How does it feel to start university in a new country, in a new city, surrounded by people from all over the world?

For many first-year students in the Global Responsibility & Leadership (GRL) programme at Campus Fryslân, these past months have been filled with excitement, uncertainty and discovery.

To get a better sense of what what the first months in GRL feel like, I spoke to three first-year students: Luna (Spain), Emma (Italy), and Ype (The Netherlands). From changing study habits to figuring out how to cook for yourself, here is what they had to say about their lives here so far.

Luna, 18, comes from a small town in Spain. She always knew she wanted to study in the Netherlands, but she was still figuring out what direction she wanted to take.

“I was searching for different kinds of paths: politics, psychology, sociology... And then an advisor back home suggested GRL. It fitted better for me. A community-type of place, a small campus, seemed nice.”

Emma, 19, is from Milan, Italy. She describes herself as someone who has always been drawn to the “human side of life,” influenced by her scientific high school background and her experience in scouting.

“I didn’t know what to do. I had so many interests: education, psychology, sociology, politics, philosophy… and then I found GRL. It was everything I was looking for.”

Ype, 23, is Dutch, but has spent much of his life abroad. After studying Media and Culture in Utrecht during COVID (which meant missing out on much of student life), he travelled to Australia during a gap year. There, he worked in remote agricultural jobs, surfed, and experienced nature in a way that left a lasting impact.

“It spurred me to look for a study that was sustainability-oriented and focused on societal change. When I discovered GRL, I was drawn to its interdisciplinary nature, its freedom, and its location."

“Leeuwarden is an unconventional student city, and that roused my curiosity. The islands are so close. And housing guaranteed here is definitely a relief.”

The excitement (and the nerves) before arriving

When asked what they were most excited about, their answers all circled around a common theme: fresh starts.

Emma was excited about the independence.
“Starting to live by myself. Meet new people,” she says. “And I love that it is so multicultural, having everyone together in a small community.”

Ype felt inspired by GRL’s mission drive.
“I was turned on by the name GRL,” he laughs. “You feel like ‘yes, we’re gonna change the world!’”

Luna, meanwhile, was curious about what student life would actually look like.
“I didn’t see many pictures of the place,” she says. “So I was excited to see how it was to live in a small, cozy student city.”

First impressions: confusion, chaos, and friendships

All three students agree that friendships form quickly, especially in the first weeks. People are new, open, and looking for connection. As Emma puts it: “At the end of all, we’re all in the same situation, everyone wants to make friends.”

Emma reflected on one of her first memories of a friend here. “When I moved in, my neighbour by accident got into my room instead of her own,” she says. “She completely panicked for a second, but then we all ended up meeting in the hallway. Immediate chemistry.”

“Kanaalstraat was the main reason of creating our group” (Emma)

Luna agrees. “Kanaal is the best thing about being a first year because everyone is there. You go to class together, come back together. And at any moment you can just ask like ‘does anyone have ketchup?’”

Emma describes the GRL social vibe in one word: “Sunny: there’s light in Campus Fryslân.”

Studying GRL: discussion-based, surprising, and very diverse

The GRL programme is known for its interdisciplinary approach, and students quickly notice how different it feels compared to their previous education.

In Luna’s case, the freedom is what stands out most.
“In high school nothing changes for six years,” she says. “Same people, same subjects that just get more complicated… Here, because you decide what you want to study, you enjoy it more.” Ype also describes the customisability of your own curriculum as one of GRL's biggest strengths: "it is what makes this programme so unique".

Emma was struck by how interactive classes are. “[the professors] really want to hear your opinion. It is learning based on discussion.” She also describes the cultural shock of the teacher-student relationship. “[In Italy], you approach professors in an almost submissive way,” she says. “Here they want peer-to-peer conversation.”

Ype, having already completed a bachelor’s degree, noticed that GRL feels more flexible compared to his previous programme. But he adds that students who want to challenge themselves can absolutely do so. “There are plenty of options, if you’re actively looking for them.”

Favourite courses and assignments

When students talk about GRL, they often mention how creative and varied the assignments are. As Ype puts it: "you are not just writing papers, you are actually learning by doing."

Luna loved the video assignment for The Earth System course. “I got a really good group,” she says. “We had so much fun doing it.” She also enjoyed researching political corruption in Peru for a crisis report in Politics, Power and International Relations course. “I had only heard about it,” she says. “Investigating was very interesting.”

