Frequently Asked Questions

The University College concept is quite unique to the Netherlands; it is based on the style of American Liberal Arts & Sciences education, whereby students take subjects from a wide variety of fields and then specialize in year 2 & 3. This allows you to build out your programme a lot more, as opposed to a fixed curriculum. 

Liberal Arts & Sciences focuses on providing both broad and in-depth knowledge and training in professional and academic skills that will be useful in any field!

UCG is a traditional UC offering Liberal Arts & Sciences education in Groningen. This means they offer tracks in Social Sciences, Natural Sciences and the Humanities. 

Our programme in Leeuwarden is more thematic as it is based on the Sustainable Development Goals with more focus on global challenges, from climate change to access to education. This is also reflected in our offered majors, which are: 

• Energy, Ecology and Climate

• Psychology and Global Health

• Politics, Philosophy and Economics

You can read more about our programme and its different elements here.

You typically have around 12 contact hours per week in a block. One academic year consists of four blocks and you usually take three courses per block.

You will also be spending time on self-study, preparing for class, and working on group projects, meaning your total workload would be around 40 hours per week (depending on the time of the semester, you may be more or less busy than usual).

Because of our University College concept, we are dedicated to maintaining small-scale education with more personal attention for you and your development. Generally, classes contain no more than 25-27 students - no big lecture halls, but comfortable seminar-style classrooms with lots of room for discussions and student-led courses!

The type of assignment depends on the classes you take and the major you choose to specialize in. However, regardless of the course, any given assignment is never worth more than 30% of your grade (so no 100% pass-fail exams) as part of our continuous assessment policy. 

Our teaching staff are dedicated to innovative methods and assessments; you will often work on presentations, written assignments, group projects, and student-led courses.

There are part-time jobs available in Leeuwarden in shops, restaurants, and more - often some command of Dutch is required, though not always. The faculty also has a selected number of student assistant vacancies each year, which are advertised among the student body.

Please do note that a) there are restrictions related to health insurance and the number of hours you can work that you should keep in mind and that b) your studies should take priority in order to avoid (costly) study delays.

Quite a lot! As Leeuwarden has over 20,000 students as residents, there is no shortage of activities for you to join, either in- or outside of Campus Fryslân. There are many sports you can try out and cultural events to join, as well as a variety of study and student associations - including NCF, the overarching association for Campus Fryslân students.

Read everything about extracurriculars and student life here!

The first point of contact for any question that is affecting you or your experience as a student at UCF is the study advisor, Maaike Moltzer. She can help you reach mental health professionals, get necessary support for ADHD, dyslexia, etc., and is a confidential professional with whom you can discuss any questions you may have. 

We have two application deadlines:

• 15 January (early bird)

• 1 June (regular)

Apply as early as possible: the sooner you apply, the quicker we are able to process your application. Early applicants also get first access to the UCF housing registration which usually opens around May. For applications with a non-EU nationality, it is especially important to apply early so we can arrange your visa and/or residence permit on time.

More about the application procedure can be found here.

An application fee of €100 is required if you have a non-Dutch diploma. Applications are only processed when the fee is paid on time. Find more information here.

We maintain a selection procedure to ensure that you are motivated and are the right fit for your programme - but it is also a chance for you to get to know us!

1. Submitting your selection documents: we ask for your CV, a motivational letter or video, and a reference letter.

2. Attending an interview via Google Meet or in person. This takes place once your dossier has been approved.

Read more about the selection procedure here or check out the requirements for selection documents.

The Admissions Office legally has 6 to 8 weeks to process an applicant's file and to inform them if they have been accepted based on educational background. 

Your acceptance is always conditional until you have successfully completed the selection procedure, which takes about 2 weeks on average.

The earlier you apply, the quicker we are able to process an application. Early in the year it takes on average 2 weeks to process a file, while it may take 4 to 8 weeks after 1 June.

Feel free to reach out to our Admissions Officer Maria! You can reach her via:

• Email: ucf-grl rug.nl 

• Phone: +31 (0)6 15 54 84 41

UCF prepares you for a wide array of careers, as well as further academic pursuits. Some alumni choose to enter the workforce directly after graduation, taking up internships or professional roles. Examples include positions such as Strategy & Sustainability Manager at Rotterdam The Hague Airport, Policy Developer at the Icelandic Environmental Agency, and internships at Greenpeace. However, most alumni opt to continue their studies by pursuing a Master’s degree. The specific specialization depends on their major (see below).

Below are some examples of programmes our alumni have enrolled in after GRL:

As a UCF student, you have access to a dedicated study advisor who can help you discover your interests and develop a plan for applying to Master’s programmes.

Not at all! At UCF, we understand fully that it is difficult to decide what you want to do with your studies and career when you are only just starting your undergraduate degree. We give you the space to explore several different disciplines so that you have the knowledge to make an informed decision about your future - meaning this is also a great programme if you have a lot of different interests!

We offer guaranteed housing for first-year GRL students through Student Stay at the Kanaalstraat building. Kanaalstraat is in the city centre of Leeuwarden at a 5-minute walk to campus. You’ll get your own studio apartment, including a kitchenette and bathroom. All rooms are furnished (bed, desk, closet etc.). More information can be found here.

Living in the Kanaalstraat building is not mandatory, so you are able to look for housing yourself as well. You can find some suggestions for housing websites and groups here.

The 2025-2026 tuition fees for University College Fryslân still have to be confirmed by the board of the university and the university council. So far the estimate is that it will be €5,157 for EU/EEA students and €17,200 for Non-EU/EEA students. 

Once the tuition fees are officially confirmed for the '25-'26 academic year, they will be published here: https://www.rug.nl/education/application-enrolment-tuition-fees/tuition-fee/bachelor

Our tuition fees are higher because of the small-scale and intensive education that we offer, with around 25 students per class and a higher staff-student ratio. This means that there is more personalized attention and guidance for your personal and professional development.

There are several grants and scholarships available to help cover your study costs. Search for grants through the University of Groningen or Nuffic websites.

For EU/EEA: Study finance

If you are under the age of 30 and are registered in full-time education at university level, you might be eligible to receive study finance. Your eligibility to receive study finance depends on your residence permit and/or your nationality. For more information, please consultduo.nl/particulier/student-finance