Practical Information & need to know
Prior and upon arrival in Rotterdam
This section 'Practical Information & Need' to know is constantly being updated by the central International Office of our university. It provides incoming students with all practical information prior to and upon arrival in Rotterdam.
Furthermore the EUR International Office organizes so-called "One stop shops" to help you arranging a Dutch bank account, registration at the City Hall, arranging an insurance etc. on one day at the beginning of each full term. Als Erasmus Student Network-Rotterdam can be of great help prior to arrival, on their website you can find video's on how to find housing, arrange insurance, how to buy you ESN-card (lots of reductions), and all tips and tricks to make your life easier during your exchange.
See also, and for other practical information: EUR Orientation
Below a small selection of our campus facilities are given,
for ALL facilities or services on campus, see also : Campus facilities
Erasmus Food Plaza: At this plaza, several restaurants are located. One can buy breakfast, lunch, coffees and/or other snacks or sweets. It is located in Sanders Building.
Erasmus Pavilion: This place serves food & drinks such as soups, hot sandwiches, homemade pizzas, burgers, hot and cold drinks.
“De Smitse”: The largest student bar in the Netherlands.
Studium Generale, Erasmus Culture: Studium Generale organizes scientific, social and cultural programmes throughout the year for students of the Erasmus University Rotterdam. The programme consist of lectures and debates, monthly talk shows, cultural and scientific events and a wide range of cultural courses and performances.
University Library : The library has several functions: meeting, studying and working together.
Erasmus Sports & Sports Building : Exchange students with an ESN-card can buy a sports card at a reduced prize. Erasmus Sport offers an extensive sports program throughout the academic year. With the Erasmus Sport pass you get unlimited access to all parts of the bodyfit program and the squash courts. You can also upgrade your pass to make use of the fitness facilities.
Studystore : At this store you can buy (secondhand) books and other school supplies.
Canon Copyshop : At this shop, located in the Polak Building, you can print, copy and scan in the self-service corner.
Supermarket on campus : On Woudestein campus there is a small supermarket for your first necessities.
Repair shop campus bikes: The shop to have your bike repaired is located in the Polak Building.
About Rotterdam School of Management (RSM)
RSM our campus : take a virtual tour and check out some of the facilities
RSM Store: to buy your RSM gifts
Immigration Procedures
Once nominated by their home university, our visiting Bachelor or Master exchange students will receive a so-called Welcome Mail from our Exchange Office. In addition to all other relevant information (courses, accommodation), this Welcome Mail informs students also on the online exchange application procedure, but moreover also information whether they need:
- an entry visa
- Dutch residence permit
- a Short Stay Schengen Visa (non EU/EEA, valid less than 90 days)
or none
NO entry visa and/or Dutch residence permit required, if: Incoming exchange students who have the EU/EEA nationality.
Costs
All students who need an entry visa and/or Dutch esidence permit need to pay an immigration fee and show proof of sufficient financial resources (living fee).
More information can be found on the EUR website.
Contact
- First contact for students who need an entry visa and/or Dutch residence permit is the RSM Exchange Office, email: exchange@rsm.nl
- After the student has started his/her entry visa/Dutch residence permit application, students can contact the EUR Immigration Department, email: immigration@eur.nl
Financial Matters
How to open a Dutch bank account
As you will be living in the Netherlands for an extended period of time you are strongly recommended to open a Dutch bank account in the Netherlands, especially for students who have applied for a visa/residence permit, a Dutch bank account is the only way to which their refund (proof of solvency) can be transferred to.
Refund of financial means deposit
As soon as your exchange at RSM has started and as soon as you have opened a bank account, you can send an email to our immigration department: immigration@eur.nl. They will further inform you on how your financial means deposit / immigration fee can be refunded.
On this site one can find a rough estimation of costs during your exchange in Rotterdam. Not included in this overview are costs for travelling to Rotterdam and our introduction activities. Of course, all costs depend on your own life style!
On this webpage one can find information about scholarships and grants, mostly for full-time students, but you never know! RSM does not provide exchange students with grants or scholarships.
Insurance & Health
Insurance for international students
You are by law obliged to be properly insured during your time in the Netherlands. Next to being obliged, you also don't want to be surprised by having to pay for an unforeseen issue yourself.
Make sure you are sufficiently insured for:
- Medical expenses - including any pre-existing conditions you may have;
- Third-party liability insurance;
- Fire and home furnishing insurance - if you will be living in student accommodation.
Other information on insurances can be found here.
Health
During your time in Rotterdam, you might feel the need to talk to someone other than friends or you might need medical assistance. In Rotterdam there are many places you can turn to for help and assistance.
On this website contacts and addresses can be found, for example for psychological help, dentist, doctor or hospital.
International students are also welcome at Jans Huisartsen Rotterdam Kralingen (close to campus), but students need to register first, how?
