INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ARRIVAL GUIDEAll the information you need to find your way around Utrecht

Welcome from the Director

HU University of Applied Sciences UtrechtHU International Office - About our university-Our education system

Welcome to the NetherlandsGeography - Cultural basics - Public holidays -Higher education

Utrecht, a great student cityAncient, but modern - The history of Utrecht -Map of campus ‘De Uithof’

Preparing for UtrechtStudent housing - Immigration - Insurance -Finances- Employment

Arriving in UtrechtSchiphol Airport to Utrecht - Accommodationon arrival - Introduction day - Buddyprogramme

“To do’s” after arrivalRegistering with the city - Completing yourenrolment - Immigration - Banking

HU servicesHU student card - Student counselling -Studying with a disability - HU Library

Living in the NetherlandsMedical care - Emergency numbers - Legalaid - Transportation - Telephone - Postalservices - Food - Sports - Erasmus StudentNetwork

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Dear prospective student,

HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht is verypleased to welcome you to our community ofinternational students! We are delighted that youhave joined us or will be joining us, and we hopethat your time with us will be productive,successful, and filled with exciting opportunities.

The International Office has compiled thisguidebook to help you take full advantage ofyour time at our university in Utrecht. I wouldencourage you to read it carefully as it will helpyou settle into your new life here more easily.The information presented in this guidebook is acompilation of the most frequently askedquestions that international students have and ittherefore contains a lot of practical informationthat you will need during your stay with us inUtrecht.

We have tried to make this guide ascomprehensive as possible, but if you have anyadditional questions, please feel free to contactus at the International Office. When you arrive atour university, we will also provide you with acomprehensive introduction programme toprepare you for a successful stay at HU Universityof Applied Sciences Utrecht.

Please visit our website for more informationdesigned specifically for international students.For assistance with any other questions, you canalso contact us by e-mail at: io@hu.nlLiving and studying abroad can be an adventureand a challenge, but learning to live in a newenvironment and surrounded by a new culture isan experience that will enrich you. We at theInternational Office of HU University of AppliedSciences Utrecht take great pride in supportingyou during your studies. We very much hope youwill enjoy your time here!

Gitta Reiszner MFA MBA

Head of the International OfficeHU University of Applied Sciences UtrechtInternational Office+31 (0)88 481 81 81io@hu.nl

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WELCOME FROM THE DIRECTOR

HU International OfficeThe International Office is here to inform andassist you in a wide range of areas, both beforeand after your arrival in Utrecht.Services for new international students• Information on course requirements,applicationprocedures and tuition fees• Information on practical topics such

asimmigration and living in Holland• Visa procedure for new non-EU/EEA students• Advice on finding accommodation in Utrecht• Information on student life and studying in

UtrechtServices for those already studying at theuniversity• Information and services relating to studying

abroad;• Information and services relating to internships

abroad;• Grants and scholarships during your studies or

after you graduate

Opening hours You are welcome to stop by our front officeduring opening hours or to make an appointmentto visit us at our back office in the city centre.Please see below for details on each location:

IO front office opening hours: Monday, Tuesday,Thursday 9.00-14.00 Faculty of Economics andManagement, Padualaan 101, Utrecht Back office opening hoursMonday to Friday 9.30 - 16.30Visits only by appointment

Visiting and courier address Oudenoord 340 , 3513 EX Utrecht, theNetherlandsPhone: (+31) (0)88 481 81 81E-mail io@hu.nlWebsite: www.international.hu.nl

About our university• HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht was

founded in 1995 as the result of a mergerbetween several independent institutions.

• We now have over 38,000 students of morethan 100 different nationalities. Most of our European students come fromBelgium, France, Germany, Bulgaria and Spain.Most of our students from outside Europecome from China, Indonesia and Russia.

• There are more than 1,000 internationalstudents currently studying at HU University ofApplied Sciences Utrecht.

• Of all those who graduate from a university ofapplied sciences in the Netherlands, some 88%find a job within a year.

• We offer more than 92 study programmes. Twoof these programmes are taught fully in English.

