About
Utrecht University is a public research university located in the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands. Founded in 1636 and renowned as the top university in the country, Utrecht's alumni and scholars include 12 Nobel Prize laureates, and it is particularly renowned in the field of History of Art.
Consult Utrecht on QS World Rankings to learn more about Utrecht’s current world ranking and academic reputation in different subject areas.
Student population: 31,000
Location
Utrecht is the fourth-largest city in the Netherlands and is located about half an hour south from Amsterdam. There are frequent trains functioning 24/7 between the two cities. The city is also renowned as a student city due to the large size of the University and has many cafes, clubs and activities reflecting this.
Utrecht’s Humanities and Law campus is located in the centre of the city, in a number of historic buildings. As the city is well-serviced by buses and cycle lanes, students can easily access these from any area of the city.
Level of competitiveness
This destination is only open to students in the Department of Comparative Literature and Culture (within the School of Languages, Linguistics and Film), the School of History and the School of Law.
- Comparative Literature and Culture agreement: Less competitive *
- History agreement: Competitive **
- Law agreement: Less competitive *
The level of competitiveness (Less competitive * / Competitive ** / Very competitive ***) refers to one's chances of being allocated an exchange space at this partner. This is an approximation determined by the number of applications received for this destination during the last academic year versus the total number of exchange spaces available to Queen Mary students.
Language of Instruction
English. For students interested in learning Dutch during the exchange (for practical life outside of the classroom), see below mention under "Courses."
Academic Calendar
- Semester One: September - January
- Semester Two: February - June
Exams take place during the last two weeks of the lecture period, with dates varying between each department. Consult Utrecht's webpage for full details.
Courses
A full list of modules available to exchange students, including requirements and timetable advice, can be found here.
For students interested in learning Dutch whilst on exchange, Utrecht has compiled a list of resources, including information in language courses students can enrol in, here.
Credits
Utrecht uses the ECTS system, with each module generally being worth around 5 ECTS.
Students must enrol on a full courseload: 30 ECTS per semester / 60 ECTS for the full academic year (equivalent to 60 Queen Mary credits per semester / 120 Queen mary credits for the full academic year).
Most departments use a grading scale out of 10, with grades varying between a tenth of a decimal place. For a full breakdown of the grading system, including grade distribution statistics, please visit Utrecht’s website.
Regarding how results from Utrecht are converted by Queen Mary, visit our page to learn more about credit transfer and grade conversion.
Queen Mary student feedback
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Accommodation
Utrecht, like many Dutch universities, does not provide its own student accommodation. Utrecht offers a platform with limited reserved housing options available through a collection of reliable housing providers, yet most students do not find accommodation via this route. Instead, students are expected to find their own place to live. The university provides a full guide on how to look for accommodation, including university support services.
A comprehensive breakdown of the different types of rental options and prices in Utrecht can be found here.
Important: Finding and safely securing private accommodation in Utrecht is competitive and challenging, given the high student population and finite number of private rental offerings (as is the case also in Amsterdam). Queen Mary students are advised to follow the partner's guidance as soon as possible to begin their accommodation search safely and without delay, following their nomination to the partner. Read this important information page by Utrecht about accommodation options and searching.
Cost of living
Utrecht University provides information on the cost of living as a student here. You can find more general, up-to-date information about the cost of living in Utrecht here.
Please consult the estimated minimum and maximum cost of living figures for this destination country available in our “Estimated Costs of Living” document available on our Finance page.
Support services
Utrecht encourages students during the orientation period to register with a GP in Utrecht during their stay. Students need to have appropriate health insurance providing cover for their specific needs when they are abroad.
Utrecht has a designated webpage full of information and support for incoming students with a disability or learning difference here. As with all of Queen Mary's partners, students need to be prepared that available assistance may differ from what they are used to at Queen Mary.
Incoming students to Utrecht are expected to be proactive and take initiative in declaring their needs and requesting available support. Students should provide this information during Utrecht's application process, during which students answer questions when completing an online form and can indicate if they have special needs and what kind. Students who declare their needs will then receive information and instructions for next steps generally 1-2 months before the start of their exchange from a study advisor at Utrecht.
As a current Queen Mary student you will be able to find a summary sheet for this partner university on our QMplus page, with an overview of the local student support services available on the following topics: specific learning differences, physical impairments, sensory impairments, long term medical conditions, autism spectrum conditions, mental health and wellbeing difficulties, special accommodation provision, non-emergency health care, emergency services, harassment and trauma and suicide prevention.
Student life
Utrecht offers a wide range of sporting activities and has a wide range of facilities for students, including a swimming pool, tennis courts, rugby pitch and gym. Utrecht is also home to the Parnassos Cultural Center, which offers a large variety of courses in creative subjects such as photography, theatre and music. Studium Generale, a public platform for knowledge and reflection at Utrecht, offers free public lectures, discussions and film screenings to students throughout the year.
Utrecht's very active Erasmus Student Network chapter, ESN Utrecht, organises a lively programme of social events and activities throughout the year (typically, participation is open to any registered student in the university, regardless of nationality or status).
Through the BuddyGoDutch scheme, you can also meet local students.
