Student Survival Guide - The Europaeum

Oxford Leiden Bologna Bonn Geneva Paris Prague Madrid Helsinki Krakow
EVROPAEVM MA in European History and Civilization
The following has been prepared by Alexandra Ekklenkamp and Lisette Pennaviare, members of
the 2005-06 academic year. We suggest you note and enjoy the many significant and helpful
comments to get the most out of the coming year.
LEIDEN
Preparations
When packing for Leiden, bring your passport (of course), your laptop and an ethernet cable of
sufficient length. Check if you need power converters (bring them if you are a UK or US resident).
If you are a foreign student in Leiden, you will need to bring your birth certificate as this is
required for registration in the Town Hall (Breestraat). Once you are registered, you are entitled
to a ca. €600 grant from the Dutch Government. Mr Jonkman is responsible for foreign students,
and he will help with everything. Housing will be arranged by the University, but you could
alternatively consider renting a sub-letted room from a Dutch student, as this could be cheaper.
Most Dutch people speak English, so you will be able to get by without knowing any Dutch.
Arrival
You will probably be arriving by train, as this is the most efficient way from Schiphol airport. Be
sure to have a city map, as finding your way around takes some practice. There are buses and taxis
available at the train station to take you to your accommodation.
Accommodation
Leiden University will arrange your housing. You will most likely share a big house with other
international students. Cooking facilities will be available, as well as a living room to be shared
with the other residents. Supermarkets can be found throughout the city, the Digros being the
cheapest and the Albert Heijn the most luxurious. However, if you decide not to cook, then a great
alternative is the restaurant (mensa) at the Lipsius Building (Cleveringaplaats 1).
Practical matters
Leiden is a small city and you can walk most distances but a bike is the best way to get around.
There are many bike shops (fietsenwinkel) where you can get a relatively cheap second-hand bike.
If you want to visit other Dutch places, this is easy. Amsterdam is only 30 minutes by train, so is
Rotterdam. The Hague is only ten minutes away. If you intend on travelling a lot by train, it may
be useful to get a discount card (NS kortingskaart) for 55 euros. Having a cell phone is convenient,
but it will cost you a lot of money to use your foreign cell phone in the Netherlands. A pre-paid,
simlock-free cell phone is the best option as you will be able to buy new sim cards in Paris and
Oxford. You can buy a pre-paid card anywhere and you should only pay for the calling costs. You
can find most cell phone stores in the Haarlemmerstraat.
The Leiden term
The History Faculty is next to the Lipsius building, one of the main university buildings located on
the Doelensteeg off the Rapenburg. Here you will find the restaurant and a coffee bar. Behind the
Lipsius building is the university library (UB). You can ask for a tour of the library.

To use the library you will need a library pass which you can get for free at the library. The
university has an online catalogue available in both Dutch and English. You can use it to get books
from closed stacks. You can take out most books for at least two weeks. If you ever run into
difficulties, the library staff are extremely helpful. If you cannot find what you need at the UB in
Leiden, consider becoming a member of the Royal Dutch Library (KB) at The Hague. It is located
next to The Hague Central Station. Membership for students costs only €7,50. Remember to bring
your student card and proof of residence in the Netherlands.
There are three courses that you will take. You will have to write a research paper, a literature
paper and take an exam. It is advisable to start thinking about your thesis subject, as you will be
given at least two deadlines during the Leiden term. If you need to do research in the Netherlands,
do it during this term and do not forget that both the UB and KB have a lot of foreign books.
Extra-curricular
Apart from the aforementioned supermarkets, there is a market every Wednesday and Saturday
with lots of fresh fish, cheese, flowers and vegetables - highly recommended. The main shopping
area in Leiden is in the Haarlemmerstraat, where you can find everything from fashion to music.
If you are in need of a good bookshop, Kooijker and Van Stockum (both located at the Breestraat)
are the best places to go.
Being a student city, Leiden has a lively night life. Although there are no "clubs" to speak of, there
are lots of bars with a very friendly atmosphere where you can happily drink the night away.
Closest to the history faculty is Camino Real (Doelensteeg 8). For coffee and sandwiches, go to
Het Koffiehuis (serves coffee, not a coffee shop), Het Beleg van Leyden and Bagel & Beans. You
can eat cheaply at Pastamania, La Bota, eazy, restaurant Augustinus (this is at the Augustinus
students’ society at the Rapenburg- a very nice place to go if you want to get a feel for the Leiden
student life). If you want to go out, Odessa and Café Einstein are popular places to go. Be sure not
to miss “Leids Ontzet” on the 3 rd of October, celebrating the end of the Spanish siege of Leiden in
1574. A fairground is set up in the city centre, with music and parties throughout the city. Do try
the Dutch traditional dish called 'hutspot' (mashed potatoes and carrots, with 'rookworst' (a large
sausage). You could also try eating the herring and onions.
