Virtual Open Day 2026 Q&A: Selected Highlights
By Zlatoslava
It’s a wrap! The WUR Open Days have officially ended. It was a pleasure to meet so many of you and see how excited you are!
In the previous blogs, we have covered how the Bachelor’s and Master’s Open Days went, as well as my experience. Those were held on campus, so if you couldn’t visit Wageningen, take a look at the blogs so you’re up-to-date.
To not miss something as a prospective international student, WUR also organises a Virtual Open Day! You can enjoy it from the comfort of your own home, with a cosy blanket or maybe even sunbathing, depending on where you’re watching from, haha.🌏
The Must-Knows
As with every other Open Day, the Virtual Open Day (VOD) also had presentations featuring the BSc and MSc programmes that WUR offers. Alongside the application and documentation, an experience from a current student is shared!
Every year, essential information for prospective students is also discussed. This is done via two Live Q&A sessions: “Student Life in Wageningen” and “Essentials of studying in Wageningen“, and the topics include housing, finances, applications, and student life. For your convenience, we have gathered all of this information in the VOD 2025 Recap blog!
Selected Highlights
There are endless sources for the hot topics and questions future students wonder about. However, when you have a lot of questions, you might miss something you haven’t thought of. That is why in this blog, I have specially selected bits from the Q&A sessions that are just as important but are not discussed as often. Madeline, Ilaria and George were invited to share their experiences as international students at the VOD, so you’ll hear from them too!
- Question: “What’s something you wish you knew before moving to the Netherlands/WUR?“
Madeline: “Learning a little bit of the language before coming here is always an advantage, just so that you get a running start. I was initially worried about the housing and grocery prices, but later on, everything worked out well. My advice would be to take things one step at a time!”
Ilaria: “I knew the winter weather wasn’t the best, but I should have brought rainpants before coming here and not after cycling in the rain a couple of times, showing up drenched.”
+1🙋♀️ on the last bit. Soaking wet.. we’ve all been there, haha. Sometimes you’re just heading home, so it is not a problem, however, being with wet clothes in class is not the most pleasant thing. Prepare for the weather and bring appropriate clothing! You can always buy rainwear from here, there is plenty, but keep in mind that rain is a real deal during the colder periods. Make sure to check your weather app in advance before leaving and have a raincoat (or two)!😉
- Question: “Why did you choose WUR, and have you hesitated between this and a different university?“
Ilaria: “I knew that WUR has very high rankings, especially in my field, Environmental Sciences, where it is 2nd in the world. So, this was a big motivator for me. I was also very intrigued by the “small town” idea and experiencing a university town. Since then, I’ve had no regrets. You get to build deep bonds with people around you. Next to the quality of life, I also love the great teaching methods. I can see the growth in my academic and professional career.”
I can confirm this from my side as well! I’m also coming from a big city, and compared to it, life in Wageningen is different. It is all about the people and your surroundings, about diversity, international community and associations, but also simplicity and professionalism.
- Question: “Can I contact a current student? If so, how?”
Answer: Yes, you absolutely can! Wageningen University is part of the UniBuddy platform. There, you can directly contact students (and alumni!) from different programmes. No filters, only honest and transparent opinions and experiences. They can tell you more about student life and what it is really like to study here. If you have any other questions, UniBuddies are again here to help you!
- Question: “Are there cafeterias on campus and nice coffee places?”
Answer: There are multiple possibilities to choose from! Each of the University buildings for students has its own cafe and/or cafeteria where a variety of meals, snacks and drinks are offered. There are also vegetarian and vegan options for all kinds of dietary needs and preferences. Additionally, Campus Plaza is not to be missed! If you’re hungry, there are nice restaurants from Italian to Asian cuisine. And if you’re in for something lighter, you can grab a nice coffee, bubble tea or another drink and chat with friends.
- Question: “Is it sufficient to know only English?”
Answer: You can definitely go around without knowing Dutch. Everyone can speak English here, so not knowing the language is generally not a problem. Nevertheless, learning Dutch might help expand your social circle, feel more integrated and secure a better job position if you’re planning to later settle in the Netherlands.
If you’re ready to take a step closer to becoming a Dutchie, or you’re just keen on languages, Wageningen in’to Languages‘ve got you! They offer Social Dutch classes (initial levels are free!) and many more language courses like Spanish, French, and English.
- Question: “Was it hard to adjust to the student life there? What habits helped you succeed at Wageningen?“
Madeline: “There’s a reputation that Dutch people are very direct. Sometimes they are, but they’re also really sweet people. I wouldn’t be worried about that directness. It also helps with better communication, in my opinion.”
George: “I would also add that Dutch people are always on time. They don’t like it if you are late. In Slavic countries, it’s okay to be 15 minutes late on some occasions. Here, it’s a bit different so try to respect that culture and be on time.”
- Question: “Who to contact in case of doubt about admission?“
Answer: You can contact the Student Service Centre for application and admission matters, but also for questions related to VISAs and, legal residence and insurance.
Is there something else you would like to know? Drop a comment below!👇
See you around,
Zlatoslava
