Student tips

Have you ever opened your lecture notes the day after to revise, and thought: what on earth did we discuss again…? Chances are you have, because writing crappy notes is a universal student experience, especially when you have one of those super ambitious professors that you just can’t keep up with. Luckily, we have some tips and tricks that help you write good notes, even during the most challenging lectures. Let’s get into it!

Choosing a minor is not an easy task. With more than 100 minors available at the University of Twente alone, the options are numerous. Whether you want to broaden your knowledge, develop new skills, dive deeper into one specific topic, or try something completely different, there is always a minor that suits your interests and ambitions. Need some inspiration? We’ve highlighted a few for you!

Who doesn’t like movies? As a university student, much of your downtime will (probably) be spent searching, binging, and reading about movies and shows. Occasionally, you'll discover something truly relatable—something that seems to capture the very essence of your studies. Other times, you'll just roll your eyes at the wildly inaccurate stereotypes perpetuated about your future career (looking at you, Grey’s Anatomy).

Everybody’s different when it comes to studying. Each person has their own routines, habits, and preferences when they put pen to paper. Having your own study playlist can be a good way to focus, lift your spirits, and motivate you while you’re solving your academic problems. Of course, not everybody likes to listen to music while they’re studying, but if you do, then maybe take a look at some of our recommendations and add them to your playlist.

While non-fiction very obviously has its place in my library, it has always been fiction that overflows my shelves with hardcopy after hardcopy. Fiction, to me, is like a love letter to my childhood self: someone so fascinated with worlds outside of his own that he couldn’t help but keep reading.

Whether it’s on the way to your lecture, on the train or while cooking: a nice podcast makes everything better. Podcasts are not only useful as a way to pass the time, though; you can also learn a lot from them! So, are you looking for the best podcast recommendations based on your studies? Or do you want to learn something from a completely different field? Here are the best study-related podcasts!

I’ve recently come across a brutal realisation: I’ve hit that point in my reading career where I buy books for the sake of buying books (and also to decorate my shelf), and not to actually… you know, read them. I kept telling myself that, eventually, I’d get around to reading them, but alas – that time has not yet come, since I’m stuck on other books and haven’t found the time to binge through anything else. Therefore, this article, on what you guys recommended for non-fiction reading, is just as much for me as it is for you.

Unfortunately, being stressed sometimes is an inevitable part of university. Balancing a bunch of classes, a part-time job, extracurricular activities, groceries, cooking, and having a social life can be hard. It’s sometimes even harder to forego all of those things in favour of studying because your stress is eating away at you too much. Eventually, you may crash and fall, you burnout, because you cannot take it anymore. In this article, I’ll give my tips on how to avoid ending up in a situation like that.

I would never discourage you from coming to campus and studying in one of the many, comfortable study spots (wink, wink). However, I can’t deny the importance of having a good, working home office. If you think having a desk is enough, then you’re missing out on a world of opportunities (though a good desk is a huge part of a home office). Read on for my personal tips on how to upgrade your little corner for work: one that makes you look forward to studying.

Let's be honest, studying for an exam is not exactly the most exciting part of student life. Spending hours buried in your books and notes can be pretty boring, and it doesn't work for everyone. Fortunately, there are other ways to study too. Here are 8 alternative study methods that can make studying a lot more fun and effective!

Group projects: you either love them or hate them. Regardless of how you feel, though, there is no escaping them at university. If you’re lucky, you get to pick your own group members. If you’re not, you will be assigned a random group of strangers and have to trust them to do their job properly. Luckily, you don't have to leave the success of your project to fate. These tips will help you make the most out of your group project!

Being a student can be hard. For many, it’s the first time balancing responsibilities like studying, cooking, commuting, and generally trying not to drown in the rush of the world around you. It’s no wonder you sometimes may feel like a huge weight is on your shoulders. But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. First, pat yourself on the back and tell yourself that you’re doing a good job. Then read on: here are the best ways to destress and keep yourself sane during your student years.

