned with my expectations. For example, the presence of the marching band and the prominence of athletes on campus are very much part of the experience. Additionally, most students dress quite casually. It’s common to see athletes wearing sports attire or t-shirts representing their respective sports. And don’t be surprised to see people wearing pajamas on campus. Especially in the dining hall when getting food. The most surprising thing is that there is not really a drinking culture at this university. Since the legal drinking age in the U.S. is 21, all university-sponsored activities are alcohol-free. In my opinion, as well as that of a few other European students, this made some of the orientation activities feel somewhat bland or less engaging. This is the downside of studying at a small university, because I would have loved to see and experience how that is. Moreover, there aren’t really any clubs or good bars in this town. Additionally, the town itself lacks vibrant nightlife, with very few clubs or bars available. What challenges have you faced while adapting to life in the USA? The biggest challenge I have encountered is meeting new people. So far, I have primarily connected with other international students, as they tend to be more open and approachable compared to American students. I was also somewhat unfortunate in that all of my classes were transitioned to an online format. Due to low enrollment in the face-to-face versions—typically only two or three students—professors opted to conduct the courses entirely online. This has made it more difficult to engage with others and build connections. However, this issue seems specific to MBA courses, where many students are slightly older and working full-time. For the four other exchange students taking undergraduate courses at the university, all classes are still held on campus. Fortunately, the university organizes several weekly activities, including shopping trips, hiking excursions, yoga, dance classes, and more. These events provide some opportunities to meet new people and foster connections. What skills or lessons have you learned that you didn’t expect to gain from this experience? One thing I’ve come to appreciate more is the public transportation and infrastructure in the Netherlands. In Winchester, commuting is quite challenging. It is evident that America is designed with car ownership in mind. There are few footpaths, and in some areas, they abruptly stop, making it difficult to walk to places like grocery stores or shops. For example, while there is a gas station nearby, the closest grocery store is a 20- to 25-minute walk. Additionally, most stores here are surrounded by large parking lots, which means you have to navigate through several of them when moving from shop to shop. This makes getting around without a car quite inconvenient. Luckily, since I have a meal plan, I don’t really need to buy a lot of things. Have you had any moments of homesickness? How did you cope with that? I did have a brief moment of regret after arriving. This feeling was mainly due
On exchange in Lisbon: An amazing experience!
For the Dutch version, click here. After going on an exchange to Lisbon during his bachelor International Business Administration (IBA), Phi Huynh decided to make up for this experience during his master Accountancy. Wout talked to Phi about what it’s like to study in Lisbon, what great things he experienced, and what his advice is for future students on going on an exchange. Can you briefly introduce yourself? My name is Phi Huynh, I am from Nieuwegein and I studied International Business Administration (IBA) in Tilburg. At the moment I am following the master Accountancy. Since the beginning of my studies I have been active at Asset | Accounting and Finance. How did you decide to study for six months in Lisbon? In IBA, it is quite normal to go on an exchange. However, at that time it was cancelled due to corona. I decided to stay in Europe because I have been to many places outside Europe. However, I have not been to southern Europe yet, so I thought it would be nice to study there. I could also go to Italy and Greece, but in the end I chose Lisbon and I didn’t change my choice after it was initially cancelled due to corona. What program and subjects did you take there? I took electives from the master’s in Business Administration. During a master exchange, compared to going abroad during your bachelor, you don’t necessarily have to take courses in your field of study. So I did not take Accountancy courses in Lisbon, also because Accountancy at the university in Lisbon is very basic. In total I took 8 courses, including digital transformation, marketing and strategy. I took four courses per trimester. A trimester is the same as a block at our university. The first semester you have two trimesters and the second half of the study you only have one of them because of the summer period. Was studying in Lisbon comparable