magazine welcome to utrecht

7/28/2019 Magazine Welcome to Utrecht

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Udy Uh Uv y

dare to excel


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m mZ

The aim of this magazine is to give you a good

impression of what you can expect of Utrecht

University, its research and education activities.

It also provides you with more information

about the city of Utrecht. Furthermore we

would like to introduce you to a few of our

students and their experiences at Utrecht

University.


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8

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Please accept my warmest congratulations for having

been accepted for a Masters programme at Utrecht

University!

ongratulations, ou aeae an excellent coice!

ale ofcontents

Welcome to Utrecht University

The city of Utrecht

Student experiences

Practical information

Orientation programme

You have convinced us that your

experience, talents and drive will

enable you to make a highly valuable

contribution to our academic

community. Welcome!

You, too, will soon come to

appreciate that you have made an

excellent choice. We will ensure that

you have every opportunity to make

your academic and personal

experience in Utrecht a challenging

and rewarding one.

At Utrecht University, you will

be part of a diverse community of

2,500 international students from

30 countries. Our experience is

that you will soon feel at home here.

According to the International

Student Barometer, our international

students rate Utrecht very highly as

a good and safe place to be.

I wish you all the best in preparing

to move to Utrecht and embarking

on this new adventure. I look

forward to welcoming you to Utrecht.

Prof. Bert van der Zwaan

Rector Magnificus


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welcoe to Utrect UniersitF Ud wh d X

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Utrecht University ranks 50th in

the prestigious Shanghai Academic

Ranking of World Universities,

while the German CHE ExcellenceRanking places Utrecht University

among the top four institutes in

Europe. But perhaps most

importantly more than 96% of our

international students rate their

lecturers in Utrecht very highly as

experts in their eld, and students

are very satised with the courses

they have taken.

mb

As Utrecht University wants you to

live up to your uniquely individual

ful l potentia l, it enables you to

determine certain aspects of your

Masters programme.

Take a moment to review the wide

range of discipline-specic and

interdisciplinary research and

education activities and follow your

interests. Feel free to express any

ambitions you may have, includingworking on an intriguing research

project or broadening your horizons

and adding weight to your CV

by completing a work placement

with a company or governmental

body. There are plenty of options to

choose from, and we encourage you

to make the most of them.

mmm

Utrecht Universitys academic sta

is highly committed to their research

and teaching activities. They demand

the same commitment from their

students, who are expected to be

self-motivated and work dil igently.

At the same time, the atmosphere

at Utrecht University is open and

informal. It is fairly common for

students to call professors and

lecturers by their g iven name. The

combination of this commitment andthe open, informal character foster

a feeling of a tight-knit community

among both students and sta.

The scope of our commitment goes

beyond university borders. We aim

to make a contribution to society

through our research and teaching.

Our teaching and education

activities focus on training you in the

discipline of your choice, providing

you with the knowledge and ski lls

needed in society and enhancing

your career prospect s. Our research

activities focus on pressing social

issues, such as the g lobal problem of

disparities in the availability of water.

Utrecht University is home to a community of leading scientists and ambitious

students, active in a wide range of academic disciplines. As a result, we have

an outstanding reputation. Our education and research are characterised by

ambition, commitment, collaboration and independence.

Utrecht Universityin numbers

30,000 students

2,500 international

students from 130countries

7,500 staff members

574 full professors

2,150 PhD candidates

approximate annual gures)

4 | Utrecht University


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b

Social issues often require you to

move outside of the connes of your

specic discipline and connect with

other experts. Multidisciplinarycollaboration is a well-developed

approach at Utrecht University.

Utrecht Life Sciences, for example,

is home to research ranging from

the molecule to man: Chemistry,

Biology, Veterinary Medicine,

Pharmaceutical Sciences and

Medicine. At the knowledge centre

Institutions of the Open Society,

economists, political scientists,

sociologists, legal specialists and

historians join forces to better

understand the socio-economic

interactions that determine

qualitative aspects of society.

