Rotterdam Erasmus bridge

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Rotterdam is Europe's largest port city and Netherlands's second largest city. Located only 40 minutes from Amsterdam in one of Europe's most architecturally fascinating areas, Erasmus University Rotterdam dates back to 1913.

The campus was constructed during World War I, when Rotterdam became known as the world's largest city of spies - so you may never know the secrets behind its walls. A very prestigious university, EU Rotterdam currently ranks in the top 75 universities in the world (#70, THE 2019). The campus currently has over 22,000 students, including over 3,000 international students, and has a strong sustainability focus. Within a 10-20 min bike ride, you can explore your inner foodie at Rotterdam's eye-popping Markthal (Market Hall), tilt your head at the bizarre yellow Cube houses, and visit the half-hive-half-igloo Floating Pavilion to see one of the world's only floating forests (we're not kidding)!

Key information

Language

English, Dutch

Semester

Fall, Winter, Academic year

Program type

Exchange

Application information

Application status

Open

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2024-2025 applications

First come first considered for remaining spaces until

Winter 2025: August 15, 2024

University-specific additional requirements

No reference letter required; minimum GPA 2.7. See Eligibility section below for details.

2025-2026 applications

Open November 1, 2024

Program details

Areas of Study: 
Exchange students to EUR must be nominated into a specific faculty and take the majority of courses from that faculty. The faculties we have access to are:

1) Erasmus School of History, Culture, and Communication (media & communications; history & arts)

2)Erasmus School of Social & Behavioural Sciences (International Relations, Psychology, Political sciences, Sociology, Development Studies, Law & Society). 

3) Erasmus University College (interdisciplinary liberal arts & sciences program: econ & business; humanities; life sciences ; social & behavioural sciences; and interdepartmental which includes sustainability, public & global health and a program bringing pol/econ/phil together.)

4) Erasmus School of Law (full for 2024/25)

5) Erasmus School of Economics (full for 2024/25)

6) Erasmus School of Philosophy

Closed Programs: Haskayne students may be eligible to take courses from the School of Management, but they must apply for an exchange directly through the Haskayne School of Business.

Course requirements:
In Europe, full-time course load is typically 30 ECTS (European credits), and exchange students at EUR are expected to take 30 credits per semester. 6 ECTS = 3 UCalgary units (1 half-course), with at least 50% of their courses from one faculty. 
The amount of credits each course is worth corresponds to the workload/contact hours, and can vary from 1-30 ECTS per course, so please be mindful of this in your selection. 

Student Tips: "If you're looking to network, there were a lot of recruitment events around campus along with speaker sessions with prominent figures including Michael Porter and Ban Ki-Moon."

"The most interesting class I took was Science Fiction and Media where we literally talked about aliens, robots and artificial intelligence, time travel, etc. It was a fascinating course and not one offered at the University of Calgary."

The academic year is divided into 2 semesters. Each faculty has their own calendar, so please look to the faculty you want to be nominated into for dates.

Semester dates for the Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences: Semester 1 (Fall) runs from September to December and semester 2 runs from January to early July. Details available here

Economics also runs Sept- Dec for fall and January - April (block 4) or July (block 5) for winter.

University college runs late August - December for fall and mid January - early June for winter.

Law exchanges run September to December.

Semester dates for the Faculty of History, Culture, and Communication (media & communicationshistory & arts): Semester 1 (Fall) runs from September to early February and semester 2 runs from early February to early July. Details available here.

For Philosophy, please open the courses you want to take in each block to see the timing. Generally fall corresponds with blocks 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B. 1A - 2A runs Sept - dec but 2B is early Jan- early feb. Winter corresponds with blocks 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B which runs mid February to early July.

Please Note: Dutch visa/permit applications for those not eligible for Dutch Working Holiday Permits may require travel to the Vancouver consulate to submit the documentation and take biometrics as needed within 3 months of departure to the Netherlands, so students may not have access to their passports during that time. 

  1. Costs

    Exchange students pay their tuition and academic fees to the University of Calgary. Other expenses are paid directly to the service provider. Also, remember to include things like visas, insurance, vaccinations, etc. in your budget planning.

    It is recommended that students budget around €1500 per month to pay for accommodation and living expenses. Cost of living estimates can be found online.