to studying in Tilburg? It was different. In Lisbon, you had to attend every course. For example, I wouldn’t have taken some courses if I didn’t have the obligation to do so. Participation counted for a lot. The study was smaller than in Tilburg. It was very well organized at the university (Universidade Católica Portuguesa) where I studied, which is highly regarded. At other universities, for example, it was less well organized. I even heard stories from other students who had to ask the professor if they could register for the course. I had hybrid education in my semester in Lisbon. The work groups were physical. In addition, I often had full class days, as all courses were scheduled in one day. Also, each subject had a final exam, but in most subjects the assignment you had to make counted for a lot. The exams were open book tests that you were allowed to use the laptop for. However, it was not the case that you could discuss and look everything up on the Internet. You could not work together and they checked that you were not on any other pages besides the lecture notes. “Punctually at 5 o’clock the counter closed, even though there were still lines of people waiting” What differences did you notice in the way of life between the Netherlands and Portugal? Portugal is quite bureaucratic. For the clubs I needed a negative test certificate. In addition, I had an OV pass from the university. All foreign students could go to two specific metro stations for this pass to show that you were studying at the university. There you had to fill out all kinds of documents. I was lucky that I could already speak a little Portuguese. Other students had more difficulty because they did not speak the language. At 5 o’clock sharp the counter was closed, even though there was still a queue of people. Testing for corona also took a long time, but luckily all non-Portuguese could test for free. What did you miss most about home during your exchange? And what do you miss about Lisbon now that you’re back in the Netherlands? So during my exchange, I especially missed the efficiency of the Netherlands. What I did like about Portugal was that the people there were very flexible when it came to planning things. In the Netherlands, you often have to make a date first. In Portugal, it was much easier to arrange something. In addition, everything was new in Portugal because of the unfamiliar surroundings and the many new things you do, which is of course less the case in the Netherlands. What is the coolest thing you did in on exchange? I have made very nice trips. I’ve visited several cities, such as Seville, but I’ve also been to islands like Madeira and the Azores to enjoy the nature. Here I hiked in many cool areas, but what I remember most is abseiling from a waterfall. Do you still talk to the people you met there? Yes, I do! Especially the Dutch, most of whom still study in Tilburg. We do an activity together every two weeks. During King’s Day, even fellow students from Belgium, Germany and America came to Tilburg to celebrate this Dutch holiday with us. In September we are all going to Milan, and a Polish friend was also here during my house party. What did you have to take into account financially? Did you get a scholarship during your exchange in Portugal? Because I studied in Lisbon I got the Erasmus scholarship. This scholarship was also the motivation for me to pass all my courses. It is the case that if you do your exchange during your bachelor you have to pass it. During your master you do it on top of the program. There is less pressure, but to get the Erasmus scholarship it is mandatory that you obtain at least 24 points. In addition, the general costs in Lisbon were not too bad. Lisbon is the most
Choosing a Minor during the Bachelor Business Administration & IBA
For the Dutch version, click here The study Business Administration introduces you to many different facets of a business. The four pillars that the study mainly focuses on are accounting, finance, marketing, and management. However, this wide range of subjects can also result in students not seeing the wood for the trees anymore, as most of the time, not all the courses spark their interest. To prevent this, Tilburg University allows students to choose their own courses during their minor, in a direction that interests the student the most. This article explains the rationale behind students’ choices for both the Accountancy minor and the Finance minor at Tilburg University. Various options In the first semester of year 3, business economics and IBA students have various ways to fill their first term. You can go on exchange abroad to a partner university, do an internship or take a minor at Tilburg University. All these options have their own added value. In exchange, you develop certain independence and learn to cope in an unfamiliar, international environment. If you are curious about the business world and want to gain your first experience