Earlier, I wrote an article about fun winter activities near Enschede. Of course, there are plenty of great things to do in the rest of the Netherlands, too. From breathtaking light shows to adventurous theme parks, here’s part 2 of the best winter activities you don't want to miss!

The holidays are over, you're back in your student room without your family around and exam week is coming up. Add to this the dark, drizzly days and the fact that summer is still far away, and you have the perfect description of what is called the most depressing day of the year: Blue Monday. Even though this day is, obviously, a myth, you may definitely experience a January slump. These eight tips will help you make this month a little brighter!

Drinks, parties, sports, eating out with friends or housemates... As students, we’re busy enough besides studying. Unfortunately, all those activities, memberships and groceries can add up to quite a lot of money. Don't worry, with a few smart choices you can save plenty. Here are my tips!

The new year is arriving and that means: New Year’s resolutions! Need some inspiration? With these ideas for resolutions and tips on how to stick to them, you’ll become the best version of yourself in the coming year!

Lock your doors, board up your windows, and settle in, for winter is coming. While not the coldest in the northern hemisphere, Dutch winters are tough. It's not just the chill, but the long spells of single-digit temperatures, the rain and snow, and cold winds from the North Sea. And as the year ends, the lack of sunlight and vitamin D can take a toll. In this article, I’ll share tips for surviving the Dutch winter.

I don’t think anyone likes to cram for exams. It’s much nicer to spread your studying over the module and work gradually until exam week. However, cramming is also a part of being a student: everyone’s done it at least once, and if you’ve gotta do it, then you’ve gotta do it. Cramming effectively involves active recall, complete focus and, as most people say it these days: locking in. Read on for my personal tips on how to cram, straight from an expert.

Imagine: you’re a sjaars, bright and fresh and hopeful for your first time in university. November falls upon you, and you and your friends walk into the library, ready to study your hearts out… then you see all the older years, weathered and worn, yet durable, like leather. You see them working, some frustrated, others focused, but they’re still trying all the same. No one looks happy, and everyone is stressed about exams. And it is so, completely quiet. So you think to yourself: is this how exam weeks are? Well, sometimes. But you’ll get through, because in this article, I’m giving you my tips for how to best prepare for your first exam(s)!

Whether you have just met someone new or been together for a while, coming up with a fun date can sometimes be quite a challenge. Luckily, Enschede offers plenty of great spots and fun activities to surprise your date with. So, if you are lacking inspiration or looking for an original date: I've got you covered!

Summer is officially over and unfortunately, that also means the arrival of rainy, cold, and grey days. Luckily, that doesn’t mean you have to spend every single day on the couch, wrapped in a blanket. Even on rainy days, there’s plenty to do in Enschede! In this article, I’ll talk about the 16 best activities to escape the rain.

There are many useful apps that will make your student time in the Netherlands a lot easier. If you’re an international student, it’s reassuring to have something just in reach (like your phone) to make your daily life easier to navigate. Whether you’re a foodie, love to travel, or want to save money, these apps have you covered!

When you’re in university, you’ll realise that it’s mostly up to you to sort out your responsibilities: you get to decide whether you want to study or have fun (ideally, you’d combine the two, of course). Being this independent about your decisions was a bit intimidating at first – what do you mean, I don’t have a curfew? That’s why it’s a good idea to have a study group. Studying doesn’t have to be solitary or lonely, and with the right study group, you’ll find that you’re actually looking forward to those gruelling study sessions. Read on for six tips on how to find your group of study buddies!

At university, you will spend quite some time in your student room. It’s a place to relax, do your university work, and hang out with your friends, so it’s a good idea to personalise it and make it ‘you’. Decorating it and making it cosy and comfortable is one of the best ways to combat homesickness and feel at home straight away in this new place, far away from your friends and family. In this article, I’ll give you some tips on how to get started!

When you've just started living on your own, a lot comes your way. You have to do your own laundry, clean and of course: cook your own meals! The challenge is to put a tasty and healthy meal on the table with limited time and budget. But don't worry: with these tips for beginners, you will be cooking the tastiest student dishes in no time!

