Dear <roepnaam>,

We hope you are feeling well and looking forward to starting your studies at University College Utrecht this coming Fall!

With the start of the academic year just around the corner, the next few months will prove to be both exciting and busy as you prepare to travel to campus and start a new chapter of your life at UCU. This newsletter marks the first in a series created especially for our incoming cohort. In the months ahead, we will guide you through what to expect and look forward to, share helpful tips, and highlight key action points to ensure you arrive confident, prepared, and ready to make the most of your UCU experience. Before diving into that information, our Dean, Manon Kluijtmans, would like to welcome you.

Message from the Dean

Please click on the picture above to watch the video introduction from Manon Kluijtmans, Dean of University College Utrecht.

A Glimpse into Life at UCU

Each newsletter will offer a sneak peek into a different aspect of the UCU community, giving an insight into UCU student traditions and campus life. As the first university college in the Netherlands, opening its doors in 1998, UCU has grown into a close-knit student community with a strong sense of identity. Throughout this series, we will give you a glimpse into some of the UCU traditions and what makes them so special. Of course, we won’t reveal everything just yet and will leave ample room for you to discover and experience UCU firsthand once you arrive on campus!

Let us start with: SuperStickySurfaces! SuperStickySurfaces is UCU’s beloved comedy theater group, which puts on 4 shows each year satirizing different aspects of campus life and the latest UCU gossip. It's a blend of theater and stand-up comedy, with many references to the latest campus drama. Students flock the auditorium for every show and its so popular that seats fill up entirely. Be sure to take your friends and unitmates and catch a show when you arrive on campus. You don’t want to miss it! And who knows, maybe you will become the next member of SuperStickySurfaces…

Staying in Contact

There are many ways for you to stay connected with us and continue learning more about UCU as you prepare to begin your studies here. We would like to introduce you to these opportunities below:

UCU’s Offer Holder Day 2026:
Be sure to join us for this year’s Offer Holder Day! This day is an amazing opportunity for you to explore campus life, academics and living at UCU. You will be able to connect with current students, staff and your own cohort! The on campus programme features a campus tour, sample lectures, social activities by UCU's committees and at the end of the day there will also be a dinner for everyone. More information about the programme will be shared shortly.

If you are unable to join us on campus, not to worry as we will be doing an online version as well, with a campus tour and presentations about studying at UCU, and plenty of time to ask your questions. We look forward to meeting you soon!

On-campus Offer Holder Day: 17 April 15:00-20:00
Online Offer Holder Day: 24 April 16:00-19:0

Join the UCU Unibuddy 2029:

As some of you may already know, we have a UCU Unibuddy platform for the Class of 2029. This platform includes several groups where you can connect with your future classmates and get to know each other better. This is also a great opportunity to introduce yourself and start building connections before the academic year begins.

You can also use Unibuddy to ask any questions you may have about UCU, we’re happy to help. In addition, we’ll be sharing practical tips and a few hidden gems to help you discover what makes life in Utrecht so wonderful. To join up, either click the link below or scan the qr code with your phone.

Join the unibuddy community

Webinars & Newsletters:

This is the first in a series of newsletters you will receive in the lead-up to the start of the academic year. Be sure to keep an eye on your inbox so you don’t miss any important updates.

In addition, we will be hosting a series of webinars covering topics such as social life, academics, and pre-departure preparations. These sessions are a great opportunity to gain insights, ask questions, and start connecting with your cohort directly! We very much look forward to meeting you there.

Looking ahead

In our upcoming newsletters, you will discover the ins and outs of the UCU community, get a sneak peek at the rooms and residential units on campus, and begin meeting your future classmates through virtual activities. We will also walk you through important practical steps, introduce key members of our community, and share insights into academic life, student organizations, and traditions that make UCU so unique. By the time you arrive on campus, you will already feel informed, connected, and ready to jump right in. For any further queries, you can always contact ucu.admissions@uu.nl.

Action points and reminders

Check your contact details - Our ability to contact you this summer is a vital part of helping you prepare for arrival at UCU. With that, we ask that you please log in to Studielink and check what email address you have on file. If the email you are using is from your high school or will expire for any reason, please change it to an email address that will always be accessible to you as soon as possible. Once you have checked (and updated) your email address, you can officially cross this off your to-do list and await the upcoming newsletter!

Submitting diploma documents - A reminder to please submit your diploma documents as soon your diploma is issued. The deadline for submitting these is 31 July 2026. We strongly suggest sending your documents by express courier and sharing the tracking number with us. If you need more information, you can refer to your offer letter and the attached information sheet.

Visa/residence permit application - For incoming students who require a visa/residence permit, an invitation to submit an application in Osiris will soon be sent to you. A reminder that the deadline to complete this application will be 15 June 2026. Please note that this application procedure also includes payment of the full tuition fee!

Campus Fees

Our updated campus fees for the 2026-2027 academic year can be found on our website here.

Academic Calendar 2026-2027

Make sure to mark the following important dates in your calendar:

Arrival days: 20 - 21 August 2026

Introduction Week Fall 2026: 24 - 29 August 2026

Fall semester: 31 August – 18 December 2026

Fall Break: 19 - 23 October 2026

Winter term: 4 – 22 January 2027

Spring semester: 25 January – 14 May 2027

Spring break: 15 – 19 March 2027

Summer term: 24 May – 25 June 2027

Next time…

Stay tuned! In our upcoming newsletter, we will be introducing you to the ins and outs of academics and curriculum planning at University College Utrecht!

We cannot wait to meet you at the Offer Holder Day!