Interview
Meet Niels from the Netherlands
Name: Niels de Groot
Home Country and City: The Netherlands, The Hague
Programme of Study: Master\'s programme in Management
Personal Interests (leisure activities): football and other sports, going out and fika.
Favourite thing about Umeå University: peaceful and professional environment
Favourite Swedish word or custom: absolut as word, fika as custom
Why did you choose to enroll in your degree programme at Umeå University?
I came here with a friend of mine. I just finished my bachelor’s degree and was orienting myself on several Master studies in the Netherlands, but also abroad. At one point, this friend asked me if I wanted to go to Sweden for a Master study. At first I thought it was a joke but when I noticed he was serious we tried everything we could to come to Umeå. The Master in Management program I’m currently studying has a good program outline and enriches the knowledge I already got. The experience of studying abroad and getting to know a lot of new people and the ability to learn Swedish were extra positive factors.
What’s it like to study at Umeå University?
Within the Master in Management are several abilities to choose your own courses and thus your desired path. Furthermore, the theory is linked to the practical experiences you need when you are finished studying. By working in several types of groups, you learn to cope with different people from different cultures. Although this also gives hard times and it’s not merely positive, moments like that will probably also appear in real life after your studies. Also, you can chose to either do two smaller thesis’s of 15 ECTS each, or one big thesis at the end of your studies of 30 ECTS. My program is organized well, this means good communication, proper lectures and plenty interaction with the teachers.
Umeå University itself has a very nice campus. The area is very relaxing with a good study atmosphere. Most buildings are opened 7 days a week and you can study till late at night. The employees at the University are usually very helpful and speak perfect English, as well as most Swedish students. This makes it very convenient to adapt to the new environment and feel at home. The buddy program is also a good initiative to immediately get to know a lot of people that you can hang out with or plan activities with every now and then.
What is your impression of Umeå and the surrounding areas?
I’m from a big city myself so Umeå feels like a sabbatical area to me. Basically everything can be done by bike and if you don’t like that you can either walk or go by bus. The city center is not that big, but big enough to get whatever you need. There are plenty pubs and clubs to go or hang out with friends and most people go for an after party, as the clubs close at two a.m. Because Umeå is not that big , all places are easily accessible and thus close to wherever you live. You don’t have the stress of public traffic in the big cities and busses will always go, no matter what type of weather it is. All in all, Umeå is a real student city with a very relaxing environment to live and study.
I personally really like winter sports and with only a couple of hours of driving, or bussing, you can reach one of the areas for either a couple of days or a longer period.
What do you find as the biggest cultural difference, both socially and educationally, from your country with Sweden?
The people here up north are very relaxed. That was for me, as Dutchmen from the city, the biggest thing I had to cope with. Furthermore, the people here are not as social as they might be elsewhere. They don’t really do small talk if they don’t know a person and everyone is minding his or her own business. The students however, are very open minded and people invite each other for gatherings and party’s a lot.
Educational wise it is not that different. The Dutch system usually has quite an amount of group work in its programs and the same happens here at University. Furthermore, the usual papers, exams, presentations etc. are part of the program. I think it gives you a good basis with relevance for future work.
What you like best about the town of Umeå and its surroundings?
As I mentioned earlier, it is very relaxing. Because it is not a big city, all you need is nearby and everything can be done by bike, bus or walking. Sporting outside is really nice in winters and although I haven’t experienced spring/summer yet, I think it will be great with the Nydala lake and all the forestry here. Also IKSU, a very big sports centre offers all types of sports that you can do from the early morning till in the late evening. There are several types of pubs and clubs where you can go out and other types of entertainment that can be done. There is no need to get bored here!
What you would say to another international student thinking of attending Umeå University?
It can get really cold in the winter, but proper clothing helps a lot. Don’t expect you will find a job here, as it is very hard because a lot of students apply. But the environment is awesome, all the other students (it’s a real student city!) and all convenient shops and activities you need are nearby. The dark winters are not that bad once you’re used to it and after the 23rd of December it keeps on getting lighter. The university offers a real student experience with plenty opportunities to get to know a lot of other people.
