The educational model
The Utrecht education model forms the core of how education in Utrecht is organised. It is based on our educational vision and includes our graduates' profiles as well as the structure and characteristics of our education.
At Utrecht University, we educate students into academics who can make a difference in the world. Our graduates' profiles are shaped by our Graduate Attributes (GAs), which outline the ideal end result of our degree programmes. The Graduate Attributes reflect what Utrecht University believes is important in its students' development: from academic knowledge and skills to personal growth and societal responsibility.
Graduate Attributes
UU education is focused on UU graduates becoming capable of:
These characteristics are not the same to everyone. How these are implemented is personal and depends on the interaction between the student, lecturers and the degree programme. It provides students with a framework to reflect on their own learning experiences and the opportunities UU provides them.
Structure of education
Our education supports students in various phases of their academic journeys:
- Bachelor's education: provides a broad orientation in which students explore the boundaries of their disciplines and become acquainted with other fields of expertise.
- Master's education: provides a focus on specialisation within a discipline or broadening by interdisciplinary themes. This prepares students for their future careers or further academic practice.
- Education for PhD candidates: further specialises in a particular domain by means of research, in which there is attention for the interaction between academia and society.
- Continuing education: provides demand-based academic and post-academic education, focused on connecting academic insights to professional practice.
What characterises education at UU?
- Academic education as the foundation: Our education is deeply rooted in academic research. Students not only learn from current knowledge, but also from how that knowledge comes about and they experience this in education too. Education methods are based on proven effective approaches (evidence-informed).
- Open Science and Open Education: We stimulate a culture of openness and collaboration, both within and outside the university. This translates into Open Education: education which prepares students to contribute to society in a transparent and impactful way.
- Diversity and inclusion: Our university community appreciates and utilises diversity as a strength. Respect, involvement and an open dialogue take centre stage, which contributes to an activating learning environment.
- Activating learning in a context-rich environment: Students are challenged to think more deeply and to deal with complex issues. Education activities, learning outcomes and testing are meticulously fine-tuned in order to develop knowledge, skills and independence in balance.
- Testing as a learning instrument: Testing is more than an assessment; it helps students to gain insights into their learning processes. It provides more of a handle to grow and learn further.
- Professional and involved lecturers: Our lecturers have open attitudes, are ready to enter into conversations and continue to develop themselves in order to provide the best possible guidance.
- An inspiring learning environment: On our campus, students find various physical and digital spaces which support meeting and learning. These places contribute to a versatile and stimulating learning experience.
- A culture of quality and reflection: Our quality culture is based on trust, transparency and continuous reflection. We aim to continuously improve our education.
Information for UU employees
UU employees can visit the intranet (login required) for more information.