Accepting applications for the spring 2008 program until August 15, 2007.

Program Description

Designed for Letters and Science Honors students, this exchange program allows participants to directly enroll in courses at University College Utrecht (UCU), the international honors college of Utrecht University. UCU’s international student body, freedom for students to compose their own curriculum, small classes, and individual attention fosters an environment that encourages intellectual exchange among students and professors in a friendly and informal atmosphere. The college faculty strives to connect rather than isolate the fields of study, thereby challenging students to integrate different aspects of their curriculum.

Founded by Romans in 48 A.D., the city of Utrecht is situated in the center of the Netherlands and enjoys a great reputation among students, who make up a large part of its diverse population of nearly 300,000. Utrecht’s many medieval churches, canals, marketplaces, and terraces offer old world charm while its large student population also makes it a young, colorful city with many cultural and social activities. The city’s proximity to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague make Utrecht an excellent base for visiting other parts of the Netherlands or greater Europe.

Academics

Founded in 1636, Utrecht University (Universitet Utrecht) is one of Europe’s leading research universities, recognized internationally for its high-quality, innovative approach to both research and teaching. UCU is a small and selective honors college within Utrecht University, with its own residential campus located conveniently between the two main university sites in a pleasant part of the historic city of Utrecht. 650 students attend UCU, 400 of whom are Dutch with the others covering a wide range of nationalities.

UCU specializes in the teaching of liberal arts and sciences and offers a variety of courses from its four departments: Academic Core, Humanities, Science, and Social Science. The UCU curriculum is multi- and interdisciplinary, covering a broad range of academic disciplines and skills. Courses are taught in English and exchange students may enroll in any course in which they meet the pre-requisite.

Housing

All UCU students live on campus for the duration of their studies. Students live in one of the multiple UCU halls of residence located around the main campus area. Each residence hall is divided into units (suites) with six to twelve furnished bedrooms, which share a living room, kitchenette, and bathroom(s). Participants are typically assigned to double bedrooms, though single accommodations may be available. Participants receive a full UCU meal plan which entitles students to breakfast, lunch, and dinner five days a week, with brunch and dinner served on Saturday and Sunday.

Excursions and Activities

During the first week of classes, exchange students participate in an orientation arranged by UCU designed to help them get acquainted with the university and get to know other students. During the semester, students may get involved in a wide range of activities at the university, such as one of the many student organizations, the Olympos Sports Center, which offers classes, sports clubs, and facilities for over thirty different sports, and the Erasmus Student Network, whose social activities and mentor program assists international students with integrating into Dutch life.