Incoming exchange students
The Faculty of Science has contracts with universities over the whole world. To apply for an exchange programme at our faculty, an agreement is required. Check at your home university if there is an agreement. If there isn’t an agreement, an exchange isn’t possible. You can consider visiting Utrecht as a visiting student or by arranging a research project or internship.
Please read through this factsheet for exchange students to learn about the possibilities at Utrecht University.
You can find course descriptions and conditions in the Osiris course catalogue. Select the academic year and faculty. Use the search bar to find the courses. Please note that this catalogue shows all courses that the university offers. As an exchange student, you can only register for the courses that are in the pdf overviews above.
The Faculty of Science has to review all courses you applied for, because students need to meet the prerequisites. Formal approval from the international office is required before you are able to be enrolled for a course.
Please note: courses of the departments of Pharmaceutical science and Biology have limited places in their courses. It is not guaranteed that there are spots available for all exchange students. Make sure you have alternative courses.
Prerequisites
The courses of the faculty of science require prerequisites. Make sure you meet these, before registering for the courses. Since there are strict prerequisites and some courses with limited spaces, make sure you select enough alternative courses in your selection form.
Timeslots slots and semester
Courses are taught either in one period or in one semester. The course catalogue webpage give you all information that you need. Regarding periods and semesters, roughly the following is applicable:
- Period 1 – September + October + partly November
- Period 2 – partly November + December + January
- Period 3 – February + March + partly April
- Period 4 – partly April + May + June
Make sure you check the timeslots of the courses of your choice. It is not possible to follow courses in the same timeslot. (link to timeslot webpage: https://students.uu.nl/en/science/practical-information/timeslots)
Course review and registration
Exchange students don’t have to register for courses themselves. The International Office will provide you with a course selection form. After reviewing your course selection, you will be informed which courses got approved, and the international office takes care of the enrollment. In case you can’t be enrolled for all courses of your first choice, the international office will ask you to select alternative courses.
Doing research during your exchange
It is possible to do research during your exchange. You have to find a supervisor and project yourself. As soon you have arranged this, please inform the international office for the forms that need to be filled out. Searching for a project can be done through the webpage of the faculty research groups and clicking on the specific group.
The course code for research projects for exchange student is BETA-BEXCH or BETA-MEXCH (for master projects).
Early exit courses
The fall semester in Utrecht University ends beginning February. Students that need an early exit course (end before Christmas break in December) need to make sure they choose courses that offer an early exit option. Make sure you inform the International Office that you are early exit with your application. The Faculty of Sciences offers a limited amount of courses with early exit. However, it is possible to do early exit courses at a different faculty (max 50% of your total exchange programme).
SK-B3OMC (chemistry)
SK-B3POCH (chemistry)
FA-CPS370 (pharmacy)
Please note that housing through Reserved Accommodation Programme (like SSH) can only be rented for a full semester period and reimbursement due to an early exit is not possible.
Osiris and Student card
Osiris is our student tracking system, with all information about students, their results on courses, e-mail addresses, etc. As a student, you can get a digital student card. You’ll need to upload a photo and change your address in Osiris to receive one and fill in the form. You can use the student card for the library and other facilities. It may also be asked when taking exams, together with your ID.