TIP Booklet 2011 Online version

Where innovation starts

1

Back to contents

Letter of welcome from the Rector Magnificus 3

How to navigate through the booklet 4

Introduction Program 5

1. The Netherlands I. Culture and people

II. Dutch eating habits III. Eindhoven IV. Weather in the Netherlands

8 10 12 13 15

2. Student Life I. Study associations

II. Departments’ ‘Borrels’ III. Studium Generale IV. Students Sports Center & Student sports clubs V. Culture & other student organizations

VI. Night life!!!

16 18 19 20 21 22 25

3. Food I. On TU/e Campus

II. Grocery shopping; supermarkets III. Grocery shopping; open markets & special shops IV. Recipe corner; something fast & EASY

26 28 30 31 32

4. Accommodation I. Student Housing

II. What can I expect in my room? And how to buy stuff I don’t have? III. How can I find a room if I did not apply for housing through the TU/e?

34 36 37 38

5. Transportation I. Bikes and how to get one

II. Dutch traffic rules and signs III. Public transportation

39 41 43 44

6. When you arrive I. Insurance and bank

II. Getting mobile; Dutch phone number III. Working possibilities IV. IB-groep and other grants

47 49 50 51 52

Contents

2

Back to contents

7. Campus I. Campus

II. Education and Student Service-Center (STU) III. Library & ICTheek IV. Online Active Study Environment

53 55 57 59 60

8. Common Room I. What is Common Room? A piece of history

II. Who are the volunteers? III. Events IV. How can I contribute?

61 63 64 65 65

9. Contacts 66

Contents

3

Back to contents

Dear student, It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to our university as a Master’s student. Your decision to choose Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) to pursue knowledge and scientific research is a vital one. And even more important, the place where you will study will be a life-changing decision. So choosing a top university like TU/e situated at the dynamic heart of Brainport Eindhoven, the world’s most intelligent community, is a choice for challenge and opportunity. This is an exciting time for you! You have probably already started with your preparations to come to Eindhoven where you will begin your life as a student at TU/e. I wish you well in your studies at our university and I trust that you will have a wonderful time as a student. TU/e offers many facilities to help you with that, such as student and study associations and cultural activities. The TU/e also has the most extensive student sports facilities in the Netherlands. For an annual contribution of € 77 you can join in over one hundred different sports activities. At TU/e we are working hard on all the preparations to welcome you and to make your stay as pleasant and successful as possible. In a few weeks’ time you will arrive and hopefully participate in the TU/e Introduction Program (TIP), from Monday 15 August through Friday 26 August. The TIP gives you a chance to meet your fellow students, to get to know Eindhoven, the university, your department, and it also gives you the opportunity to learn more about TU/e teaching methods and to arrange all practicalities for your stay and study at TU/e. In previous years we have received very positive feedback from the students who participated in this event, which proves that TIP helps you to settle in. We have prepared this TIP booklet for you in order to give you practical information about life as a TU/e student in Eindhoven and about the activities of the TU/e Introduction Program. If you need further information, the staff at the Education and Student Service Center (STU) is happy to help you on io@tue.nl or by phone on +31.40.247.4747. Good luck with your preparations and we are looking forward to meeting you during the TU/e Introduction Program!

Prof.dr.ir. C.J. van Duijn,

Rector Magnificus TU/e

Letter of Welcome from the Rector Magnificus

4

Back to contents

How is this booklet constructed?

This booklet was written by three TU/e students, however many more international students advised us how they think the booklet should be structured, what information it should contain and so on. We are very grateful for Maria, Chao, Sissy, Julia, Roberto and Emily and we hope that this will be big help for you to get around easier during the first few days/weeks in Eindhoven. How to navigate? This booklet is divided into main chapters. Each chapter has several subtitles. Sometimes you will also be able to find textboxes; these are important aspects you should pay attention to. This booklet is interactive. Throughout the whole booklet we included hyperlinks to helpful websites or information sources. External links can be recognized easily, because they are red in comparison to the main text which is in blue. This means, that you can click on extern links to get to websites and click on intern links (for example contents) to get to different chapters. This makes reading and searching a lot easier. If you have any comments on the booklet, you can contact one of the writers: Indre Kalinauskaite i.kalinauskaite@student.tue.nl Tommy Barten t.barten@student.tue.nl Ruben Peeters r.h.j.peeters@student.tue.nl

How to navigate through the booklet

5

Back to contents

The TU/e Introduction Program (TIP) for international degree students is divided into two weeks. These two weeks will have a different character and purpose. The first week will be mainly about practicalities and the start of the faculty programs. You will also get to know your fellow international students and the buddy that will guide you through the second week. This second week is more about having fun and will therefore partly overlap with the general introduction week of the TU/e. In this week the faculty programs will be completed as well as the workshop from STU about Dutch culture, corporations and other topics. Below you can find a short description of the most important elements of the introduction program. A complete schedule with timetables will be handed to you at the beginning of the introduction program. For all the activities in the introduction program it is very important that you are not late. Because of the large amount of new international students and the busy program it is very inconvenient when people show up late. For most parts of the program, especially the first week, it’s good to bring a pencil and something to take notes on. Welcome speeches and introduction to the TIP program You will be welcomed by some important staff members of the TU/e and receive a detailed schedule of the TIP program. You will obviously also get to know your fellow students and will be divided into groups. Distribution of TU/e Notebooks Students, who have ordered the TU/e notebook before arrival, will be able to pick it up during the first week of TIP. They will sign the contracts and get their laptops with backpacks. Students who have not yet ordered a notebook can still arrange this on arrival. Please note that it will take 1 or 2 months before you will receive your notebook. Enrollment You will be enrolled in your study program and will apply for the student card. You need to bring some important documents with you. These important documents are listed below.

· A passport photo. This photo must have a light-colored background, be taken square on (not from an angle) and showing mostly the head and only a small amount of upper body.

· 1 copy of your passport and the original passport · The original of your bachelor’s and master’s (if applicable) diploma · Your final academic transcript(s) and an English translation of the transcript.

Visit to National Health Center This visit is only for the students who need a residence permit (non-EER students). For the application of your residence permit you need to take a tuberculosis test. This test is a picture of your lungs and takes about 5 minutes. It is free of charge, but mandatory. You do not need to take this test if you are from one of the following countries: Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Surinam, Switzerland, United States of America, and EU/EEA countries.

Introduction Program

6

Back to contents

The address is: GGD Stadhuisplein 2 5611 EM Eindhoven

Registration at Municipality of Eindhoven During your studies you will be living in Eindhoven and therefore have to register here as a citizen. So, registration is the aim of the visit of Eindhoven Municipality. You have to bring a number of specific documents for this procedure,which will be specified later. After a few weeks you will receive a letter from the municipality which includes your city pass. It is crucial that you do not lose this letter or the city pass. The address is: Stadskantoor Stadhuisplein 10 5611 EM Eindhoven More information will follow after arrival in Eindhoven. Dutch Language Introduction Course This half day workshop will introduce you to the Dutch language. In a fun way you will get to know some basic expressions in Dutch. You will learn how to greet people in Dutch and some words/phrases you might need to survive the first weeks in the Netherlands. In this introduction course you can decide to take a more extensive Dutch language course that will enable you to really communicate in Dutch. Department Program during the TIP The Department programs during the TIP vary depending on the department. Some departments use it as an introduction to the department itself, show students the research fields and work which is done within the department and introduce them to some professors and other staff members. Other departments involve students in projects, give them the opportunity to get acquainted with the Dutch working culture, or help them to improve their social skills. STU Workshops You will have 3 lectures or workshops with trainers from STU. You will get to know a lot of interesting things about the Netherlands and the people living there. You will get advice on how to cope with such things as homesickness or cultural shock. You will also learn how to work together and what skills are valued in Holland (such as assertiveness and giving and receiving feedback). As you are going to face a very busy schedule in the coming two years, and from the experience of previous students, we know that time management and planning are very important. We will provide you with tips and tricks on how to do this in an effective way. Some departments will organize project work. In that case the workshops will be connected to the projects.