Collaborative partnerships are also

a way to extend our own academic

community. Utrecht University sta

typically have their own academic

and non-academic international

network. This is particularly useful

if, for instance, you aim to completea research project at a company or at

a university abroad.

dPd

At Utrecht University, you are not

only expected to work dil igently, but

also to develop a mindset of

independent and original thinking

characteristic of an academic. You

will be asked to be critical and state

your own views.

Some international students are not

used to disagreeing with their

professor, but they come to

appreciate and value this approach.

Developing an academic mindset

gives you a head start in any career

you pursue af ter earning your

Masters.

d X!As a member of Utrecht Universitys

academic community, you will have

rst-hand experience with a

demanding, yet rewarding academic

and research environment, which

oers every opportunity to pursue

your personal interests and develop

your talents to the fu ll. We are

committed to your success. Dare to

excel!

PU P

Utrecht University encourages students and

researchers to actively put their knowledge

towards the development of products and

services. Utrecht Science Park is a fertile breeding

ground for combinations of research, educationand entrepreneurship. UtrechtInc provides

guidance and counselling to help young

entrepreneurs get their own company off the

ground, while the Centre for Entrepreneurship

offers research and courses on business and

enterprise development.



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F d v

Utrecht University oers you

excellent facilities that support you

in both your studies and your

personal well-being. Each faculty hasstudent workstations, equipped with

either computers or a network

connection point. In addition, the

Utrecht University Library, with

locations on the university campus

and in the city centre, oers a total

of 2,110 study places. Most have a

wired and/or WiFi access point.

Moreover, the Utrecht University

Library maintains a collection of

over 3.5 million books and volumes

and oers access to more than 10,000

electronic journals.

For recreational pursuits, Utrecht

University operates Parnas sos

Cultural Centre and Olympos Sports

Centre. At Parnassos, you can take

courses in music, theatre, photography,

the expressive arts, dance, etc.

Olympos maintains indoor facilities

for such team sports as basketball and

volleyball, as well as a tness centre,

squash courts, spinning room and

dance studios. Outdoor facilities

include elds for various sports

(football, rugby and eld hockey),two beach volleyball court s and nine

all-weather tennis courts.

Several experts are available to help

you if you need assis tance or adv ice

during your time at Utrecht

University. You can contact a student

counsellor if, for instance, you face

delays due to personal or study-

related problems, exceptional family

circumstances or illness. If necessary,

the counsellor may refer you on to

another professional, such as a

psychologist or the careers advisor.

Proud heritageUtrecht University was

ounded in 1636. Many

of the impressive

university buildings inthe city centre serve as

a reminder of our rich

history. Since its

foundation, the

university has

maintained the

long-cherished motto

Sol Iustitia Illustrae Nos

May the Sun of Justice

Enlighten Us). Over the

centuries, Utrecht

University evolved and

gained a solid

reputation as the

internationally

highest-ranked Dutch

university.

h F

Prof. Jacobus Henricus van t Hoff

1901 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

No fewer than twelve Nobel

Laureates have been afliated with

Utrecht University. The rst wasJacobus Henricus van t Hoff, who in

1901 received the rst Nobel Prize in

Chemistry for his groundbreaking

work in physical chemistry. Van t

Hoff also was the rst to realise

molecules are 3D structures,

discovering what is known as

stereochemistry, which is a highly

relevant subdiscipline of

biochemistry.

h m

Prof. Gerard t Hooft

1999 Nobel Laureate in Physics

Theoretical physicist Professor

Gerard t Hooft (1946) began his

scientic career studyingmathematics and physics at Utrecht

University. In 1977, he was

appointed professor at Utrecht

Universitys Institute of Theoretical

Physics, where he still works today.

In 1999, the Nobel Prize in Physics

was awarded to both t Hooft and

his thesis supervisor, Martinus

Veltman, for their research into

electroweak interaction. This

facilitated linking two of the four

fundamental forces in nature and

provided a much rmer

mathematical foundation for

particle physics.

Utrect Uniersit oel aureates



7/16

Adam Mathews

The perfect springboard

Adam Mathews comes from

England and is enrolled in

the Masters programme in

Sustainable Development

(Energy and Resources track).

