Student Stories

Take a look around campus, and you’ll see hundreds of different bags. And yet, what you probably didn’t realise, is that a bag can tell you a lot about someone’s personality. Yes, that bag you drag around every day actually reveals more about you than you might expect! That’s why, in this article, I’ll tell you what your uni bag says about you.

As an international student at a Dutch university, you may be wondering whether you can do an internship as part of your degree – and what your options are. The answer depends on your study programme, but in most cases, there are great opportunities to gain hands-on work experience alongside your studies. This article explains everything you need to know.

What makes a good board game? Is it one that is simple and repetitive? Is it one that consistently entertains no matter what? Or is it one that is extremely complex with a 100-page rulebook for every possible scenario, and is only fun when others are willing to put in the time?

You may have thought about it before: eating vegetarian more often, or even going fully vegetarian. It’s healthy, more sustainable and often cheaper. After all, vegetables, meat substitutes and legumes are usually much kinder to your wallet than a piece of meat. And that’s obviously a bonus when you’re on a student budget! But, let’s be honest: cutting down on meat isn't easy if you're a meat lover, especially if you lack inspiration or don't know where to start. Fortunately, eating more plant-based doesn’t have to be complicated at all. Here are my tips!

Biosensing Team Twente may be the newest student team at the University of Twente, but its ambitions are already firmly rooted in healthcare innovation. In simple terms, the team works on developing biosensors for medical applications: small, functionalised chips that can detect specific molecules in the body and translate that into a measurable signal. Fernando, student and internal manager at Biosensing Team Twente, tells us what it’s like to be part of this new student team.

Food is an extraordinary thing. My family is big on it, you see, from eating heaps of it to cooking more of it. I learned early on to appreciate any cuisine – it is one of the strongest expressions of culture that exists so readily. Sitting down at a table, passing salt, and breaking bread – here, a melting pot of friendship and sustenance can be found.

As my second year in the Netherlands is nearing, I’ve come to reflect on what I wish I’d known before coming here to make life in this wonderful country easier, and what I wish I’d realised sooner. There are a lot of stereotypes about the Dutch and Dutch culture in general, but I’ve found that some of them aren’t even true – they’re the exact opposite, from my own experiences.

Getting around in the Netherlands can be as easy as tapping a card on a reader – because, really, that’s all there is to it sometimes. This guide is here to help you easily navigate the Dutch terrain and make the most of your time in Enschede and the Netherlands.

If you’re moving abroad, it only makes sense for you to want to integrate yourself into the country you’re moving to. To do this, the most important step is to learn the language – not necessarily master it, but just learn enough to get by. Learning Dutch allows you to communicate with the locals, learn about their culture, and make friends. Not learning Dutch only puts you at a disadvantage – besides, having an extra language in your portfolio is always a good idea.

As a Dutch girl who has lived in the Netherlands her entire life, I find our culture and habits nothing special. However, while studying at the University of Twente and meeting people from all over the world, I soon realised how Dutch culture sometimes differs from other cultures. From our daily routines to our deeply rooted traits, here’s a guide to navigating life in the Netherlands!