7

Back to contents

Sports Fair TU/e is proud of its sport facilities. You can participate in over forty different sports at the university sports center. You can train in a group or in classes under the guidance of a trainer, or workout on your own. The sports accommodation consists of three sports halls, a gymnasium, a judo hall, a table tennis hall, two squash courts, a fitness center, eleven outdoor tennis courts, three soccer pitches, a baseball field, a lighted training field, a boat house, a rugby pitch, an artificial climbing wall, a surf board shed and a small sauna and indoor swimming pool. During the sports fair you will be introduced to everything the sports centre has to offer. Visiting Bunker The Bunker can be found to the west side of the university campus. It is a place where lots of students’ organizations are located. There is a variety of activities going on all year around. You can find more information about these students’ organizations in this TIP booklet. During this visit you will get to know the various ways to spend your study free time. The Bunker also houses the Common Room, a place to meet other international students. Moreover the Common can be found in this booklet so check it out. Cantus This is the very traditional closing of the second week of TIP. It is not obligatory, although most of the students would say: DON’T MISS IT. Hopefully the day is nice and warm. Lots of students gathering together! Playing games with water and not only water and having loads of fun! Practical advice: Do not wear your best clothes!

8

Back to contents

Culture and People

Dutch eating habits

Eindhoven

Weather in the Netherlands

The Netherlands

9

Back to contents

Preface

In this Chapter you will get to know a little bit about Dutch culture and people who live in the Netherlands. We will introduce you to Dutch weather and how the rain works here. You will also find a little intro to Dutch eating habits and finally some insight about the city which will be your home for the coming two years - Eindhoven

Back to Netherlands

10

Back to contents

Historically, Holland has always been an outward looking nation. Its coastal geography and advanced skills in wooden ship building ensured that Dutch navigators featured strongly in international exploration, colonization and trade. This gave the country a leading role in international affairs disproportionate to its size. The people also developed a taste for the exotic and a willingness to accept aspects of foreign culture while maintaining their own unique identity. The Dutch love to eat out and they enjoy visiting bars and cafes. They are keen on sport and fitness, music, social clubs and organized events. The Dutch have sense of humor that is not very subtle and includes large quantities of slapstick and gloating. Most Dutch people speak English and can have proper conversations in English. In fact, especially the younger people, will prefer a good conversation in English to a stiff one in Dutch. However, it is appreciated when long-stay foreigners try to speak Dutch. You could be struck by the abrupt and direct nature of the Dutch which is sometimes incorrectly interpreted as rudeness. In fact, the Dutch have a highly ritualized system of social etiquette which takes time and effort to learn. Dutch people routinely wish each other a pleasant day, afternoon, evening, weekend. These greetings carry a lot more sincerity than the American ‘have a nice day’. Making friends Many internationals find it hard to start making friends in a new country. On the other hand, it is not that difficult to get to know the Dutch and find some new friends. The Dutch are very open-minded people, especially in the south of the Netherlands! Join a community, group or club, such as your favorite sports club, a gaming club or a card club. Show interest in the country when you are talking to a Dutchman. Many neighborhoods have community centers where a lot of activities are organized for the neighborhood’s residents. Do not only associate with other international students during meetings, but also try to get in touch with the Dutch actively. Learn a little bit of Dutch, this will help you a lot in finding new Dutch contacts.

Culture and people

Back to Netherlands

11

Back to contents

Some tips

· The Dutch avoid superlatives. Compliments are offered sparingly, and to say that something is ‘not bad’ is to praise it. You do not need to worry too much about expressing your opinion or feeling. The Dutch might argue with you, but seldom take offence.

· The Dutch speak directly and use a lot of eye contact. To you this might appear abrupt, but it is just their manner of communicating.

· Smoking is prohibited in many areas. Always ask before lighting up. · Do not discuss money or prices or ask personal questions when you hardly know someone. · The Dutch highly appreciate it that people arrive in time and it is even common to arrive a few

minutes earlier. So always be on time! Also during the TIP program.

Back to Netherlands

12

Back to contents

Although food from all over the world is available in restaurants and supermarkets, traditional Dutch cooking shows no sign of dying out. Its origins lie in Holland’s agricultural past and it features local produce such as bread, potatoes, root vegetables, greens, pork and beef products plus a variety of dairy produce including the famous Dutch cheese in many variations. An example of a traditional Dutch main meal is called “Stamppot” and includes mashed potatoes mixed with vegetables. It´s usually accompanied by some kind of meat (mostly pork sausage or bacon cubes) and rich gravy. Meat balls are also popular served with gravy and potatoes. Lamb and mutton are rarely eaten by the Dutch and are therefore not as easy to find. Chicken, pork, beef and vegetarian meat substitutes however, are widely available. Some of the more unusual vegetables eaten by the Dutch are sauerkraut, chicory and kale. The most peculiar Dutch specialty probably is raw herring (fish) with unions. Thick soups form another popular meal, the most famous being “Erwtensoep”, a substantial pea and ham soup containing the ubiquitous smoked sausage. Erwtensoep is mostly eaten in the winter period. Another is Brown Bean soup (“bruinebonensoep”) with brown beans replacing the peas. The majority of the Dutch (including Dutch students) don’t strictly stick to the traditional Dutch cuisine. On the contrary! Instead they prefer to choose foreign cuisine, which mostly includes pasta cooked in lots of different ways, rice, salad, yoghurt, sandwiches and breakfast cereal. Students prefer food that is easy to cook and does not take too much of their time. Because price is an important factor too, with their low budget, students often go for simple meals. Holland has a colonial past and the Dutch have acquired a taste for the exotic, like Indonesian dishes. A wide variety of exotic ingredients are available in supermarkets and some have found their way into mainstream cooking. Dutch people usually eat at least three times a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. You will notice that there is a lot of bread in the Dutch daily menu. Sandwiches are very popular here for breakfast and lunch, although warm dishes are also available on campus during the day. It’s up to you to decide whether you want to bring your own food to the campus or to eat “Dutch-style” at one of the many eateries/canteens on campus. All in all the Netherlands has a long history of international relations and this is reflected not only in the way Dutch people communicate with other nations, but also, how they accept the variety of cuisines. So, you can be sure you will find almost everything you need to satisfy your cooking needs in grocery shops or open markets. More details about the shops and markets in Eindhoven can be found in the Food chapter. For this and more information see nlplanet.com.

Back to Netherlands

Dutch eating habits

13

Back to contents

Eindhoven received its city privileges in 1232, though you will hardly find anything reminding you of those times in the city. Today Eindhoven is the 5th largest city in the Netherlands and is called the center of technology, innovation and design. This status is for a large part due to establishment of Philips in Eindhoven in the 1890s. Since then the city quickly expanded and the region became of great interest for other technological companies. Eindhoven has a population of slightly over 200,000 inhabitants, of which almost 13.000 are students from Eindhoven University of Technology and Fontys university of applied sciences. Eindhoven covers an area of 88 square kilometers. Eindhoven has a small airport that is mainly used by the charter companies such as Ryanair and Wizzair. These companies offer cheap tickets to all the major cities in Europe. Eindhoven Airport therefore is an excellent way to explore the rest of Europe during your stay in the Netherlands. When looking for the best prices, bear in mind that you´ll always have to pay taxes on top of the ticket price. There are a number of things what you, as a student can do in this city. Since it has a university and several other higher education institutions, lots of activities and bars are oriented towards students. Most bars are located at Stratumseind, the largest bar filled street in the Netherlands. On the peak nights, Thursday through Saturday, you can meet approximately 20,000 people in that street. For larger concerts and music events Eindhoven has the Frits Philips Music hall, Beursgebouw and the Effenaar. More information about Eindhoven and students’night life can be found in the next chapter, page 25 There are also plenty of other choices if you want to go out in Eindhoven. Whether you want to blow off some steam in the dancing scene, go on a daily trip or visit a festival, exhibition or concert, in Eindhoven all tastes are catered for. For more information about events in Eindhoven Region please look at the event calendar of Eindhoven. In addition check this website, you will find a map here, which can guide you through the most interesting places in Eindhoven, show you most popular places to eat, spots which you have to visit, etc. Annual Events in Eindhoven you can’t miss! Eindhoven has a few annual events that are definitely worth checking out. Below the most important are listed with a short explanation. 18 September – The Lichtjesroute: The Lichtjesroute is an event held every autumn. It starts on 18th of September, the day Eindhoven was liberated from Germany during the Second World War, and lasts for about 2/3 weeks. The Lichtjesroute starts with a big parade and commemoration of the 1944 events in Eindhoven. Along a 15 kilometer cycling path all kinds of statues are made with lights. Sometimes students gather in groups, take some coffee, tea, cookies or other treats and cycle the route together, try it! GLOW international Forum of Light in Art and Architecture: Eindhoven "The City of Light" is the perfect setting for the GLOW light festival. The industrial city has a good reputation in the areas light, art, design and technology. In GLOW all these aspects come together in surprising light creations. Visitors have free access to the event. They can follow a route through the

