Information for exchange students School of Economics
This page contains information for students currently on exchange at Utrecht University School of Economics (U.S.E.) and who are interested in exchange in 2023-2024.
Are you considering an exchange in Utrecht? For more general information have a look at the International Exchange Office.
The university and the Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance's policies on education are based on active participation by students. The courses incorporate the following didactic elements:
- Each course has more than one assignment that is of a different nature (essay, presentation, exam, moot court, etc.)
- On average, each course has at least four class contact hours, with different formats e.g. lecture, tutorial, seminar, coaching class, etc.
- The majority of the work has to be achieved through self-study or in small work groups.
- Students are informed prior to the course of what is expected from them in order to prepare for study and the successful conclusion of the course. This is usually done through Blackboard, which is the electronic learning environment in use at Utrecht University.
Class attendance is mandatory. Class attendance presumes being prepared and a participative attitude.
Students whose participation is inadequate in terms of either quality or quantity may lose the possibility to do an additional or substitute test, or may even be excluded by the course coordinator from further participation in the course or part of the course. The requirements of attendance and the consequences of not fulfilling them will be published in Blackboard for each course.
In case of force majeur situations that prevent class attendance please contact the Study Advisor as soon as possible.
The academic calendar at Utrecht University School of Economics consists of two semesters with two teaching periods each. A full academic year therefore has four teaching periods.
The standard workload for a Bachelor exchange student is two courses of 7,5 EC per period. This means a workload of 15 EC per period; 30 EC per semester; and 60 EC for a complete academic year. The standard workload for a Master exchange student is three courses of 5 EC per period.
Students must discuss the acceptance of courses with their home university before registering for them. In the event the course content is not clear from the descriptions available, they can contact the course coordinator in Utrecht before registration. Their contact details are provided with the course descriptions in the course catalogue.
Enrolment for courses
You will need to complete a course registration form after initial application. U.S.E. will e-mail you the course registration form and associated instructions. You won’t have to fill in the UU’s preliminary course form
Note: as U.S.E. will be your main department, you must enrol for at least two Economic courses each semester.
Please have a look at the U.S.E. Course Selection Guide for more information on which courses are available for you and how to register for courses as an (economics) exchange student.
Available courses
The Economics exchange courses for semester 2 of academic year 2023-2024 can be found in our course overview.
Bachelor/undergraduate students can only choose Bachelor-level courses (7.5 EC and levels 1, 2 and 3) that are open to exchange students.
Master's courses (5 EC) are only open to those students who are currently enrolled in a Master's programme at their home university. There are additional requirements for students who wish to take Master's courses. Please contact studentdesk.use@uu.nl for questions.
Please visit the Osiris Course Catalogue for more information. Make sure that you always read the entry requirements and course content.
U.S.E. offers an early exit option for exchange students whose home university requires them to return home before January (due to conflicting academic calendars). Please have a look at the “early exit” information below.
Courses at other faculties, departments or institutes
In case you would like to choose courses from other schools or faculties, you will have to put them on the course registration form as well. The deadline is included on the registration form. Please note: at least 50% of your courses should be courses offered by the School of Economics.
Utrecht School of Law
Utrecht School of Governance
Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
Faculty of Humanities
Faculty of Science
Other School or Faculty
Timeslots
At the Utrecht University courses are scheduled in timeslots. When you register yourself for courses, please choose courses in different timeslots in order to prevent overlap in your schedule.
Transcript of Records
The International Exchange Office will send two original transcript of records to your home university approximately one month after the last exam-period of the last semester in which you study at U.S.E.
Exchange students from other faculties can register for Economics courses (check information under the header 'Available Economics Courses and Course Enrolment’). Registration is possible for a maximum of two Economics courses per semester.
Exchange students from other faculties should register with their respective contact person at Utrecht University. The coordinator at home and at Utrecht University School of Economics must approve the chosen economics courses.
The courses in the Economics programme are conducted in English. The reading materials are also in English. Therefore proficiency in the English language is expected and required.
The Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance does not offer English language courses to foreign students. If a student needs extra language training, we advise them to prepare in their home country. More information about language requirements.
On this website you will find all the information on how to order your books and readers.
The Economics department offers an Early Exit option for exchange students whose home university requires them to return home before January (due to conflicting academic calendars).
The Early Exit option means that you can finish the course before Christmas break (i.e. last date of class/exam can be 22 December 2023), for a course load of 6 EC instead of the normal 7.5 EC. Please ensure you inform exchange U.S.E. (studentdesk.use@uu.nl) about this option. Students must also make arrangements with the course coordinator at the start of the course in period 2.
Please note that by choosing this option, you cannot receive a full course load.
Early exit courses 2023-2024:
- Principles of Macroeconomics – EC1PMA
- Strategy and Management – ECB3SM
- Principles of Corporate Finance – EC1PCF
As an exchange student at U.S.E. your first contact regarding course related matters is:
The Student Information Desk Economics
Adam Smith Hall, room 0.01
Kriekenpitplein 21-22, 3584 EC Utrecht
Tel: +31 30 253 42 83
Email: studentdesk.use@uu.nl
For questions regarding your application, Erasmus grant, transcripts and visa, you best contact the International Exchange Office.