    Please Note: Dutch visa/permit applications for those not eligible for Dutch Working Holiday Permit may require travel to the Vancouver consulate. Info for Canadians

    Rotterdam cost comparison vs. Calgary: Click Here

    Student Tips: "Invest in rain gear and absolutely get a bike (but make sure to ALWAYS double lock it with a heavy lock)! Get the Rotterdam pass!! It’s a great deal: free movies, discounts at restaurants, free entry into museums, etc. Also do the Wanderlust trips that are promoted there - they plan trips and activities for you at a great price and are a great way to meet people. Also when shopping (even if things are cheaper), don't forget to factor in the exchange rate!"

  2. Funding

    Did you know that you can take your UCalgary funding with you on exchange? 
    Since you remain a degree seeking student at UCalgary while on exchange you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are eligible to receive from the university as well as student loans.

    Our office administers the International Study Travel Grant for students travelling on approved UCalgary study programs that are credit bearing. The amount changes year to year as the money is split evenly between qualified applicants. Students may only receive the study travel grant once. Please see the exchange funding page for more information.

Exchange students to EUR cannot always be guaranteed housing. The university has reserved limited rooms for international students through the housing provider SSH; these are predominantly private rooms with shared kitchen/facilities and are located on campus Woudestein. Rent typically sits around €400-€600 per month. When availability is low, students must arrange for their own housing and are encouraged to look into the different accommodation providers recommended by EUR. Additional information can be found online.

2023 update: Due to housing shortages, please start your accommodation search early and have your housing arranged before the start of your program.

Student Tip: "I would recommend living in the Hatta residence if possible."

This exchange is open to regular, full-time students in any faculty at the U of C, who have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B-).

Haskayne students wishing to take courses from EUR's School of Management must apply for this exchange through the Haskayne School of Business

 

Do I have to speak Dutch? 

EUR offers many courses in English and so no prior knowledge of Dutch is required for this exchange.

What's special about Rotterdam?

Student Tips: "Rotterdam is cooler temperature-wise than most people expect it to be (because of high humidity). Transportation is extremely easy: the city is well connected by public transport. You can also bike everywhere and it is very safe and easy to. For places to visit, anywhere on Witte de Withstraat is nice (lots of cool restaurants, bars/cafes, and shops). Markthal (Blaak) is also good for shopping and restaurants and is really beautiful. I also liked the Erasmus bridge."

What resources are available to new students?

EUR publishes online a "Handbook for New Students", which is updated every academic year. 

EUR also arranges a variety of orientation sessions before the start of each semester, such as Dutch language and culture workshops, faculty introductions, and "Eurekaweek", as well as services like airport pick-up and a buddy programme. Exchange students can participate in as many of these opportunities as they wish. Check out the full schedule of events.

What supports or services are available at EURotterdam?

EUR provides comprehensive academic support for students with disabilities.For information on accessibility and support services of campuses across Europe, please check out Inclusive Mobility. For city-specific services and places in Europe, the Jaccede interactive platform (website and/or smartphone app - both Android and iOS) also provides a searchable user-built database to identify important accessibility information of public places and locations.

COC Rotterdam is a local club committed to the LGBTQ+ community and especially gay and lesbian issues. They host various social events, as well as having advisors and counsellors available.


Have questions?

Global Learning 101

Please watch this short YouTube playlist before reaching out or booking an appointment. In these videos, you will learn much of the basics about Global Learning, which may answer your initial questions.

Watch Global Learning 101

Academic Advising

Before applying to study abroad, you should ask your academic advisor how this program might align with your degree (e.g. best time to go, what courses you need).

After you are accepted, you should ask your academic advisor more specific questions about courses/transfer credits. It’s also recommended to follow up with your advisor again once you return to Calgary.

Find your academic advisor

Global Learning Advising

If you have questions, please reach out to our office! We offer drop-in advising for general inquiries, and if you have questions about this specific program or any others, you can book an appointment with the responsible advisor.

Please use the link below to find the most up-to-date information about our current advising options.

View the Global Learning Advising page

The exchange advisor for this program is: Tara Jorgensen

How to Apply

Download the application guide

This PDF contains information on how to complete your application and what to do after you have applied.

Application guide

Identify three programs of interest

We recommend applying for your top three programs for the priority application deadline, as placement may be competitive. We will assess your applications in ranked order.

Check requirements and deadlines

These may vary by program, so check the individual program pages and make sure that you are aware of any different application deadlines or eligibility requirements.

Start your application

Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!

Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.

APPLY NOW

International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.

For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.

If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.

Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.