here early on, an internship may be the perfect opportunity for you. If these options do not appeal to you, there is the option of taking a minor at Tilburg University to complete several courses of your choice. For both Accountancy and Finance, the university has compiled a minor that focuses on one of these subjects. If a student is interested in more than one of these subjects, they can also choose to compose the minor themselves. Minor in Accounting The minor in accounting focuses on the “language of business”, the financial audit, and management accounting. During this minor, students take three courses: Auditing & Accounting Information Systems, Intermediate Financial Accounting, Intermediate Management Accounting. Bo Janssen chose this minor during her third year as a Business Administration student: “I always found the accounting-related courses given during the bachelor’s degree interesting and was curious whether I might want to do something with this later on.” According to Bo, the subjects that came along with this did make the field of Accountancy a bit clearer: “The minor consisted of three subjects, each covering a different topic within Accountancy. You get, just a bit more detailed than in the rest of the bachelor, a picture of what Accountancy is really about.”However, according to Bo, there were also some disadvantages about the minor: “I did find it difficult to judge from the theory of the minor alone whether I would actually like the profession of accountancy. Therefore, I think it’s good to discover what the field of Accountancy looks like in practice, to really experience where you could end up.” In addition to the three Accountancy courses, the minor does require the completion of the required 30 credits, which means choosing at least two additional courses. Bo did this with an eye to the future: “Because I was thinking of taking the master’s in Accountancy after my bachelor’s, I chose to take two deficiency courses in addition to the required minor courses. You have to pass these deficiency courses before you start the postmaster. That way I didn’t have to take them into account later in my studies.” Meanwhile, Bo has started the master Accountancy: “Now that I have started my master Accountancy, I notice that I encounter several things that I recognize from the Minor. Although you certainly don’t need the minor courses as a building block for the master, it is nice to see different concepts from the minor come back and be dealt with more extensively this time.” Minor in Finance The Finance minor dives deeper into the content of the courses Finance 1 and 2 of the IBA and Business Economics bachelor’s degree. The focus is on investments as well as valuing and assessing financial decision-making. Anne Kemps and Sjors Seinen both chose to follow this minor. Anne was mainly triggered by her interest in previous courses in the bachelor: “During the first two years, Finance interested me the most, but because the economical scope of the bachelor is very wide, I could only follow a few Finance courses. Therefore, I chose to follow courses from the minor in Finance so that I could get a better understanding of this subject, as this would enable me to decide whether I wanted to delve deeper into this field during my master’s.” The Finance minor also consists of three courses: Financial History and Intermediation, Financial Management, and Risk Management. Sjors was able to confirm his interest in Finance while following these courses: “Whereas Financial History and Intermediation was primarily focused on theory, the other two courses directed a great deal of attention to practical applications. After covering the basic concepts comprehensively during the first few weeks, I started to connect underlying principles and better understand financial markets than beforehand. As we dove deeper into the course material, I became increasingly interested: concepts such as asset-pricing models and derivatives motivated me to go beyond the teaching materials to find out more, which is something I had never done before. This spike in interest, primarily fuelled by Finance minor curriculum, led me to believe that Finance is my passion.” As for Anne, her interest in Finance was also confirmed, resulting in her choice to start the Master Finance: “In the Master Finance I now notice that the same topics are brought up again. You are not expected to know the subjects from the minor, nor are they specified as required subjects. It is therefore not necessary to take the minor if you want to start the master, but it already gives you a lot of insights into the subjects that will also be dealt with in the master.” All in all, as a business economics student in year three, you are given multiple options for the first semester. Besides broadening your horizons abroad or doing an internship at a company to gain practical experience, you
Studying in Australia: the country to put on your bucket list!
