University College Utrecht (UCU)

University College Utrecht (UCU)

University College Utrecht (UCU) is the international undergraduate honours college of Utrecht University. Founded in 1998, as the first university college in the Netherlands, UCU is a small scale institution (around 750 students) dedicated to specialised studies within the arts and sciences. It is considered one of the best university colleges in the world.

Academic Highlights

Students at UCU are encouraged to develop their own curriculum across three departments – Humanities, Sciences and Social Sciences. Students take classes across all three departments and learn about at least one subject in greater depth and at an advanced level. Courses include everything from museum studies, literature and linguistics through to physics, mathematics, psychology, anthropology and law. All classes are taught in English.

Location

UCU's campus is located at the former Kromhout Kazerne, a 19th century military base that used to be part of the Dutch Water Line. All students live at the College in the oldest quarter of the base, a short bike ride from the Utrecht University's botanical gardens.

Did you know?

Utrecht has a population of 300,000 people, making it the fourth largest city in the Netherlands. Of that population 50,000 people are students, making Utrecht a true university town.

Language of Instruction

English

Program Duration

1 semester, 2 semesters

Academic Level

Undergraduate

Minimum Result Required3.0 GPA
Previous Round Cut-off (WAM (%) or GPA)3.1 GPA

Anticipated Places in Semester 1, 2027

1-2 places

Exchange Availability

Red

Eligible Monash Campus

Monash Australia

Agreement Scope

All Faculties

Handbook/Catalogue

Catalogs and schedules

Note, you cannot study units from both the University and the College.

Full-time Credit Load Equivalents

Semester

Min. 18 Monash points

Max. 24 Monash points

22.5 ECTS*

30 ECTS

ECTS - European Credit Transfer System

*If your study load cannot exactly equate to 22.5 ECTS, then you will need to complete a study load as close to 22.5 ECTS without going under in order to receive 18 Monash credit points.

Year

Min. 36 Monash points

Max. 48 Monash points

45 ECTS

60 ECTS

Academic Calendar

UCU Semester 1 (Monash Semester 2): late August– mid-December
UCU Semester 2 (Monash Semester 1): late January – mid-May

Individual programs may slightly differ from the above.

UCU's Academic calendar

Anthropology

Biological sciences

Biomedical Sciences

Business

Caribbean Studies

Criminology

Chemistry

Chinese languages & culture

Dutch language & culture

Economics

Finance

Fine art

French language & culture

German language & culture

Geosciences

History

Human geography

Italian language & culture

Journalism

Latin language & culture

Law

Linguistics

Literary studies

Management

Marketing

Mathematical sciences

Philosophy

Physics and astronomy

Politics and international relations

Religious Studies

Spanish

Social and Behavioural Sciences

Note

  • The listed disciplines are not necessarily exhaustive and other fields of study might also be available at the institution.
  • Approval to study particular subjects at any institution is always at the discretion of the departmental/discipline and faculty advisers in your managing faculty(ies) and subject to available places at the host.

Accommodation

Students at UCU are required to live on campus, with some exceptions made for third year students. View the Housing web page for more information about student residence halls.

Visas

As a general rule, if you are from outside EU/EAA countries and plan to stay in the Netherlands for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for an entry visa (MVV - Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf) and/or a residence permit (VVR - Verblijfsvergunning). The residence permit is the document required for students to stay and study in the Netherlands legally.  Both the entry visa and residence permit are issued by the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).  For more information on visas, please refer to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherland in Australia website.

UCU provides further advice on obtaining an entry visa and residence permit.

Health and insurance

Non-Dutch students are required by the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) to have health insurance while living and studying in the Netherlands. When travelling on a Monash Abroad approved program, you are automatically covered under the Monash University Student Travel Insurance policy.  UCU provides further information on insurance.

Orientation and extra-curricular 

University-wide orientation week is held the week before classes commence.

free online Dutch language course is offered in July and Dutch language courses are offered during the semester.

Cost of living

UCU provides guidance on estimated costs for exchange students during the semester; note that campus fees are primarily for housing.

Funding

For information about funding available to support study on exchange overseas, see the Financial Information page on the Monash Abroad website.

To begin your application and study plan, click the button below.

Apply here

Have you been to University College Utrecht and want to share your experience? 
Let us know about your exchange via this survey form and your testimonial could be shown here!