What was it like to study at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences during the second wave of COVID-19?

Arina Bezborodova, a Business Informatics student at HSE University, returned from her exchange semester in the Netherlands with fresh impressions. In this piece, Arina shares why spring is the best time to go to Rotterdam, how she received an Erasmus scholarship, and reveals her favorite local dishes and spots.

Hi! I’m Arina, a third-year student in the Bachelor’s program “Business Informatics.” Even before enrolling at HSE University, going on an exchange was one of my academic goals. I just didn’t know where exactly I wanted to go. But by the second semester of my third year, I was already in the Netherlands on the “Business Pressure Cooker” program—with a scholarship that covered most of my expenses.

Backstory
My journey started when I randomly attended a guest lecture on risk management held by a Dutch professor for Master’s students. I knew international teaching styles were different, but seeing it firsthand was eye-opening. In the Netherlands, teachers and students are equals, and students can challenge the professor or give feedback—and that’s completely normal. At that lecture, the professor literally kneeled beside our table to be at eye level while explaining a concept. I was amazed by how clearly he presented everything. That’s when I knew I had to study abroad.

The application process wasn’t as complicated as I had expected, and the mobility office helped me a lot with documents and choosing the university. I submitted my priorities, sent the application, and soon got accepted—with an Erasmus+ scholarship.

Erasmus+ Scholarship
A quick note about the scholarship: Write your motivation letter from the heart—explain why you chose this specific country and how it relates to your future. The scholarship covers the visa and insurance, and the Erasmus office only asks for the bare minimum paperwork and handles everything else. The scholarship is paid in two parts—after the first month and at the end of the program.

Studying in the Netherlands – Business Pressure Cooker
My study abroad experience was anything but standard, as COVID restrictions were still in place. The first half of the semester was fully online. It included platform-based tasks, videos and readings, occasional lectures, networking events, and weekly team assignments (groups of 2–5). There wasn’t a fixed weekly schedule—every week was different, designed to get everyone to the same knowledge level before the team-based casework in the second half.

In the second half of the program, we worked in self-organized teams, solving business cases with varying deadlines—72, 48, 24, and even 3 hours. I had never worked on cases before, but I ended up leading my team. As restrictions eased, we could finally work on campus, which made a big difference.

The format was a breath of fresh air—no lectures or seminars, just hands-on problem solving. We even completed consulting projects for Dutch companies and presented our solutions to their top management. It was challenging, but incredibly rewarding.

Dutch Culture and People
There are two types of people in the Netherlands—those who believe Amsterdam is the capital, and those who know it’s actually Rotterdam. I’m team Rotterdam. The city is modern yet preserves its charm and unique architecture.

It’s a relatively expensive place to live, but manageable for students over a short period. The main mode of transportation is the bike. The cycling infrastructure is excellent—there are bike lanes even under canals. You can take your bike on trains to explore nearby towns.

Everyone speaks English—even if they don’t, they’ll still try to help. The Dutch are very practical. There are lots of discounts and great food markets. Locals may not open up quickly, but once they do, the friendships are worth it. Plus, you’ll meet people from all over the world, making the experience even more multicultural.

If you love seafood, fries, and fish—you’re in the right place. And don’t forget to try hagelslag on bread (I didn’t—but maybe you will!).

Final Thoughts
If you want to grow both culturally and intellectually, student exchange is an incredible opportunity. You’ll meet people from all over the world, explore new cultures and cuisines, and gain knowledge in a dynamic, sometimes intense, but very rewarding way. Just DREAM—then DO. If you have any questions about the Netherlands or the university, feel free to reach out on Telegram: @arina_bazuka.

Recommendations

• Best pizza: Pizza Bakkers

• Affordable monthly bike rental: Swapfiets (€14.50/month)

• Best time to go: Spring semester (festivals like King’s Day!)

• Best Italian grocery in Rotterdam: La Vita è Bella

• Must-do trip: Kinderdijk by bike from Rotterdam

BPC – Business Pressure Cooker Program