Im from England, but I havent

lived there since 2006. Ive lived in

Hungary, Croatia and Spain,

teaching English among other

things. Sustainability issues have

fascinated me for a long time. In

Hungary, I picked up the idea of

conducting PhD research on

recycling metals. The only problem

was that I wasnt qualied. So I

looked for a programme that would

be the perfect springboard. Utrecht

University turned out to be the best

place for me.

P U Pmm

The focus of the Utrecht University

programme represents an excellent

combination of energy and resources

on the one hand, and economics and

governance on the other. Moreover,

I knew that it was a prestigious

programme both in the Netherlands

and worldwide.

h mPUEarly on in my stay, I joined the

student organisation Stormmasters.

We work closely with the programme

to provide a practical counterbalance

to the heavily theoretical component

of the courses. Were a grassroots

organisation working on greening

the campus and publicising

sustainabil ity issues. We ew in

sustainability guru Vandana Shiva

and have plans for on-campus urban

farming. Our next project is to

organise a TEDx lecture. The great

thing is that Utrecht University has

been very supportive of our

initiatives.



8/16

e cit of Utrectvy, P d by hy

y

The Dutch generally have an

international outlook on life.

Everyone speaks at least a little bit

of English, and their country is hometo a wide range of nationalities.

The city of Utrecht boasts a rich,

multicultural mix of boutiques,

galleries and restaurants. At Utrecht

University alone, people representing

some 130 nationalities work and

study together. The cultural diversity

of the Netherlands has made it a

place where knowledge, ideas and

cultures f rom all over the world

come together.

hy d dym

The historic wharf cellar s, residences

and churches in the city centre

continue to exude Utrechts history,

while the shops, theatres, restaurants

and bars draw a dynamic crowd.

Utrecht is home to a young, well-

educated population, a thriving

economy, and a fun mix of historical

and contemporary/innovative

elements. The city is bustling and

safe, and most of the city is easily

accessible by bike by far the most

popular mode of transport amonglocals.

Ud F

Together, Utrecht University and

the city of Utrecht oer a pleasant

environment for study. In addition,

students have plenty of opportunity

for extracurricular activities. Utrecht

University is home to a large number

of student organisations and societies

of all t ypes and sizes. You have a

wide range of options in terms of

sport, culture and recreation.

F UP

Utrecht is an excellent base if you

wish to visit other European

countries while studying at Utrecht

University. There are excellent

transport links to all major European

cities. Utrecht is the national hub of

the Netherlands railway network.

By train, Amsterdam is only 25

minutes away, Brussels 2.5 hours

and Berlin 6 hours. The Thalys

international train service will get

you to Paris in just 4 hours!Amsterdam Schiphol Airport,

located 30 minutes from Utrecht,

serves destinations all round the

world. A ight to London takes

1 hour, and you can be in Barcelona,

Oslo or Rome in just 2 hours.

The city of Utrecht is steeped in history, including its Roman roots and its prosperity in the

Middle Ages, visual reminders of which are still apparent today. Utrecht University is highly

interconnected with the city itself. It occupies various eyecatching historical buildings in

the city centre and has a modern campus at the citys edge.

Some factsabout Utrecht

Utrechts population

is approximately

300,000. Utrecht isthe 4th largest city

in the Netherlands.

With more than 65,000

students at various

institutions

of higher education,

Utrecht truly is a city

for students.

h hd: P d

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The Netherlands has a long tradition asa trading nation. Together with its

relatively diminutive size and cultural

diversity, this has given rise to an open

attitude towards the rest of the world.

Nowadays, this is not only apparent in

business, but also in social and cultural life.

The Netherlands combines a strong sense of

history with an above-average contribution

to many aspects of innovation. For example,

sustainable water management expertise

developed in the Netherlands is a prominent

topic all over the world, one in which HRH

Prince Willem-Alexander has been closely

involved.



9/16

Ud bU Uh

Everyone speaks English!It only takes three hours to cross the country

Theres a wealth of cultural activities

They do everything by bike!