• We have over 200 partner universities all overthe world, meaning that there are plenty ofoptions if you decide to study abroad for asemester or a year.

Our system of education• Your expected learning outcomes are

expressed using European Credit TransferSystem (ECTS) credits, which are based onworkload. One credit represents 28 hours ofwork (in the form of lectures, seminars, projects,practical work, self-study and examinations). HUstudents must attain at least 60 credits per year.

• Your study programme may consist of lectures,seminars, tutorials or practical work.Timetabling will vary per term, but the goal isto allow students one day a week withoutscheduled classes.

• Courses for international students are taught inEnglish. Students are therefore required toprovide proof of their English-language skills.Read more about our language requirements.Read more about our language requirementson http://international.hu.nl.

• Most examinations are written examinations,although some may have an oral component.

• The university uses a 10-point grading scale.The highest possible grade is 10, but gradesabove 8.5 are rarely awarded. The minimumgrade for a pass is 5.5. A grade of below 5.5 isa fail.

• The academic year consists of four terms of 10weeks each: 7 weeks of lectures followed byexams. You always have two opportunities topass an exam: one during the regularexamination period and one resit.

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GeographyThe Netherlands (which is not the same thing as‘Holland’!) is a small country covering an area ofonly 41,528 square kilometres. The greatestdistance from north to south is 300 kilometres,and from west to east just 200 kilometres.We are located in north-western Europe, with theNorth Sea to the west, Germany to the east andBelgium to the south. The capital of theNetherlands is Amsterdam, although the seat ofgovernment is The Hague (Den Haag). TheNetherlands is a very flat country and almost 25%of its land is at - or even below - sea level. Alongthe northern coastline, there is a chain of islandscalled the West Frisian Islands (Waddeneilanden),which extend north-eastwards to become theGerman East Frisian Islands.The Netherlands is a politically stable countrywith a dense population of well over sixteenmillion people: the Dutch. The country is aconstitutional monarchy: the head of thegovernment is the Prime Minister, while theofficial head of state is King Willem-Alexander,who does not play a direct role in government.The national language of the Netherlands isDutch, but most people in the Netherlands alsospeak some English and German.

ClimateThe Netherlands has a mild marine climate, withcool summers and mild winters. The averagemaximum temperatures are 23°C (73°F) in Julyand 6 °C (42.8°F) in January.

TimeThe Netherlands is located in the CentralEuropean time zone, meaning it is one hourahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Daylight Savingbegins at the end of March and lasts until theend of October.

Cultural basicsCulturally, the Netherlands is a very diversecountry with inhabitants from all over the globe. One of the main characteristics of Dutch peopleis that they are very down-to-earth. They arefamous for being very direct and speaking theirminds, which might sometimes be seen asrudeness. But don't worry - it is not (usually)meant that way! The Dutch are very open to other cultures, acharacteristic which is also reflected in their

cuisine. Traditionally, a standard evening mealwould consist of potatoes, vegetables and apiece of meat, but more and more foreignproducts and ingredients are being used in dailycooking these days. Because the Netherlands is such an open andoutward-looking country, almost all Dutch peoplecan make themselves understood in Englishand/or another foreign language. People in theNetherlands will appreciate it if you, as aforeigner, try to speak Dutch, although you mayfind that people tend to switch to English easily,since they feel that to be quicker and easier.When meeting a Dutch person, it is quite normalto shake hands or, if you know someone better,to give that person three kisses on the cheek. The Netherlands is also well-known for its liberalattitude towards certain issues, such as gay rightsor marriage, euthanasia, and soft drugs (withinthe boundaries of the Dutch law, of course). Butas in any country, not everyone shares the samepoint of view. It is generally considered polite toavoid discussing religion and politics in casualconversation, unless you know the other peoplevery well.Although the Dutch are usually down-to-earth, attimes you may see them suffering from a case ofOranjegekte (“Orange madness”) orOranjekoorts (“Orange fever”). Thisphenomenon occurs during major sportingevents, especially international footballchampionships, and on Koningsdag (“King’sDay”), an annual holiday to celebrate the King'sbirthday. The symptoms include wearing orangeclothing and decorating houses andneighbourhoods with flags.

