Exchange

Broaden your horizon around the world

Incoming exchange

Explore the Netherlands: come to Erasmus University Rotterdam

Outgoing exchange

Exchange during your time at Erasmus University Rotterdam

Discover our European University Alliance

Start your UNIC experience here

Are you eager to broaden your horizons, come into contact with different cultures and, simply, have a great time: consider going on an exchange abroad! Whether you are a student hoping to study at Erasmus University Rotterdam from another country, or a current student planning to go abroad, the possibilities are endless. Take your pick above: are you coming to Rotterdam, or going abroad?

One year before leaving

  • Choose what you want to do (exchange/internship/summer school/volunteer work);
  • Check your faculty’s website (for possibilities, conditions, recognition of study points, etc);
  • Apply to the university (through your faculty) or company of your choice;
  • Arrange your finances (make a budget, apply for grants, etc);
  • Ensure you know the relevant language well enough (do you need to take a test?);
  • Ensure you have all the required visas and permits (check Nuffic’s or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ websites).

Three months before leaving

  • Apply to the university (if you have been nominated) or project abroad;
  • Arrange banking abroad (for some countries it may be handy to bring along a credit card);
  • Arrange housing (abroad and subletting your own room/flat/house);
  • Arrange transportation;
  • Conclude insurance;
  • Check whether your vaccinations are correct/up-to-date;
  • Appoint a representative;
  • Check the validity of your driving licence;
  • Check all DUO-related matters are in order;
  • Undertake background reading.

During your studies, exchange is a once (or maybe twice) in a lifetime opportunity that will not open up again later in your life in the same way.

Being a student on exchange really lets you explore new cultures from a completely different perspective. You will meet lots of other exchange students from all over the world, make local friends and by the end of your exchange you maybe even have a home away from home. Our students recommend to just make sure you go on exchange and enjoy it to the fullest

Most often you're able to go on exchange in the third year of your bachelor programme, but please:

  • Students coming to EUR: check with the exchange coordinator of your home university
  • EUR students going abroad: check with your faculty

They can provide you with more detailed information on this matter, as the exchange possibilities might differ per faculty and programme.

As a first step, always contact the exchange coordinator of your faculty to discuss the options and to start the application procedure.

  • Students coming to EUR: check with the exchange coordinator of your home university.
  • EUR students going abroad: check with your faculty.

In principle, no. Everything is well arranged in the exchange programmes. Make sure to familiarise yourself with this before your departure though, as sometimes you're obliged to take certain pre-departure courses before leaving which might take extra time.

Clara’s exchange experience in Santiago, Chile

Clara - Exchange experience in Santiago, Chile

Chile welcomed me with warm people, lively cities, and breath-taking scenery ...
Group of Clara's friend at the surfbeach
Chile welcomed me with warm people, lively cities, and breath-taking scenery ...

Clara, International Psychology student at Erasmus University Rotterdam chose Santiago, Chile as destination for her exchange. Reflecting on her experience, she shares: “Chile welcomed me with warm people, lively cities, and breath-taking scenery that always made me want to explore the country even more. To me, it felt like home.”

What motivated you to participate in a study exchange programme?
I thought it was a great opportunity to experience a different place and culture. Being originally from Brazil, I was excited to return to Latin America, but I wanted to explore somewhere new rather than going back to Brazil. I visited Santiago with my parents when I was young and loved the city.

What were your expectations before you left for your exchange?
I was excited and open-minded about experiencing a different culture. I was curious to see how my background as a Brazilian might help me adapt and whether the experience would be like my move to the Netherlands, because here I am also far away from home.

How did your host university differ from our university?
The teaching style was more traditional, with open question exams instead of multiple-choice on computers. Also, they don’t offer problem-based learning, like I have here at Erasmus University Rotterdam. The academic level was very comparable.

How did you find the process of making friends in a new environment?
Initially, it was challenging, especially making friends in Spanish, but my experience of moving to the Netherlands helped me in being more open to the experience and knowing that things are going to be fine. Even if you might feel overwhelmed in the first week. I quickly bonded with other international students because we were all in the same situation.