For the Dutch version, click here How often do you get the opportunity to study abroad for one semester on the other side of the world? Max van Elten and Martine Spaan got offered this opportunity through the exchange program of Tilburg University. Both of them had never traveled outside of Europe before, but both chose Australia immediately. In this article, Max shares his experience of Melbourne and Martine tells about her experience in Sydney. Furthermore, they speak about their backpacking adventures through the rest of Australia. Max van Elten – La Trobe University, Melbourne I immediately knew that I wanted to visit an English speaking country. Eventually, Australia became my first choice, a country with much diversity, both in nature and the people that live there. Out of my three choices, the university assigned me to La Trobe University in Melbourne. I did not hesitate for a single moment about the offer. This was the start of my adventure. La Trobe University is located in the suburbs of Melbourne, Bundoora. With public transfer the trip is about 45 minutes to get to the CBD. The campus of La Trobe University is one of the biggest university campuses in the southern hemisphere, with e.g. a nature reserve. Besides this main campus, the university has different campuses within Victoria. One of the main education differences between the Netherlands and Australia is that in Australia it is more common to work on essays and group projects. The nice thing about an exchange in my opinion, was that you can choose all your own courses. Besides Accounting and Finance I also followed some Entrepreneurial courses, which was enlightening, since you really got challenged to think and act as an entrepreneur. We had to present our business plan twice, the first time in a group, the second time by ourselves. Besides that, I got the opportunity to follow the course Discover Australia. This taught me about the history and myths of Australia. “On the Gold Coast we saw the perfect waves for surfers, at Whitsunday Islands we saw beautiful white beaches and at Cairns we discovered the underwater nature at the Great Barrier Reef.” I started my journey in Melbourne, the city that I lived in from that moment on. Melbourne is a vibrant city, there are always events in town and there is so much culture to discover. From museums to street art in the city centre. Melbourne has been awarded the most livable city in the world for a long time. If you take a look outside of Melbourne, you will encounter beautiful nature. I went to Philip Island, for example, where I could pet the kangaroos and watch penguins walk on the beach at sunset. In the past months there have been many forest fires all over Australia. This has destroyed some of nature in this beautiful country. However, this did not affect our adventure that much in Melbourne. Close to Melbourne is the famous Great Ocean Road. This is a road that follows the ocean for miles long, where you can see the beautiful erosion of the coastline. Apart from Melbourne I also visited many other cities across the East Coast of Australia and because the country is that big, you encounter different stuff everywhere. On the Gold Coast we saw the perfect waves for surfers, at Whitsunday Islands we saw beautiful white beaches and at Cairns we discovered the underwater nature at the Great Barrier Reef. Martine Spaan – University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Sydney The past semester I studied at UTS, which was the perfect location since the campus is in the middle of the city centre of Sydney. The first lectures started really early in the year, in July, which meant that I had a really short Spring Break. It was winter in Australia at that time, but luckily Australia has soft winters. During my Spring Break in September I took the chance to enjoy the warmer areas by going to the Whitsunday Islands. I made a boat trip of three days together with a group, where we encountered dolphins, whales and big turtles. We also went snorkeling in this area, at the world’s biggest and most beautiful coral reef: the Great Barrier Reef. The advantage of such an early start of the semester at UTS was that I finished my classes at the beginning of November. Furthermore, most of the universities in Australia do not have any resits, so I could fully focus on travelling around Australia. Even though you only have one chance at your courses, the level is easy enough to pass all your courses, especially because your final result is divided amongst several projects and midterms. After the classes were finished, in November, the bushfires in Eastern Australia started to happen. This was exactly at the location where I began my own trip. Through the window of the airplane I saw enormous clouds of smoke, and while laying on the beach in Noosa Heads I could see an actual bushfire. However, I have been very lucky during my trip, because I have been to many places at the right time. Nobody could enter Byron Bay anymore, because of the fire on highways, exactly one day after I had been there. Also, I have visited the Blue Mountains in Sydney, where currently about 80% of the forest is burned down. Even though it was tough to see the fires so nearby, it did not disturb my travels that much. “The water as clear as the sky, the breathtaking views after long hikes, the beautiful animals: Australia is basically the perfect place to tick the boxes off your bucket list.” When the Australian summer began, in December, I flew to the West Coast of Australia to do a road trip of two weeks together with a girl from Switzerland. This was by far the most amazing trip that I have ever made in my entire life. With a Scooby-Doo campervan, the ‘Mystery Machine’, we
