Jelle van der Werff on exchange in Melbourne: ‘The best six months of my life!’
Master’s student in Company Law Jelle van der Werff left for Melbourne in February 2025 for a six-month exchange. It turned out to be a great opportunity: ‘Getting to know so many different cultures in one place is really special.’
Why did you choose to go on an exchange?
I’ve always been interested in other countries and have a passion for travelling. After completing my bachelor's degree in Law, I enrolled in the master’s programme in Company Law, but at the same time I decided to take a gap year. It seemed like the perfect – and probably last – opportunity to study abroad.
How did you arrange your gap year?
For the first half of my gap year, I worked to save money and did an internship at a law firm. I spent the second half at Monash University in Melbourne, where I went on exchange. On previous trips abroad, I’d often met people who were incredibly enthusiastic about Australia, so I wanted to experience it for myself.
At Monash, I took four courses. Three of them focused mainly on finance, covering topics such as investment and venture capital. The fourth course was about international business. I deliberately chose not to take any law courses, as I wanted to broaden my horizons. The exchange programme was a great way to explore other interests.
Was it a big step outside your comfort zone?
Absolutely – it was the first time I’d travelled abroad on my own. Right from the start, during the introduction week and my first course, I made a conscious effort to meet other people. Luckily, there were lots of international students and everyone was keen to make new friends, so I settled in really fast.
I joined two clubs: the wakeboarding club and an outdoor society. I went on a few weekend trips with those clubs, going camping and hiking. It was great fun and a good way to meet people. What also made a big difference for me was that I’d already got in touch with other Dutch students going to Melbourne before leaving the Netherlands. I ended up renting a house with five of them, so I had a familiar homebase to fall back on from the very beginning.
What was studying at a different university like?
I found it a truly broadening experience. Studying in a completely new environment, with people from all over the world and in a very different academic setting, allowed me to look at topics from new perspectives. In the lecture hall, I was sitting beside students from countries such as Mongolia, Russia, Brazil, Japan, Italy and Australia. It’s quite special to encounter so many different cultures in one place and to hear such a wide range of viewpoints.
The biggest difference in terms of teaching was that all lectures lasted three hours, while seminars were only one hour long. During the lectures, guest speakers from professional practice were often invited to share insights from their own experience. This added real depth to the material and made the sessions both motivating and inspiring.
Would you recommend going on an exchange to other students?
Absolutely! Leiden University has a wide range of international partnerships, so there are plenty of opportunities to study abroad. I genuinely believe it’s a unique and unforgettable experience for almost everyone. Lots of people told me beforehand that their exchange had been the best six months of their life — and looking back, I can say exactly the same.
Many students worry about making new friends, but in my experience almost everyone on exchange is actively keen to meet people. There are so many opportunities: you can take up a sport, join a student society, meet fellow students in class, or simply go out for drinks and start a conversation. You’re constantly meeting new people, so there’s really no need to worry about ending up alone.
Do you have any tips for students who are about to go on exchange?
My main tip would be to reach out to students who have recently been on exchange to the same university. They can offer valuable practical advice, because they’ve done exactly what you’re about to do.
Also, if you run into any issues during your preparations, don’t hesitate to ask for help or support in Leiden. The university can always refer you to the right people at your host university or help you with any practical matters.
Interested in doing an exchange?
Are you thinking of doing an exchange in autumn 2026 or spring 2027? Register by midnight on 10 January 2026. More information is available here!