Back to Netherlands

Eindhoven

14

Back to contents

inner city, where about twenty light designers and light artists have illuminated typical spaces and buildings in a fascinating way. Participants are selected by the organization based on their artistic originality and innovative use of lighting technologies, which include computers, sensors, animation and projection. GLOW is a platform for creative talent that uses light in all its applications as a tool to let the local architecture come to life. For more information visit the website of GLOW. Marathon: The Eindhoven marathon takes place around the first week of October. It is known to be amongst the fastest and most enjoyable marathons in the world. The event has about 17,000 participants and is attended by 160,000 spectators. Around the course, there are lots of concerts and entertainment. Christmas period and New Year celebration: The city of lights looks just wonderful during the Christmas period. Most of the city is decorated with lights and other Christmas decorations. In the city center, Market Square, you will find the open air ice-skating arena and lots of people enjoying it or resting while drinking a cup of hot chocolate. For the New Year celebrations you also have a lot of choices. First of all, most of the bars and cafes are open and usually have special parties. Most of the times you choose the place where you want to go and, after paying an entrance fee, enjoy New Year’s Eve. Sometimes you can attend a private student party, which is also a good way to meet New Year. Carnival: Carnival is a huge and colorful celebration in the southern regions of the Netherlands. Eindhoven can be proud of its parades and events in the city during this four day event. Officially Carnival is held from Sunday until Ash Wednesday, 40 days before Easter, but in fact the city starts its celebrations on Friday evening and continues until late on Tuesday. Masks, costumes, loud music, beer and good moods are the main ingredients of this event but you have to see it yourself. Queen’s day: Koninginnedag or Queen’s day is celebrated on April 30 in the whole kingdom of the Netherlands. Queen's Day celebrates the birthday of the Queen of the Netherlands and is a day of national unity and "togetherness". Queen's Day is known for its "free market" all over the country, where everybody is allowed to sell things in the streets. Other activities during Queen's Day are children's games, individual musical performances, and music concerts. The whole nation dresses in orange and has a lot of fun.

Back to Netherlands

15

Back to contents

The Netherlands has a maritime climate, so its summers are not tropical and the winters are not extremely cold. In the months of December to February however, days with a maximum temperature below 0°C are not unusual. The average temperature in the Netherlands is about 2°C in the month of January and 19°C in July, so whilst you can where light to medium clothing in the summer you will need medium to warm clothing in the winter. The average rainfall in a year is 76.5 cm and rainfall is common throughout the year, so it’s an idea to always carry a raincoat or an umbrella with you. These can be bought easily once you arrive here. Summer and autumn tend to have slightly more rainfall because of the intensity of the showers. Especially in the summer months, showers and storms are not frequent but can be very heavy. When you are finally here it is very handy to know websites such as Weer.nl or Buienradar.nl. Here you can check for the upcoming rain, see the temperature outside and check when the rain will be over.

Weather in the Netherlands

16

Back to contents

Study associations

Departments’ ‘Borrels’

Studium Generale

Students sports center & Students Sports clubs

Culture & other student organizations

Night life!!!

Student Life

17

Back to contents

Preface

University campus is not only the place to study, but also the place where you will find lots of things to do outside working hours. The following chapter is an overview of study associations and major leisure activities available on campus.

In addition this chapter presents interesting events and places to see in Eindhoven!

Back to Student life

18

Back to contents

Every department at TU/e has its own study association. These study association (SA) will present themselves during TIP and you will be invited to become a member of your SA. There are lots of good points why it is useful to become member of SA. You will get opportunity to know more Dutch students, to participate in certain workshops and visits, which can help you to gain experience for your future career, and, in some cases, you can receive discounts for the study material you will have to buy. Further information will be provided by each SA during TIP itself, but don’t hesitate to check their websites before your arrival: Department Name & hyperlink

Biomedical Engineering Protagoras

Architecture, Building & Planning Cheops

Electrical Engineering Thor

Industrial Design Lucid

Chemical Engineering & Chemistry Japie

Industrial Engineering Industria

Innovation Science Intermate

Applied Physics Van der Waals

Mechanical Engineering Simon Stevin

Mathematics and Computer Science Gewis

Study associations

Back to Student life

19

Back to contents

Each Thursday almost all study associations have a drink together (called borrels in Dutch). Where the students of the department gather together, meet each other, drink beer and have fun. Sometimes study associations organize borrels on a certain theme or for a particular occasion, so it becomes bigger event, for example Christmas borrels. It is nice way to relax, meet your classmates and colleagues and discuss interesting topics in a casual, stress-free atmosphere. For more information about borrels, check your departments study association website

Department Borrels

Back to Student life

20

Back to contents

Studium Generale Besides the weekly ‘borrels’ we mentioned before, we should definitely mention Studium Generale (SG) and its organized activities. Studium Generale organizes not only official ECTS (study points) lectures about most diverse subjects in which you definitely will be interested, they also organize concerts,

parties, theater, films and interviews all year round. Although the majority of the scheduled events are Dutch-spoken, SG organization includes more and more English-spoken events. Most of these events take place in de building called GasLab. This building is located on the TU/e campus, with a hall large enough to host lots of guests. You can find out more about events and activities held by SG by checking their website (click on the picture above).

Studium Generale

Back to Student life

21

Back to contents

TU/e is proud of its sport facilities. You can participate in over forty different sports at the university sports center. You can train in a group or in classes under the guidance of trainer, or workout on your own. The sports accommodation consists of three sports halls, a gymnasium, a judo hall, a table tennis hall, two squash courts, a fitness center, eleven outdoor tennis courts, three soccer pitches, a baseball field, a lighted training field, a boat house, a rugby pitch, an artificial climbing wall, a surf board shed and a small sauna, an indoor swimming pool. To join the Student Sports Center you have to buy a sports card (€70 euro’s per year). More information about card and facilities provided by SSC you can find on SSC website or just take a virtual tour here. Also you can stay in touch with SSC and follow what’s happening there through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. Check it out through the hyperlinks below:

TU/e Student Sport Center also hosts several students’ sports clubs. Many of those take part in national competitions. More information about the different sports clubs you can find on TU/e website by clicking here. Some of the information may still be only accessible in Dutch.

Student Sport Center (SSC) & Students’ sport clubs

Back to Student life

22

Back to contents

International Student Associations

Various associations on the TU/e campus such as AEGEE, BEST, IEEE and ESTIEM, give local and international students the opportunity to have the possibility for a possible foreign adventure by making contact with international organizations and with each other. In the textbox on the left the most important international student associations are mentioned. Their websites can also be found by following the previous link.

If you want to find a complete list of all student associations linked to the TU/e please click here .

In the section below you can find a short introduction to a few of these associations and some additional organizations which tend to be very popular with international student. Although some of the organizations’ websites provide information only in Dutch, or in their local language, do not hesitate to contact them in case you are interested to join, because they are willing to explain to you in person in more details about their program and possibilities to join. You will also have the opportunity to meet with these organizations during the TIP program (second week). The association of Chinese students and scholars in Eindhoven

The Association of Chinese Students and Scholars in Eindhoven (ACSSE) is the largest organization for Chinese students and scholars in Eindhoven. The Association aims to help all Chinese students and scholars who study and work in Eindhoven to integrate into life in Eindhoven, to enhance the contacts among them and the interaction with Dutch and other international associations in Eindhoven. To access their website click on the logo on the left.

Indo/Dutch The Indo/Dutch Association was established with the aim of promoting the friendship among the peoples of India and the Netherlands. To make the Dutch public aware of India and Indian culture they also give lectures and workshops etc. in schools and community centers. The Association organizes cultural programs, fashion shows and exhibitions. To reach their website click here.

Culture & other student organizations

AEGEE – Eindhoven

BEST – Eindhoven

ESTIEM

IEEE Student Branch

Industria Interactie

Back to Student life

23

Back to contents

Student music society Quadrivium The "Eindhovens Studenten Muziek Gezelschap Quadrivium" is the student music association for classical music in Eindhoven. Quadrivium has a choir, two orchestras and the only student recorder ensemble in the Netherlands. Are you a musician and interested to join Quadrivium check their website here.

Student theatrical Company Doppio Each year Doppio has groups of about ten people who work once a week on things like drama, improvisation, cabaret, movement and other forms of theater. If you love art of theater you should join Doppio. To access their website click on the logo on the left.

Student dance company Footloose Students who like to dance should feel right at home with Footloose. At regular times dance evening are organized, where ballroom and Latin American dancing can be done including Rock and Roll dancing. Footloose also organizes workshops and visits theatres Dancing competitions are organized together with other student dace societies. To access their website click on the logo on the right.

