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University College Utrecht Honors Exchange

A high-up view of a city with orange and gray buildings on a foggy day. A tall church spire is on the right.

Netherlands, Utrecht

On this exchange program, students enroll in courses at University College Utrecht (UCU), the international honors college of Utrecht University. UCU's international student body, freedom for students to compose their own curriculum, small classes, and individual attention foster an environment that encourages intellectual exchange among students and professors in a friendly and informal atmosphere. With around 750 students, UCU fosters a close-knit academic community where faculty, students, and staff engage with one another in a collaborative and supportive environment. The college faculty also strive to connect rather than isolate the fields of study, thereby challenging students to integrate different aspects of their curriculum. This interdisciplinary emphasis encourages students to think across traditional boundaries and apply knowledge in innovative ways.

Founded by Romans in 48 A.D., the city of Utrecht is situated in the center of the Netherlands and enjoys a great reputation among students, who make up a large part of its diverse population of nearly 300,000. Utrecht's many medieval churches, canals, marketplaces, and terraces offer old-world charm while its large student population also makes it a young, colorful city with many cultural and social activities. The city's proximity to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague make Utrecht an excellent base for visiting other parts of the Netherlands or greater Europe.

University College Utrecht offers a challenging academic program centered on interdisciplinary liberal arts. This exchange is open to all students, but preference will be given to students currently in the College of Letters and Science Honors Program. UCU also offers Dutch language courses for credit.

Learning Objectives

We have overall Goals and Expectations for Study Abroad Participants, covering the personal, academic and professional aspects of study abroad. Additionally on this program, you can:

  • Navigate new educational systems, as well as new learning and teaching styles
  • Observe Dutch perspectives on academic disciplines

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to providing quality study abroad and domestic study away programs for every UW-Madison student. We work strategically to identify, address, and remove barriers that may prevent participation and to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for students. Our staff actively engages with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and prioritizes the continuous development of our knowledge and cultural competence. We also recognize the importance of increasing access to study abroad for historically underrepresented student populations. We are committed to diversity and inclusion so that every student can engage with and understand their identity through a new lens and continue to develop and make progress on their personal, professional, and academic goals.

Sustainability

We recognize that the future of study abroad, domestic study away, and international internship programming requires a Commitment to Sustainability. We are devoted to examining, developing, and improving sustainability in all our endeavors, aligning with campus priorities and following through with UW-Madison's climate action and Resilience Commitment. Join our efforts and learn more about how to study abroad sustainably.

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Eligibility

  • UW-Madison degree-seeking students only

  • Preference is given to students from the College of Letters and Sciences Honors program. 
  • 3.3 cumulative GPA
  • Junior, Senior
  • Good academic and disciplinary standing
  • At the time of application and the semester prior to participation, UW-Madison students must be currently enrolled. Transfer Students to UW-Madison need to be currently enrolled at their home institution

Advising Location

Program Structure

Exchange & Direct Enroll

Subjects

Arts, Economics, Humanities, Law, Science, Social Sciences

Classroom Language

Dutch, English

Housing

Residence Hall

Program Duration

Academic Year: Late August - Mid-May
Fall: Late August - Mid-December
Spring: Late January - Mid-May

Application Deadline(s)

Fall 2026-27 2/20/2026 Cost Details
Year 2026-27 2/20/2026 Cost Details
Spring 2026-27 8/21/2026 Cost Details

Future durations will be posted at a later date.

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Founded in 1636, Utrecht University (Universitet Utrecht) is one of Europe's leading research universities, recognized internationally for its high-quality, innovative approach to both research and teaching. UCU is a small and selective honors college within Utrecht University, with its own residential campus located conveniently between the two main university sites in a pleasant part of the historic city of Utrecht.

UCU specializes in the teaching of liberal arts and sciences and offers a variety of courses from its four departments: Academic Core, Humanities, Science, and Social Science. The UCU curriculum is multi- and interdisciplinary, covering a broad range of academic disciplines and skills. Courses are taught in English and exchange students may enroll in any course in which they meet the pre-requisite.

Students are expected to be well-prepared for every class. Classes always require active participation through presentations, debates, and group projects. Large-size lectures are not offered for any UCU courses, and the maximum enrollment for each course is 28 students.

All credit earned through the UCU exchange will post to your UW-Madison transcript as automatic honors.

UCU offers Dutch language coursework for credit; our standard university-wide exchange with Utrecht University does not.

Affiliate Institution(s)

University College Utrecht UCU Course Information

Course Equivalents

Use the links below to see a list of courses that past students have taken on this program and the UW equivalents. Note: This list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses, departments or equivalents. Courses may not be available the semester you are abroad. You will receive instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance. View Course Equivalents