Public holidays The Dutch observe the main Christian holidaysand also some lesser holidays such as Hemelvaart(Ascension Day) and Pinksteren (Whitsunday orPentecost). On Remembrance Day (May 4th), the victims ofWorld War II and subsequent wars areremembered. On the following day, we celebrateLiberation Day. Another noteworthy Dutch holiday is Koningsdag(King's Day), which was actually Koninginnedag(Queen’s Day) until the current KingWillem-Alexander ascended to the throne in2013. This public holiday is a day for

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celebrations, performances and open-air marketsin big cities and small towns all across thecountry. And finally, who could forget Sinterklaas onDecember 5th? Sinterklaas is a Dutch cousin ofSanta Claus, who is actually based on theCatholic Saint Nicholas. He rides a white horse,drops presents for children down the chimneyand arrives in the country by boat. His arrival inthe Netherlands is even broadcast on nationaltelevision.

Higher educationThe Netherlands has a binary higher educationsystem. In this context, binary means that there are twotypes of higher education: research-oriented andvocation-oriented:• Research-oriented education (wetenschappelijk

onderwijs, WO) is traditionally provided byresearch universities.

• Higher professional education (hogerberoepsonderwijs, HBO) is provided byuniversities of applied sciences (hogescholen).

Universities of applied sciences, such as HUUniversity of Applied Sciences Utrecht, preparestudents for particular professions and thesestudy programmes tend to be more practicallyoriented. They lead to either a Bachelor’s orMaster’s degree.For more information, please seewww.nuffic.nl/en

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Ancient, but modernWhen you choose to study in Utrecht, you arealso choosing a friendly and charming city. Withas many as 70,000 students, Utrecht is famous forbeing a student city. It is centrally located andhas a very young population, although the cityitself is impressively old. Utrecht has all theintimacy of a small town and the amenities andambitions of a big city. Utrecht is a self-containedworld of its own, where you are sure to feel athome. No wonder so many students want to livehere!Utrecht is one of the oldest cities in theNetherlands. It has unique medieval boatyardsalong the canals in the city centre. You can enjoya stroll along these canals and quays anddiscover the bars and restaurants located in thecellars that once formed a medieval portcomplex unlike anything in any other city in theworld. Another highlight is the Dom Tower,which symbolizes the important role Utrecht hasplayed in the religious sphere for centuries.With over 70,000 students, Utrecht’s populationis relatively young. This is reflected in the manyactivities organized in the city. In the old townyou will find many nice shops, cinemas and pubs.Utrecht is home to student organizations of allshapes and sizes, and the opportunities in thefields of culture, sports and entertainment arenumerous. Events such as the Dutch Film Festivaland the Cultural Sundays ensure that you willalways have something interesting to do whenyou are not studying.

The history of UtrechtUtrecht is one of the oldest cities in theNetherlands. Its origins date back to 47 AD,when the Romans built a fortress at a rivercrossing (“Traiectum”) along the northernfrontier of their empire. For hundreds of years, the Church dominated thelife of the city. This period was the height ofUtrecht’s power and fortune, and the old cityretains many reminders of its mediaeval glory.The unique warehouse cellars along the canalsdate from the thirteenth century, when they wereused to load and unload boats and store goods.These days they are restaurants, boutiques andcultural attractions. You can still visit many of thechurches built in the Middle Ages, too.

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Faculty of Economics and Management

Faculty of Communication and Journalism

Faculty of Society and Law

Faculty of Education

Faculty of Health Care

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Student housingIn the Netherlands, students usually live togetherwith other students in a shared house(studentenhuis). All the occupants will generallyhave their own room, which serves as living room,bedroom and study, and they share a bathroomand kitchen. University-owned halls of residenceare rare in the Netherlands; students either liveop kamers (in a rented room as described above),where they live independently and cook theirown meals, or with their parents. Living opkamers will give you a lot of freedom and allowyou to experience genuine Dutch student life!