Are you still in touch with any of the people you met during your exchange?
Yes, we have a WhatsApp group with friends from Colombia, Mexico, and countries from all Europe. We share updates, memes, and even created a Google form to keep each other informed about our monthly highlights.

What challenges did you face during your exchange, and how did you overcome them?
The main challenge was the language barrier. Chilean Spanish was different from what I know due to different slangs. Therefore, it was sometimes hard to express myself as I wanted. I also had to be more alert about safety and familiarize myself with the city.

How did you handle homesickness or any feelings of isolation?
I didn't experience much homesickness because everything was so new and exciting. Plus, two family members visited me, which helped a lot.

What was the most rewarding part of your exchange experience?
The most rewarding part was seeing how I could manage things on my own and improve my Spanish. I also loved meeting people from diverse backgrounds and forming lasting friendships.

How would you summarize your exchange experience in one sentence?
Chile welcomed me with warm people, lively cities, and breath-taking scenery that always made me want to explore the country even more. To me, it felt like home.

What practical tips would you give to future exchange students?
If you are considering Chile as a destination, speaking Spanish is crucial for navigating daily life in Chile. More general: plan your trips and budget wisely, as it can be more expensive than expected. To avoid high fees when withdrawing money, consider using Revolut. Bring clothes for all seasons and don’t forget good hiking shoes. 

What advice would you give to students considering a study exchange?
Be open-minded and ready for surprises. Explore the nature and culture that the country of your destination has to offer!

Group of Clara's friend at the surfbeach

Irene Jovita exchange experience in Rotterdam

Christine Irene Jovita

Studying abroad has always been my dream since I was a kid because I’m really keen on discovering and learning about new cultures and languages
Exchange student Christine Irene Jovita
Studying abroad has always been my dream since I was a kid because I’m really keen on discovering and learning about new cultures and languages

Christine Irene Jovita, known as Irene, is a dedicated student at Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, where she is pursuing a degree in Management of International Social Challenges. Originally from Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Irene previously studied at the University of Gadjah Mada, majoring in Public Policy and Management within the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences. Currently in her 6th semester, Irene is passionate about addressing global social issues through innovative management solutions.

What motivated you to participate in a study exchange programme?

Studying abroad has always been my dream since I was a kid because I’m really keen on discovering and learning about new cultures and languages, therefore it motivated me to enroll in an international program at my university that obliged me to go on an exchange program for one semester. 
At first it was because EUR itself and the courses they provided are relevant to my study interest. And as for the city itself, it attracts me because it is a very multicultural city and has very unique buildings compared to other Dutch cities because it’s a mix of both modern and historic architecture. And also I had already heard about Rotterdam from acquaintances that lived there and shared their experiences with me.

What were your expectations before you left for your exchange?

I didn’t have any specific expectations because I already did some research about how the city looks and the culture in the Netherlands. At first, I was more scared of not being able to find people to be friends with in the city. Because some said to me that it’s very difficult to make friends with the locals there. So there were a lot of anxieties about how I would be able to socialize as an introverted person in a new city.

How did your host university differ from our university?

The teaching and learning style is very different from my host university. First are the big seminar lecture halls that can be very overwhelming at first for me, since in my home university our classes consist of 30 people and interaction with lecturers was very easy. And perhaps also mine had lots stricter in class regulation, such as mandatory attendance in every lecture rather than in my class, that is not mandatory. And also EUR had tutorial classes that really helped in emphasizing the lecture's topics by providing study cases and discussions, whereas my home university doesn’t have tutorial classes.

What were the biggest cultural differences you noticed living and studying in a foreign country like the Netherlands?

I experienced a lot of Dutch culture, and one of the strange things was that I am used to eating hot meals in the morning, meanwhile here people are used to eating just bread for breakfast. Another difference is that everything needs to be planned, here I saw how organized people are with their time. And I ended up becoming someone who is always late when meeting up with people here hahaha.

The cultural differences and adapting through it actually made me learn more about myself. Especially as an introverted person, it was very difficult to tear down those bubbles that you build around yourself for so long. I had to put myself out there and socialize, which was very difficult. It was scary at first, but as I grow facing it everyday I realize that everything will eventually work out. Like finally having a group of friends, finally brave enough to go out alone, and to hop on a solo trip. 

