Undergraduate School

The Undergraduate School of the Faculty of Geosciences aims to challenge students to do their utmost, in order to grow into capable and engaged academics. The School offers five Bachelor’s programmes, which are distinctive in the topicality and relevance of their focus areas. 

Each programme consists of 180 credits and takes three years to complete. The programme is divided into a major worth 135 credits and a profile worth 45 credits. An overview of the Bachelor’s programmes is available on the online guide to the programmes.

Major

Some of the courses in the major are compulsory courses (max. 75 credits), while the rest are electives. These courses cover themes relevant to the field of the programme selected.

Profile

The profile part of the programme can be defined according to the student’s preferences, by choosing in depth or broadening courses, or by choosing a minor, which is a cohesive package of courses in a different field. Students interested in studying abroad could choose to fill their profile with courses they take at foreign universities partnered with the faculty.

Language of instruction

The language of instruction in the Bachelor's programmes is Dutch, but some electives are offered in English. Every year, a group of foreign Bachelor’s students from various countries spend half a year studying at our faculty. Their classes are taught in English, and students from Utrecht are also free to attend these international classes.

Honours programme

In addition to the regular programme, every Bachelor’s programme has a selective honours programme, designed for excellent, highly motivated students.

The programme consists of two parts:

  • one part (30 credits) consists of education that replaces the regular courses
  • a second part (also 30 credits) is primarily interdisciplinary; the teaching and research activities in these programme components are intended for all the honours students in the Undergraduate School.

The honours programme not only examines the substantive content at a high level of quality; the formation of an academic community, the cultivation of a research culture and leadership development also receive extensive attention.