Student film and photography society Dekate Mousa If you want to become an expert in film and photography, you should really pay a visit to Dekate Mousa. Tuesday is members’ night. Dekate Mousa organizes projects related to film and photography. The society runs a dark room and has the necessary equipment of its own. Check their website by clicking on the icon!

La Tunina It is a society of female students, who enjoy playing Spanish Tuna music. They have regular performances and parties. They go to Spain and Portugal. If you liked to become member and learn to play this type of music, this is the right place for you. Website can be found here!

Back to Student life

24

Back to contents

Tuna Cuidad de Luz The Tuna is the male counterpart of La Tunina, and is open to all male TU/e students, who enjoys singing Spanish and South American songs on all sorts of festive occasions, both in the Netherlands and abroad. Website can be reach via icon.

T!NT

T!NT is a place for both Dutch and international students where they can meet, develop themselves and get inspired. To access their website click on the logo on the left.

Mosaic Mosaic connects students from all around the world with the aim of bringing different cultures together. All students, no matter from which background or ethnicity, you are welcome to join Mosaic and participate in its events. To access their website click on the logo on the right.

Back to Student life

25

Back to contents

Eindhoven is sometimes called Students Town and there are lots of places to go out. The most famous place in Eindhoven for its nightlife is the street called Stratumseind. It is the longest pub filled street in the Netherlands. On the peak nights (Thursday through Saturday) you’ll mingle with 20,000 people in that street! This is where you’ll find loud music in the bars, salsa dancing in Santiago de Cuba and a cheerful atmosphere. Though it is great fun and a nice experience to try Stratumseind with all its bars, some people are looking for something different. For those more interested in alternative music and specific types of parties, there are other places to go to, such as the ‘Irish pub’ or bar Hoogste Tijd. These places differ from the pubs and bars at Stratumseind and have their own bohemian atmosphere and different kind of music. Sometimes you can find live performances and famous DJ’s playing there. But if you are looking for jazz you should definitely take a look at the bars and cafes at ‘Wilhelminaplein’, where Café Wilhelmina or Café De Groot hold weekly jazz or blues concerts or other similar events. For bigger concerts and cultural events you should always check the agenda of Philips music center and Effenaar or the event calendar of the Eindhoven region. Check the websites of some of the places mentioned above and some additional places we did not mention:

· Irish Pub · Wilhelmina · Cafe de Groot · De Fabriek · STRP festival · Temporary Art Center · Van Abbe Museum · Central Library of Eindhoven · Visual Culture / Now & Later

Night life!!!

Back to Student life

26

Back to contents

On TU/e Campus

Grocery shopping; Supermarkets

Grocery shopping; open markets & special shops

Recipe corner; something fast & easy

Food

27

Back to contents

Preface

Usually there are two main groups of international students, which form after arrival to the Netherlands – you either are bread person, or you are not. So... are you ready to eat some bread? Many people get the wrong impression: that bread is the only thing which you can eat when you are in NL. However, we have to say, that this is not true! There is so much more. There is great diversity in both the Dutch cuisine and the richness of other cuisines, which you can find here in Eindhoven. In this chapter we will shortly overview what the eating options on the TU/e campus, how to do grocery shopping and, guess what, we’ll give you some tips for your first meal in Eindhoven (you are fully within your rights not to like it J).

Back to Food

28

Back to contents

TU/e campus will be the place where you spend most of your time. You will have classes here, find the library, study rooms, etc. – so everything what is needed for you to do your study work. And, of course here, you will get hungry! So how do we find food on campus

There are two options and one extra: we call it ‘escape’ to the Bunker building! Which will be explained later. First the two ‘regular’ options!

?

Option 1: canteens all around the campus First of all, each department has its own canteen. Those you will find soon after you arrived and have your first tour and introduction to your department. Besides that much information will come to you with your growing experience and the choice will increase when you get more acquainted to the place, the TU/e campus, etc. For example even though you study in Electrical Engineering department, you can go and eat with your friends from Applied Physics department or go to the canteen of the department of Chemical Engineering.

Besides department canteens there are two central/main canteens on campus. These 2 canteens are very common places to eat, as well as somehow different then the departments’ canteens.

First – canteen in Auditorium. As you will find out Auditorium is one of the buildings on the campus, which you will get to know as soon as you arrive here. Many classes will take place here including the opening of the Academic year and some other official events. Besides that there is a big canteen there, where you can get anything from bread and soup, to nice sandwiches, typical Dutch snacks, well prepared warm food, coffee/tea and soft drinks and even ice cream (in the summer). You can have lunch

there from less than one euro (bread + soup) to approximately 5 to 6 Euros (warm meal + soup/coffee). Also this canteen in the Auditorium is open 9:30 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00.

Second – canteen in Kennispoort. This is the place which is loved by students, because it is somehow cheaper, however a bit further from the center of the campus. The Kennispoort building is the first building you will see on your left, while walking to the campus coming from the City

On TU/e Campus

Back to Food

29

Back to contents

Center (Railway station). It is open only during lunch time (12.00 – 13.30 hours) and has variety of bread, salad, warm food. One of the coolest things is that there is a grand piano there and most of the times you have lunch with live music. Besides, if you are the one who can play, you can always do that completely for free – it’s an open podium.

So, to sum up: you can eat in one of the departments’ canteens, you can eat in the Auditorium and you can eat in Kennispoort – all those canteens are on campus.

Option 2: food from home Option 2 presents the most common way to have lunch – make a sandwich, salad or other snack and bring it with you to the university. This way, you have your own food and you are not dependent of opening hours of canteens, walking distances to them and so on. Also because you make the things you want to eat you also not need to depend on what the menu’s / choice of the canteens are.

It is worth mentioning that sometimes when you would like to eat warm food you can bring this with you and warm it up in a microwave. However, first you need to find out if there is a location with a microwave on campus (your department or a department of one of your friends). It is not that it is standard that microwaves are available in a lot of places on campus.

Escape: to the Bunker – Common Room And finally, imagine you want to eat your lunch in a social and cozy environment, then, check out the opening hours of Common Room and go there. The Common Room has tea and coffee for you and here you can find a microwave + oven. The Common Room is a nice and warm environment and has a lot of friendly volunteers. You can read more about the Common Room in the Campus chapter of this Booklet.

Back to Food

30

Back to contents

When talking about supermarkets the first thing you will see is Albert Heijn (abbreviation AH). This is one of the biggest (or maybe the biggest) supermarket chain in the Netherlands. AH belongs to the deluxe supermarkets’ class. These supermarkets of AH are usually somewhere close around the corner and you can buy good quality and a big choice of food and basic hygienic articles there. However, since it’s the highest class supermarket, the prices are also higher. If you, like most of the students, want to save a penny for an extra glass of beer or chocolate bar or you just want to save a penny anyhow, then you should consider to go to other supermarkets, which are still great and were you also can find everything you need for food! Most students buy their grocery there all the time! The names of these supermarkets are Lidl & Aldi. Also you can go to C1000, Jan Linders or Jumbo. The prices of these supermarkets are in between those of AH and Lidl & Aldi. But these supermarkets offer a bigger assortment of grocery than in Aldi or Lidl. Overall, all these supermarkets have pros and cons and here we only introduce you to major names and more from a student’s point of view. The big job will still have to be done by you, when you come here, visit them all and then choose what suits you the best. A few more tips before we go to another chapter. On this website you can find the supermarkets closest to you and, more important, their opening hours. When you follow the link you have to enter “Eindhoven” in the “waar:” textbox. You will then see a Google maps image showing all the supermarkets that are open at that time. By clicking on the supermarkets you can also see till what time they will be opened that day. We also made a Google maps for you, with major shop locations, by clicking here you will open it and be able to explore it. In the maps mentioned above international oriented grocery shops (like Chinese, Indian and Indonesian oriented food shops) are not included. The names and addresses of these shops can be found in the following chapter. Good to know:

· All the shops in Eindhoven are closed on Sundays, except the first Sunday of the month, then some shops (except food shops) are open from 12pm to 4pm.

· On Sundays some supermarkets are open from 4pm to 8pm. You can find them with the website mentioned above.

· Koopavond – every Dutch city has a so called shopping evening when one evening a week shops in the city center are open till 9pm. In Eindhoven koopavond is every Friday night!