An ideal student room would be spacious, cheap,and centrally located. But since Utrecht is a verypopular student city, the student housing marketis quite competitive and demand generallyexceeds supply. It is difficult for new students tofind a room, and Dutch students sometimesspend years on a waiting list or end up payingvery high rents for small rooms with landlordswho may not take their responsibilities seriously.

Finding a room through SSH Short StayOf course, HU University of Applied SciencesUtrecht wants all its international students tohave suitable and pleasant accommodation, sowe work with the Short Stay Housingorganization (SSH). SSH reserves a limitednumber of rooms especially for internationalstudents at our university. Unfortunately,however, we do not have enough rooms for allour international students, so we have specifiedcertain groups of students that we canaccommodate.

How to apply through SSHIn order to apply for a room, you will first need toregister on the SSH website. Then theInternational Office will check whether you areeligible. This can usually be done within twoworking days. After your application has beenapproved, you can search the SSH database foravailable rooms, make your choice, and pay therequired fees. The earlier you register, the moreoptions you will have, so please register as soonas you have made your final decision to come toUtrecht!All SSH rooms have a bed, a desk and a closet.The kitchens are fully equipped, so there is noneed to bring your own pots and pans! It is alsopossible to rent bed linen for an extra fee.For more details on procedure and deadlines,please see www.international.hu.nl.

The following students may reserve a roomthrough SSH:• Exchange students• Master’s students• Degree students from outside the EU/EEA• Students who apply through our agent Integral• Students in the International Foundationprogrammes• All contracts are for a maximum of 12 months!

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In order to apply for a room, you will first need toregister on the SSH website. Then theInternational Office will check whether you areeligible. This can usually be done within twoworking days. After your application has beenapproved, you can search the SSH database foravailable rooms, make your choice, and pay therequired fees. The earlier you register, the moreoptions you will have, so please register as soonas you have made your final decision to come toUtrecht!All SSH rooms have a bed, a desk and a closet.The kitchens are fully equipped, so there is noneed to bring your own pots and pans! It is alsopossible to rent bed linen for an extra fee.For more details on procedure and deadlines,please see our Housing Page.

Finding your own accommodationAre you a degree student from an EU/EEAcountry? In that case, you will have to find yourown accommodation in Utrecht. This can be achallenge in Utrecht’s tight housing market, butof course, we do have some tips and advice foryou!

Our website lists a number of websites andagencies that our students have found helpful.Many of these work by linking those seekingaccommodation to those who have a roomavailable. Please be aware that these agenciesoperate independently and that HU University ofApplied Sciences Utrecht is not responsible forthe outcome of any contact between you and thevarious organizations listed above.

Unfortunately, there will always be those who tryto take advantage of the housing shortage inUtrecht. To ensure that you are not takenadvantage of, always make sure you get acontract and read it carefully. Do not accept a“permission to stay” agreement (some landlordsmay offer you this), but ask for a real contract. Ifthe landlord is not willing to supply this, thenmost likely something is not right. In addition,you will need your contract in order to registerwith the municipality. Another piece of advice isnever hand over any money until you have a keyand a contract in hand. Remember: if it soundstoo good to be true, it probably is!

SSH Regular AccommodationIn addition to reserved accommodation, SSHShort Stay also has rooms available in the ‘regularaccommodation’ category. These rooms tend tobe in a higher price range and are subject todifferent terms and conditions, but they areavailable to all international students. You willalso have the advantage of renting from areputable and well-known housing organization.

Find out more through the SSH Short Staywebsite http://www.sshxl.nl/en.

