New Students

Purchasing Academic Books

Students are individually responsible for ordering and purchasing their own academic textbooks.

Once you’re happy with your confirmed courses, start ordering books! This is very important in order to keep pace with classes when they begin.

Which books?

Incoming students (including exchange students) will meet their personal Tutor during your Introduction Week at University College Utrecht. At this meeting you will be informed which courses you are assigned to. Thereafter:

• Check Osiris for your confirmed courses (consult your tutor if in doubt)
• See the Course Planner for required and recommended reading.
• Students expecting delays in receiving books should notify their academic instructors as soon as possible.

Which store?

You are free to choose any supplier you want, such as:

• www.amazon.com  (The European sites offer best delivery speed)
• www.bol.com (Use this link for the UCSA to receive some money back - read more)
• www.thebookdepository.com
• www.studystore.nl

Deliveries

For deliveries to the campus that fit in your mailbox, enter your own address:

*Your full name*

University College Utrecht

Maupertuusplein 1-[your mailbox number]

3584 EE Utrecht
The Netherlands

Packages (not fitting in your mailbox) delivered to University College Utrecht can be collected from College Hall reception. Order your package to the following address:

*Your full name*

University College Utrecht

Campusplein 1
3584 ED Utrecht
The Netherlands

In the beginning of the semester, packages containing books should instead be collected from Jazzman's lounge upstairs in the corner of Dining Hall. You will be notified by email as soon as a book has arrived for you. Collections can be made from 18:30-20:00 on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. ID is required.

The specific dates during which this special procedure takes place will be announced at a later time.

Special registered deliveries, and those clearly not containing books, can be collected from College Hall Reception in the usual way.

Second-Hand

You can buy books second hand in different ways. For example, google “tweedehands studieboeken” (second-hand study books) and you will find numerous stores that offer second-hand books. Keep in mind you will have to pay shipping fees.

The UC Student Council in collaboration with the FLISS group (First-Generation Low-Income Scholarship Students) hosts a textbook sale at the beginning of the academic year. Students can donate their old textbooks at the end of the year, FLISS students can use them for their courses and the leftover textbooks are sold at low prices and all proceeds are donated to the Scholarship Fund.

Questions?

Please contact the Academic Student Council with any questions at asc@uu.nl

It is extremely practical as a degree student to have a Dutch bank account while studying in the Netherlands. Unlike other countries, credit cards are not commonly accepted as payment, and all stores do accept the Dutch debit cards. Few students use cash as they can transfer money using bank apps with ease and they pay for groceries, cell phone subscription etc. with their debit card. Due to Corona, cash payments are not accepted in most people and you are urged to pay by debit card. 

If you open a Dutch bank account, you will receive this debit card that allows you to pay in shops and vending machines, or that can be used for putting credit on your online account for the photocopiers/printers at the university (where you cannot pay in cash). 

Opening a bank account can be a rather lengthy procedure. Therefore we recommend to prepare for this by exploring the various options for opening a bank account before you come to the Netherlands, check what documents do you need to be able to open a bank account, and to visit a bank office in Utrecht as soon as you have registered at the municipality and received your BSN number.

General requirements for opening a Dutch bank account

There are generally three requirements for opening a Dutch bank account:

• You must have valid identification
• You must have a Dutch address where you will live during your stay
• You need a proof of enrolment at the university

Banks will ask for your ‘BSN’ number. This is a unique identification number assigned by the Dutch government, which you obtain when you register with the city. Banks generally will not open an account for you if you have do not have a BSN yet. Banks usually only open a bank account if you stay in the Netherlands longer than one full semester.

There are several banks that offer the opportunity to open a Dutch bank account to international students. The following bank offices are situated at central locations in the city center of Utrecht:

ABN AMRO - Stadsplateau 20-21, 3521AZ, Utrecht
ING Bank - Lange Viestraat 1, 3511 BK Utrecht
Rabobank – Maliebaan 15, Utrecht
SNS Bank - Nachtegaalstraat 15, Utrecht

Other money matters

Even if you intend to open a Dutch bank account you still need to have other means of payment at your disposal after your arrival as Dutch bank account takes time to prepare. Therefore we strongly recommend that you bring:

• some cash for small purchases
• a credit card (Visa or Mastercard)
• a bank card that allows to use an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) in the Netherlands. Cirrus and Maestro are widely available here, but check with your bank to make sure
• another solution is traveller’s checks, as these are insured. Note however that you cannot use these in stores, you will have to exchange them for cash at a bank or change bureau first.