After a fun and exciting Kick-In, you should have ‘partied out’ everything in your system, ready for the next academic year. Starting university is a major life transition, and adopting healthy habits early on can set the foundation for success. Whether it's meal prepping, budgeting, staying active, or managing screen time, these tips are designed to help new university students maintain their well-being, balance responsibilities, and thrive both academically and personally.

University is the perfect time to pick up a new skill. For me, it was cooking – now, I’m not gonna be getting any Michelin stars any soon, but I can hold my own in the kitchen. My favourite dishes are traditional dishes from back home in Indonesia, but I had no idea where to get ingredients – at first. If you miss the taste of home, and are unsure of where to get ingredients, then you’re in luck. Enschede has some pretty nice foreign goods stores where you can get most of everything you’re craving. Read on for a compilation of my favourite international stores and restaurants in Enschede.

Aaaah, to be a first-year student again, when things were new, strange, and exciting. I remember sitting in the Horst Tower for my first university lecture ever, both strangers and friends around me, and wondering what things would look like a year later. Heck, I was probably thinking about the next week, too – after an exciting Kick-In, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. Luckily, I do now, and that’s why in this article, I’ll be giving you all the tips you need to casually slide into university life.

Even summer must end at some point. After a couple of weeks of carefree frolicking and bucket list-checking, it’s time to hang up the summer hat and replace it with a thinking cap. For some people, returning to the studying rhythm can seem daunting. However, don’t fret; I’ll help you get back into your old study habits in this article.

As a first-year student, you will encounter a lot of new terms and abbreviations: as a sjaars, you have to pass your BSA, take various modules and hopefully see at least a studententien (student-ten) on Osiris. I can hear you thinking, ‘’What is this all about‘’? No worries! In this article, I will explain the most important terms!

As much as I don’t like to think about it, the more I do, I’m realising that the new academic year is basically right around the corner (sorry, everyone). Every summer vacation feels that way to me, eventually, but that’s beside the point. For the new students, the soon-to-be ‘sjaars’, the last week of summer is exciting: if you’ve signed up for the famous University of Twente Kick-In, you’re in for a helluva week. Read on to learn how to prepare for it.

As a new student, you are about to have an amazing time: you are going to meet lots of new people, learn new things and experience student life to the fullest! I'm currently in my master's, so by now, I know my way around the University of Twente quite well. Of course, it took some time to get to this point. To give you a head start, here are 10 things you need to know before you start studying at the University of Twente!

If you’re me, and you’re going to stay in Enschede for a while during the summer, then it might be a good idea to plan some small day trips. Not to say Enschede has nothing to offer – our city is quite lovely and quaint, but sometimes you just want to get out for the sake of getting out. With the summer comes the perfect time to leave Enschede for a little while to experience some more of what the region has to offer!

Are you about to start university? Then you have a fun and quite exciting period ahead of you. Along the way, you’ll naturally learn the do's and don'ts of studying. But why not learn from other people's experiences as well? To help you get off to a good start: these are 16 things I wish I knew before I started studying!

Going to museums is usually never a boring experience. You get to look at cool things and read about their histories. However, for this list, I wanted to compile museums that are more than just your expensive paintings and lifelike statues. Everyone knows the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Anne Frank House. How about something more… quirky? In no particular order, here’s my list of niche museums you can visit during the summer.

Going to university can be a scary thing. You’re thrown into a new environment, with new people to meet and places to explore. Making friends and forging new connections is part of the university experience, but it can be difficult to know where to start, especially if it’s your first time away from home. However, there’s good news: you’re not alone! There are so many options to step out of your comfort zone and start making friends, either at your study programme or somewhere else. In this article, I’ll show some examples of how you can build your social life at uni, and sprinkle in some bits on how I managed to call the University of Twente my home.

After months of deadlines, exams, all-nighters and projects, it's finally time to enjoy your well-deserved summer vacation. Sleeping late, scrolling on your phone and doing absolutely nothing... Until after a week or two, even that starts to get a bit boring. Don't worry, with these 14 tips, you won't be bored this summer!