PARIS
Preparations
You can get to Paris either by plane or by train (Thalys, from the Netherlands). Especially in the
case of taking the Thalys, it is definitely worth booking in advance as this can be a lot cheaper. Be
sure to bring your laptop and ethernet-cable (at least five metres). In France, the same power
system is used as in the Netherlands (if you have already got your converters, you should be fine).
Of course, you will bring your passport and student card, but a credit card is also handy for paying
the rent at the Cité U. Also, you need a lot of photos to go with your official documents. It is
worthwhile to bring a tour guide or map of Paris, with a subway map.
Arrival
Since you will probably be arriving by plane or Thalys, you will need to take the blue RER line B to
the subway-station Cité Universitaire. Upon arrival, exit the station, cross the road, enter the
complex through the main gate and present yourself at the building immediately to your right
(Résidence André Honorat, CICS office). Remember that the office is closed between 12 and 2 pm,
as are all public buildings and offices in France. Finally, if you arrive by car, it is possible to park
your car on the premises for a two hour period. Ask for further information at the CICS office.
Also be sure to ask for Internet access when checking in. It is available for all, but login
information is only supplied when specifically asked for.

Accommodation
The Cité Universitaire Internationale de Paris (CIUP), where you will be staying during the Paris
term, is an international student campus, in the south of the city next to the Route peripherique.
You will have your own room, but will share the kitchen, bathrooms and salons with the other
residents. Your room will be cleaned once a week, be sure to be friends with the cleaning ladies.
The CIUP also houses a restaurant and a café, but you can also cook for yourself. Please bring
your own kitchen utilities (you can also buy them cheaply at Franprix, the closest supermarket).
On campus, there are 38 different maisons, each with students from various countries. There is an
active social life at the CIUP, with parties every Friday and/or Saturday night. As night life in
Paris is quite expensive, this is a fun, cheap and easy way to get to know people. There are
sporting facilities, a gym and a swimming pool. To gain access, you need several documents such
as a declaration of health from your GP. If you plan on using these facilities, contact the CICS in
advance. As a foreign student, you are entitled to support from the French government. Visit the
CAF site (www.caf.fr) for instructions and be sure to open a French bank account.
Practical matters
The subway (métro) is the best way to get around in Paris. A monthly Carte Orange, giving free
public transport, is the best deal. It costs around 55 euros and you can buy it at any metro station.
Be sure to get the Carte Orange that is valid for zones 1-2, it will be enough to explore the city.
The first thing you should do after your arrival is start the process of getting your student’s card,
as it may take several days. You first need to go to the Erasmus Office (Metro station Denfert-
Rocherau, 58 Boulevard Arago) and speak to Mme Ferrani. Be sure to bring your passport, photos,
and Leiden student card. Be sure to ask if you are to pay a university fee. If so, make sure to get a
check at a post office (Mme Ferrani will be able to explain how to do this). She will also give you a
document which you will need to bring to the Centre Pierre Mendès (a University building, 90 rue
de Tolbiac, you can take the bus from the Erasmus Office). Take the yellow lift to the Eleventh
Floor and follow the directions there (be patient). Finally, a word of advice: remember that all
offices are closed between 12 and 2pm and on Fridays after 12 pm. If you are unable to get your
student card before the start of term, Prof. Genet, the Paris director, will give you a letter of
admission, as you cannot enter the Sorbonne building without a student card.
If you want to use a cell phone in Paris, a pre-paid phone is once more the way to go. All pre-paid
sim cards in France cost 30 euros, on top of which you have to buy credit. There are several cell
phone stores in Les Halles shopping centre, but The Phone House is the best option.
The Paris term
All Europaeum History courses will be taught at Paris I- Panthéon-Sorbonne, at the Place de la
Sorbonne (Métro Luxembourg). Prof. Genet will give a tour of the Sorbonne at the start of the
term. Pay attention, as the Sorbonne main facility is a veritable maze. If you want access to the
Sorbonne library, you will need a free library pass. You can get it at an office located next to the
library. Don’t be afraid to ask for directions. Bring your student card, passport and photo.
There is no unified library system in Paris. Browse for books using the www.sudoc.abes.fr website,
and click localisation to find out in which library the books are stored. Remember that you cannot
take out books. Next to the Paris libraries, you might also find books at the Nanterre library and
the Cité library. But a great alternative is the BNF, Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Métro 14:
Bibliothèque). For just 18 euros you can get a library pass for the reading rooms. Another card can
be obtained for the research area (you will need an attestation from Prof. Genet for this, but it is
invaluable for your research). At the beginning of the term, Prof. Genet will provide you with
information on the courses. The courses will be taught in either English or French. Leiden
University offers excellent language courses which may be worthwhile if you want to improve your
French. Finally, if you wish to do research in Paris either in specific libraries or in archives, you
should go there right away because getting admitted will take quite a lot of time. Always be
mindful of the famous Parisian bureaucracy.