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Immigration servicesStudents who do not hold EU/EEA nationalityneed to obtain a Dutch residence permit (VVR) inorder to study in the Netherlands. For somenationalities, an entry visa will also be required(MVV) in order to enter the Netherlands. In thesecases, the relevant Dutch university is required tofile the application with the Immigratie- enNaturalisatiedienst or IND (the Immigration andNaturalisation Service of the Netherlands). Youcannot arrange this yourself. Consequently, youneed to submit your visa and residence permitapplication documents to the HU immigrationofficer as soon as you have received youracceptance letter. You will also need to pay a feeand prove to the IND that you will have sufficientfunds during your stay in the Netherlands. Detailsabout the procedure, the forms required, and thecosts involved are available onwww.international.hu.nl.

To make sure that all the arrangements arecompleted in good time, we keep strictdeadlines for immigration applications. Yourcompleted application form and payment musthave been received by our office by the followingdates:• if you are starting in September: 15 June• if you are starting in February (Foundation

course only): 1 DecemberEU/EEA citizens

If you are a student from a country that belongsto the European Union or the EuropeanEconomic Area (EU/EEA), you need to have avalid passport or identity card to enter theNetherlands.

Health insuranceYou are not allowed to reside in the Netherlands,not even temporarily, if you are not properlyinsured for the costs of medical treatment. Dutchinsurance companies provide basic healthinsurance (basiszorgverzekering), which costsaround €100 a month. However, as aninternational student, there may be cheaperoptions for you or you may be able to use yourhome health insurance. This depends partly onyour nationality.

EU studentsIf you are an EU student and you are not workingin the Netherlands, you may use your healthinsurance from your home country. Yourinsurance provider or government insuranceagency can provide you with a card called anEHIC (European Health Insurance Card). Pleasemake sure you obtain an EHIC before you leavefor the Netherlands! As soon as you start working(even if this is only a few hours), you are obligedto take out Dutch health insurance.

Non-EU studentsFor non-EU students, it is not possible tocontinue using your health insurance from yourhome country. The Dutch Immigration Servicewill check that your insurance cover meets Dutchstandards and that you are fully covered for thecosts of medical treatment. As part of the visaapplication, you can indicate that you would likethe university to arrange a special internationalstudent health insurance policy for you. Thispolicy includes insurance for personal liability,legal aid and luggage and costs around €37 amonth. If you decide to take a job during yourtime in the Netherlands, you will need to arrangea work permit as well as Dutch basic healthinsurance.The website www.nuffic.nl/en has a detailedexplanation of the Dutch insurance system and aquestionnaire to help you find out what kind ofinsurance you need.

To find out for sure whether or not you willneed Dutch health insurance, please answerthe questionnaire on the Nuffic website.

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Healthcare Allowance (Zorgtoeslag)If you are required to take out basic Dutch healthinsurance, you may be eligible for financialassistance called the zorgtoeslag. This assistanceis meant to help those on lower incomes to meetthe cost of Dutch health insurance and isdefinitely worth applying for, since you may beentitled to a reimbursement of up to 80% of yourhealth insurance premiums. However, there aresome criteria that must be met before you canclaim this assistance. Read more abouthealthcare allowance and the application processon www.international.hu.nl or contact theInternational Office.

Liability insuranceOver 95% of Dutch citizens have liabilityinsurance, which covers the cost of accidentallydamaging someone else’s property. This kind ofclaim can be quite large and yet the premiumsare just a few euros per month, so it is worthmaking sure that you are covered! Non-EU students: if you have arranged yourinsurance with HU University of Applied SciencesUtrecht, liability is already included.

FinancesCost of livingWe estimate the monthly cost of living andstudying in the Netherlands to be between € 800and € 1,100 a month. This amount should beenough to cover rent, food, insurance, andtransport as well as books and study materials.Full information on student finances, costs andour tuition fees is available on our Finances page.

