When you arrive

Hurray, you are about to arrive in Utrecht!  We are excited to welcome you to Utrecht University and our beautiful city.

When you arrive, there will be some great activities to help you feel at home in Utrecht. There are also a few things that you will need to organise on arrival. You can use this checklist to help you on your way.

Checklist

  • 1. Join the UU Welcome Week

    The UU Welcome Week is your first introduction to the university and city and helps you find your place!

    2. Register with the city (BSN)

    If you are staying in the Netherlands for more than four months to study, you need to register in the Municipal Personal Records Database.

    3. Get a Dutch bank account

    It is practical to have a Dutch IBAN bank account while studying in the Netherlands.

    4. Get a Dutch phone plan

    It could be useful to get a dutch phone plan for your stay in the Netherlands. Many offers are available online!

    5. Sign up for a GP

    It is important to register with a General Practitioner (GP) or family physician as they will be your first point of contact for matters regarding your healthcare.

    6. Get a bike

    Biking is the easier way to get around Utrecht - you can buy a bike second-hand or get a monthly subscription. More information during the Welcome Week!

    7. Get a public transportation card

    Getting a personal public transport card is useful to get a subscription for discounted travel. If you don't need a subscription, all public transport services can be accessed directly by apple pay/contactless card.

    8. Learn Dutch

    Learning Dutch as an international student in the Netherlands can be very beneficial and make your stay better!

    9. Get to know our campuses

    Utrecht University has three campuses spread across the city of Utrecht. While most of you classes might be on one campus, facilities are open to you across all!

    10. Get a student job

    Many students have a part-time job, read more to check any conditions that may apply to you.

    11. Get the UNI-life app

    All publicly accessible events of Utrecht's student organisations are shown in the Uni-Life app.