Representative

There are a lot of young people in Iran who wish to study at a university. However, Iranian universities only have a few spaces available and the entrance exam is very difficult. That is why Babak Dorrani decided to go and study abroad. But why in the Netherlands and why in Eindhoven?
Dorrani: "Because of the political situation people from Iran are not easily admitted to universities in the United States or the United Kingdom. And for instance, in Germany and France university courses are often taught in the language of these countries. At Fontys University of Applied Sciences a growing number of courses is offered in English. That is a great advantage, not only for me, but also for the other software engineering students. They come from all over the world, especially from Asian and African countries like China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cameroon and Burundi."

Having a complete international community united in one class room makes studying in Eindhoven an interesting and inspiring experience. "I have friends from all over the world," says Dorrani. "It is nice to compare habits and exchange ideas. It enhances our lives."
Dorrani finds life in the Netherlands to be expensive. "Rents are especially high", he says. "And because I do not have a full time job and salary, housing agencies do not allow me to register. That is why I had to rent a place through a commercial agency. Fortunately I managed to save some money during the eight and a half years that I worked in Iran."

Dorrani, his wife and six-year old son enjoy living in Eindhoven. "The Dutch are a friendly people and Eindhoven is relatively quiet, compared to Teheran. Over there it would take me about one hour to travel the 15 kilometers between my apartment and my job, and during certain months of the year the air is very polluted. Here in Eindhoven it takes me ten minutes to get to Fontys University of Applied Sciences. By bicycle!"