If you are staying in the Netherlands for less than one year, you may have to pay fees to open a bank account. If you are only here for a short period of time, we recommend that you use your bank account from back home if at all possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

For any finance related questions you may have, have a look at our frequently asked questions.

The below three items are most important to get started at University College Utrecht. Information about other IT facilities like printing, electronic learning environment and software (MyWorkplace), can be found on the IT-facilities page.

Solis ID

Your Solis-id gives you access to university services such as the library, Wi-Fi, Osiris and the computers in the academic buildings. You will receive your Solis-id and password on your private email address before the start of your first semester. For most students, the Solis-id is the same as the student number.

It is possible to reset your Solis-id password online.

Wi-fi and network connections

The Utrecht University Wi-Fi network “Eduroam” covers the University College Utrecht campus completely. Students connect to this network using their Utrecht University Gmail address (e.g. f.surname@students.uu.nl) and Solis-id password. Find detailled instructions here. There is also an open network available for visitors, but this network is limited in both options and speed.

Utrecht University Solis-mail

Utrecht University Solis-mail is your university student email account. The email address has been sent to your private email address (during your registration). You can log on to UU Solis-mail here . Your username is your student address (for example: j.a.smith@students.uu.nl). The password is your Solis-id password.

• There is the possibility to buy a bedding package (pillow, duvet, fitted sheet and covers 220x90cm) at the Landlady's Office (Dining Hall, Maupertuusplein 1). The bedding package has a total cost of €66,-, which can only be paid using a bank card. 

• You can park your car at the University College Utrecht campus grounds in the designated parking areas. Cars parked outside of the designated parking areas may get a wheel clamp.

• For directions to the college, please look at our website. 

When you live and study at University College Utrecht, you also become an inhabitant of the city of Utrecht. This means that after moving to the UCU campus, you are required by law to register at the municipality of Utrecht as a new resident. Your personal details and address will then be added to Municipal Personal Records Database. To be able to register, you will need to show proof of your new address in Utrecht. Once you have picked up your key and moved into your room, we will issue a document for this purpose and send it to you by email. If this will be the first time you register in the Netherlands, you will also receive your BSN number (Burgerservicenummer). This is your social security number, which you will need for verification purposes for all government contact and to open a Dutch bank account. With the BSN you can also make use of DigiD – the digital identification system of the Netherlands. You can learn more about this and how to apply here. 

If you are coming from outside of the Netherlands, you have to register in person at the municipality of Utrecht. You can already book an appointment now or book it no later than 5 days after you arrive in the Netherlands (please note the appointment itself does not need to be within those five days). Follow the instructions here. 

As a (degree) student at University College Utrecht you will change rooms on campus every year. Each time you move within our campus in Utrecht, you have to register your new address with Utrecht municipallity. For more information see 'City registration 2nd and 3rd years' on the housing page. 

Changing your address using DigiD

If you have a DigiD, you can change your address using the municipality website. The online registration form is only available in Dutch. In case you do not speak Dutch, ask a friend who speaks Dutch to help you out, or alternatively, most browsers now have an automatic or installable translation plugin to translate the form.

1. Navigate to page 'Verhuizing doorgeven'. 
2. Click on ‘Verhuizing doorgeven (met DigiD)’ and fill out the online form.
3. When you are asked if you have a ‘huurcontract’, tick the option for “ik huur een deel van de woning en heb een huurcontract” (You do not need to send this to the municipality).
4. If you have lost your DigiD or never obtained one, go to the DigiD website for necessary steps to take.

As a student at University College Utrecht you will change rooms on campus every year. Each time you move within our campus in Utrecht, you have to register your new address with Utrecht municipality. For more information see 'City registration 2nd and 3rd years' on the housing page. 

In the months leading up to the start of their studies, all incoming new students receive a series of newsletters in their email. Please find the incoming students newsletters below:

• Newsletter 1: Introduction
• Newsletter 2: Academics
• Newsletter 3: Campus and Housing
• Newsletter 4: Community and campus life
• Newsletter 5: Practical Matters