But what is a study association?
Let’s backtrack a bit: a study association is different from a student association. Study associations belong to study programmes. To give a general overview, a study association organises fun events, such as lunch lectures and study trips for a programme. On the other hand, student associations are not associated with any particular study programmes but offer a specific range of activities. These can include cultural, sports, international, and social associations, and more niche things like debate and investment clubs. The full list of study and student associations can be found on the Student Union website.
How is joining a study association useful?
Study associations are always useful! For example, my study association for Mechanical Engineering, W.S.G. Isaac Newton, arranges weekly lunch lectures where different companies present themselves. This can give cool insights into what you’ll get to do once you’ve graduated and are working. In addition, Newton (as most students call it) offers various programme-specific benefits for their members, such as discounts on textbooks, access to old exams and lecture notes, and study nights before tests. I cannot stress enough how important those old exams are, as some professors will only give sample exams instead of an actual, tested exam.
To top it off, study associations usually have their own, dedicated room, so it’s nice to pop in between classes for a cup of coffee or tea. Newton sells some really cheap snacks (mainly cookies and stroopwafels, a Dutch delicacy), and it’s great to have a dirt-cheap snack machine on demand. However, I personally think that the room for the Honours Association, H.V. Ockham, has the best coffee machine on campus, and nothing even comes close quality-wise.
I find that study associations always increase my motivation to do better. Seeing all my friends strive for improvement and seeing other people in my programme bonding over this shared experience is eye-opening. You’re never alone in a study association – the walls of their rooms are decorated with dozens of pictures of hundreds of students who have gone through the same thing and thrived.
Do I have to attend all the events?
Of course not! You can choose which events to go to, and which to skip. For Newton, lunch lectures happen weekly, so you don’t have to join each one. You always get a nice Subway sandwich and a soda if you do, though, so they’re always worth signing up for. If you’re into partying, there’s always some party or other fun event going on in your study association – some are free, some you must pay for. For most events, study associations make the price of admission cheap: you don’t need to spend a lot to have fun bowling or dancing.
Near the end of the year, study associations usually organise a major event for the study. This could be anything from a prom to an excursion to another country to a visit to a famous company. If you’re interested in that, I hear that the trips are always very fun.
What other associations are there?
The University of Twente is home to over 100 associations. It’d be a waste not to try some of them out and see if they’re a fit for you. Regardless, I’ll still recommend that every student gets a Union Card, the university’s multi-purpose card. With the Union Card, you’ll be able to swim in Enschede for free, use the music studios in the Bastille, and most importantly, join all the student associations with a small association fee, depending on what you’re registering for. The Union Card also allows you to buy the university’s gym membership – it's a small gym, but most of the facilities are there, and it’s centrally located relative to university housing and classes. You don’t need a Union Card to join a study association such as Newton or Ockham, but they’re always handy to have in case you ever get the spontaneous urge to join the breakdancing association, for example.
Conclusion
It’s important to stay active, both physically and mentally, as university does get overwhelming at times. Having people to fall back on, such as an association and its activities, can be a massive help. Our guide on how to stay active as an international student may be worth looking into. Finally, always remember: as a student, you’ll most likely be struggling in some way or another. Finding the right people to struggle with, and then struggling together – that's what makes it all so rewarding, and so motivating at the same time.