Grocery shopping: supermarkets

31

Back to contents

Open markets A very nice way to get fresh veggies, cheese, fish or meat is to visit open markets, which take place somewhere in the city almost every day! Open markets are usually slightly cheaper than the cheaper supermarkets, and the product are often locally grown and fresher. The markets in Eindhoven are usually mixed markets, selling not only food but also clothing, household goods, etc. Below you will find a list of the big open markets in Eindhoven. Address Day Time

Wijnpeerstraat Monday 12.00-16.30

City Center Tuesday 09.00-14.00

Winkelcentrum Woensel Wednesday 09.00-12.00

Winkelcentrum Gestelse Ontginning Wednesday 13.00-16.30

Generaal Bothastraat Thursday 09.00-12.00

St. Trudoplein Thursday 13.00-16.30

St. Gerardusplein Friday 12.00-17.00

Woenselse Markt Saturday 10.00-17.00

City Center Saturday 10.00-17.00

Wilhelminaplein (eco-market) Saturday 10.00-16.00

International supermarkets and grocery shops International supermarkets and grocery shops are concentrated particularly in the Kruisstraat and the Woenselsemarkt, which are in a walking distance from the TU/e. There are many more scattered throughout Eindhoven. Chinese, Indian, Persian, Turkish – food! You can find there things which are not available in supermarkets and also, for some of you, it will help to get the things which you buy in your home land. In the google maps, we made a list with the most important, popular special supermarkets, so, when you decide to go it will be easier for you.

Grocery shopping: Open Markets & Special Shops

Back to Food

32

Back to contents

Veggie mix cake You need:

· any kind of frozen pizza (which is not even real pizza) you can buy in the supermarket (preferably your favourite)

· zucchini · tomatoes · pink onions · some slices of sausage (if you are not a vegetarian) · mozzarella · tomato paste and all kinds of spices and flavours, you like · pesto · a drop of olive oil

Process: Preheat the oven (choose the temperature appropriately, because it might differ between the ovens, I choose 180C in the micro-combi oven) Take pizza out of the bag, put some tomato paste & maybe basil. Cut tomatoes, zucchini, onions into thin slices and start laying them on the pizza, in between you can spice them up and moister them with oil (especially onions and zucchini). At the end if you eat meat, put the slices of sausage and cover everything with mozzarella. Put in the oven and let it bake, grill for about half an hour. However, again, take care, that it wouldn’t burn and/or if half an hour is enough for it to be prepared. It should look yummy, cheese should melt, veggies and sausage on top should be crispy.

Recipe corner: fast & easy!

Back to Food

33

Back to contents

Summer soup You need:

· half liter low fat yoghurt (known as magere joghurt in NL) · half liter tomato juice · half of a big cucumber · 2 hard boiled eggs · fresh or dried dill · bunch spring onions · potatoes · Salt & pepper

Process: Dice cucumber and egg in small pieces, chop the spring onions & dill. Put it all in the bowl. Fill it up with tomato juice and magere yogurt. Add some salt and pepper. Mix it. The soup is ready, but put it in the fridge while you will boil potatoes. Peel the potatoes (you can also wash them well and eat with skin). And boil them. When potatoes are done put some salt and a piece of butter on. Serve the cold soup an warm potatoes together!

More recipes can be found on the internet, just use key words: traditional Dutch food, or easy Dutch recipes.

Here is one website: easy Dutch food.

Back to Food

34

Back to contents

Student housing

What can I expect in my room? And how to buy the stuff I don’t have?

How can I find a room if I did not apply for housing through the TU/e?

Accommodation

35

Back to contents

Preface

So what do you need to know about student accommodation in the Netherlands?

· Don’t expect cheap accommodation, especially if you are renting a furnished room.

· You can also find a room yourself, which might be cheaper, because it won’t be furnished, but bear in mind you will have to buy your own furniture and equipment, and most importantly you will FIRST HAVE TO FIND THE room!

· When you arrive in Eindhoven and meet with your landlord to sign the contract you will have to pay a deposit. So in your first days here your will be paying your first month’s rent + deposit.

· IMPORTANT: According to Dutch law the rental agreement that you actually sign will be in Dutch. The landlord must also and will present you with an English translation of the agreement. Make sure you understand what you are signing. Don’t sign what you don’t understand!

Back to Accommodation

36

Back to contents

Facts: · Most students in the Netherlands live in student houses. These houses usually have around 4 to

6 bedrooms, 1-2 kitchens, 1-2 bathrooms and toilets, which are shared among tenants. · Each tenant has his/her private room and very frequently a sink in that room. · Dutch students usually furnish their rooms themselves. · International students, most of the time, tend to rent furnished rooms (due to many reasons: it’s

harder to get furniture, when you just came to a new country; due to shortage of time, language barrier etc.).

· Furnished room is always more expensive than not furnished, however, then you don’t have to take care of the stuff, at least for the very begging of your stay in Eindhoven.

· In my opinion to it is always more convenient for the beginning of your stay to get the room via university, especially if you come here from far away.

· How and where you want to live later is of course your choice, but I think it’s easier to decide that, when you are already here – had some sniffing around, contacts with other students, some impression about the town and where you want to live, etc.

TU/e offers to arrange accommodation for all guests coming from abroad who stay in Eindhoven for longer than one month. Bachelor’s and Master’s students are accommodated in single furnished bedrooms in student houses mentioned above. Student accommodation in the Netherlands is quite small and relatively expensive, particularly in the major student cities. Prices start at around 275 euro a month, although they can be as high as 500 euro. Here we say price is most likely to be 400 euro. This is because of the housing shortage.

Student housing

Back to Accommodation

37

Back to contents

In your room you can expect there to be a (single) bed, table & chair, lamp, wardrobe, basic kitchen utensils, such as pots, pans, cups, plates and cutlery, and use of a washing machine. If you already received information who your landlord will be you could contact him before your arrival to find out what you would need to bring with you. Otherwise expect mentioned things. If you need other household equipment or furniture there are several shops where you can buy things for your room. Popularity rating say, that internationals use IKEA a lot also there are second hand furniture shops and markets (the list of those you can find at the end of the booklet in the Google maps site) and several websites, where you can get the things you need much more cheap. Below we present the table with hyperlinks to the most common websites and shops. On the popular website Marktplaats.nl you can buy anything, from old bike to table, desk, chairs, used TV and sound system.

Marktplaats.nl Furniture, bikes, almost everything.

Furniture, house hold goods.

Household goods, electronic devices.

From food to socks to household good.

What can I expect in my room? And how to get the stuff I don’t have!?

Back to Accommodation

38

Back to contents

So, imagine the situation, that you didn’t apply for housing through TU/e or you decide to change your current room (and are already living in Eindhoven). Housing in the Netherlands is expensive for all inhabitants, so students (Dutch and Internationals) are not an exception. It is also important to mention that depending on the time of the year, it can be difficult to find the type of accommodation you prefer. During the summertime which is obviously the busiest time of the year, as all new students are looking for housing, it might be much harder to get a room and especially one you are really going to like. If you prefer to find a room yourself whilst still abroad, you can check the most common room renting websites, such as:

· Kamernet.nl · Vestide · Studentenkamers.nl · Kamertje.nl · Easykamer.nl · Kamer.nl

Or you can post your request on the Facebook page of the International Student Team. You might get lucky because other students may be moving out and/or are looking for a new housemate. If you decide to search for housing after your arrival in Eindhoven, you are going to need a place to stay while you are looking (hostel, hotel, etc). This gives you the opportunity to visit all the main agencies and talk to many people and you will be able to check and see the rooms before renting. You can also look at the announcement boards at the TU/e library or at each department. It is doable to find a room yourself, however be aware that you will have to invest a lot of time and effort and it might not be as easy as you think.

Key words for search on the web:

studentenkamers = student rooms.

How to find a room if I did not apply for it through TU/e

Back to Accommodation

39

Back to contents

Bikes and how to get one

Dutch traffic rules and signs

Public transportation

Transportation

40

Back to contents

Preface

This chapter will introduce you to your possible ‘best friend’ or at least definitely best and easily accessible transportation – bike. We will present you with the most important traffic rules and regulations and finally tell you a little bit how public transportation works here in the Netherlands.

Back to Transportation

41

Back to contents

When you come to The Netherlands most likely you will get one more very close friend – your bike. Cycling in The Netherlands is the most common way to get around – from your home to TU/e, shopping center and even bike trips around the country. However, before you start that you need to get the bike. In this section we will try to throw you some advice on how to do that. Basically you have two ways to get a bike, either buy a new one in the bike shop, which most probably will cost you quite a lot of Euros, or you can do what most of the people do and get a second hand bike. Those are usually reasonably cheap and the price can vary from 30 Euros to 200 Euros or so. Buying new bike in the bike shop The first way to get a bike is to buy a new bike in the bike shop. There are a lot of bike shops in Eindhoven. In this table a list of bike shops in Eindhoven is given. On the bottom, a list of repair shops is included. Again, buying a new bike is expensive. In this Map, you can find most of the bike shops in Eindhoven and in this map you will see few places where bikes can be repaired. Buying used bike To buy a used bike you have several options – buy the bike through several websites online, such as marktplaats.nl (the Dutch word for bike is “fiets”), you can get it from someone you know (maybe a graduate student is leaving NL, or somebody just wants to sell the bike) or you can buy the bike in the bike shops, because most of them, sell used bikes as well. The only difference between these three ways of buying the bike is price. On the internet you can find a bike for 30 Euros, however in the shop, even used bike will cost on average around a 100 Euros. Many students would advise you to use internet in this case.

