Leaving your home country to study abroad can be a daunting idea for some, but you will really only know what it is really like once doing it. Coming from South Africa to the Netherlands has been an interesting experience for me, even though I lived in Europe (Germany) for 8 years before moving to South Africa and then another year before moving to Groningen. Pursuing my LLM in the Netherlands has offered some new experiences and below are some aspects about living and studying in Groningen compared to my home country that I'd like to share with prospective students.

Similarities and differences between the South African and the Dutch education system

The Dutch education system has many similarities as well as differences to the South African education system. I completed my Bachelor of Law in South Africa, and I am currently pursuing an LLM in International Commercial Law here in Groningen. Some of the similarities that you may encounter may seem very basic. My classes were presented by lecturers who are experts in their field and classes are full of students who listen attentively and take notes. We write exams at the end of each block on the material that was covered in class, and you may have an assignment or test that you must complete during the semester.

However, the Dutch education system is different in many other aspects. Instead of only having the year divided into two semesters, the semester is further divided into two blocks. You will therefore finish a course in just seven weeks instead of spending almost four months on a specific course. This means that the workload is a lot more intense. A major difference that I encountered is that there are fewer contact classes with your lectures than in my bachelor’s degree. This means that students are expected to put in more time independently outside of the class.

Further, the lecturers highly value input from the students. You will therefore be expected to participate in active discussions. Certain lecturers will also grade you based on group presentations which are presented in front of the entire class. Exams are written in halls on a computer screen. This means that you will not be completing any handwritten exams. Certain exams will also be completed orally. The last major difference I observe with regards to my master’s programme is that it is not only research based. This means that you will be obligated to complete a certain number of classes while writing your master’s thesis. In South Africa, masters’ students do not have any contact classes with lecturers but use the entire year to research the topic of their thesis.

Although, there are certain differences that I have experienced since starting my educational journey in Groningen, it is evident that wherever I go there are people in the education system always willing to lend a helping hand. Lectures, study advisors, and coordinators have been present to help guide through any difficulties that arise. It may seem intimidating to join a university where the education system is completely different to the education system of your home country, but Groningen has perfected the way students can become successful in their degree by providing the right amount of input and expecting the right amount of work from their students.

Everyday life experiences in Groningen

A city that never sleeps and which is filled with students - there is no better way of describing life in Groningen. This city is built around its students. It may come as a surprise, as it was for me, to move to a city where the average age of its residents is thirty-six. The university itself attracts many international students. Therefore, anyone who lives in this city will encounter a diverse number of cultures. However, you will still be able to submerge yourself in the authentic Dutch culture if that is what you are seeking.

The city has managed to make me feel at home while reminding me simultaneously that I am living in a country that is not my own. What I mean by this is that the city might seem like any other city that you have been to before: there are restaurants, there are bars and markets that you can go visit on the weekends, and movie theatres where you can go and watch the latest blockbuster. However, this city is still authentically Dutch. At every market you will be able to find someone selling stroopwaffels and when you go sing karaoke you will most likely hear people belting out the lyrics to “Het Gras van Het Noordeplantsoen”.

I have lived in three different cities, and it is with certainty that I can say that life in Groningen is different to the cities that I have lived in before. Groningen is considered to be a small city, which is similar to Augsburg and Bloemfontein (the two small cities I have lived in). The most prominent difference between Groningen and these two cities is that Groningen feels like it has been built around its students. All the restaurants, bars, cultural, and sporting events revolve around and cater for their students. Bars do not have a closing time, which means that people are awake until the early hours of the day. ACLO, the sports facilities provided by the university, have courses that students can join throughout the entire year.

The two parks that are found in Groningen, namely Stadspark and Noordeplantsoen, always have events and concerts on an almost weekly basis. The city also has a massive market for vintage and second-hand clothing which is different to the cities I have lived in previously. There is not only a market for second-hand clothing, but also vintage and antique furniture stores can be found all throughout the city. Whereas many cities promote fast retail and fashion, Groningen is more authentic and seems to promote sustainability in most things.

There are also many festivities and celebrations throughout the year in Groningen. Some of the biggest and most mentionable are Eurosonic, King’s Day, ESN introduction week, and Sinterklaas. Although some of these events are celebrated and participated in in other parts of the world, there are some that can only be found in the Netherlands and more specifically in Groningen.

I would recommend this beautiful city to anyone who loves meeting diverse groups of people and who are looking for a city that will not only cater for their educational needs but also a city that can enrich them culturally and where they can form bonds with people from all over the world.

- Jessica Jaeschke, South Africa/Germany, International Commercial Law LLM student

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