Inside the international student journey at Utrecht University

Registering your address at the municipality. Setting up a bank account. Distinguishing trustworthy room ads from scams. These practical essentials can be quite challenging for international students, so much so many of them wish they had more information about these matters before moving to Utrecht.

How do I know this? Apart from going through this “adulthood” stuff myself, I had the opportunity to assist Özge Bilgili (Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Social Science) in organizing three dialogue sessions for international students. Designed to be interactive, these sessions were part of the inaugural activities of the Special Interest Group on International Student Mobility at UU. 

I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but they turned out to offer truly special moments. In the words of a fellow Master’s student, “It [dialogue session] felt like a collective therapy session.” 

During the dialogues, the first activity invited students to draw a map of their journey, starting from the moment they decided to move to the Netherlands all the way to their arrival in Utrecht. That’s when we asked them to mention what they wish they had known before moving here. The importance of planning ahead was stressed time and time again.

Photo: Chiara Todesco

We also explored how the academic culture at Utrecht was perceived and discussed the challenges of navigating a culture that is perceived to emphasize independence and is often described as “individualistic” and “direct.” Adjusting to an academic system that requires significant independence hasn’t been easy for many of us.

I was struck by the openness and honesty with which everyone shared their struggles. One student captured perfectly what I was feeling: “It was the first time since I came that I had the opportunity to take a moment for myself and reflect on my experience so far”. The students noted that, after Welcome Week, the opportunities to connect became much scarcer. By sharing stories and advice, we reminded one another that we are not alone in facing these challenges.

The final activity invited participants to place themselves on a “stay or leave” thermometer, first based on realistic expectations and then on their desires. Many noticed a disconnect between the dream of staying in the Netherlands and the realities they faced. Concerns about political changes, cuts to research funding, and the competitive job market weighed heavily on their minds. One student highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the post-graduation visa for non-EU students: “It only lasts one year, and finding a job here is extremely competitive.”

Thanks to these sessions, I realized how important it is to create spaces for conversation, not only to reflect on our journeys but also to build connections that help us thrive in this new environment. Let’s keep the conversation going! 

If you’re an international student like me and you’re interested in participating in (research)  activities as part of Special Interest Group: International Student Mobility, you can register for our contact list. We would be excited to hear from you! 

The views and opinions expressed above belong to the blogger and do not necessarily represent DUB's views and opinions.