Tuesday, June 28, 2011

How is the LLM Study in the Netherlands?


How is the LLM Study in the Netherlands?
I'm a Chinese. I find it difficult to find a job in China. So I think it the same applying to the abroad study in the Netherlands. I want to know how the courses are organized in the Netherlands and whether the school will provide LLM students more chances to practice law
Netherlands - 2 Answers
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1 :
I was a student advisor for an International Business course and we recruited many Chinese students for this, so studying in the Netherlands is most certainly possible. Not knowing what LLM meant, I looked it up quickly and ok it is a specifically advanced law degrees. The best site to use as a starting point to studying in the Netherlands is http://www.nuffic.nl/ It gives info on life in the Netherlands, studying in NL, how to do it, costs, visa info etc etc and importantly you for you a list of available courses in English http://www.nuffic.nl/international-students/dutch-higher-education/search-international-study-programmes/ispac_search_form. There are all different specalisms of law on offer, so it is best for you to check this for yourself. Best of luck. \ EDIT@ Andy - sorry what you are saying is not 100% true. As I mentioned I actually worked for a Uni so have first hand knowledge of a lot of International students' experiences. All the universities I know have counsellors or a dept dedicated to foreign students to give advice and support - ok some better than others Housing is hard to find yes, but universities have connections with housing agencies or even campus accomodation - so as long as you arrange it in advance then you can get accomodation near to or even on site. Bank account - easy - go to ABN Amro - it is even in English and done within one visit usually. Not one of the students I know had to go to the headquarters! Actually having studied on an exchange in the UK - I would actually say it is as hard or harder to get into a decent uni with accomodation where the walls were not damp and disgusting or paying through the nose. Also it is a lot more expensive to study in the UK as a foreign student than in the Netherlands (at least when I was working as the counsellor). It's personal of course - but I really strongly disagree! EDIT - Andy - you are so factually off the mark it is untrue and I could refute each and everyone of your statements with facts and cite sources for each as well, but this would turn into a catfight. Actually, all of your assumptions about me and why I came to the UK are wrong as well. I am not "University staff" already for a long time (it was my positon on my third year placement as part of my uni degree) - I am (as mentioned before) however lucky enough to have studied for four years whereby I have two degrees (one Dutch, one British) and spent 1 semester in the UK per year and the other in NL. Therefore this is first hand info based on personal experience and so about as "independant" as you can get, and better than hearsay from "a friend". Two points that did stand out - The Netherlands is cheaper than the UK on cost of living (check out all the cost of living surveys) and Amsterdam is cheaper than London. So compare fairly and accurately if you are going to comment at all - e.g. http://www.finfacts.com/costofliving.htm - London is ranked 3rd most expensive worldwide and Amsterdam 25th. Secondly NL also has Aldi, Lidl etc etc where the prices are cheap and Tescos is NOT cheap - only certain sections/brands within the store are, and that is the same in NL as well As I said, if you want to draw comparisons, then please be in the position to do so, and base it on facts and not hearsay. If you enable your Email I am happy to discuss further - but will leave the comments as in on here. I was not rude to you, so please give me the same respect back.
2 :
Hi Never go to Netherlands for studies as an international student. You get zero support from the universities and the visa procedure is a nightmare. There are so many barriers for international students. They discourage international students imposing these restrictions. Housing is the biggest nightmare in Holland. You will have to wait months to find accommodation. (Talk to your friends who study in Netherlands. You will hear horror stories) To open a bank account? This is another nightmare. You will have to go to bank's headquarters in Amsterdam. Then they will send you to another branch. Then the branch will say you have to go back to the headquarters again which means you will be travelling around the city with no proper advice. After all, it takes another few weeks to activate the bank account. (By this time you have run out all your cash) On top of all, public transport is very expensive. Normally you cannot find accommodation near universities.Lots of tram trips are involved. I would not advise you to go to continent for LLM. Try UK, Australia or America. They have well renowned universities and eventually you get internationally recognized LLM. My preferences would be, 1. UK 2. Australia 3. USA And look no further. Good Luck! To Blah Blah: Sorry to hear about your second edition. As you work for Uni and as an employee, you are technically correct, but practically incorrect. Technically, they think (the staff including you) they are doing a great job for students but to satisfy themselves. The real support is very poor for students. Yes, ABN Amro if a prime example for bank account nightmare. I am surprised to learn that you advise your students that they can open an account without going to the bank’s HQ in Amsterdam. Is that how you make your students to go around Amsterdam? (This is actually good for first time visitors in Amsterdam for sight seeing) In the UK, you walk in to the bank and you open the bank account. Simple as that and within less than a week, you get your bankcards etc. Accommodation in the UK. I know many European students who come to UK apply for the CHEAPEST accommodation available. I assume you did the same Blah Blah. When you go for cheaper option, you need to understand that there is a reason for it to be cheaper. BUT at least it is not a nightmare like in Holland. Nobody waits months in the UK to get accommodation and of course they are much cheaper than Amsterdam accommodation and International students are not required to register with Municipalities/councils, which they are made to wait weeks including making appointments. After a all, in Netherlands, there are no incentives for international students. They are prepared only to take money from Intl.Students. In the UK, once you have finished your studies you are allowed to work for two years with no restrictions at all. Finally the visa nightmare for international students in Holland. You need to apply for visa then you need to apply for appointment with IND (? not sure about the name) as you are required to register with it within 72 hours of your arrival. When you come from China you are likely to get jet lagged and may be tired too. But despite the fact that, you are required to find your way to IND and required to register with it within that time scale. ( I do not know what will happen if you do not comply with this 72 hour requirement.) Is UK expensive? No Many students from the continent think that UK is expensive. But Amsterdam is much more expensive than UK with limited options. In the UK you will find so many options to choose from according to your preferred life style. For example, shopping. If you are moderate then you will find Tesco (The same supermarket as in China), Sainsbury’s etc. For cheaper options, there are Netto, Lidl etc. If not you can try M&S, Waitrose etc for expensive shopping. However, it is totally for you to decide what to do and this is my idea only. The best idea would be to talk to your friends who study in Netherlands and UK. Then weigh up their experience and then come to a conclusion. Do not listen to Uni staff like Blah Blah as they see only their side and their advice is NOT Independent! To Bla Bla (sorry I misspelt your name earlier) Bla Bla you seem to be a nice person. I was not rude to you at all and as we both understand, we were trying to help somebody to make a decision with a support from our experience and it is totally down to them to make thier mind up re what to do. Hope you agree? Thanks!

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