Overview | Academics | Cost | Location | Life Abroad | Student Voices
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.
Located conveniently between the two Utrecht University sites, UCU has its own residential campus in a pleasant part of the historic city of Utrecht. Utrecht has approximately 300,00 inhabitants, which makes it the fourth largest city in the Netherlands. Utrecht's location in the center of the country makes it a hub of activities year-round. The excellent railway network makes it easy to travel: Utrecht is thirty minutes to Amsterdam, two hours to Cologne, two and a half hours to Brussels, and four hours to Paris.
Getting to Your Program
Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to Utrecht but are given guidelines for arrival dates and times.
Visa
U.S. citizens do not require visas, but must apply for a residence permit before departure. A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of the program is also required. You will apply for your own residence permit. IAP will provide you with residence permit information.
Non-U.S. citizens should check with the Embassy of the Netherlands to determine any special regulations pertaining entry into the Netherlands at any time.
Orientation
IAP expects you to be an active participant in preparing yourself for your study abroad experience. As a participant on an IAP program, you will receive a pre-departure orientation, either in-person or online. The type and format of this orientation will vary by program and will be provided to you upon acceptance to the program.
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 Olympics 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.
Insurance
You will be enrolled in the UW System required health insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) and the cost of the insurance coverage is included in program fees.
On-Site Support
University College Utrecht staff
Handbooks
Use the links below to find out more information on academics, daily life and student impressions for this program.
Utrecht Honors Handbook 2013-14 (Fall - 2013-14)
Program Handbook (Year - 2013-14)
Returned Student Network
Click
here to see testimonials from students abroad or to contact a returned student.
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.
Affiliate Institution(s)
www.ucu.uu.nl
Program Web Page(s)
www.ucu.uu.nl/12.phtml
Foreign Courses
Available Courses
Course Equivalents
Use the links below to see a list of courses that students have taken on this program before and the UW equivalents. Note: this list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses or departments. You will get instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance.
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