Are you curious about how much you can expectto spend on daily purchases?Here are a fewexamples: One-way rail ticket from Amsterdam- Utrecht,second class: €7.20Cup of coffee: €2.20Beer: €2.20Glass of wine: €3.00Pizza: € 8.90Takeaway: € 8.50Loaf of bread: €1.20Pack of butter: €1.20Kilo of bananas: €1.73Dinner in a restaurant: € 25Litre of milk: € 0.76Cinema ticket: € 9.20Haircut (men): € 22.80Haircut (women): €32.50Newspaper: €1.60

ScholarshipsSome students may qualify for scholarships orgrants. Exchange students from within the EUcan study at our university and obtain an Erasmusscholarship, provided their home university has abilateral agreement with our university.International degree students who pay thehigher, non-EU tuition fees may apply for theTalent or Excellent Scholarship

Student financeIn the past, limited opportunities existed forinternational students to receive student financethrough the Dutch government. The traditionalsystem is now facing an overhaul, where allstudent grants are being replaced by loans. Forthe most current information, please see thewebsite of DUO, the government agencyresponsible for student funding:http://www.duo.nl/

Need assistance?

The International Office can help you with anyquestions on healthcare, health insurance andrelated benefits! We can also help you withyour application or with Dutch-only websites.

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Employment Many international students plan to workpart-time alongside their studies. In reality,however, it can be difficult to find work if you donot speak Dutch when there are plenty of otherswho do. If you do decide that you would like tofind a job, there are certain regulations that youneed to be aware of:• Students with certain nationalities need a work

permit and may work only a limited number ofhours per week.

• As soon as you are employed to do paid workin the Netherlands, you have to take out Dutchhealth insurance. Your student health insuranceor the European health card no longer suffice,and if you do not take out Dutch insurancewhen you are required to do so, you will risk alarge fine. (Also see the ‘Health Insurance’section of this guide.)

We recommend that you do not count on beingable to work when you plan your finances. Sincestudents often find it difficult to get work, thiscan be a source of stress and prevent you fromfocusing on your studies and adjusting to yournew home. Make sure that you have at least €800- €1,100 available per month, so that if later youdecide to work, this will be for extras and not fornecessities.

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From Schiphol Airport to UtrechtArrival by planeThe easiest way to travel from Schiphol Airport toUtrecht is by train. This takes 30-45 minutes, andtrains depart every 15 minutes. Follow the signsfor ‘TRAINS’ at Schiphol Airport. Train tickets are available from the yellow ticketmachines near the platforms on Schiphol Plaza orfrom the ticket offices, which are situated closeto the red/white-checked cube on Schiphol Plaza.You can also use a public transport chip card onthe train, if you have one. (More informationabout the public transport chip card will beprovided later in this guide)

If you are in doubt, you can always ask someoneat the ticket office. For travel advice andtimetables you can also check www.ns.nl.

Travel within UtrechtFrom Utrecht Central Station you can either takea bus or a taxi. Visit www.9292.nl to seetimetables for buses in Utrecht.Travel to ‘De Uithof’ campusTake bus 28 or 12 from Utrecht Central Station. Itis possible to buy a disposable public transportchip card on the bus.

Accommodation on arrivalMost rooms will be available from 1 September.When planning your arrival, you should book ahotel, hostel or B&B for any nights prior to 1September. Some rooms may be available earlier. You cancontact your housing provider (SSH or privateowner) to ask whether your room will be freeearlier. If so, they will charge you a small amountfor the extra nights.Utrecht has a number of B&Bs, hostels andhotels:• www.strowis.nl• www.starlodge.nl• www.hostelutrecht.nl• www.apollohotelsresorts.com• www.stayokay.comYou could also try something different and stay

with a local:• www.airbnb.com• www.hospitalityclub.nl• www.couchsurfing.org

International Student Introduction Every August, Utrecht University and HUUniversity of Applied Sciences Utrecht organizefour days of activities for new students, theUtrecht Introduction Time (UIT). About 3,500students participate in this general introductionto the city.

Besides this general introduction, theInternational Office at HU University of AppliedSciences Utrecht organizes an introductionespecially for international students just beforethe start of your studies. At the event you will beintroduced to the school and there will be achance to discuss all the fun and practical mattersconcerning your stay in the Netherlands.Before you arrive, you will receive a welcomeletter with additional information about theintroduction programme.