See website: https://www.janshuisartsen.nl/en/international-students/
Accomodation
Finding accommodation in this dynamic city can be a real bottleneck, for this reason and on this site, students can find information on ways to increase a successful search. We strongly advise you to begin your housing search as early as possible and to secure your accommodation before traveling to the Netherlands.
We advise the incoming exchange students to visit Erasmus University's page which contain full information about accommodation for international students. Students can also check Facebook ESN-Rotterdam Housing.
We strongly advise students to read the terms and conditions very carefully before signing any rental agreement contract as the RSM is not to be hold responsible for any accommodation contract.
Arrival
Prior to arrival in the Netherlands, students are strongly recommended to get in touch with their Exchange Ambassador (buddy). This person might be of help in organizing you a smooth arrival. Students arriving at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol can book tickets for the Intercity Direct train already near the luggage belt. This train, which runs every half an hour, brings you to Rotterdam in nearly 30 minutes.
For all other arrivals, the Netherlands and Rotterdam have an excellent public transport system.
Goin Exchange Lite App
If you want to know who is also travelling from your country, city or university to our business school/university, you can use the Goin Exchange Lite App. To have access to this platform a special code is needed. If you want to make use of this app, please contact our Exchange Office, email: exchange@rsm.nl The code is only provided with students who are registered as international student for one of our exchange programmes.
Testimonials
Luqing Shen
BSc Exchange student, Peking University, China
RSM leaves me great impression on its free academic atmosphere. During the courses, students can raise their questions whenever they want and professors will always be willing to explain them. And after class at cafe, V-building and library, we can always see students discussing in groups or looking through papers. Different forms of teamwork are emphasized by the department like dilemma meetings and team presentations. I'm also happy to find that students here are very helpful and responsible, which makes me adapt to new life in Netherlands quickly.
Abhijit Chokshi
BSc Exchange student, Lancaster University, UK
My overall experience in Rotterdam has been very positive. The city centre is very lively with plenty of cultural diversity. The most amazing thing about Rotterdam is that there are plenty of locations to visit and interesting museums to explore. The IBA course is very intense and demanding, but it is really what one would expect from a top business school. The course here is designed to stretch one’s ability and raise standards each trimester. After participating in Rotterdam marathon, my year abroad at RSM has evidently been a life changing experience.
Luis Carlos Martín Fernández
BSc Exchange student, ITESM, Mexico
Experiencing an exchange at RSM has been one the best experiences ever. It’s been a completely new way of taking courses with so many classmates, knowing from high-quality professors, and interacting in a new atmosphere with students all over the world. The buddies help you to adapt the first days of this new adventure, so that after a few days you feel more comfortable and willing to discover and enjoy the experience. RSM exchange has changed my way of living and understanding life.
Julie Rosenthal Brydolf
BSc Exchange student, SSE, Sweden
A semester at RSM was truly one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had! Being on exchange is really journey in terms of adapting to a new environment and doing this together with a group of people from all around the world really creates a special bond between you and your new international friends. Rotterdam is rich in student life and offers a really friendly and fun atmosphere – also it’s very convenient when it comes to travelling to other parts of Europe if you want to explore even more. Going home I’m bringing knowledge, friends and memories for life!
Onurcan Kurucu
BSc Exchange student, University of Bath, England
RSM is an incredibly international school and I met people from all around the world here. We became great friends in such a short time as the exchange programme was managed very well. We had the chance to get to know each other on an integration trip we went for three days. Rotterdam has a lot to offer, there is always something to do, parks, lakes, jazz bars, crazy nightlife, good restaurants, museums, a bazaar and many more! The exchange experience at RSM was one of the most unforgettable times of my university life. Make sure you do not reject such an opportunity :).
Chenyue Yang
BSc Exchange student, Tsinghua University, China
lt's really a wonderful experience for me to study at RSM for an exchange. The campus is so beautiful, with places almost everywhere for study, communication, group projects or just sitting and enjoying the sunlight. Teachers here are kind and willing to help. From the courses I chose at RSM, I've learned how to better handle diversity, how to communicate and collaborate more efficiently as well as knowledge. What's more, activities here are also unforgettable!
Jackie Wong Ching To
BSc Exchange student, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Rotterdam School of Management is the best destination for an exchange journey. Here I have met helpful coordinators, nice buddies, friendly people around and experienced both refreshing ordinary life and vivid party life. RSM is a renowned business school in Europe in which I have taken courses with high standards, especially the minor (Principles of Negotiation). RSM provided me with a platform to meet intelligent business students around the world. My business network was established and we have had a lot of good time with each other. The half year exchange journey is one of the best moments in my life.
Sandesh Menon
BSc Exchange student, SMU, Singapore
Exchange at RSM has been one of the best few months of my life. I would call it a holistic life experience. It offered me the opportunity to study at one of the best business schools in Europe with courses that are interesting and intellectually challenging. It also opened up many doors for me in terms of networking and meeting new people from around the world. The ESN student network organizes many events and parties that have never ever disappointed me. The Queen's day boat trip was really something I will never forget. The Netherlands is a beautiful place with so much beauty.