Marloes(22)

Twice rejected by lottery for medicine in the Netherlands. My pre-university grades were good (8.2 average), but the lottery was unforgiving. Then a friend told me about the Flemish entrance exam for medicine — no lottery, but a content-based exam. I prepared for three months and passed in September.

The entrance exam in Flanders tests scientific knowledge (biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics) and generic competencies. It's tough — only 20-25% pass — but at least it's fair: your result depends on knowledge, not luck. After passing I enrolled at KU Leuven, Belgium's best medical faculty.

As a student in Leuven you register at the municipality and receive an annex 19 (temporary residence certificate). Tuition at KU Leuven is €1,100 per year — considerably lower than the €2,500+ in the Netherlands. I live in a kot (student room) on Parkstraat for €420 per month. With my DUO study finance (which you can keep as a Dutch student in Belgium) and a part-time job at the library, I manage.

The medical program in Leuven is tough but excellent. The curriculum is problem-based, with extensive clinical rotations from the third year at UZ Leuven. What stands out: the student-to-teacher ratio is better than in the Netherlands, there's more personal guidance and facilities are state-of-the-art. The anatomy laboratory is one of the best in Europe.

Socially I quickly found connections through student associations. In Leuven they're called "studentenclubs" — I joined a medical student club that organizes weekly cantussen (singing evenings). Flemish students are open toward Dutch students, though you need to get used to the Leuven dialect and the slightly more formal university culture.

My tip for Dutch students rejected by lottery: the Flemish entrance exam is a serious opportunity, but don't underestimate the preparation. Start at least three months in advance. And check your DUO study finance — as an EU student in Belgium you retain the right to the Dutch basic grant and supplementary grant. Leuven is a world-class university at a fraction of the cost.