hey guys, i'm starting an LL.M. in EU law in feb. 2009- is there any other soul out there reading this with the same plans?? it'd be good to have a chat if so..

practical questions first and foremost, i'm looking for accommodation and from what i hear, the housing situation is close to tragic, with v. minimal options on offer. does anyone have any accommodation for renting/ know any tips about finding accommodation??

i'd be v. grateful for any useful info anyone might have to offer on this.

thanks!

btw, i did mean that i'm starting an LL.M. in EU law in feb. 2009, at Utrecht uni.....!

Your right the housing situation is quite a struggle as so many people need accomodation!
I studied for a year in utrecht back in 2006-2007 and I joined the SSH housing agency who placed me in very good quality accomodation along with LLM students.
Maybe have a look on their site and contact them?

hey pippy- thanks for the reply!

indeed, I have signed up with SSH, however up to now we seem to be encountering some "technical problems" (the data i inserted re registration period, trying to change the data and not being able to up to now, etc...) the point is that up to now i haven't had the chance to get through on their database to look for accommodation..i'm hoping to resolve this by tomorrow..

any tips as to areas where i should be looking to stay/ avoid staying??

how was the course altogether? strong/ weak points?

did u find it worthwhile?

how was ur time in utrecht?

i'm all questions, pls bear with me!

Hey
Ask me anything you like about being in utrecht!
As I said, I spent my second year of my LLB course there and took masters modules as I was allowed, I loved my time there.
Regarding the accommodation its difficult to say about areas to avoid as you dont really get a choice, your allocated and then thats that. From what I saw from all the old and new accom its all coming to a pretty decent standard if not better.
I was placed in Cambridgelaan in De Uithof which is the "new" university center, although most law modules teach in the old sector called janskerkhof about a 20min bike ride away.
Although my place looked very 60's from the outside inside the standard was amazing and the rooms are all a briliant size.
You get a free reign pretty much with decorating and the new buildings are beautiful.
Dont worry though, as long as your with SSH they should get you somewhere.
The teaching I found was world class, the teaching staff are all very knowledgeble about their special subjects and alot of the teaching also comes from experts.
Some advice, when you get there get a bike, secondly join URIOS!!

hey pippy- season's greetings!

i have one more question: after finally resolving the "technical problems", the accommodation choices i have are the following: one in zeist- at warande and another in utrecht, in kanaalstraat..which one would u recommend? is living outside the city a big handicap? how r the connections (frequency, price, safety) from/ to utrecht- zeist?

i'm a bit apprehensive about living outside the city, but then again the distance seems negligible. what do you think?

the accommodation itself looks pretty descent also..

i'd v. much appreciate your feedback on this!

many thanks,

lilittoo

Happy New Year!!

Well I had a lot of friends who lived in kanaalstraat and the location is almost perfect.
Its based in the turkish quarter and the food shops there are fantastic due to the culture mix. Most of my socialising was done down in kanaalstraat haha.
Regarding Zeist I wouldnt recommend as it seems quite a way out but with a bike I dont see that it would cause too much of a problem although I have no idea about the standards in the accomodation.
Travel is cheap, obviously on a bike!Bus travel is the second best option as you buy strippenkaarts which work through zones and this works very well, on the few times I took a taxi it seemed quite reasonable and with a student korting card the train is brilliant as you get 45% off travel in all of Holland and it costs 50euro for a year.
One thing I will say about kanaalstraat is that a few rooms are shared, alot of them where large room with a smaller room inside if it makes sense, therefore housing two people so you had your own privacy.
Probably enquire about this!!
Hope this helps.

hey pippy! once again, many thanks for ur v. useful tips and guidance..i relied on ur advice and did go for a room in kanaalstraat, i do hope that i'll be able to appreciate all the good things u did about the area!

what i am not v. clear about, is the distance between kanaalstraat and the centre of utrecht where the law faculty is based at; is it far, are there convinient transportation routes?

one more thing: i'm starting the LL.M. now, i.e. in feb. is it more "difficult" for us who are starting in feb.- as opposed to sept.- to deal with the demands of the course (I understand that the thesis must be submitted whilst the courses are still going on)? do u happen to have any idea of what ur fellow classmates who started in feb. thought about starting the course at this point of the academic year?

i'll be in utrecht in a week's time, i can't wait!

How exciting!!
Dont worry kanaalstraat is about a 15minute walk into the city center or a 5-10 minute bike ride depending on the traffic!
The bus also runs through every 20mins I think so invest in a strippenkaart for use on the bus, the best stop for the law faculty is janskerkhof.
Im so very jealous!My friends who started in February had just as much fun as everyone else as the academic year ends in the middle of summer so you will get the best of the weather.
Make sure you purchase a second hand bike, your meetings when you arrive will help you with this information.
I hope you have a brilliant time, I am visitin Utrecht again in April to visit my old friends I usually go back twice a year so I hope you will enjoy it as much as I will!

Hi! I was reading this posts and maybe you (or anyone else who has studied in Utrecht) could help me by answering a simple question: I have applied for the LLM in Law and Economics for 2009/2010 and I would like to know how many hours of classes per week does a normal LLM taught in Utrecht? I was told by some Dutch friends that I wouldn ´t have to go to the university more than 1 or 2 a week...this question is important because, if this is true, when I receive my application response, I can look for accomodation near my friends and not in Utrecht.
Thanks!
Marie

Your right the housing situation is quite a struggle as so many people need accomodation!
I studied for a year in utrecht back in 2006-2007 and I joined the SSH housing agency who placed me in very good quality accomodation along with LLM students.
Maybe have a look on their site and contact them?

hi marie!

i am here now and can tell u about the LLM in EU law. Indeed, i only to be be at the uni. only twice a week, as for each "period" (a semester is made up of 2 periods and lasts for 6 months, during which you'll be doing 4 subjects, 2 per period) you'll have two lessons. however, some lessons, apart from the normal lectures/ seminars, there are working groups for which you'll have to go into the university also.

if the reason u want to leave close to ur friends is not economical, then i would suggest that u stay in utrecht, where the other students are, so that u would be able to integrate fully in student life.

having said this, i know a number of people who don't live in utrecht, for example they live in the hague, and are able to balance their "two lives" (in utrecht and away), just as well!

it's up to u :)

Thanks.
It would be more economical to live in Utrecht, because of the trips by train. But I feel that I would have more support if I lived nearer my boyfriend, and his family and friends.

And may I ask what do you think about the quality of the University so far? And how about the cost of living? Do you think it is possible to have a small part-time job while doing a LLM there ?

Thanks!

And what do you think about the university ? do you think it is very demanding?

hi marie!

i am here now and can tell u about the LLM in EU law. Indeed, i only to be be at the uni. only twice a week, as for each "period" (a semester is made up of 2 periods and lasts for 6 months, during which you'll be doing 4 subjects, 2 per period) you'll have two lessons. however, some lessons, apart from the normal lectures/ seminars, there are working groups for which you'll have to go into the university also.

if the reason u want to leave close to ur friends is not economical, then i would suggest that u stay in utrecht, where the other students are, so that u would be able to integrate fully in student life.

having said this, i know a number of people who don't live in utrecht, for example they live in the hague, and are able to balance their "two lives" (in utrecht and away), just as well!

it's up to u :)

Congrats to ur new life in Utrecht. Did you get a scholarship there? I applied for a scholarship there for the Sept classes, hopefully I will get accepted. Is it difficult to get a scholarship. I am from the Philippines. I applied for an OXFAM scholarship. I believe the specialization is on Human Rights. By the way, did you take Toefl? What is your score? Thanks