10/16

Well prepared for

my PhD

Struck by the

atmosphere of

collaboration

m vkv(bU) y d h

I was studying social sciences in Chicago, when I

attended a presentation by a Utrecht University alumnus.His approach to the subject of connections between

people greatly appealed to me, as it was quite

mathematically based, rigorous and theoretical. I then

researched Utrecht University online and was impressed

with what I found. The facu ltys publication record was

particula rly impressive. I asked around in Chicago, and

the professors there also recommended Utrecht

University, so I decided to apply.

d dU

My academic experience in Utrecht was great. I feel my

education was quite good with well-structured and

intense classes. What struck me was the focus on student

collaboration and student-faculty collaboration. I

managed to produce a total of three publishable art icles

during my time at Utrecht University. An impressive

number even if I say so myself.

db h

Im now working on my PhD at Cornell. It has a

well-established relationship with Utrecht University, and

the two institutes share a similar approach to teaching and

research. My choice for that type of education was

deliberate: I knew what I wanted from Utrecht, and what

I got was of a very high qua lity.

Z b(Uky) h d mUUUm

I wanted to research migration, and during the nal

year of my Bachelors programme in Istanbul mystudent advisor mentioned studying in the Netherlands.

After some Googling, the Utrecht University programme

really stood out for me. The specic focus on migration

appealed to me, and I soon learned that the Utrecht

University Research Masters qualication is highly

regarded worldwide. Winning an Excellence Scholarship

sealed the dea l.

d mX

The programme oered a good mix of content and

method. At the end of each semester, theory and practice

came together neatly in a short practical course. Apart

from its academic merits, I think Utrecht University has a

lot to oer. I generally enjoyed myself and was able to

make several lasting f riendships with fellow students, both

international and Dutch. My experiences in Utrecht were

a major factor in my decision to stay in the Netherlands to

do my PhD.

Fd

My time at Utrecht University prepared me well for

PhD research. From the outset, I felt very comfor table

writing papers. I also felt competent going to conferences

to present papers, even as a rst-year PhD researcher. The

Research Masters had a lot to do with that.

Utrecht University offers international students

a demanding academic environment, with

rewards befitting the effort. Meet four of

our alumni.

tuent experiences



11/16

A bridge betweentheories and current

research

Utrecht University

education helped

me get my job

Zy F d( d ) P dmy

The Utrecht University Epidemiology programme is

specically ta ilored to students with a background inbiomedical science, including Pharmacy, which I studied

in Indonesia. This immediately drew my attention when

I came across Utrecht University v ia Nu c, a Dutch

organisation for international cooperation in higher

education. I didnt know much about Utrecht University,

but the many programmes in Engl ish were a plus, and the

Shanghai Ranking showed Utrecht University to be an

upper-level institute.

Umm h

I arrived in Utrecht a month early to participate in the

Utrecht Summer School. This gave me a head star t,

enabling me by the opening of the semester to nd my

way around town. Although obviously not a necessity,

it was a good way to get acclimated. Utrecht University

proved to be an inviting and professional environment.

vy PP b

After returning to Indonesia, I found work at a hospital.

What I learnt in Utrecht certainly applies to my daily work.

Incidentally, my current employer and Utrecht University

maintain close ties. A professor from Utrecht University

is even visiting now, so what I do now truly is in line

with what I did in the Netherlands. I feel my Utrecht

University education played a big part in getting th is job.

yh U(h) hmy d Phy

I became interested in Utrecht University after seeing a

TV interview with Nobel Laureate and physicist Gerardt Hooft. I visited the university website to look for study

opportunities that suited me and would oer me good

prospects. I chose Chemistry and Physics, because it oers

an interdisciplinary programme in nanoscience. This area

of study oers great potential and lots of interesting

research.

d P

Organic Synthesis Strategies a true chemistr y subject!

was one of the chemistry subjects I completed. I later

used this knowledge in my paper and presentation about

organic solar cells for the subject Device Physics.

Cooperation between chemistry and physics research at

the Institute for Nanomaterials Science is quite good.

Seminars are sometimes presented by chemists or by

physicists, and you cant tell who is who. In nanoscience,

there is no hard boundary between the two disciplines

anymore.