I think what I learned the most is to just do whatever my heart tells me to do. Sometimes I avoid things for my own peace, but then, I regret not taking that chance. And here, I get to be my own true self because I took a chance of it. I understand the things that are meant for me and things that aren’t. And it’s something I am still learning even until now.

Social experiences

How did you find the process of making friends in a new environment?

To be honest, I do find it difficult to make friends with locals. Some may seem distant but actually sometimes we need to be the one that reaches out first especially in class. For me as someone who can have terrible social anxiety, stepping up from your comfort zone is part of surviving in a new environment. So I always try my best to talk with someone who’s sitting next to me in class and get to know them, and arrange to sit next to each other again for the next class or study together. But most of my friends are fellow exchange students. One of the earliest ones was through a mentoring program that was provided by ESSB. And we had such a fun mentor that kept our friendship even outside the event. But other than that, I tried to expand my friendship by joining a Facebook group named “Girl Gone International” , a community of females that lives specifically in Rotterdam. I reached out to some of them that posted their interest to make new friends in town. And through that platform, I met this one specific girl, who’s also an exchange student at EUR, who became my very best friend. And the rest was history! I became friends with her and widened our friendship group. For me, it was worth it to fight my anxiety and fear and ended up having such great experiences with the friends I made here.

Challenges

What challenges did you face during your exchange, and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge was having to mourn over the loss of my uncle a day before my first exam. He was my host family here and he really took care of me throughout my first couple of months there until he left. It was very difficult for me because I was very close with him, he was one of the people that made me feel welcome in the family. He introduced me to a lot of people and basically, he was my home. 

A day before he left, he called me and told me to study well and don’t forget to eat well too. I had spent the rest of that week cramming with exams and had confidence I could pass my first exam there. But I was wrong. A day before the exam, he died and the house situation was very busy and I couldn’t really concentrate on studying because I was still trying to process all the grief. I feel like I couldn’t grieve because I wasn't in a real family. I hide my grief but of course I still fall apart eventually. I did my best to last minute study and then on the d-day, I just went blank. I couldn’t even walk properly to campus. I cried in between the exams and cannot answer the question even though I know I studied it. And overall, it was such a difficult time for the family and also for my wellbeing. I was very depressed and cannot express my feelings well. It felt suffocating. 
Then I decided to make myself busy with meeting friends and also studying. It helped but still, I felt lost and lonely. So what I did to seek professional help that was available for free by the campus. And the sessions really helped me to open up myself and the grief that I kept. It made me feel a lot better to get through my days.

How did you handle homesickness or any feelings of isolation (if you had any)?

For me living with a host family that are half dutch and half moluccans (And in Indonesia I am also half moluccans so I was already familiar with its culture) has help me to overcome my homesickness because they really made me feel like home with the love they gave to me. And I’m still familiar with the culture such as being surrounded with such big families, the foods and the language. I still speak their dialect so sometimes it was easy for me to communicate with them. 
Nevertheless the feeling of homesickness of course would appear out of nowhere behind all of the feeling. I felt it the most during the time I was sick and was very used to having my parents around to take care of me. And during that time they can only accompany me through long distance video calls. But on the other hand, the feeling of isolation was the most difficult for me to overcome. I sometimes felt like an outsider around the family despite the fact that they already welcome me with open arms and are very wonderful to me. Because there are still language barriers between us since I don’t speak Dutch and most of them do. It’s hard for me to really communicate my feelings with them without being lost in translation. And being in a room where you don’t understand the conversation, did make me feel isolated. And it was also difficult that not everybody is as open as the others. Sometimes I wanted to make an effort to talk to them but also my anxiety still controlled my mind and made me scared to start a conversation. And how I overcame it was to learn to slowly communicate my feelings to the relatives that I feel more comfortable to talk to and they usually give me advice and comforting words to me and I feel a lot better afterwards. But it isn’t easy, it is still something I struggle with even after I leave.

Post-Exchange

What was the most rewarding part of your exchange experience?

The friends and family that I gained throughout my time there. Because they are the ones that made my stay in Rotterdam bearable and memorable!

