This is despite Internationals being a significantly smaller proportion of the student populace
Many International students, especially from non-EU countries struggle with their mental health during their degree. Last year, almost as many Internationals reported to the student psychologist as Dutch students: almost four times as many Dutch students study in Groningen. As reported by the UKrant.
It’s remarkable that there are almost as many international students who request an intake interview as Dutch students, says student psychologist Rike Vieten of the Student Service Center,
“In 2019, there were 1,000 and 1,300 respectively,” she says. And that while Groningen has about 7,000 internationals studying, compared to 25,000 Dutch students.
Those thousand applications are from EU and non-EU students, but Vieten sees that especially those from outside the EU are struggling with additional challenges. “Factors such as high study costs, parents’ expectations, visa requirements and climate and cultural differences can all play a role. There is often an accumulation of these concerns among the people who knock on our door.”
Every student sometimes has problems, and having a network that you can fall back on is essential, says Vieten. “That stability often disappears when you move to another place,” she says.
“Share your story with people around you, try to find a good balance between your own culture and the local customs and prepare well for the differences in the education and care system when you move to another country.”
Image via WIkimedia user THOR. License here.
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