Emma’s highlight was Explaining Human Behaviour, especially the mini-studies.
“We tried to replicate sociological experiments,” she explains. “Like pro-social behaviour: we dropped something on the floor and observed people’s reactions.”

Ype, who has a long-standing interest in philosophy, has been enjoying Key Political Thinkers. “I like to understand the situatedness of thinkers within history,” he says. “It’s really interesting.” He also appreciated practical assignments like simulations and MUN-style projects.

Housing: relief, chaos, and government forms

The Dutch housing market is infamous, so the fact that GRL students have guaranteed housing in their first year is a major advantage. Ype calls it one of the biggest reasons he chose GRL. “That certainty took a lot of pressure off,” he says. “I had horrible experiences finding housing in Utrecht.”

Emma agrees that Kanaalstraat is a great option for first-years. “There’s a community there,” she says. “It’s easy to rely on someone else.” But there is one shared struggle: Dutch bureaucracy. “The application to all those allowances makes the group,” Emma laughs. “We’re all panicking together, not understanding, in Dutch. It’s an experience.”

Learning to manage time (and life)

If there is one skill nearly every first-year student learns quickly, it’s time management.

Luna admits it was her biggest adjustment. She says she enjoys the independence, but and its it can feel overwhelming when you realise that everything is your responsibility. “No one is gonna do it for you.”

Emma agrees and laughs that the hardest part is simply keeping life organised. When deadlines pile up, routines disappear, and suddenly you realise you’ve been surviving on instant soup and pure determination.

Feeling at home

It might feel scary, as an international, to travel abroad by youself and settle in a new city. I asked Luna and Emma about how this process felt for them and here is what they told me:

“Decorating my room,” Luna reflects. “Putting things on the wall. It makes it feel real. Like it’s actually my house, and not like I am just on a holiday.” She also loves building routines, like going to the market on Fridays with friends.

Emma stays connected to home through culture. “Every chance of talking about my culture, I take it,” she says. “And music… I started listening more to Italian music. I need to hear Italian.” Sometimes, distance makes you appreciate your home country more, too. “Now when I go back, I see the beauty I didn’t see before,” Emma reflects.

Life in Leeuwarden

Leeuwarden may not be the first city international students think of when imagining the Netherlands, but that’s part of its charm.

Ype describes it as a city made for explorers. “It’s not like Utrecht,” he says. “It’s not as bustling. But there are really cool places and historical areas to wander around. And for nature lovers, you have the Leeuwarden Bos,” he says, “and nature reserves with little islands connected by wooden bridges.”

Luna found hobbies through trial and error. She joined student sports and discovered that trying random activities is half the fun. “We go to badminton on Tuesdays,” she says. “Dance fit too. We tried volleyball.”

Emma has also embraced student life through sports and committees, and even started learning Dutch at Campus Fryslân. “I think it’s important to know the language when you move to a country,” she says.

When things feel overwhelming, students rely on small grounding habits. Luna goes running and calls her mom. Emma takes “me-time” with music, or goes for walks when the weather allows it. “That’s maybe the thing I miss the most,” she says. “The sun.” Ype unwinds through exercise too, recently joining a gym and using the student sports options. “It helps me unwind a lot,” he says.

What they’ve learned about themselves

Since coming here, the lives of these three GRL students have changed quite substantially. Now the question is: have they changed as well?

Luna says she has become more open to change. “This was a big change,” she says. “And it went pretty good.”

Emma discovered a new confidence. “I learned I can be independent,” she says. “I’m determined… and I’m really proud of myself. And I’m becoming more extroverted!”

Ype feels he has gained a deeper awareness of politics and societal complexity. “You start seeing how complex problems are,” he says. “And Friesland is so innovative. It’s not like there’s nothing here.”

Advice for future GRL students

When asked what they would tell incoming first-years, the message is reassuringly clear: don’t be afraid.

“Don’t be scared you’re gonna be alone,” Luna says. “It’s almost impossible.”

Emma recommends visiting an Open Day and talking to students.
“The perspective a student gives is different,” she says. “And don’t be afraid to start a new life. It’s worth it.”

Ype encourages future students to explore widely, keep an open mind, and embrace the unconventional. “Try to experience Leeuwarden,” he says. “Have a coffee somewhere.”

A first semester full of growth (and ketchup requests)

From hallway friendships to challenging discussions, from Dutch bureaucracy to late-night study sessions, the first year of GRL is an experience that mixes independence, community, and studying. That is about discovering the world, while also discovering yourself.