Extra-curricular
The Franprix supermarket is closest to CIUP. It is located on the Rue Mouchez (exit the Cité, turn
right, pass the park on your left and take the third street on your left). A luxury supermarket,
Monoprix, is located at St Germain and a vegetable market can be found at Rue Mouffetard in the
mornings. There is a big shopping centre at les Halles, but more luxurious shops are to be found
in St Germain and Le Marais – and there is always the famous Galeries Lafayette. Bookshops are
to be found in Quartier Latin and St Germain. A good English bookshop is ‘Shakespeare and
Company’ in the Quartier Latin (open until midnight, Rue de la Bucherie, near the Notre Dame)
and The Village Voice in St Germain. Good history books can be found around the Sorbonne (Rue
des Ecoles).
Each quartier has its own charm, be sure to explore them all. Each Friday night, admission to the
Louvre is free for everyone under the age of 26 and every first Sunday of the month lots of
museums are free (Centre Pompidou, Arc de Triomphe, Sainte Chapelle). The municipal
museums are always free. Paris is famous for its Jazz clubs, but they are generally rather
expensive. The best place to go is the Centre Czech in St Germain on Friday nights. Admission: 3
euros. Finally, going out is a little bit expensive in Paris but there is a well-known and relatively
cheap drink called Kir. It is a mix of white wine and crème de cassis or champagne (Kir Royale).
You can get it everywhere and it is a classic. Eating out is not necessarily expensive. There are
some cheap restaurants in St Michel, Quartier Latin and Rue Mouffetard. Also, try a delicious hot
crêpe. For really good bread and sandwiches, go to one of the Paul bakeries.
OXFORD
Preparations
If you are a non-UK resident, do not forget to bring several power converters. You can buy them
at the airport, but you can get them cheaper at the Argos store (behind Clarendon shopping centre,
Oxford). Ethernet cables are the same. One of the best ways to get to Oxford is by plane. Tickets
are cheap if you book early. Easyjet and Ryanair are well known for their low prices. Alternatively
you could take a ferry from the Netherlands or France, or go by train through the Channel Tunnel
(Eurostar from Paris). From the airport, you take either a train or a bus, but remember that public
transport in the UK is very expensive and the bus is generally the cheaper option. For buses, see
www.nationalexpress.co.uk If you intend to come by car, the Channel Tunnel is the cheaper and
faster option. It is a two hour drive from Felixstowe to Oxford.
Arrival
If you take the bus, you will arrive Gloucester Green Coach Station, right in the centre of Oxford.
Depending on the location of your housing and the weight of your baggage, you can walk or take a
bus or cab to your accommodation. Ask your college secretary for information.
Accommodation
Your accommodation will be arranged by the Europaeum Office in Oxford who will provide you
with further information. Generally, you will be housed in college accommodation. The secretary
or accommodation officer of the college you live in will help you with all practical matters. You
have to register separately for internet access. If you have a laptop, it will be scanned and logged
in to the network for you. Make sure your virus scanners are up to date, as the Oxford IT-service
is very strict about this.
Practical matters
When in Oxford, you will be a member of one of the participating colleges. Note: this is not
necessarily the college you live in (and this is why you pay separate college fees and rent). The
first thing you have to do after arriving in Oxford is to contact your college secretary, i.e. the

secretary of the college that has admitted you as a member. Bring your passport, student card and
photos. The secretary will apply for a BOD car. This card is both a student card, library card and a
swipe card to pay your college bills with (also known as battels). You will not need any other cards,
but do make sure that you get your BOD card as soon as possible because you cannot do anything
without it.
Oxford, like Leiden, is a small city. Everything is within walking distance but the best way to get
around is by bike. You could try buying a second hand bike from students, but the better deal is to
rent one for three months. If you go to Bike Zone in Summertown (North Oxford), you can rent a
city bike with basket, lock and lights for £50 – and an additional £50 – deposit which will be
returned to you. Trust us, this is the cheapest deal – we checked. Also, if you want to use a cell
phone in Oxford, you can get cheap pre-paid sim cards at the Carphone Warehouse in
Cornmarket Street. Recharging, by the way, is called “getting a top-up” and you can do it at their
store.
Finally: food. You can have dinner cheaply at your college or tag along with your fellow students
to their college dining halls. Once a week, there is “formal hall” (dining in gown or suit). Most
likely there will be a kitchen in your accommodation. If you want to do your own cooking, you can
buy your groceries at Sainsbury’s, Tesco or Co-op. The Sainsbury local (Magdalen Street) is the
most conveniently located, but Tesco (Cowley Road) is cheaper.