Studying in Kingston, Canada: the country of the Maple Leaf
For the Dutch version, click here Mooses as large as cars, walls of snow growing meters high and endless nature. This were the stories that my family from Canada told me when they came to the Netherlands a few years ago. They wanted to see where we live, what we do in daily life and what we enjoy most. These stories motivated me to find an opportunity where I could go to Canada for a longer period, to experience these things for myself. At the beginning of my third year of my bachelor at Tilburg University, I had the opportunity to study abroad for a semester. This was the perfect opportunity for me to go to the other side of the world. After doing some research at universities in Canada, I ended up at the Smith School of Business, which is part of Queen’s University, in Kingston. Smith School of Business The Smith School of Business is part of Queen’s University in Kingston. Approximately 35,000 students from 100 countries study at this university. They have an academic history dating back to the year 1841 and they are considered to be one of the best universities in Canada. As a result, only the best and most motivated students in Canada are allowed to study here. In order to be admitted to this school, students must have a minimum average grade of a nine and be active in various areas outside of their studies. This was an opportunity for me to measure myself against the most motivated and intelligent students in Canada. Especially the group projects and discussions were very interesting because the students here did not settle for a six, but wanted to get the most out of it. The lectures lasted an hour and a half without a break and the lecture hall contains about 40 people. The lessons consist of one hour covering the theory and then there is a joint discussion or assignment. This way of teaching is considerably more interactive than I am used to from the lectures in Tilburg. At the beginning I had to get used to it and in hindsight I see the great value of sharing your own opinion on the subject and discussing it with others. In my opinion the level of theory is a bit lower than the level in Tilburg, but there is more emphasis on interaction between students and how you communicate certain things. An example is thinking about the design of PowerPoints and presentation skills. Canada the country of the Maple Leaf Canada is the country of the Maple Leaf. You will find the symbol everywhere, reaching from the national flag to every kitchen table in the shape of a small bottle of Maple Syrup. Canada is the second largest country in the world but has a population of less than 38 million. The biggest difference with the Netherlands is the availability of space and the amount of nature in the country. What first struck me is how social the people in Canada are. Just like any exchange student in the beginning of the exchange period, it was hard for me to find where I had to go and what I needed. As soon as people realized that I was not from Canada, they immediately came to me without thinking any further. They started by default with the sentence “Welcome to Canada” and this indicated to me how social the people are, no matter where you come from. I also noticed that everything in Canada is just a little bit larger than in Europe. The cars, buildings and the portion sizes of the food you order are all one size larger. Furthermore, Canada is a diverse country, you have cities habiting millions of people and where there’s always something to do, but you also have several parks where you can go to escape the crowds. Here you can camp, canoe and enjoy nature. You have to take into account that in some parks you do not even have mobile reach. I spent most of my exchange in the town of Kingston. This is between the two extremes, you have a lively center with plenty of nice restaurants and cafes, but on the other hand, you have several parks in the area where you can go hiking and retreat. In short, there is something for everyone and there is so much to do and see that four months is actually not enough. “For me, the biggest difference with our own cultures was the degree of empathy and nationalism in everyday life.” A worldwide network The most important take away from my exchange are the contacts I have made all over the world and the experiences with different cultures. Besides the fact that I have been able to work together with several Canadian students, I have also been able to work together with other exchange students from all continents. This gave me a chance to learn from the other cultures and prepare myself for working with others in the future. In addition to discussions and assignments, I was also able to do fun things with these people, such as having dinners, partying and making weekend trips to surrounding cities. This way we could explore the country together and get acquainted with Canadian culture. For us, the biggest difference with our own cultures was the degree of empathy and nationalism in everyday life. From saying “sorry” no matter who is to blame, to Canadian flags that were everywhere. Hard work but an amazing experience My exchange semester was amazing and I enjoyed every aspect of it. Even though it was hard work and exciting at times, I was able to learn a lot. I think it is rather important for every single one to look beyond the Netherlands and our situation here. In a world that is constantly changing and where the relative distance is getting smaller and smaller, you have to be able to work with everyone. Furthermore, it
Exchange: an (un)affordable experience?
