University College Utrecht (UCU) is the international Honors College of Utrecht University. The undergraduate liberal arts college has a student population of about 700, and is the pioneer of liberal arts education in the Netherlands.

Campus

The UCU campus is located in the old Kromhoutkazerne, an early 20th century military base. The old, monumental, parts of the base are in use as the administrative headquarters and educational buildings of the college, while several newer buildings are used as the student’s dormitories. Every student has their own furnished room, and shares kitchen and bathroom facilities with their unit of about five to eight residents. Students eat in the Dining Hall, completing the full room and board UCU offers.

Education

Distributed over the three departments, Social Science, Science, and Humanities, UCU offers over 150 courses. Students major in one of the three departments, or do an interdepartmental major. After three years (six semesters) of study, a student receives his or her Bacherlor’s degree. There is a broad range of opportunities to go on exchange for a semester.

Campus life

Students are organised in two student’s organisations, the University College Student Association (of which you are viewing the website right now) and the All Students Interest Council (ASIC, website). All students are members of the UCSA, which has a large number committees that organise campus activities or provide other services to the student body. The UCSA also operates its own bar on campus, which is the centre of campus life in the evenings and early mornings. ASIC is a student representative council focused on advocating student’s rights in academic and residential matters. For another view on this issue, see ASIC’s explanation of the difference between UCSA and ASIC, which is true … more or less.