Bikes and how to get one

Back to Transportation

42

Back to contents

You already have a bike and it’s broken? Most of the bike shops also provide bicycle care services. For example in ProBike shop you can not only buy, new or used bikes, bicycle parts, but as well you can bring your bike there and the staff will fix it for you. The table shows also repair shops at the bottom.

Back to Transportation

43

Back to contents

In the Netherlands, the traffic rules and signs could be different than the rules and signs you are used to. In this chapter some basic knowledge will be discussed. There is also a guide with the road traffic signs and regulations in the Netherlands. Walking When you are walking in a city in the Netherlands, you have to walk on the pavement or footpaths. When you want to cross a road, you have to cross by traffic lights (if present). Traffic light for pedestrians consists of two colors. The colors signify as follows:

- Green light: proceed. - Red light: stop.

In some places, you have to push a button if you want to cross; otherwise the traffic light stays red. Cycling The bike is an easy way to move around in the Netherlands. However, there are important rules you have to follow. Drivers are required to keep as far over to the right as possible. Cyclists are required to use the mandatory cycle track or the cycle-motor track. Cyclists are not allowed on motorways. To change direction, clearly indicate this with your arm. Cycling side by side (max. 2 persons) is only allowed if other traffic is not inconvenienced. Lights are compulsory in the dark. If you are at an intersection, there are a few possibilities. First, traffic lights take precedence over any

road signs. The colors in three-color traffic lights signify as follows: - Green light: proceed. - Amber light: stop, drivers who are so close to the traffic lights that they cannot reasonably be expected to stop safely should proceed. - Red light: stop.

Another possibility is the priority road. All the traffic on the priority road has priority over the other traffic. When you are approaching a priority road you can recognize it by the sign and by triangles on the ground which are facing you by the points. The third option is an ‘equal intersection’. These are common in the living areas. At an equal section, all traffic from your right has priority. This picture shows the different signs of priority.

Dutch Traffic rules and Signs

44

Back to contents

Public Transportation Bus Within Eindhoven and from the city to surrounding towns and villages you can travel by bus. There are several bus lines across the city and they all meet at the central station. Here you can find the map of public transportation in Eindhoven and the schedules of trains and busses (available only in Dutch, but it is useful to check it out):

There is also a website on which you can plan your route. You are able to get all needed directions to reach set destination, also you will find information about bus/metro/tram tickets in the Netherlands (the price, the look, available discounts, etc): Click here for the site.

Back to Transportation

45

Back to contents

Bus Tickets To travel with public transport you need an OV-Chipcard. The 'OV-chipcard' is a new pricing system for the whole Dutch public transport and will replace the “Strippen Card”. This “strippen Card” is still valid in Eindhoven too. But in the near future the OV-Chipcard is the only valid system. Make sure you have one on time! Please visit the official website; if you want to order an OV-Chipcard click here. If the site appears in Dutch, click the UK sign on the top. It is important to know that you have to check in when you’re travelling by bus and to check out when you get off the bus! The devices are to check in and out are inside the busses and are identified by the sign on the right of this page. The 'Strippen Card' is still valid in most of the country including Eindhoven, however, there are several cities, including Amsterdam, where the card is not valid anymore. The ‘Strippen Card’ is used for travelling on a bus, tram and metro. Every city or region has been divided into transportation zones with set tariffs. To travel one zone you have to pay two 'strips'. You pay an extra 'strip' for each subsequent zone. Within the same zone you may change within a time limit mentioned on the back of the card. You can buy a 'Strippen Card' with 15 strips (+/- € 6,50) or with 45 strips (+/- € 19,20). You can buy 'Strippen Cards' at railway stations, in post offices, some super markets, department stores and tobacconists. You can also buy it on the tram or bus, but then the price is higher. Trains NS To travel between the cities in the Netherlands, you can go by train. Trains are a popular and easy way to travel. The schedules are frequent and as the Netherlands is not huge, the trips don’t take long. The Dutch railways have a general website where you can plan your trips by train and get all the needed information about your journey. However if you don’t have access to the web at the moment, you can always go to the station and get all the needed information at the information desk. It is important to mention, that the location of Eindhoven is very favorable and therefore it is easy to reach all parts of the country reasonably fast. For example, the train to Amsterdam leaves Eindhoven’s station every half an hour. Train tickets When travelling by train use your OV-Chipcard. Here it is also important to check in and out. These devices are on the platforms! So you have to check in before you go on the train! Don’t forget to check out on the platform when you have left the train. Paper tickets are still valid and could be purchased before boarding the train. There are various places where these tickets can be bought:

Back to Transportation

46

Back to contents

- At every NS station you will find at least one NS self-service ticket machine, where tickets can be purchased for travelling in The Netherlands, 24 hours a day.

- At the NS ticket offices tickets as well as season tickets can be purchased, with the exception of the 'NS Jaartrajectabonnement' (Annual Route Pass), the 'NS Jaarabonnement (NS Annual Pass) and 'OV-Jaarabonnement' (Public Transport Annual Pass).

- At Wizzl, the NS convenience shop, tickets can be purchased seven days a week. When buying tickets there, you pay service cost € 0.50 cents per ticket.

- Sometimes a NS kiosk can be found near a railway station or in town without a railway station where NS products can be purchased or information about travelling by train can be obtained.

Without valid travel pass When you travel without a valid travel pass, you could be fined upon inspection of your ticket. The official fine regulations are: -When you pay the fine within 7 days, you will have to pay € 35,00. -When you pay the fine after 7 days, the fine will be increased by € 10,00, administrative charges, and you will have to pay € 45,00. This amount should be paid within 3 weeks, counting from the date on which you have received the fine.

Regularly, unlimited train tickets for one day are for sale in shops as Blokker, Kruidvat or Hema. With these tickets you can travel as much as you would like that day. It is a good opportunity to travel around the Netherlands and visit more cities!

Back to Transportation

47

Back to contents

Insurance and Bank

Getting Mobile; Dutch Phone number

Working possibilities

IB-groep + other grants

When you arrive

48

Back to contents

Preface

In this chapter we give you short answers to question, which have already popped into your head or soon will. How to get bank account, health insurance, telephone or just a phone number? What about a student job? Am I allowed to work? How do I find job? Are there any additional grants, financial aids I can get?

Back to When You Arrive

49

Back to contents

Insurance and Bank Everyone who lives in the Netherlands is legally obliged to have health and personal liability insurance! Insurance EU students: Students from the EU can apply for an EU Health Card at their own health care insurance company. For more information, visit the website from EU which tells everything about the benefits of having EU Health Card as well as how to obtain it. To reach the website click on the EU flag below this paragraph.

Non-EU students: Students from outside the EU are advised

to take out health and liability insurance from . You can take out this insurance before or after your arrival. It costs approx. € 40 per month. Although if you choose not to take out AON and if your insurance from your home country also covers you in the Netherlands, then please send us a copy of your policy before your arrival, so the International Office can assess whether your insurance has sufficient coverage. Bank account The International Relations Office will open a bank account for you at a Dutch bank called Rabobank. Before your arrival you will be informed about the bank account and paying money into it. Before departure to the Netherlands, please check with your local bank office, if money can be transferred from the bank account in your home country to your new bank account at the Dutch Rabobank and what arrangements you need to make to pay money into your Dutch bank account. You should not worry too much about accessing to your back account, this will be arranged during the first week of TU/e Introduction Program. Otherwise, if you won’t be able to be here during TIP, you will be explained how to do this when you come here to Eindhoven.

VERY IMPORTANT: as soon as you start to work in the Netherlands, you are legally obliged to get National Dutch Health Care insurance! If you don’t, you’ll get into trouble and probably get a fine.