Buddy Programme Even though Utrecht is fairly compact city, it ispossible to feel lost and overwhelmed as aninternational student. Just being a student in astrange country can seem like a big enoughadventure.This is why HU University of Applied SciencesUtrecht offers international students the chanceto pair up with a “buddy” (a student who alreadyknows his/her way around). This will give yousomeone to help you get to know the city ofUtrecht, find your way around the university,discover the best places to hang out and learnmore about Dutch culture. Your buddy will beassigned to you during the international studentintroduction day. For the entire first semester,you will keep in touch regularly and wheneveryou need. He or she will be there when you needhelp with anything, or simply to have a good timetogether. Having a buddy is a great way to get toknow the university and the city, and to meetnew people. Every buddy is trained to make sure that they arequalified to guide you when you first arrive. Allbuddies speak English and are senior students atthe faculty where you will be studying. This wayyou can be sure that you have a guide whoknows how things work around the university andin the faculty itself.

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There will be some practical matters that you willneed to arrange shortly after your arrival. On theintroduction day, you will hear about all thedetails, but here is some general information togive you an idea.

Registration with the City of UtrechtmunicipalityEveryone who stays in the Netherlands for morethan four months is required to register with thelocal municipality. This will also allow you to beissued a BSN number (burgerservicenummer), acitizens’ services number which is required if youwant to work, open a bank account, use anyhealthcare institution, or apply for study financeand other benefits in the Netherlands. The Nufficorganization has a page that describes theregistration process and gives you further detailsabout the municipal personal records database(Gemeentelijke Basis Administratie or GBA) andyour BSN number. The International Officeorganizes a registration meeting with themunicipality of Utrecht for all new internationalstudents.

City of Utrecht Municipality, Utrecht City Hall(GBA), Administration Building, Arthur vanSchendelstraat 500, Utrecht.Opening hours: from 9.00 to 15.00Please check http://9292.nl for the bus lines totravel to Utrecht City Hall.

Completing your enrolment with the universityIf you have not done so yet, please make surethat you complete your enrolment as soon aspossible after arrival. If you do not do this, yourHU e-mail and intranet accounts will bedeactivated and you will have to discontinue yourstudies! The Enrolment Office can answer generalquestions about your enrolment. The AdmissionsOfficers at the International Office can help youwith any questions about the equivalencyevaluation of your diploma and will also be thereon the introduction day.

Immigration for non-EU/EEA studentsAfter your arrival in the Netherlands, you willneed to go to the immigration office to pick upyour residence permit (VVR). The VVR is a smallcard that you will need to carry with you at alltimes and which also serves as your ID. At theinternational student introduction day, you willfind out when and how to pick up the card fromthe local immigration office.Some nationalities are required by theimmigration office to undergo a tuberculosis testas part of the residence permit application. If thisapplies to you, it is very important you have thistest as early as possible, since your residencepermit application cannot be completed withoutthe results of your test. The immigration officerwill inform you what exactly you need to doduring the introduction day.

BankingTo open a bank account in the Netherlands, it isgenerally necessary to have a citizens’ servicesnumber (BSN). You will receive this BSN numbera few days after you register with themunicipality. To open a bank account, you willneed an official declaration that you are aregistered student at HU University of AppliedSciences Utrecht, as well as your passport andyour rental agreement.

ING bank and ABN AMRO bank have specialprocedures for international students, whichallow you to open a bank account without a BSN.You can open an account directly with ING onthe introduction day if you wish. However, it isimportant to realize that you can choose anybank that you wish.

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HU student cardEvery HU student receives a student card. Youwill need this student card to use the variousservices available at the school, for example toreserve project rooms or use printing facilities.On showing your HU student card, you are alsogranted free use of HU multimedia centres, freemembership of the Utrecht University Library,access to sport and exercise facilities at OlymposSports Centre at student rates and discounts atvarious museums and cultural centres.Your student card will be printed once you haveuploaded a passport size picture as part theprocess of enrolling at the university. If you havealready entered your address in the Netherlandsinto Osiris, the card will be sent straight to thisaddress. If not, then you can collect it from yourfaculty’s student desk.

