Information for exchange students
This part of the site provides information for prospective exchange students, interested in studying at the bachelor's programme Biomedical Sciences at Utrecht University. If you cannot find the answers to your questions here, please do not hesitate to contact the International Office of the Faculty of Medicine via international.office@umcutrecht.nl. We are happy to guide you through all procedures and offer our support in order to help you prepare for your exchange at Utrecht University.
The information below is specifically for exchange students. Are you interested in following a degree program? Please visit one of the following sites:
Utrecht University
Utrecht University is one of Europe's leading research universities, recognised internationally for its high-quality in research and education, innovative approach to research and teaching. Studying at Utrecht University means studying at one of the world's best universities. The Bachelor Biomedical Sciences has received the title of top program in the Keuzegids 2022 (University Selection Guide). This means that the bachelor program has been reviewed as one of the best of its kind.
Read more about Utrecht University.
Faculty of Medicine
The Faculty of Medicine of Utrecht University and the UMC Utrecht work together in the field of education and (bio)medical research. The various tasks are carried out in and under the responsibility of the UMC Utrecht.
UMC Utrecht strives to achieve the highest standards in patient care, scientific research and education. By dedicating ourselves to continuous improvements, we can pioneer cutting-edge treatments, foster groundbreaking findings, and deliver a standard of care that meets the healthcare needs for today and the future.
Read more about UMC Utrecht.
International environment
As an international student, you are in good company at Utrecht University. Every year, approximately 1,500 international students come to Utrecht University to follow English-taught degree programmes and other courses. With some 118 nationalities working and studying closely together, students learn to operate in an international environment from the onset, which is essential for scientists and scholars in this increasingly globalised world.
Read more information for international students.
Utrecht
The university is situated in Utrecht, a lively student city in the heart of the Netherlands. Utrecht University and the city of Utrecht offer a great environment for students to study and live in. Utrecht has a bustling student community with plenty of extracurricular activities to get involved in, as well as many different student organizations and a wide range of sports and culture facilities. Moreover it is located very centrally in the Netherlands, making it an ideal city for exploring the rest of the country.
You must be nominated by the coordinator of the exchange programme at your home university. Your International Office will inform the International Office of the Faculty of Medicine of Utrecht University. We will send you an invitation to apply, either via our online student tracking system OSIRIS Student or via an application form. Please prepare and complete the following information:
- language proficiency form or a recent proof of successfully completed TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge EFL test (this does not apply to our partner students);
- a photocopy of your ID card or passport (only the relevant pages);
- a transcript of records in the English language; an official record of academic courses taken including all credits and marks (preferably on a scale of 1 to 10) signed and stamped by your home university;
- if you want to do a research project, please find a research group of your interest. Contact the group providing the above mentioned information and your motivation to apply to this particular research group. You can find research projects at Konjoin, the Bachelor Research Hub, the UMC Utrecht or Utrecht University;
- if you want to take courses, a course selection form must be filled in, please note that we use our own application form!
Application form
- Application form for courses in semester I 2024-2025 (deadline 15th April 2024)
- Application form for courses in semester II 2024-2025 (deadline 15th September 2024)
Take care of submitting the application in time to meet our deadlines. After receipt of your details the International Office will evaluate your application together with the programme coordinator and inform you about the result by email as soon as possible. This may take up to two months.
In addition to the information found via the menu, we highly recommend you to visit the websites below, since they offer vital information on preparing your stay in the Netherlands, living in the Netherlands, scholarships, etc.
- The Utrecht University website for international students
- Study in Holland
- Nuffic (the Dutch organization for international cooperation in higher education)
On this page you can find detailed information about the courses of Biomedical Sciences that are open for exchange students for 2024/2025. Semester 1 (fall) is split into periods 1 and 2. Semester 2 (spring) is split into periods 3 and 4.
- Period 1 runs from 2 September 2024 till 11 November 2024.
- Period 2 runs from 14 November 2024 till 3 February 2025.
- Period 3 runs from 5 February 2025 till 11 April 2025.
- Resits courses period 1 and 2: 14-17 April 2025
- Period 4 runs from 22 April 2025 till 27 June 2025.
- Resits courses period 3: 30 June-4 July 2025
- Resits courses period 4: mid-August 2025
You can follow two parallel courses in each period: one course in time slot BC and one course in time slot AD. Please be aware that there are no early exit opportunities.
Other courses
It is also possible to follow two courses at the Biomedical Sciences programme and two courses at another Utrecht University faculty. The Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Science offer courses that complement our own courses.