The Oxford term
Oxford University is organized differently from either Leiden or Paris. Oxford University consists
of 39 semi-independent colleges, where students live, study, socialize and eat. Generally, colleges
have a college library, a Junior, Middle and Senior Common Room and a Hall. Most college
libraries are open 24/7, which makes them ideal places to study. The Oxford term will consist of a
series of lectures held in the History Faculty on Catte Street, but the most important part of the
term will be the writing of your MA thesis. Following the Oxford system, you will be supervised by
a tutor whom you will meet about four times to discuss your work. The place to do your last
research and to work is the Bodleian Library, which allegedly contains 8 million books. The
library is housed in many buildings. The best places to work are the Radcliffe Camera (Rad Cam),
the Upper Reading Room and the modern Philosophy Library. There is internet access for your
laptop. Do not forget to bring a power converter. The Bodleian Library does not allow you to take
out books. The Oxford library system uses an online catalogue called OLIS. This catalogue takes
some getting used to but you will be given a tour of the library at the start of Trinity Term during
which you will also be taught to work with the catalogue. If you wish to take out books, the Library
of the History Faculty is the place to go. Their books are listed in OLIS as well.
Extra-curricular
There are a lot of things to do in Oxford. Normally, all extra-curricular activities of Oxford
students take place in their colleges. You will be in Oxford for Trinity Term when most students
will be busy taking exams. But it is still worth joining one of the many societies or clubs at your
college: from rowing to ballroom dancing, you can do it all. This is also great way to meet people.
Every week there are several college parties (bops). Try to go to as many as you can; they are fun.
They generally end at 1 am, so you will not be too tired to study the next day. Also, your college
bar is open most nights and cheaper than going to the pub. Pubs are nice, though. You can have
good meals for about £5/6 and some of them have an interesting history, like The Eagle And Child
(favourite pub of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien), the Bear, the Turf (take the alleyway next to the
Bridge of Sighs off Catte Street) and the King’s Arms which, unlike the others, does not close at 11
pm. Merton’s Bar (in Merton college) and the Purple Turtle (off Cornmarket) both stay open
longer.
The Oxford drink is definitely Pimm’s and Lemonade. It is a little bit expensive, but really nice on
a hot day and you can make it yourself. Other classic Oxford activities include punting on the Isis
or the Cherwell (hire a punt at Magdalen or borrow it at your own college) and the Summer Eights.

This 4-day rowing event on the Isis will give you a taste of Oxford student life. More culture is to
be found at Oxford’s many museums (all free), of which Pitt Rivers is the most interesting. Also
make sure to visit well known Christ Church College and Magdalen College. You can visit all
colleges for free with your BOD card and can even take a guest.
Finally, Oxford has some nice shops. The Covered Market off the High Street offers both fresh
food and unique boutiques. Go to Ben’s Cookies for hot, freshly baked cookies. If you want to buy
books, Oxford is definitely the place to be. The best known bookshop is Blackwell’s on Broad
Street that specialize in having everything. But nice book deals like 3 for 2 offers are found at
Waterstone’s and Borders (open until 9.30 pm). If you are tired of Oxford and have time to spare,
it is worth visiting London. Check out the megabus site, www.megabus.co.uk, for the cheapest
fares (from £2 for a return ticket). It is only two hours from Oxford, with buses running all night.
Useful Links
http://www.europaeum.org
Leiden
http://www.leiden.edu (Leiden University)
http://www.leiden.edu/index.php3?c=478 (International Office Leiden)
http://ub.leidenuniv.nl (UB)
http://www.kb.nl (KB)
http://www.kamertje.nl (for finding a room)
http://www.ns.nl (Dutch Railways)
http://www.esn-leiden.nl/ (Erasmus Student Network Leiden)
Paris
http://www.univ-paris1.fr/ (Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne)
http://www.ciup.fr (CIUP)
http://www.bnf.fr (Bibliothèque Nationale de France)
http://www.sudoc.abes.fr (SUDOC: university libraries catalogue)
http://www.biu.fr (Sorbonne Library)
http://www.bdic.fr (Nanterre library)
http://www.archivesnationales.culture.gouv.fr (Archives Nationales)
http://www.caf.fr (CAF: subsidy from French government)
http://www.tgv.com (train; Thalys)
http://www.ratp.fr (Parisian public transport)
http://www.louvre.fr (Louvre)
http://www.centretcheque.org (Czech Centre jazz club)
Oxford
http://www.ox.ac.uk/ (Oxford University)
http://library.ox.ac.uk/ (OLIS)
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk (Bodleian Library)
http://www.dailyinfo.co.uk/ (Daily Info: What’s On in Oxford)
http://www.megabus.co.uk (Megabus: Oxford-London)
http://www.nationalexpress.co.uk (long distance bus)
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk (UK trains)