How would you summarize your exchange experience in one sentence?

You can take the person out of the city, not the city out of the person.

Would you consider returning to the Netherlands to work or live in the future? Why or why not?

I would, since I already have a family there that I always look forward to meeting them again. But on the other hand, I wanted to experience living in other countries to be able to experience something new again. Because there is a whole world out there waiting to be explored!

What advice would you give to students considering a study exchange in Rotterdam?

Don’t overthink too much. Everything will eventually work out! Things may be difficult at the start and out of hand, but gradually, it will fall into place.

Practical tips

What are some practical tips you would give to future exchange students coming to Rotterdam (e.g., packing, budgeting, navigating a new city)?

During my pre-departure, I made an entire notion page and list down all my to-do list and its timeline so I know what to keep up with since sometimes I get too overwhelmed and become disorganized. And inside that page I organize several pages for my budgeting plan, traveling plan and also places in Rotterdam to visit. For budgeting, I let myself understand the first couple of weeks how on average I spend on things before setting the numbers. And I would recommend making a weekly budget plan because I think weekly is easy to keep track of. Also, since I lived not near the campus and the city, I commute a lot with the metro and bus. Therefore, I apply for the subscription in RET that costs me 96 euro a month, but I get to travel free with all the public transport in the areas that I commute a lot. So I think it’s also important to calculate how much you will commute, like if it is necessary to just walk or bicycle? and if it cheaper with the subscription or not? because some may not use the public transportation that much and could be more expensive than usual.

What resources (websites, apps, organizations) were most helpful during your stay in Rotterdam?

For me joining a Indonesian students association in Rotterdam was very helpful to find guides and information about the city and the campus from their instagram and joining the Whatsapp group for more information. Other than that, I tried joining facebook groups for people living in Rotterdam and trying to find friends and activities to do there were very interesting, one of the groups that I joined is Girl Gone International Rotterdam, very fun to find fellow women to meet and do activities together in the city. Lastly, I also looked into the instagram of weekendsinrotterdam to find places to visit in town!

Friend and family Exchange student Irene
6. This is a bonus, because actually I cannot choose so many of my memories there. Basically, this a scrapbook compilation of me, my friends and family during my exchange.
International Office - Exchange Irene
Exchange student Irene with friends
It's my first day trip to Antwerp with my friends.
international office
Exchange Irene having lunch
My favourite cake shop in Rotterdam: Koekela.
International Office
Exchange Irene visits Amsterdam
My friends from my home university who also went exchange to Cologne and Le Havre went to visit me in Rotterdam and I took them to visit Amsterdam that rained the whole day.
International Office
Exchange Irene Church
The Sint-Laurenskerk is my favourite place to chill and sit down during the warm weather.
International Office
Exchange student Christine Irene Jovita

Paulina - study exchange to Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Paulina - went to Rotterdam

I don’t think I've had any scary experiences since I got here.
Exchange student Paulina
I don’t think I've had any scary experiences since I got here.

Why did you come on exchange?

I love travelling and I’ve always wanted to go for an exchange for semester. That was always on my bucket list. I couldn’t go my first year so I figured that the second year might be the best time to go on exchange.

What influenced you to choose Erasmus University & Rotterdam?

I’ve never been to Holland before, but some of my classmates from my international high school in Prague are studying at Erasmus University Rotterdam as full time students. They always said they liked it a lot. I visited Rotterdam this October and I really liked it as well, therefore I decided that I would want to live here for 6 months. It’s not that far away from home and Holland is beautiful and has so much to offer.

What has been the scariest experience since you got here?

I don’t think I've had any scary experiences since I got here. If I ever needed anything I always could ask my boyfriend for help.

What has been the best experience since you got here?

There’s been many amazing times that I have had since I got here. I think just meeting people from all over the world and learning about them and their culture/countries has been one of the best experiences. Our trip to Brussels was really fun and I would say going and partying in Amsterdam was really fun too.

What advice would you give to a potential exchange student?

Maybe if it’s possible to visit the place they’re gonna be moving in first, to see if they actually like the city and if they think they would like it there. That’s what I’ve done and I think it helped me a lot to make my decision.

Exchange student Paulina

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