Summer break is the ultimate time to hang out with friends, do fun activities and go on vacation! The only problem: your bank account, which is likely already suffering from your student life expenses, is gradually getting emptier. Therefore, making some extra money during the summer vacation isn’t a bad idea. So, here are 9 creative ways to boost your bank account!

Bucket lists are fuuun – for a couple of years now, I’ve written bucket lists of things I wanted to do during the summer… and completed none of them. I mean, I do complete some of the things on the list, but by the time the next summer comes around, it really defeats the purpose of the last bucket list, if you get what I mean. This time, however, I’ll propose a ‘realistic’ bucket list – and maybe you guys can get some ideas if you’re looking for inspiration!

Developing yourself outside your studies is never a bad idea. It provides opportunities to grow, develop new skills, participate in interesting activities and meet exciting people. At the University of Twente, there are several ways to improve your skills, and if you’re looking for a challenge, then these opportunities might just be for you. With insights from Tymur and Jakub over at the UT Journeys podcast, we've compiled five unique opportunities to further develop yourself during your time as a student.

It's finally summer, which means it's time to enjoy our well-deserved vacation! For many of us, that also means leaving our student house for a while to travel. Perhaps you're heading back to your family home, going on a road trip, or even working abroad. But, before you close the door of your student room behind you, there are a few things you shouldn't forget. Don't worry, with this checklist, you can leave and return home with peace of mind!

Presenting: for some, it’s the ultimate nightmare, for others it’s no big deal. Whether it gives you immediate anxiety or you have no problem with it at all, these tips will help you take your presentation to the next level!

Summer is finally here! And that means it's time to enjoy the sun, chill with friends and explore nice spots in Enschede. From relaxed picnics in the Volkspark to swimming at Rutbeek, these are the best spots in Enschede you should definitely visit this summer!

As a student you’ll have to do a lot of learning on your own, be it because you didn’t attend a lecture, or a professor explained the concept in a way you didn’t understand. In the Netherlands, a lot of emphasis is put on self-study, meaning you’re expected to learn individually, outside of lecture hours: lectures are meant to give you a place to start, but going in-depth is your own responsibility. Luckily, our forefathers on YouTube have paved us a path and given us priceless resources to study from, and I’ve compiled some of them just for you. So if you are an engineering student: keep on reading!

Are you reading this article to learn how to never experience stress again? Then I have to disappoint you. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a stress-free life. Everyone experiences stress from time to time and that's okay. Balancing your studies, including all the exams and deadlines, a social life, sports, work and more, is challenging, and feeling stressed occasionally is completely normal. Fortunately, there are many ways to learn to deal with stress and sometimes even prevent it.

Because who needs sleep, right? We’ve all been guilty of it, and we all hate it: all-nighters generally suck. It’s during those twilight hours, midway through your study session, that you look back at your bed and think it’s the most comfortable it’s ever looked. I should say, however, that all-nighters aren’t usually good ideas – nothing beats a full 8 hours of sleep. If you don’t have any choice, well, congratulations: you’re in for a loooong night. But we’re here to help you through it!

Are you looking for a student room in the Netherlands? Then you will undoubtedly get acquainted with the somewhat peculiar phenomenon hospiteren – the process of applying for a room in a Dutch student house. If you’re new to this concept, it may be frustrating to go to several house viewings and interviews only to get the message afterwards that you didn’t make it. However, it’s possible to get that coveted room, also as an international student – and with these nine tips, you just might increase your chances!

Studying with just Google and textbooks is a thing of the past! Nowadays, countless websites make studying easier. Of course, we all know ChatGPT by now, but there is more than that. I don’t gatekeep, so here are the most useful websites that help you study smarter and faster!

As a bachelor's student, you have quite some freedom of choice during your studies. In your third year, for example, during your elective space. While it can be great to have such freedom, it can also cause some stress. Because how do you fill that elective space? Will you go in-depth on a specific subject within your study programme, or do you want to broaden your scope and take subjects from another study programme? You might prefer to do an internship and gain work experience. Or will you go abroad for six months? Choices, choices, choices. Let us help you out with an overview of all of your options!

