Program terms: Spring
Restrictions: Vanderbilt/External applicants accepted
Type of Program: Direct University Enrollment
Costs: Budget Sheets
Academic Calendar: Similar to VU
Key Dates:

Term	Application Deadline	Program Dates

This program is no longer accepting applications for the Fall 2020 or Academic Year 2020-2021 terms. Students interested in studying abroad in this program during a future term should make an appointment with Dave Brown or come in to GEO drop-in hours Thursdays 1:00-3:00 or Fridays 1:00-3:00. 

At a Glance

University College Roosevelt (UCR) is a small university college offering a liberal arts and sciences curriculum. It is one of two honors colleges associated with Utrecht University. It is widely considered to be the top liberal arts college in the Netherlands. The campus is located near the market square in the center of Middelburg, the capital city of the Province of Zeeland, and occupies the city's medieval town hall. UCR is home to 600 students, of whom approximately 400 are Dutch or Flemish The remaining student body comes from a wide range of nationalities.

UCR is organized on an American/British model, follows the American academic calendar closely, and is focused on a broad-based, liberal arts and sciences curriculum. All courses are taught in English, with small courses (no more than 25 students) and an interactive, interdisciplinary approach to learning. Unlike most European universities it is a residential college, and all students are required to live on campus. UCR has been consciously built as an international school, and the student body, staff, and faculty reflect this.

University College Roosevelt
Utrecht University

Who Is the Program For?

Admission to University College Roosevelt is open to sophomores and above. It is expected to be most attractive to A&S and Blair students, though it is of course open to all VU students. All courses are taught in English.

Academics

University College Roosevelt is one of Utrecht University's two honors colleges, and offers a liberal arts and sciences curriculum along with performing arts. Class sizes are limited to 25 students and the method of instruction is highly interactive and intensive. Each student is provided with a personal tutor who advises them in their choice of studies or courses, who helps them with any question or problem they might encounter, and who basically serves as their personal coach throughout their stay at UCR.

There are three umbrella departments at UCR: Arts & Humanities, Science, and Social Science. All coursework falls under one of these headings, or under the Academic Core department, which offers courses required for all non-exchange students.

Courses for undergraduates are numbered starting with 1, 2, or 3 according to their level: 1 = introductory, 2 = intermediate, 3 = advanced.

Academic Program at University College Roosevelt

Areas of Study

The following are areas of study covered by coursework at University College Roosevelt. Some Areas of Study may not receive Vanderbilt course credit (e.g., Agriculture, Fashion Design, etc.) Vanderbilt credit is determined via the course evaluation process.

Anthropology, Art History, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Classical Studies, Communications Studies, Computer Science, Corporate Strategy, Earth Science, Economics, European Studies, Film Studies, Finance, History, Law/Criminology, Linguistics, Literature, Mathematics, Music Performance, Music Theory, Musicology, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Pre-Medical, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Statistics, Theatre

Course Catalog
Vanderbilt Course Evaluation List for University College Roosevelt

Vanderbilt will use the scale shown here to articulate all grades from University College Roosevelt, regardless of the subject area or language of instruction.

University College Roosevelt	Vanderbilt Equivalents
A+	A
A	A
A-	A-
B+	B+
B	B
B-	B-
C+	C+
C	C
C-	C-
D+	D+
D	D
D-	D-
F	F

Academic Calendar

The academic calendar at University College Roosevelt is very similar to the US calendar:

Fall (Semester 1): late August to mid-December.
Spring (Semester 2): late January to mid-May.

There may be an orientation preceding the term; please check the actual dates before buying your tickets.

Application

You will submit two applications: the first is a simple application with very few requirements that determines whether Vanderbilt will nominate you to study at University College Roosevelt/Utrecht University. If you are nominated, you will have a longer list of requirements that will be submitted to determine final acceptance.

A preliminary course selection will be required at the time of your application to UCR. You will want to begin the course evaluation process early. The application also includes multiple forms, passport photos, a transcript, a copy of your passport, and a personal statement. Nonnative speakers of English and/or Dutch are required to submit a language proficiency form and results from a proficiency test.

Visas and Enrollment

US and EU citizens (as well as some others) do not require an MVV entry visa to study at University College Roosevelt, but a residence permit is required (fee associated) for non-EU citizens. You will receive information about necessary paperwork after acceptance. All students will be required to purchase Dutch health insurance covering the period that they are in the Netherlands.

Housing

University College Roosevelt is a residential college and all students live in one of the residential halls. The halls: Bagijnhof, Roggeveenhuis, Koestraat and Driewegenhof, house 100 to 200 students each and are spread throughout the city, mostly within 10 minutes of campus. Most students will have their own rooms, though there are some two-person apartments. Vanderbilt students will be billed for housing by University College Roosevelt. Because room sizes and housing arrangements vary, the precise cost of housing will depend on the student's particular situation.

Detailed descriptions of available accommodations can be found at http://www.woongoed.nl/ (site in Dutch, but you can use a browser such as Chrome to translate).

Location

Though UCR is part of Utrecht University, University College Roosevelt is actually a two-hour train ride from Utrecht. UCR is located in the charming city of Middelburg, near the North Sea and about 30 miles north of Ghent, Belgium. Middelburg is a small city of about 50,000 people and is the capital of the province of Zeeland. Middelburg dates back to the 9th century AD, when it was a town fortified against Viking incursions. In the Middle Ages the city was an important commercial center, later becoming one of the seats for the Dutch East India Company.

The historic city center was bombed heavily during World War II, but was reconstructed in line with its pre-war appearance. The city today remains historic and picturesque, with a radial city plan, numerous canals, and historic buildings. These buildings include one of only two pre-Reformation cathedrals remaining in the Netherlands, a medieval abbey, and the Gothic town hall that today houses University College Roosevelt. Middelburg boasts several theaters, museums, and libraries, and the city center is host to a shopping district with many specialty shops, bookstores, restaurants, and pubs.

The city of Middelburg

Student Life

Student activities at UCR are largely organized by students themselves through the Roosevelt Student Association (RASA). RASA organizes student interest clubs, gala parties, and many other on-campus events. RASA even owns and operates its own pub, the Barrel, which is staffed and run by and for students of UCR.

University College Roosevelt's official academic bookstore is De Drukkery, located on the market square. Students have full access to the Zeeland Library (the largest library in the province) and can use the digital library of Utrecht University. UCR publishes an annual academic journal in English, Ad Astra ("To the Stars"), which publishes noteworthy student essays and papers.

Roosevelt Students Association (Facebook)
Quick facts and figures about UCR

For More Information

For more information, or to ask questions about your GEO application, you may contact the UCR advisor via our advising page, or use the Request Info button at the top of this page.

Don't forget your fellow students! Student perspectives can be very valuable to your information-gathering and decision-making. There may be alumni of this program listed toward the top of this brochure; they are happy to receive emails from you. You can also reach out to other students who might have gone to UCR or the Netherlands among GEO's Student Ambassadors, or talk to one of our Peer Advisors about study abroad in general.

For more information, visit program homepage.

Fact Sheet

Housing: Dormitory
Minimum GPA: 3.3
Language of Instruction: English
Language prerequisite: N/A
Additional prerequisites: N/A
Costs: Budget Sheets
Student contacts: Peer alumni

Photo: Good morning Middleburg, by Andreas, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0