Studying for a semester in a foreign country is one of the best and most valuable experiences in a student’s life. It gives you the possibility to study at a different university, yet that is not all: getting to know people who become friends for the rest of your life, exploring a new country, and planning spontaneous trips are just a few examples of the advantages an exchange semester offers you. In addition, it allows you to further develop yourself; you become more independent and will better understand the culture and norms and values of international students. However, an exchange semester needs to be financed as well. For some students, this is the deciding factor whether they are going on an exchange or not . Therefore, this column draws attention to the financial side of an exchange period. Four students, who each studied in a different country, will share their experiences and dive deeper into exchange expenses. Jönköping, Sweden Romano Ruijtenburg Sweden, and Scandinavian countries in general, are known for being expensive. In 2017, I studied for one semester in Jönköping. A financial windfall when doing an exchange within Europe is receiving an Erasmus grant; I received 270 euros per month (5 months in total). I lived in a spacious apartment in a small flat which I shared with two other international students. Monthly rent expenses were 3300 Swedish crowns, which equals about 330 euros. In Swedish terms this is a fairly low amount, so I was lucky when it came to accommodation expenses. In Sweden, students often receive discounts on gym memberships and public transport; this cost me about 35 and 40 euros monthly, respectively. As expected, everything in Sweden is a bit more expensive compared to the Netherlands. Groceries cost me around 25% more than in Tilburg. However, especially going out is costly in Sweden; in a bar, a beer costs about 7 euros, and in clubs 10 euros. Luckily, student bars and some clubs give discounts to students, yet still going out was way more expensive than it is in Tilburg. During an exchange, chances are pretty high that you will do some trips to different cities and countries. Not surprisingly, these trips bring expenses with them. However, since student organizations often organize these trips, they are still relatively cheap. Altogether, studying in a Swedish city is more expensive than Tilburg. Nevertheless, it is a great country to spend your semester abroad, and if you handle your money and expenses smartly, the additional financial burden remains reasonable. Monterrey, Mexico Roel Elissen I left for Monterrey, Mexico, in July 2018. I studied there for one semester at Tec de Monterrey. Unfortunately, I did not receive a grant to study in Mexico. So naturally, I continued borrowing money from DUO during this period. In Monterrey, I lived in an independent studio with my own bathroom and kitchen. This furnished studio cost approximately 375 euros, which is relatively expensive for Mexican standards; however, in the Netherlands I would have paid at least 1.5 – 2 times that amount for such a studio. It would have been possible to find a room costing 250 euros, yet that would have been less luxurious than my studio. Life in Mexico is way cheaper than life in the Netherlands, such as lower grocery expenses. However, as an exchange only takes half a year, you want to make it an amazing time by travelling and going out. Obviously, this brings expenses with it; especially going out is different than here in Tilburg. In Mexico, you usually go to bigger clubs where you pay quite some money for a drink (or bottle). Altogether, I have probably spent more than I typically do in Tilburg, yet compared to other destinations, Mexico is definitely a great option if you want to go on exchange and limit your expenses. However, you have to be lucky to find a cheap flight! ”However, the experiences that you receive in return are beautiful, and therefore I do not have any regrets from my choice of going on exchange to Australia.” Sydney, Australia Wouter Janssen During my exchange I studied at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, from July 2017 till December 2017. I did not receive any grant for my studies in Australia, since studying in that country does not receive any financial support from Tilburg. Of course, you have fixed monthly costs, which were often higher compared to Tilburg. For my room, which had its own shower and toilet and was 16 square meters, I paid about 850 euros per month. Groceries were 200 euros, costs for a sports membership were 40 euros and public transport near 45 euros. Going out and trips cost me approximately 250 euros per month. As mentioned, costs in Sydney were higher than in Tilburg, yet if you go on exchange, you know in advance that it is going to cost more than studying in the Netherlands. However, the experiences that you receive in return are beautiful, and therefore I do not have any regrets from my choice of going on exchange to Australia. Victoria, Canada Maarten Zandvoort In 2017, I studied for 5 months (from August till December) at the University of Victoria on Vancouver Island, Canada. Unfortunately, I did not receive a grant, since there were no specific grants available for Canada. Some of my fixed expenses were the following: accommodation costs were approximately 600 euros (900 Canadian dollars). I lived in a one-person studio, and the monthly expenses included gas, water, and electricity costs. Groceries cost me about 220 Canadian dollars per month, which is roughly 150 euros. Another cost was my gym membership, which cost 30 Canadian dollars. Additional costs came from travelling (in total, I traveled five times), going out (which I did almost every weekend) and activities such as sports games. This cost me on average 1000 euros per month. Altogether, I estimate that my expenses were approximately 2000 euros per month. Hopefully, the above information provides a useful insight into the expenses that are
