Reviews of Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) | Netherlands

Useful | 2

Johannes T

Universität St. Gallen, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland
Management Science, Graduate, CEMS

Overall

I wish I had known...

one needs to spend time on finding a good room and it is worth it!

In my opinion:

Most people loved it.

Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important

Academic reasons

4

Culture

3

Costs

3

Activities

1

Campus life

1

Party / people

1

Weather / location

3

Personal recommendation

Get ready for a hard-core theory semester with many research papers to read! If you like it more general and applied (practical) then choose antoher university (e.g. St. Gallen, ESADE or HEC). The CEMS programme is tough there and involves exposure to quite a high stress level for most of the semester.

During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot

Became familiar with another culture

4

Traveled

1

Improved language skills

2

Met people from other countries

4

Became more independent

3

Partied a lot

3

Experienced a change in life

3

Advanced my studies & career

4

Final comments

The Dutch students are very nice and open for friendships. It is very easy to find new friends! Unfortunately my programme was so tough that I did not really have much time for social life and traveling.

Useful | 0

Johannes T

Universität St. Gallen, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland
Management Science, Graduate, CEMS

Academic

Course recommendations

CEMS core course (International Management & Organisation) very good! Innovation in Services, not too good and grading not transparent (yet rather easy grading). The latter course is very time intensive and one is - as a CEMS student with the business project besides this course - so busy with all the time intensive mandatory assignments (that do not count towards the final grade!) that the papers (idividual literature review and group paper) have to be done in the very stressful end of the semester.

My academic experiences

Quality of courses

Variety of courses

Access to resources

Interaction with teachers

Interaction with international students

Interaction with local students

Personal comments

a trifle too work-intensive! Studying abroad is also about networking, experiencing the country & culture and making friends, not just hard work!

My opinion of the university assessment

Exams at end of course

Exams throughout the course

Essays and/or projects at the end of course

Essays and/or projects throughout the course

Overall

Useful | 0

Johannes T

Universität St. Gallen, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland
Management Science, Graduate, CEMS

Languages

Language of instruction: English

Local language was: Different than language of instruction

Was learning English a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my English

Was learning the local language a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my the local language

How much did you improve your English?

My level before: No problems in any areas (including slang)
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)

How much did you improve your the local language?

My level before: Did not speak it
My level after: Did not speak it

Language difficulties

Social

Educational

Administrative / Institutional

Overall

Personal comments

Everything in English and therefore no problems experienced; however, in the Netherlands - as a former collonial power and international country - one does not find anything written in another language than Dutch (no websites, no nothing); for people wih good English and or German language skills it is no problem because one can guess what it means (Dutch is very close to both German and English).

Useful | 0

Johannes T

Universität St. Gallen, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland
Management Science, Graduate, CEMS

Expenses

Main source of funding:

Family

Other sources of funding:

Personal savings

Work opportunities:

I didn't explore any work options

Personal spending habits

Telephone, Housing:

was more expensive than at home.

Travel, Overall:

was the same price as at home.

Nightlife, Food:

was less expensive than at home.

Accessibility of student needs

Second-hand text books

Second-hand household items

Computers / Internet

Administrative

Money from home

Personal comments

public transport and housing are very expensive; food is cheap compared to Switzerland --> spend time on finding a good housing opportunity for a decent price.

Useful | 1

Johannes T

Universität St. Gallen, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland
Management Science, Graduate, CEMS

Housing

Type of housing: provided by Stadswonen/Short Stay

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: not through Stadswonen

Why?

Stadswonen asks a very high price (ca. EUR 100/month more than private offers), is not very helpful and has a doubtful reputation! --> The RSM has in the mean time stopped any cooperation with them

Personal assessment

Cost

Facilities

Location

Cleanliness

Space

Personal comments

Stadswonen provided me first housing in the African Inn, which is located in the rather dangerous south part of Rotterdam. Then I was able to move to the Erasmus Lodge near the university; it is quite nice there but badly overpriced (EUR 580/month and I had to share kitchen and bathroom/toilett with fellow students; it should have been two other students but one room was inhabitated by an Indian and his - obviously permanently staying - 3-4 visitors;-). One gets an electronic key card (and no spare key or spare key card!) and it can easily happen that one locks oneself out (e.g. by forgetting the key inside the room and going out of the house). During the week and office hours it is no problem to get the janitor but if it is Friday night after having been out - get ready for a weekend in the hotel (I can recommend the Golden Tulip near the Erasmus Bridge, ca. EUR 80-90 per night). The janitor is not helpful at all (even though he lives in Rotterdam near by), the plumber service costs EUR 180 and if the electronic lock has to be replaced costs skyrocket (> EUR 500). Take your time to find a private offer or ask students from the RSM (e.g. people from the your master programme club) as they are a very open-minded, nice and helpful lot! You can find a neat housing opportunity for EUR 400-450 in Rotterdam.

Useful | 0