PP b hy

The students often work together, and the professors are

quite friendly and helpful. What I l ike most about the

lectures here is that they serve as a link between theories

and current research. You can apply what you learn

immediately in your exper iments.



12/16

Practical inforation

F Z yU m

You wil l be asked to conrm your

place in the Masters programme so

that the University make all the

necessary ar rangements prior to your

arrival. You will al so be provided

with informat ion on how to pay the

tuition fee by the Admissions O ce.

v & d Pm

If you are not an EU national, you

will need to apply for a visa and/or

residence permit in order to study in

the Netherlands. Our visa specialists

will as sist you in this and provide all

the information you need.

U

As required by Dutch law, you

must have valid health insurance

throughout your stay in theNetherlands. It is also recommended

to take out liability insurance.

Utrecht University recommends

arrang ing this coverage with a

Dutch provider of student insurance

packages to ensure that coverage

meets all legal requirements in the

Netherlands.

EU nationals can apply for a

European Health Insurance Card

(EHIC) in their home country. As

the terms dier according to country

and/or insurer, make cer tain that it

will in fact cover your costs while

you are abroad.

mmd

Utrecht is a vibrant student city. This

means that the demand for student

housing is always high. Beginningyour search early is therefore an

absolute must. About half of our

international students opt to nd

their own place to stay, while the

other half make use of the reserved

housing Utrecht University has been

able to arrange with a local housing

corporation. As this housing is

furnished, with all amenities included

in the rent, the rent tends to be

higher than when you nd something

on your own. However, the reserved

housing gives you the certainty that

you have a furnished place to stay

when you arrive. You can nd

further information on www.uu.nl/

housingto help you decide what

would be best for you. The website

also includes information on nding

housing on the private market.

PP F

Your programme coordinator wi ll

provide you with information about

course registration and timetables.

mhd F Pym

Checks are no longer used in the

Netherlands, but ATMs are widely

available. Be sure to check with your

bank whether your card will work in

the Netherlands and whether any

fees apply. It is a good idea to bring

a credit card for contingencies.

You can also apply for a Dutch bank

account through Utrecht University.

The email you receive from the

International O ce wil l include

further information.

v XP

Please take a moment to consider the

cost of living in Utrecht, as this may

dier from what you are used to at

home. You should expect to spend at

least 850 euros per month (excluding

tuition fees). Below is an overview of

the types of expenses you will incur.

The final step in the admissions procedure involves you confirming whether you will actually

enrol in the programme to which you have been admitted and pay the tuition fee. We will

assist you in taking care of all manner of practical matters. The International Office will send

you information about these and other matters and let you know when you need to take

action. Below you will find a brief overview of this information.

One piece of advice:

start looking for

housing as soon as

you can. I started

after arriving, which

is too late. I learned

the hard way.

Expense Explanation Cost

Housing Furnished, including utilities,

individual/shared, etc.

400 - 650

per month

Living expenses Food, clothes, personal services,

public transport, etc.

350 - 450

per month

Insurance Health, personal liability, etc. 40 - 100

per month

Books/study material Depending on degree

programme

65 - 85 per

month

Visa and permits Depending on nationality 0 - 438

(once)

Contingencies Bicycle, higher phone bill,nancial setback, etc.

500 (once)

rrange tefolloing

priorto arrial:

you can also fininforation atwww.uu.nl/internationalstudents> Arriving and living in Utrecht



13/16

e folloinga e iportant

upon arrial: P kUP v d

kw Uh

The student organisation Erasmus

Student Network (ESN) introduces

international students like yourself

to student life in Utrecht and Dutch

culture in general by organising

dinners, parties, cultural activities

and weekend trips.

ESN also oers a pick-up service

and a mentor programme for

students new to Utrecht. For further

information, visit www.esn-utrecht.nl.

P y

F yU v yIf you arrive early and need a place

to stay, you can book a hostel or

hotel. Aordable options include

Budget Hostel Strowis (www.strowis.nl)

in Utrechts city centre, Bed and

Breakfast Utrecht City Centre

(www.hostelutrecht.nl) or in Bunnik:

Hostel Stay Okay (www.stayokay.com).