Life has its ups and downs, and it’s no different at university. It’s turbulent at times: exams eat you up, and then suddenly you’re free - unless you failed an exam and need to study for the resit. We’ve all failed before, from exams to personal goals and more. And while it does hurt, you’re not alone: Let me help you out with some tips to get through failure.

Whether you’re going to discuss your salary, close a deal with a client as an entrepreneur or simply want to bargain while on holiday: negotiation is a valuable skill. Why not work on it during your time as a student? In this article, student negotiator Richard will tell us all about why and how you can level up your negotiation skills before starting your professional career.

Almost every building at the University of Twente has a restaurant, each with its own charm and specialities. But how do you choose a nice spot, with so much to choose from? To save you the stress of deciding where to eat next lunch break, we've tested all the restaurants on campus for you!

In Enschede, you'll find plenty of cosy lunchrooms where you can enjoy a delicious lunch. As students, our budget may not be infinite, but thankfully, going out for lunch does not have to be that expensive. Here are the best places in Enschede where you can enjoy a delicious lunch for under €10.

Will you be moving into a student room soon? Then you are entering a fun and exciting period! Furnishing your own room is a fun experience, but it also requires some preparation. The challenge is to avoid taking too many things that will only end up cluttering your room. What do you take with you and what do you leave behind? Let’s find out!

Enschede, being a student city, has some very comfortable study spots. If you live on campus, then you’re lucky: most of the popular ones are minutes away. Those who live in the city must cycle a little more, but there are some absolute treasures around you. These study spots, carefully curated for both focus and inspiration, have served as my silent companions throughout countless nights of studying. Or… perhaps not during the night, as they do close at or before 10.

Moving out is a big and exciting step. Therefore, furnishing your own place requires quite a bit of preparation. But don't worry: with this checklist at hand, you won't overlook anything!

During your time as a student at the University of Twente, you may come across some funny-looking photos of very serious people posing in suits. That, dear reader, is probably a picture of the board of a study association – pretty much the faces of that study programme.

Preparing for university is… an experience. It’s stressful enough back home – going overseas is an entirely different beast. Getting the confirmation letter was one thing, but actually preparing for life in the Netherlands? I didn’t know where to start. Luckily, looking back, it wasn’t that bad of an ordeal, considering the huge step you’re taking in your life. There are mountains of resources you can use to help you navigate this new chapter in your journey, and now you’ll be able to add this guide to the top – I’ve been there, I’ve done that.

A classic among us students is, of course, pasta pesto. This pasta is easy, quick, cheap and delicious. Plenty of reasons why it is served in most student houses at least once a week. But how do you take this student meal to the next level? With these tips, you will transform a simple pasta pesto into a culinary masterpiece.

As a student, you will be all too familiar with the eternal struggle between making the most out of your student life and not draining your bank account too much. Luckily, there's a solution: your student ID card. This turns out to be good not only as proof of identity during exams, but also as a means to benefit from extra discounts. So, where can you get the best student deals in Enschede? Here are my recommendations!

The Netherlands, renowned for its excellent education system and vibrant student life, is currently facing a housing crisis that affects both local and international students. Finding suitable accommodation has become a significant concern, but with careful planning and resourcefulness, students can successfully secure housing.

The university open day is an important event. I have visited quite a few myself, so I know how intense such a day can be. Good preparation is crucial to get the most out of your visit. In this article, you will find the tips and tricks to make your open day a success!

Student life isn't always sunshine and rainbows. Let's face it - especially regarding finances, there's often room for improvement... In this article, you'll find eight money-saving tips for students, so you won’t have to survive on instant noodles for the rest of the month (yes, we've been there).

When you start studying, you’ll face an important decision: will you move into a room in a student house, or do you prefer to live on your own in a studio or apartment? Each option has its pros and cons. Based on my own experiences, I will list the differences for you in this article!

We all know that good food and a student budget are sometimes difficult to combine. Pasta pesto and frozen pizzas will get you through the month, but sometimes you just feel like eating out without having to fully empty your bank account. Luckily, Enschede offers plenty of tasty, budget-friendly dining options. In this article, you can read my personal favourites, where you can score a tasty meal for under €15!