Ahnaf knows just the dish for a typical rainy day in the Netherlands: Khichuri. Studying Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges here in The Netherlands, he's adjusting to Dutch food culture. While he appreciates Dutch snacks like Kibbeling and fries, nothing compares to his grandma's recipe for a taste of home that brings him back to his childhood.

A meal that is fast to make. Perfect for everyone who’s on a student budget! Archaeology student Farheen Quadri from India learned to make this dish, Dal Chawal, from her mother. After a long day at uni, it is easy to make and it brings her back to happy memories. Together with other international students who went on the adventure of studying abroad, she prepares her dish.

Studying abroad - why should you do it? To be able to eat a stroopwafel every day or other local delicacies? To get a good education? To get to know different people and discover other cultures through your fellow international students? There is not just one reason to study abroad, there are many. And if you enjoy trying different world dishes that can just be one of them! Lennard lived in different countries and enjoyed food from different cultures, but there is no other dish that reminds to home as Feijão, arroz e galinha.

Vera - Global Archeology

"Being an archaeologist doesn’t mean you spend the whole time with a brush in your hand. You really look at history from another perspective. We live in the present, but I find it fascinating to know what happened in the past. You can discover this by studying, for example, bone material, metal and pottery. Collaboration between archeologists is key. By combining different expertises you can interpret different data and use it for research.

It was a conscious choice to study in Leiden. The Faculty is one of the top ten archaeological research and training institutes in the world. Through the University I’m working on a fieldwork project in Jordan. We’re travelling through a desert with lots of mountains and are researching grave monuments. We’re finding personal grave goods there, such as beads, glass bracelets, bronze rings, gemstones, bones and weapons.

I want to be a field archaeologist. I love the fact that you don’t know what you’ll find during an excavation. Providing background information for a TV show would also appeal to me. That way you could transfer knowledge to a wider audience."

Zeineb - Middle Eastern Studies

"When choosing a study programme I wanted to find something with a broad international perspective, because what happens outside of the border could also have an impact on your own country. That is why I chose International Studies. During my studies I began to specialise in a specific region: The Middle East. Both of my parents are Tunisian, so that's where my roots are. The culture, history and international context were so interesting to me, that I decided to extend my knowledge with the master's Middle Eastern Studies. 

I truly am a people person. I think we live in a fairly individualistic society and that is why I find it so important to help people. I became a volunteer at Amnesty International and founded the student association 'MENA'. We represent people from The Middle East. We organize events about the region and culture and try to offer a safe space to people from the region, so that they won't feel they are behind because of ethnicity, gender or orientation. 

I would describe myself as an idealist who wants to make a difference in the world. With little steps I try to contribute where I can. That can be something small like, for instance, helping a blind person with their groceries. My long term goal is to become a diplomat and my biggest ambition is to become minister of foreign affairs. The international aspect remains truly interesting to me."

Ishara - Vitality and Ageing

"After my Bachelor’s in Health Sciences in Maastricht, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. Through my part-time job in elderly care, I discovered that I have a lot of affinity with elderly people and that I like to focus on the practical side of things. So, the master’s in Vitality and Ageing at Leiden University was the perfect choice for me.

In the master’s Vitality and Ageing you work with a small group of students on innovative care for the elderly: you look at future policy from a multidisciplinary perspective. The students are from different backgrounds and have different personalities. Therefore, you can learn a lot from one another.

During the programme you learn how you can involve a certain group in policy, research or in a clinic. We focus on one group in the master’s, but what we learn can be applied to any group. It’s really interesting to discover that you can make a difference just by listening. We do a lot of practical work, like interviewing elderly people. I am always pleased to hear that we can contribute so much just by listening.”

Joep - Encyclopedie en Filosofie van het Recht

“My parents and friends weren’t surprised when I chose the Master’s programme of Jurisprudence and Philosophy of Law. I’ve always been someone who thinks a lot and I love reading and writing. It was clear I was going to study law, and for me, the addition of philosophy came about quite naturally. During my bachelor’s degree in Law, I mainly had courses in economics and other specific subjects. In the third year, I took the Philosophy of Law course and was blown away by the depth of the course: dealing with the real fundamentals of law.

I think it’s important to not just have your head in the clouds, but to also keep in touch with the world and the people. That’s another thing that’s interesting about the master’s: you develop broadly, but you also get to apply your knowledge to current issues.

I would say that there are two types of students in this master’s programme: students like me, who think philosophy is the best thing ever, and students who use the master’s to deepen their understanding. Whatever you end up doing, the master’s always has something to add. It deepens the way you look at issues. But, you have to be very interested. If you’re like that, you’re already halfway there.”

Carolin - Applied Cognitive Psychology

"I already left Germany for my bachelor’s degree, but for my master’s in Applied Cognitive Psychology I specifically chose Leiden University. You can put your own programme together and it includes an internship. That makes it flexible, which in my eyes is really unique.

From a very young age, I’ve wanted to make people better. I used to think I wanted to study medicine, so I could literally make people better. But after a while I found that I didn’t just want to make people healthier, but also wanted to put them in a good mood. In the workplace, for example. This master’s fits in well with that. I learn the practical and academic skills needed to apply psychological knowledge to real problems in the workplace and organisations.

You have lots of opportunities with this master’s. During the programme, you are challenged to think about where your interests lie. I’m particularly interested in courses that relate to improving the working environment. For example, how employers can work more efficiently and effectively and above all can enjoy their work more. I like to think about how we can make organisations more future-oriented, more modern and more agile. And I'd like to that with a special focus on employee well-being.”

Nashanty - Astronomy

"Even as a child I was fascinated by the universe. I often talked about it with my grandmother, and my mother kept me up to date with the latest news in the field. I can remember her telling me all about the first spacecraft that was sent to Pluto. Almost a decade later, I was watching live as the first images were sent back from the New Horizons. I got my first telescope for my 17th birthday; that was a real hit! 

In Curacao, where I was born, there are no degree programmes in astronomy. As luck would have it, my secondary school organised a preparatory study trip to the Netherlands. Once I was back in Curacao, I searched the internet for further information about degree courses in astronomy. Leiden Observatory is a top institute, and that’s what convinced me.

With one hundred percent focus and determination, I began the course I had always dreamt of. It wasn’t easy at first, and not being in a familiar environment took some getting used to. What’s more, I forgot to make time for my hobbies. Fortunately, I’ve picked up one of my hobbies again, writing. At the moment I’m writing for a youth magazine where I try to explain the concept of astronomy as simply as possible. It’s wonderful to be able to combine my passion for writing with my degree course!"