Utrecht University

About: 

Utrecht University is a public research university located in Utrecht in the Netherlands. It was established in 1636, making it one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands. Around 30,000 students are enrolled at the university. Utrecht University focuses particularly on research with students learning from prominent researchers in their chosen discipline. The university also prides itself on its international educational environment as it attracts over 2000 international degree students every year from 110 different countries.

Highlights: 

Utrecht is considered a medieval and a modern city. It is a great student city that is located in the centre of the Netherlands and various parties are working towards making Utrecht a sustainable city. The city is bursting with culture and beauty. Visit various landmarks such as the Dom Tower and the Castle De Harr. There are museums, restaurants, bars,  festivals and more. Utrecht and the Netherlands in general is a great base for travelling to other countries as it has some great transport links such as the Dutch Railway Network. This means that it is convenient to travel to other cities in the Netherlands such as Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

Location: 

Utrecht, Netherlands

Courses / Modules: 

Please see the course information guide for more details of modules available to exchange students in the Faculty of Humanities.

You can choose undergraduate courses open to Exchange students at levels 1, 2 and 3

Level 1: Introductory- these courses are mostly taken by first year students as they are a broad introduction into the subject.

Level 2: Elaborating- these courses explore aspects, debates, methods and techniques within a subject area. Although no specific background knowledge is needed, sufficient academic skills are required.

Level 3: Advanced- these courses require integration/synthesis and the formation of theories based on results. Sufficient background knowledge in the subject is needed. Therefore, you either need to study the subject at the University of York or have completed an equivalent of 30 ECTS in the subject area.

Students should ensure that they choose courses depending on their academic background and should check their chosen courses with their department. 

Credit (Full-time Load per semester): 

You must take a full credit load while on exchange.  Utrecht University uses the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) to show credit values.  30 ECTS is the equivalent to 60 York credits, and 60 ECTS is the equivalent to 120 York credits.  

A normal credit load for a student at Utrecht University is 30 ECTS per semester, taken as 15 ECTS in each 10-week study period of that semester. 

Teaching Periods: 

There are two semesters in the academic year: semester 1, which is from early September to late January and semester 2, which is from early February to late June. Each semester contains two 10 week periods which end with examinations.

Language: 

Check the course catalogue for modules taught in English. There may be opportunities for exchange students to take part in Dutch classes - check with your department if you are able to take such courses for credit. 

Accommodation: 

Due to Utrecht being one of the most popular university cities in the Netherlands, the demand for student housing is very high. This means that the university cannot guarantee student housing. The average cost of housing in Utrecht is higher than in most others towns and cities in the Netherlands. Utrecht University recommends that students look for housing well in advance, perhaps even before admission. 

One option is the Reserved Accommodation Programme, which is rented on a first come first served basis. However, this programme does not guarantee housing so many students search for private housing before bookings for this programme open.  Utrecht University provide a lot of helpful information about housing, including tips and tricks for finding accommodation, advice on how to avoid scams and fake offers and links to housing agencies and rental platforms.

Orientation / Welcome week:  

Utrecht University's orientation week will help you to:

• Meet other international students: This is a great way to meet people at the beginning of your stay. You will be in a group of around 10-20 international students with an experienced second year student to act as a guide

• learn more about your faculty and/or programme: You will be able to attend a faculty introduction where you can ask questions about your upcoming programme.

• You will be able to learn more about Dutch student life: this orientation will help you learn more about student associations, sports associations and cultural associations. You might even decide to join one of them.

Support Services: 

Utrecht University offers a wide range of student services. For example, assistance with paying fees, proof of enrolment, study programmes and IT. Other support services include:

• Career Services

• Skills Lab Writing Centre 

• Educational Consultancy and Professional Development 

• Academic Support Advisor

Utrecht University also offers support for a wide range of disabilities.  It is important to ask for support as soon as possible to ensure that arrangements can be made on time. A useful contact to have is disability@uu.nl which will connect you to student counsellors who can help you or if need be, refer you to someone else. Studying without Limitations is a peer group for students who have a disability. The members have personal experience and can help in many ways.

Accessibility: An overview of all the university buildings provides information on accessibility including wheelchair entrances, lifts and quiet rooms. Any issues can be reported to the Facility Service Centre (FSC).

Visas: 

You may need a visa to study in the Netherlands.  If you are a UK National you must refer to the Travel Advice page for The Netherlands and its Living in The Netherlands guide to check on any visa requirements, and raise any queries directly with the relevant embassy/consulate.   If you are not a UK national you should check equivalent advice for your home country.

Utrecht University provide more information about entry visas and residence permits.

Health insurance: 

Utrecht University offer guidance on compulsory health insurance for non-Dutch students and the different requirements depending on personal circumstances.

Students travelling to Europe may be able to apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or in some circumstances a new UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which gives the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the EU. You are strongly recommended to obtain a GHIC / EHIC if eligible. To check your eligibility and find out how to apply if you are eligible, go to the NHS page on Applying for healthcare cover abroad (GHIC and EHIC).

Travel insurance:

If you complete the Travel Authorisation process and are approved by the University of York to participate in this programme, you will be covered by the University's Travel Insurance Policy. This is a complimentary policy to cover you for the duration of your University of York mobility experience. Please refer to the Insurance website for all travel insurance queries.  You may be required to obtain health insurance valid during your exchange. 

Anna, Year Abroad at Utrecht University (2019/20)

"This year has been amazing. Studying at Utrecht has allowed me to be more flexible with the subjects I chose, which has completely changed my dissertation topic and opened new areas of interest to me. I've also met loads of incredible people and been able to visit quite a few places in Europe whilst on a low budget, which wouldn't have been possible if I had been in the UK. Having the freedom to hop on a train or bus and within a couple of hours be in a different country surrounded by a different language and culture was really rewarding."

Have a look at some more student stories on the Global Opportunities website!

• Utrecht University Website

• Utrecht University fact sheet

• Exchange and Visiting Students

• FCO for the Netherlands

• Global Graduates

• Numbeo - cost of living comparison site

• Expatistan - cost of living comparison site

If you find any broken links, please email us at global-opportunities@york.ac.uk

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