Course level and time slots
The course levels are either 2 or 3. Level 2 is intermediate and level 3 is advanced. Please pay attention to the requirements for admission and the required previous knowledge needed to follow each course before you apply for the course.
Each course is given in a time slot (AD or BC). A student can enroll in 2 courses each period, one course in each time slot. Please be aware that there are no early exit opportunities.
Required knowledge and skills
It is important to note that aside from the required knowledge for each course (found in the course description), it is also necessary that you have certain skills when applying for an exchange period at Biomedical Sciences. You must have knowledge of the use of search engines such as PubMed and you must be experienced in the use of primary literature (journal articles and scientific publications) as well as text books for your courses. If you are not experienced with the use of PubMed or primary literature, it is not possible to follow courses at our faculty.
Course preference
By indicating your course preference on the course selection form and sending us the form, you apply for the courses. This application does not guarantee placement. You must meet the entry criteria for your preferred courses and there must be enough capacity in the course. We will do our best to make sure as many people as possible are assigned to the courses indicated as first choice. Indicating your choices on the course selection form means you are committed to following the course that you are placed in. You must follow all the components!
Switching courses
It is not possible to switch courses at the last minute, as most courses are always fully booked. Requests for a change in course application can be made until 4 weeks before the start of the semester at the latest. We will see if it is possible to make changes in your course schedule, but cannot guarantee this. Please contact the International Office.
Research Project
The Research Project (RP) is full-time (15 EC) and takes up both time slots, so you cannot follow any courses alongside the RP. The Research Project Plus (RP+) is an extended RP: 1 period full-time (so in both time-slots) and 1 period half time (so either AD or BC; total of 22.5 EC). In the first period of your RP+, you can follow a course alongside the RP+. Please be aware that you have to arrange the supervisor and lab for your Research Project yourself.
Courses at another faculty
For an overview of the courses offered by other faculties of our university, please check the overview on the Central International Office website. It is unfortunately not possible to register for courses at University College Utrecht (UCU) or at University College Roosevelt (UCR).
Grading
The grading system of Dutch universities is based on a number scale of 1 (very poor) to 10 (outstanding). The lowest passing grade is 5.5 (in some departments it might be 6.0). It should be noted that 9’s and 10’s are rarely given.
The Student Counseling Department of the Netherlands America Commission for Educational Exchange (NACEE) uses the following qualitative equivalence for translating grades from the Dutch university grading system to that of the American university system: 8 = A 7 = B 6 = C.
Since 9’s and 10’s are rarely given, one could generally consider an 8 to be roughly equivalent to an A at an American institution. Some faculties (e.g. Law) hardly ever award 8’s. In these cases an 8 could be considered to be an A+.
Fraud and plagiarism
Utrecht University considers any form of academic dishonesty to be a very serious offense. Utrecht University expects each student to be familiar with and to observe the norms and values that ensure academic integrity.
Please read the central UU Students website for more information on fraud and plagiarism and the possible sanctions if fraud or plagiarism are committed by a student at Utrecht University.
Accomodation
Housing is scarce in Utrecht. For our international students, Utrecht University has an agreement with SSH Short Stay. Housing is not guaranteed, but if you apply on time you have a good chance of getting accommodation. We recommend you to be well informed about the housing, as it is currently a big problem in the Netherlands.
Visa, residence permit and city registration
Some students will need a visa and/or residence permit. If so, we will inform you and guide you through the process, after you have been accepted.
All students need to register with the city where you live. We will inform you how to do this after your arrival in the Netherlands.
Health and insurance
If you study in the Netherlands you are required to have health insurance.
ICT services
University email, schedules, course results and other important information are provided through our digital services.
Living expenses
During your stay in Utrecht you can expect to spend between € 800 and € 1,000 a month on living expenses.
Student card
Every registered exchange student receives a personal Utrecht University student card. You need this card to take exams and to use the library. When you visit attractions where there are discounted prices for students, you need to show your student card as well.
Buddy programme
International students who come study at the Faculty of Medicine of Utrecht University are matched with a ‘buddy’ who also studies Biomedical Sciences.
Academic calender
Orientation
The International Office invites all exchange students to participate in the faculty orientation at the beginning of the semester, you will receive information about the orientation before your arrival in the Netherlands.
Do you want to know more?
On the Utrecht University website you will find more detailed information about arriving, studying and living in the Netherlands and Utrecht.
International Office Faculty of Medicine
The International Office team is comprised of:
- Carolien Bakker, staff member
- Jesse Peters, staff member
- Iris Homan, policy officer