Check this website and you will find out more, how to get your insurance and what kind of regulations apply to you:

INSURANCE INFO FOR EXPACTS

Back to When You Arrive

50

Back to contents

Getting Mobile: Dutch Phone number After you have arrived and have settled in Eindhoven it might be an idea to get a cell phone for daily use here in the Netherlands. There are several options for students: you can get a prepaid phone number or sign a contract with a mobile phone service provider for 1 or 2 years. Prepaid SIM cards and contracts for your mobile can be found in special telephone stores, where all useful information and goods are provided. These stores are usually named after the mobile service provider. We will introduce you to major mobile service providers in the Netherlands. So afterwards, you can explore their websites and find which way of getting mobile is best for you. Below there is a short list of mobile service providers and hyperlinks to their websites. There are many more of them, but maybe it is easier to get more info, when you are already here in NL. Vodafone: Vodafone is one of the largest mobile telecommunications companies in the Netherlands and is part of the worldwide Vodafone Group, the largest telecommunications company for mobile telephony world. The successful and internationally oriented company distinguishes itself through a very open and informal culture that aims to encourage people, to inspire and challenge. Vodafone is a company in which people live, because they work with people with the same boundless ambition and scope to new ideas and initiatives. T-Mobile: T-Mobile is one of the largest international suppliers of mobile communications. Through its networks in many European countries, Asia and the U.S. make more than 82 million people use our mobile services. At T-Mobile you can choose from T-Mobile Subscriber or T-Mobile prepaid rate plans, with or without buying a cell phone. Telfort: Telfort offers mobile telecommunications products and services in the Netherlands and abroad for the inhabitants of the Netherlands. Our effective organization we can respond quickly to local customer requirements. Telfort offers bright and services are competitive in price. BEN: Cheaper, most students use it. Easy to get.

One little remark: prepaid does not require you to sign any contract, but you will pay more for your phone calls than if you take out a contract for 1 or 2 years.

Back to When You Arrive

51

Back to contents

Working possibilities It might be hard to find a job as an international student in the Netherlands. There are several reasons for this: besides the fact that international non-EEA students need a work permit and are only allowed to work for a maximum of 10 hours per week, there is also language barrier and some other things. However it is not completely impossible. Before you start looking for a job you should know some very

IMPORTANT THINGS:

· Working permits: Citizens of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom DO NOT need working permit, their working hours are not limited.

· Citizens of other countries need working permit. They are also allowed to work no more than 10 hours per week during the year (part-time job) or seasonal job; June, July & August (full-time).

· To get work permit, your employer has to apply for it. · As soon as you start working you need to have

You can NOT do it yourself. basic Dutch healthcare insurance, even if you are

EU citizen. However you can get some refund from what you pay. Please check this website. · Your job, by means of working hours, may affect your studies, so think carefully, how much time

you are able to work before signing the contract. · Check Nuffic.nl for further information about finding a job, and what you need to do before you

start working. As mentioned above it is pretty hard to find job for international students. But you should always think positive. Also you should know that in the Netherlands there are several companies – recruitment agencies – which help students, who do not speak Dutch to find a job. Below we provide you with the links to their websites (just click on the company name in the table). You should definitely contact them, if you cannot find job yourself.

· Abroad Experience

· Adams Recruitment

· Blue Lynx

· Content

· English language jobs

· Kelly service

· Projob

· Undutchables

· Studie job

VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE: Students with scholarships are strongly discouraged from

getting a job. If you are in paid employment taxes will not only be deducted from your

paycheck but also from your scholarship payments. You will also have to pay higher health

insurance when you’re working. Having a job also reduces your opportunity to concentrate

on your studies.

52

Back to contents

IB-groep + other grants For students from the EU this is very important part of the booklet. If you are an international student from EU country and you are working in the Netherlands 32+ hours per month you can apply for a study grant, loan and OV-chip card (free public transportation card for either weekdays or weekends) from DUO - IB-groep. Take your employment contract, passport and student card to the DUO - IB-group office in Eindhoven:

Clausplein 6 (De Witte Dame) 5611 XP Eindhoven. You will be able to ask questions and get all the necessary information about what to do next and how to apply for grant, arrange a loan, etc. However we strongly suggest you to check the DUO - IB-group website carefully before you go: IB-groep. There is a maximum you may earn every calendar year without having to pay your grant back. You should check it in IB-groep website. There you can also find forms and better explanations how to get Studiefinanciering. If you are interested in finding a grant to support your studies (regardless of whether you are an EU or non-EU student) there is one very useful site, where you can find all grants and scholarships you are eligible to apply in the Netherlands. Grantfinder.

Back to When You Arrive

53

Back to contents

Campus

Education and Student Service-Center STU

Library & ICTheek

Online Active Study Environment (OASE)

Campus

54

Back to contents

Preface

This chapter will introduce you to TU/e campus and main building on it. Will tell a little about Education and student service center, provide basic information about library and give you the understanding how it all works. Besides you will get to know what is common room and how to use online active study environment, which is very important during your studies here in Eindhoven

Back to Campus

55

Back to contents

Campus The TU/e campus is located in the northeast part of the city center. It’s only a short walk from the central train station, about 5 minutes. All the TU/e facilities are located on this campus including the Student Sports Center. Besides TU/e facilities, also several other higher education institutes and technological companies are located on the campus. In this Booklet, a few important buildings will be highlighted. Below you can see a map of the TU/e campus, for complete description you can follow this link.

Auditorium One of the most important buildings in terms of studying is the auditorium. In this building most of the lectures will be given. Besides lectures, major events like the opening of the academic year will also take place in this building. On the map it is indicated as AUD. In this building, you can also have lunch, because there is a nice Café with warm and cold food and a coffee corner with delicious muffins.

Back to Campus

56

Back to contents

Main building The Main building (in Dutch called Hoofdgebouw) is indicated as HG on the map. It’s home to the departments of Industrial Design and Mathematics & Computer Science. It also houses the Education and Student Service Center (STU) which is located on the ground floor of the building. In this building you can find some practical stuff too. In the main hallway there is a small bookshop, a hairdresser, an ATM and the University Club restaurant. In the basement you will find the printing and copying service.

De Hal De Hal is where the main Library of the TU/e is located and is indicated on the map as HAL. Here you can also find enough quiet space for studying. The Hal also houses the Notebook Service Center which is the place you need to go when you have problems with your TU/e notebook. For more information about the Libraries at the TU/e campus, please look at the library chapter of this Booklet.

Sportscenter The TU/e sports centre is well known and offers the largest variety of sports within the Netherlands (compared to other Dutch universities). On the map it is indicated as SSC and is situated in the upper west corner of the campus. When you want to use the facilities of the sports centre you have buy sports card. This card will grant you access to almost all facilities and sports organizations for a full academic year. For more information, please visit the website of the SSC.

Back to Campus

57

Back to contents

Education and Student Service Center (STU)

There are times before, during and after your study when you may need some good advice about for example student grants, admission, coaching, help with personal matters and labor market information. These are some of the topics with which the Education and Student Service Center (STU) can assist you. The Service Desk of the Education and Student Service Center (STU) is the place to go with your questions on student affairs. Usually you will get an immediate answer to your question or an appointment may be made with a student advisor. Opening hours: Mon.- Fri. 8.30-17.00 hours Location: HG 0.72 (main building) Telephone: +31 (0)40 247 4747 Internet: www.tue.nl/en/services/stu International Relations Office The TU/e International Relations Office (IO) is a permanent task force within the Education and Student Service Center (STU) and is responsible for policymaking and implementation in the domain of internationalization. The IO staff can give you information on the possibilities for grants, insurance, international student organizations and various other items, which may be important during your stay. For information, advice or support on the following topics, please contact the International Relations Office: • Admission procedures and assessment of diplomas; • Visa applications; • Housing/Accommodation; • Insurance; • Introduction programs for international students; Information Center The Information Center of the Education and Student Service Center (STU) offers you a variety of information, e.g.: • Documentation on various courses or professions; • Information on the current situation on the labor market; • Information about jobs and companies; • Brochures from the DUO- Informatie Beheer Groep (student grants office); • TU/e funding regulations, the graduation fund and the so-called ‘bestuursbeurzen’; • Literature and video tapes on communication skills such as effective presentations and meetings. The Information Center is located in the Education and Student Service Center and has the same opening hours.

Back to Campus

58

Back to contents

Administration The Education and Student Service Center (STU) also has an administrative function such as enrolment, deregistration, student ID card replacement and notebook administration, etc. For enrolment and deregistration you have to comply with Dutch law. Please read this information carefully. All information of the tasks of the Education and Student Service Center and the International Relations Office can be found on http://w3.tue.nl/en/services/stu/

Back to Campus

59

Back to contents

Information about library opening hours, library’s website and rules of borrowing books can be found in the library brochure “Finding your way in the TU/e Library”, which you can download. Additional information can be found on library’s website.

