The Hague University School of European Studies

The Hague University School of European Studies

Johanna Westerdijkplein 75, 2521 EN Den Haag, Netherlands

The Hague University was founded in 1990, and has a vocational approach. It prides itself of an overall international atmosphere with over thirty different nationalities represented in the school and multinational staff.

In any given term, there is approx 200 foreign exchange students at the School of European Studies, and for Dutch students studying abroad is a compulsory part of the program. In the entire university there are 16,000 students.

The Hague, a city of 450,000 inhabitants, is the Netherlands' political capital and home to important international institutions such as the International court. The Hague lies on the North Sea between Amsterdam and Rotterdam with Amsterdam only an hour away by train.

UNB's agreement with the Hague University is for the School of European Studies only, which with 1300 students is the second largest faculties within the university.
Website URL: http://www.thehagueuniversity.com
Accommodations: Housing in the Hague
Cost: Medium https://www.studyinholland.nl/practical-matters/daily-expenses
External Funding Available: No
Availability: 5
Academic Dates:

Fall term: September - January
Winter term: February - July

http://www.thehagueuniversity.com/exchange-programmes/faq-exchange-students
Course Timetable:

http://www.thehagueuniversity.com/xmsp/xms_itm_p.download_file?p_itm_id=81985

Please note that UNB students can take courses only within the School of European Studies.
Program Type: Exchange , Summer school
Language: English
Available Subjects: business and entrepreneurship , political science
Travel Information: http://travel.gc.ca/destinations/netherlands
Practical Information:

Student Handbook

Fact sheet
Visa Requirements:

The International Office at the Hague will be assisting students in getting their visa. 

http://www.thehagueuniversity.com/exchange-programmes/exchange-programmes/Immigration-procedures

 
Summer School Information: http://www.thehagueuniversity.com/the-hague-summer-school

Testimonial

Kyle Hofmann, Political Science, on exchange in Fall 2014 and Winter 2015.

Where did you live when you studied abroad? I rented a small cottage approximately 5km from the university.

What were the easiest and most challenging moments when you arrived to your host destination? How did you overcome the challenges? The easiest part of the experience came as I learned that virtually all Dutch people under the age of 60 speak fluent English. The most difficult initial challenge came while trying to navigate the Dutch bureaucracy. There are so many more forms to fill out when living and studying in The Hague than in Canada. I found that these, as well as most others could be overcome by simply persevering, doing internet research, asking the people at the University to help, and comparing notes with other exchange students.

Which courses did you take, and which was the most enjoyable? Why? The courses I took were generally related to European Studies, but there was a very broad cross section. My favorite course was Integrity and Trust in the European Union. It was fascinating to learn about integrity and trust in such a large coalition of nations and the importance of dealing with each other seeking the good of all nations, not one or two.

What is the most important thing you learned about yourself when abroad? I don't know everything and the way I've learned to do things in Canada is not always the best way to do things.

Food you miss the most and could not get abroad? Nanaimo Bars. We (the other Canadian students and I) made some. Just finding the ingredients was a difficult task.

What did you miss about Canada when you studied abroad? The health care system. I was fortunate enough to have never needed any medical attention, but watching others try and get care in system such as the Dutch system was shocking. Many people would just go to Belgium.

What was your favorite experience when you were abroad? Travelling to Italy. I like to eat, and I believe the Italian food is the best I've ever had.

Which experience had the most impact on you personally? Visiting Auschwitz. It doesn't matter how many books I have read or how many films I have watched, nothing could have prepared me for that. After spending almost a year living among the Dutch people it was difficult for me to visit a place where their friends and families (and many others) were sent to die. We have nothing like this in Canada, and are very removed from it.

What was the biggest difference in culture that you experienced while abroad? The Dutch people are very blunt. Honesty is valued over kindness. The Dutch (and other European people) are far less wasteful than the average North Americans. The Second World War and the difficult years following it are still fresh in their minds and they work hard to preserve what they have. They also really know how to maximize efficiency in roads, trains, airports, ferries, and cycling. Canada should pay more attention to them.

What surprised you the most about your time abroad? How incredibly cheap it is to travel around Europe. How has this experience changed you? I feel (and hope) that I am more receptive to people who are different than those in our culture. Every person I met in Europe was kind to me. They didn't have to be, but they were. They didn't laugh as I stumbled over their languages, they just smiled and helped me out as best as they could.

Do you have any advice to future students, who may wish to study abroad? Pay attention to the advice provided by the advisers, both at home and abroad. You are not the first exchange student they have seen and they have a wealth of information available. Just ask.

Krista Lalonde, BA/LW-SO/SOCI 2009, on exchange in Winter 2008.

 "As a ‘foreigner’ not only was I exposed to various cultures and attitudes, but I also learned to adapt them into my own lifestyle. I became self-reliant and very open-minded. Having done an exchange in The Hague has been extremely rewarding for me in countless ways. If I could do it all over again, I’d be back in Holland in a heartbeat.”

Daniel Vintimilla, BBA 2009, on exchange in Fall 2007 and Winter 2008.

 “The biggest surprise I discovered during my time here in Holland is that practically every single person in my city speaks English, and if they don’t know a word they try to explain it to you with hand gestures or however they can. I learned how to communicate with people without knowing their language and how to better understand people and their cultures.”