Student counsellingStudent counselling is there to provideinformation, advice and assistance on a widerange of topics. Every faculty has one or morestudent counsellors. They can help answer yourquestions and deal with problems, for instanceregarding enrolment or disenrolment, issues thatarise during your studies, special circumstancesor financial affairs. The student counsellors canalso refer you to other specialists, such as thecampus doctor or psychologist. Everything youdiscuss with a student counsellor will be handledin the strictest of confidence.

Please visit www.studentservices.hu.nl to find thestudy counsellor at your faculty.

Studying with a disabilityDoes your disability or chronic illness interferewith your ability to study? HU University ofApplied Sciences Utrecht is happy to discuss theoptions available to support you in finding asolution. However, the initiative here lies withyou.It is therefore important that you discloseyour functional disability or chronic illness, inorder to benefit from any adjustments orfacilities. You can do this by informing theInternational Office when you apply to HU so wecan refer you to the right staff member.You may also contact the student counsellor atyour faculty directly. Together with him or her,you can then explore the options available withinthe faculty and address any problems you may beexperiencing.

Find out more about studying with a disabilityPlease visit www.onbelemmerdstuderen.hu.nlfor more information about the intakeprocedure.

HU LibraryThe HU Library has a number of differentlocations in the various faculty buildings. Here,you can work quietly and borrow a wide range offoreign newspapers, magazines and books usingyour student card. You can also access a numberof international databases for academicpublications.HU students can also join the Utrecht Universitylibrary, which has locations on the campus and inthe city centre!

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HU SERVICES

Postal servicesPost offices can be found all over town. Mostpostal services are also provided in smallnewsagent shops selling newspapers, cards andtobacco. At the Uithof campus, there is a postoffice in the Primera shop. Stamps can also bebought in the larger supermarkets, at the servicecounter.

FoodSome typical Dutch dishes are: curly kale withmashed potatoes and sausages, pea soup withdark rye bread, herring, kroketten (a type ofdeep-fried breaded ragout), bitterballen (abite-sized version of the kroket, very popular atparties), huge pancakes which hardly fit on theplate, and also mini pancakes, called poffertjes,which are eaten hot with icing sugar and lashingsof slowly melting butter! Curly kale with mashedpotatoes and sausages is a typical dish that manyDutch families eat at home in winter time.Fortunately you don’t have to eat this every day.Dutch supermarkets offer a large variety of foodand drink from around the world, and in someneighbourhoods you will find a number ofmulti-ethnic food stores (such as Turkish,Moroccan, Surinamese, Vietnamese shops).

SportsFor sports in Utrecht, the Olympos Sports Centreis the place to be. Olympos has extensive andversatile facilities for individual and team sportingactivities. It is situated on the Uithof campus,home to HU University of Applied SciencesUtrecht. Do you want to participate in a competitive sport(such as football or volleyball)? Please subscribevia www.olympos.nl.

Erasmus Student Network (ESN)The Erasmus Student Network Utrecht is a Dutchstudent organization that provides volunteers tohelp international students integrate smoothlyinto student life in Utrecht. They provide mentorsto help students with practical problems andorganize parties, trips, sporting events andexcursions throughout the year. The ESN alsoorganizes a special introductory session forinternational students at HU University of AppliedSciences Utrecht.For more information, please visitwww.esn-utrecht.nl.

Religious servicesUtrecht has a long history as a centre of Christianreligious life, with the Dom church at its spiritualand architectural core. Twenty-seven percent ofDutch people consider themselves to beCatholic, while 18% view themselves asProtestant. Nowadays, adherents of otherreligions are also represented in Utrecht and theNetherlands. Four percent of the population isMuslim, and 6% follow some other religion suchas Judaism, Buddhism or Hinduism, while 46%say that they are not religious at all.Some of the larger religious institutions inUtrecht include:• The Janskerk. Every Sunday, this church holds

an oecumenical service for students.• Holy Trinity Utrecht Anglican Church. This

church holds all services and activities in Englishand organizes specific activities for(international) students.

• Ulu Moskee (Ulu Mosque).

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