Library & ICTheek

Back to Campus

60

Back to contents

What is OASE? OASE is the Online Active Study Environment of TU/e. With this application you can access all the information you need about study programs, courses, exams and lecture schedules. Through OASE you can enroll for courses, groups and exams, create your personal lecture schedule and access course and group documents. In addition, you can consult your exam results, your email and agenda in this way. Where can you find OASE? You can access it at http://education.tue.nl. You can log in with the username and password you use for your TU/e email account. Where can you get help? You will find the answer on many questions via the Help function in OASE. For more information about OASE, you can check find information on the site or the quick start document. For other questions and feedback, please contact the Helpdesk: Email: Phone: +31(0) 40-2474747 (9.00-17.00hrs)

helpdesk.education@tue.nl

OASE

Back to Campus

61

Back to contents

What is Common Room? A piece of history

Who are the volunteers?

Events

How can I contribute?

Common Room

62

Back to contents

Preface

Remember we introduced you to variety of student organizations in a previous chapter? Well, we deliberately left out the Common Room. Why…….? Well, the TU/e Common Room is a totally unique place in the bunker building. It’s most important quality, we believe, is that it is a meeting place for international students managed and run by international students.

So this chapter tells the story of the Common Room and introduces you to the whole concept!

63

Back to contents

The Common Room (CR) opened its doors nearly a year ago, entering the student organizations world in TU/e land with a big bang. CR is located just off campus, in the same Bunker building as all the rest of the students’ organizations. However it’s worth mentioning, that before we let people in, the room was completely renovated and redesigned. We made it look like a cozy living room with a small rest/study room next door. So, the first step was done – new furniture and new design! However the main thing needed to create such a place are its people. People who’d come and stay there, people who would invest bits of their time to take care of the room and organize events and activities, people who would create a community, become friends and pass the new tradition from one to another, year after year. CR is the place which is created for and managed by international students, with a tiny amount of supervision from the Education and Student Service Center. So, to take care of the room, the CR committee was created. It consists of international students and staff members who volunteer at CR. It has one Student Assistant delegated by STU, who manages the group. These people together make the ‘common room’ happen. That means, they take care of the cleaning, opening hours, ensure that there are many different and interesting events and so on. Actually, come along and see for yourself! If you are not yet in Eindhoven, check out the CR webpage on Facebook. Ah, and yes, I said that CR committee makes CR ‘happen’, however I have to say, that without visitors there would be nothing to happen, so everybody makes it happen, including you, who hopefully will visit CR as soon when you come to TU/e. Okay, here, I guess I have to also explain a bit, what you can do in CR. You can come, have coffee or tea, preheat your lunch, dinner or other snack, study in the study room, read National Geographics, or other journals, sit on the couch and chillax, talk to other visitors, friends, listen to music, watch movies, play games, come to specific events organized by CR committee, organize events yourself, etc. etc. etc.

What is Common Room? A piece of history..

Back to Common Room

64

Back to contents

As it was already mentioned CR has its committee, which consists of students’ volunteers. These people are enthusiastic, creative people, who like social activities and want to contribute something to community. Anyone can become a volunteer if there is position available and lots of interest from your side. If you want to do that, just stop by, or send us an email (commonroom@tue.nl) and we will let you know what the situation is. However it is very important to know, that you don’t have to belong to CR committee to do something in CR. You think you have a good idea for an event, meeting or other activity? Well, then just drop us a visit or email and we will take care that this would happen (of course with your help).

Now there are fifteen volunteers, but we need more, so when you come here visit CR and let CR know if you are interested!

Who are the volunteers?

Back to Common Room

65

Back to contents

You can:

· Visit CR

· Chillax here

· Become a volunteer

· Without becoming a volunteer organize events

· Help us out to come up with new ideas and events

· Let us know, how you think you can contributeJ!

Events

How can I contribute?

Back to Common Room

66

Back to contents

TU/e Eindhoven University of Technology Address: Den Dolech 2 5612 AZ Eindhoven Tel.: +31(0) 40 247 9111 Post address postbus 513 5600 MB Eindhoven STU Education and Student Service Center (STU) Location: Main building 0.72 Tel.: +31(0) 40 247 4747 E-mail: stu@tue.nl Opening hours: weekdays from 08:30 till 17:00 Important Contacts at the Education and Student Service Center: Student advisors: Mrs. Coby Doreleijers E-mail: j.h.m.doreleijers@tue.nl Housing and insurance: Mrs. Peggy van de Voort E-mail: p.v.d.voort@tue.nl Visa and residence permit Mrs. Angie Vorstermans E-mail: a.vorstermans@tue.nl E

Contacts

Back to Contacts

67

Back to contents

mergency For emergencies there is one general number to phone in the Netherlands, this number passes information on to the nearest police station, fire brigade or hospital. This phone number is 112. For non-urgent medical assistance please call the student doctor and make an appointment. Student doctor The student doctor (in Dutch: ‘studentenhuisarts’) gives full medical assistance according to the standards set for the practice of medicine by doctors in the Netherlands. It is strongly recommended that you register with this or any other doctor upon your arrival in the Netherlands. Consultations with a doctor are not for free and the same goes for the student doctor. The address and phone number of the student doctor can be found below. Dr. De Ruijter and Dr. Vogelzang: Address: Weverstraat 1

5612 CW Eindhoven Tel: +31(0) 40 2438215 Website: http://www.deruijtervogelzang.praktijkinfo.nl/ If, in case of an emergency, you need a general practitioner outside office hours, you have to contact the 'Centrale Huisartsenpost'. Many general practitioners in Eindhoven work together to guarantee medical care at night, the weekend, and on official holidays. When you want to contact the Centrale huisartsenpost you first have to call: 0900 – 8861. The address of the Centrale huisartsenpost is: Michelangelolaan 2, 5623 EJ Eindhoven. Pharmacies Medicines prescribed by a doctor can be picked up at one of Eindhoven’s pharmacies (in Dutch: ‘apotheek’). The pharmacies are open from 08.30 to 18.00 on working days. Details on out of hours pharmacies is available by telephoning your local pharmacy (usually a recorded message informs you which pharmacy in the area is open evenings and weekends). The chemist (in Dutch: ‘drogist’) also sells some lighter drugs for more common complaints, such as headaches, bad cold, toothaches, menstrual pains and diarrhea. Student dentist Eindhoven has a special dentist practice for students (in Dutch: ‘studententandarts’). You can make an appointment with the dentist (tandarts) by telephone between 09.00 and 12.30 hrs. Please check whether you are properly insured. The address and phone number of this dentist can be found below.

Back to Contacts

68

Back to contents

Kliniek voor Mondzorg: Address: Botenlaan 82

5652 CB Eindhoven Tel.: +31(0) 40 2514527. Hospitals Eindhoven and the Eindhoven region have a number of hospitals (in Dutch: ‘ziekenhuis’): If you need a hospital emergency room, please go to the following address: Catharina ziekenhuis: Address: Michelangelolaan 2, 5623 EJ Eindhoven Tel.: +31(0) 40 2399111 Other hospitals in the Eindhoven region are the Maxima Medisch Centrum (Diaconessenhuis) in Eindhoven and the Maxima Medisch Centrum (Sint Joseph Ziekenhuis) in Veldhoven.

Back to Contacts

Monday 5 September 2011Opening of the 2011-2012 Academic Year

Discover infinity

For engineering, there is no frontier.

Technology is crossing borders at the

speed of light, and so should you.

At the start of this new academic year,

we will share experiences of studying

and working abroad. Speakers will

highlight the benefits of a broader

education and the competence to

work in other cultures. We will hear

students and leading speakers from

industry and academia. Take your

chance to discover the world!

On behalf of the Executive Board of EindhovenUniversity of Technology, I cordially inviteyou to attend the festive opening of the 2011-2012academic year on Monday 5 September2011 at 4 p.m. in the Auditorium of the TU/e.

Prof.dr.ir. C.J. van DuijnRector

Invitation

Program

n 4.00 p.m. – Start of the OpeningConvocationThe academic processions enter theAuditorium

n Welcome by Jeroen Ramakers,Secretary Federatie StudieverenigingenEindhoven (FSE)

n ‘Going abroad’ by Hans van Duijn,Rector

n Video message by Neelie Kroes,European Commissioner

n ‘Crossing borders’ by Frans Greidanus, Head of Research and CTO Asia for Philips

n Musical Intermezzo

n 'Taking foreign cultures back home’ byAnnemarie van Gaal,Entrepeneur and investor

n Presentation of the Educational Awards

n Official opening of the academic year

n 5.30 p.m – Reception in the Hall of the Main Building and the marquee

4568 TUE] OAJ 2011_Uitnodiging_Opmaak 1 22-06-11 15:55 Pagina 2