For information on other

accommodation options, check the

website of the ocial tourist oce

of Utrecht (www.utrechtyourway.nl).

Uh Umm h

Utrecht Summer School oers

a range of short courses some

for credit during the months

of July and August. This is the

place to be if you would like to

get a head start on your studies,

learn more about Dutch culture

or even learn to speak some Dutch.

Further information is available at

www.utrechtsummerschool.nl.

Ud

The Netherlands has an excellentand reliable network of trains, buses

and other forms of public transport.

There are direct train services

between Amsterdam Airport

Schiphol and Utrecht Central Station

(30 minutes), and a variety of bus

services within Utrecht can get you

where you need to be. Of course, the

most popular means of transportation

is the bicycle. An extensive network

of cycle paths makes it a very quick

and safe way to travel.



14/16

rientation PrograePd m yU!

Your arrival in Utrecht is an exiting moment after all your preparations, you have finally

made it! We look forward to welcoming you to Utrecht University and offer you an

Orientation Programme to help you take care of several required procedures, introduce

you to the university and your faculty, and meet your fellow students.

The following

meetings are

organised:

Meet & Greet

The Internationa l O ce organises

an informal Meet-and-Greet for all

new international students. Meet

fellow students from all over theworld, while enjoying a coee or

tea and a typically Dutch biscuit.

Everyone is new in town, so this is

a great way to make friends.

Orientation day

The o cial Orient ation Day is an

important meeting make sure you

dont miss it. In addition to a

welcoming speech by the Rector

Magnicus of Utrecht University,

you wil l receive lots of practical

information that will help you

through your rst weeks in Utrecht

about, for instance, registration in

the municipal database and about the

various services and facilities Utrecht

University oers. There is also an

information fair where you can learn

more about using the library, sports

facilities and much more.

Faculty orientation

In addition, your faculty will

organise a meeting to introduce you

to the sta and students in your

programme. It will also be an

opportunity to tell you everything

you need to know to ensure a

successful star t to your degree

programme.

ESN Introduction to Utrecht

During the r st weekend, ESN oers

a day-long programme including a

tour of the city centre, dinner and an

international party.

d hP

Feel free to put any questions you

may have during your stay to, for

example, your lecturers, your

programme coordinator, theInternational O ce and the Erasmus

Student Network, all of whom will

be glad to help.

FUh Fm

The entire orientation programme

will be avail able in due time on our

website www.uu.nl/orientation.



15/16

Utrecht welcomed me

with open arms.

Compared to US

universities, Utrecht

University focuses more

on cooperation, rather

than on the individual.

That enables everyone

to shine.

Utrecht University really

made me a researcher, long

before I started my PhD.

Coming from Indonesia,I never felt homesick in

the Netherlands. It is home

to a large Indonesian

population, due to their

shared history. That was a

bonus for me. Its the little

things that count:

Indonesian food is easily

found in every city.

The Utrecht University

system enables students

to feel free to speak out.

Youre never judged on an

incorrect answer. Instead,

you talk about why the

answer is wrong. That way

of learning instilled more

condence in me from

which I will benet for the

rest of my career.


16/16

Dare to Excel

Utrecht University 2011

Magazine for international students

Utrecht University, The Netherlands

Production: Communications &

Marketing, Utrecht University

Editing: International Oce, Point to

Point Communicatie

Photography: Anthony Donner (cover),

Ivar Pel, Marieke Wijntjes, Michael

Kooren, Steven Snoep, Maar ten

Hartman, Jan Bitter, Marijn Alders,

Pieter Ouddeken, Angeliek de Jonge

Uh Uv y

Student Services and

International Ofce

FAQs and emai l: www.uu.nl/QdeskEN

Tel: +31 30 253 70 00

Monday to Friday

10 am 12 pm and 1 pm 3 pm CET

Information desk

Administration building

Heidelberglaan 8, De Uithof, Utrecht

Monday to Friday

11 am 4 pm CET

www.uu.nl/students

www.facebook.com/UtrechtUniversity

www.nuc.nl

magazine welcome to utrecht

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