University Website
Exchange Student Information
University and Location
Founded in 1614, the University of Groningen (RuG) enjoys a reputation as a world-class institution with a focus on both teaching and research. It is a university of firsts, producing the first female student and the first female lecturer in the Netherlands, the first Dutch astronaut, and the first president of the European Central Bank. RuG has a student population of nearly 30,000 across 11 faculties, and boasts more than 45 undergraduate and nearly 150 graduate degree programs. The RuG student body includes 4,000 international students representing over 120 nationalities. Located in the northeastern corner of the Netherlands, approximately 2 hours by train from the capital city of Amsterdam, Groningen has a population of close to 200,000, a quarter of which are students. Groningen is a lively city with an abundance of green space, as well as many ports and canals. It also offers a wealth of cultural activities and easy access to other parts of the Netherlands and Europe.
Language of Instruction
English and Dutch. Rensselaer students will enroll in one of the many undergraduate courses that are offered in English.
Available Fields of Study
Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Cognitive Science, Behavioral and Social Sciences and Industrial and Systems Engineering. Students will apply to one faculty and will generally be expected to take all of their classes within that faculty.
Program Dates – Spring Semester Only
Late January through late June (referred to by RuG as the summer semester). The semester is divided into two separate teaching and exam blocks of 10 weeks each. Rensselaer students must enroll in both spring blocks.
Application Procedures and Deadlines
Students must complete a Study Abroad and Exchange Application with the Office of International Programs. Nominated students will be instructed to complete additional RuG application materials.
Course Selection
Course information can be found in the online
Groningen course catalog.
Courseload
Groningen uses the European Credit Transfer System or ECTS. A full time courseload at Groningen is 30 ECTS credits per semester. As a general rule, 1 ECTS credit is typically the equivalent of .5 of a Rensselaer credit. If you enroll in a course that has not yet been approved by the appropriate Study Abroad Transfer Credit Approval Evaluator at Rensselaer, you must have the course evaluated in order for credit to transfer. Please note that the availability of any particular course is not guaranteed.
Grading and Academic Evaluation
Groningen uses a grading scale of 1-10, with “1” being extremely poor performance, and “10” being outstanding. Grades of “9” or above are rare. Students must earn grades of “6” or above in order to receive Rensselaer credit.
Accommodation and Meals
Students may apply for housing through SSH, an organization that works with RuG to provide local accommodation. Information is available at the
SSH website, and detailed guidance will be provided with your RuG acceptance materials.
Estimated Cost of Living
Students pay regular Rensselaer tuition while on exchange at RuG, in addition to airfare, accommodation and other living expenses. Individual student expenses will vary according to lifestyle and travel. Students should budget a minimum of $1000 per month for housing, meals, local travel, living expenses and limited recreation. These estimates do not include recreational travel.
If you have additional questions, please contact
Karen Dvorak.