University of Groningen

Areas of Study: 
Groningen offers a wide selection of subjects including Archaeology,  Art History, Business, Communication, Computer Science, Cultural Studies, Economics, Film Studies, Geography, History, International Relations, Law, Linguistics, Literature, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Urban Studies, and unique programs such as Dutch Studies (specifically designed for exchange students) and Journalism. You can browse courses online through the faculty exchange pages.

The Dutch Studies program, focused on Dutch art, culture, and society from the Middle Ages to the present, includes various excursions to museums and other areas of interest including the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem, the Groningen museum, or Panorama Mesdag in Scheveningen. All courses in the program, except 1 Dutch language course, are taught in English (B2 CEFR level required). 

Groningen also offers a shortened LLM program for Law students accepted on exchange here. 2018 estimated cost for non-EU students is about €8000, and for EU students 2018 estimated cost is about €1200 euros - fees would be due at start of second semester of the program, following Law graduation at UCalgary. 

Course requirements:
In Europe, full-time course load is typically 30 ECTS (European credits), and exchange students at Groningen are typically expected to take 24-30 credits per semester. 6 ECTS = 3 UCalgary units (1 half-course). 
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. You should also be cautious when selecting courses as though the catalogue is in English, not all courses are (see the language of instruction on the course for more detail). 

Please note that in the Netherlands, approx. 75% of your courses should be taken within the same faculty, with the other 25% either within that same faculty or one other faculty. Please note which Faculty you plan to take the majority of your courses from in the Course Selection field of your online application. 

The academic year is divided into 2 semesters.

• Semester 1 runs from late August to late January. It's possible for UCalgary Law students to complete the first semester in December, but all other students must stay through January.
• Semester 2 runs from early February to late June. 

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. 

Exchange students to UG cannot always be guaranteed housing. The university has reserved limited rooms for international students through the housing provider SSH; these are predominantly one or two-person rooms with shared kitchen/facilities and are located off-campus.

Rent typically sits around €350-€650 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 UG. Additional information can be found online. SSH offers fixed-term rental agreements. For convenience, bedding and kitchen packages can be purchased on arrival, though connecting with departing exchange/international students or checking out Ikea's offerings is also recommended for cost savings.

Click here to watch a video introduction of Groningen's accommodation options!

Student Tips: "You'll likely need a router if you want wireless in your room, so make sure to keep that in mind. I highly recommend living in the Winschoterdiep complex through SSH (Stichting Studenten Huisvesting - Foundation for Student Housing). Once you're accepted by Groningen, they refer you to SSH to fill in your application with preferred location and duration of stay. Once you are offered a residence spot, you'll have to fill in an agreement and pay your deposit. Housing was ready upon arrival." Note: the Kraneweg/Melkweg complex is also recommended. 

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 2.9 (B) for undergrads and 2.7 for law students (B-).

 A reference is required for Law applicants.

Do I have to speak Dutch? 

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

Is there a pre-semester Dutch language program?

The Language Centre of the University of Groningen offers various levels of Dutch courses for around €300. Exchange students can earn 5 ECTS towards their studies by adding a Dutch language program to their semester or year abroad. Students in the Faculty of Arts may be able to apply for a partial refund of these fees. 

What's special about Groningen?

UG offers a unique "Studium Generale" program of events that offers an opportunity to attend interesting and challenging lectures and debates about science, culture, and society, designed for a wide audience. These are intended as an "antidote to over-specialization" and are an excellent supplement to regular curricula (no credit awarded). Additionally, it is easy to get to other parts of Europe from Groningen via bus or plane (from €14 roundtrip to Oldenburg), and to the other parts of the Netherlands by train. 

Student Tip: "The ACLO centre was an excellent fitness facility. You pay around €50 for a year of unlimited general fitness classes of various forms, or pay €70 to include the weights/fitness facility too. You can also sign up for other courses with a €10 deposit and then pay for other materials you might need. There are so many sports and dance classes available it's definitely a highlight!
There is also a canteen in the centre and Zernike that serves hot food and usually for a good price, though lunch and supper are only served around their respective times. Vegetarian options are always available. Groningen has tons of restaurants in the centre, and you can sometimes find good deals. Ariola has great pasta, De Soep Winkel has tasty fresh-made soups, the Waterloo trailer has GREAT fries and the Market on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays is great for food."

"There wasn't a campus gym, but a few private gyms throughout the city. I chose “Trainmore” because it was nicer and closer than some of the other options. “ACLO” is a very common choice among students since it is relatively cheap, but it can be a longer commute by bike depending on where you live. It is also much colder than I expected in the winter in the Northern part of the Netherlands. You don’t necessarily need a parka, but a decent winter coat will make life much better. "

What resources are available for new students?

UG publishes an online magazine called "GroningenLife!" with plenty of information on Dutch life for incoming students.

The local chapter of the Erasmus Student Network, ESN Groningen, organizes many activities throughout the year, including an introduction week at the start of every semester (in additional to international dinners, country nights, excursions to places in the NDLs and Europe, social events, charitable events, and educational programs. ESN also provides academic, social, and practical support throughout the school year, including a highly recommended mentor program for exchange students. 

Student Tip: "You absolutely need to sign up for ESN Orientation Week. Great way to meet people and they organize fun events throughout the year. At the same time, the ALCO introduction week lets you try out numerous sports for free to see what you like. The Groningen Student Rugby Club (GSRC) was an amazing way to meet dutch friends, you don’t even need to be good at rugby and they treat you like family! Joining a student club or sports team is the best way to make friends with local students, otherwise it can be difficult. Though it's easy to make international friends through ESN. Though an ESN membership was €35, it was a great way to meet people and join activities and excursions around the city and Europe. The best information probably came from my ESN Group Leaders, because they already knew the best places in Groningen to get groceries, bikes, books, etc."
 

What supports or services are available at Groningen? 

UG offers academic support for students with accessibility needs. If you have a mental or physical disability (including dyslexia), please contact the home exchange advisor to make arrangements with the partner institution, and feel free to discuss any concerns you have with the study advisor at UG. Requests around visual aids, extended time for exams, etc. should be expressed as soon as possible to the home exchange advisor and host university to allow time to setup accommodations. For more inunless you join a club or meet in a group with common interests, it’s difficult to makfo, please visit the page on Studying at UG with a disability. 

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.

Additionally, UG also offers study support and counselling through the study advisor for each faculty, whom you can contact for issues regarding courses, counselling support needed, etc. If you require added support, there is also the Student Service Centre, where professional counsellors are available, free of charge.