Hansoo is a first year student at Urban Studies. She was born in the US, grew up in South Korea and Switzerland.

How did you end up at Urban Studies?

My initial plan was to go back to the US, but it was going to be financially difficult to study there. While I was doing looking at universities in Europe, I came across a few programs in the Netherlands, which offered a high standard of education for a comparatively low price. I started out studying International Relations and Organizations (IRO) at Leiden University. Although it was very interesting, at a certain moment, I became interested in sustainability and culture. IRO is mainly about politics, so I decided to switch. I did the Online Experience and I liked Urban Studies very much. 

How is life in The Hague?

In the beginning, it was a bit hard being on my own abroad. But I have no regrets, I have good friends and I enjoy living on my own. Den Haag is a very international city. It offers a lot for internationals, such as international organizations. Besides, the beach is close. So I’m enjoying my time here very much.

What do you think of the various themes?

They positively reflect the overall structure of the course. I’m personally really interested in waste regulation and the use of urban space, both within the themes of environmental and social sustainability. I like the fact that Urban Studies is practical and allows you to pursue certain projects. 

What do you think of the atmosphere?

There is a good academic atmosphere. Many of our lecturers are quite young, which can be both good and bad. A good thing is that they are more open to new ideas, but sometimes it’s clear they don’t have enough teaching experience. Because of that, some students don’t show up for class. We also need a student association that organizes social activities. Some first-year students are confined to a small social group because there are no general social activities.

There is also a divide between the Dutch and international students. The Dutch have their network outside the campus, which is normal. However, some first-year students from abroad feel lonely because of the lack of social activities.