About UCUniverseUCUniverse is a platform developed for the students, alumni, staff and professional partners of University College Utrecht (UCU). It was launched in March 2008, with the goal of creating a way for them to cherish and expand their network. This is done by strengthening the bond between these parties using the different networking capabilities of UCUniverse, and by facilitating the search for fitting jobs and internships for students and alumni.
Apart from its professional function of supplying students and alumni with a database of vacancies and internships, users of the platform can view and upload pictures and videos, partake in the discussion on the forum, read interviews and articles and other selected texts from the Boomerang and Eidos (the monthly student paper and annual academic magazine, respectively), check out upcoming events hosted by UCU and the University College Student Association and Alumni Association, UCSA and UCAA, and much more.
If a company or institution sees its ideology reflected in the profile of the broadly-trained, ambitious students of UCU, they can acquire site access and vacancy placement privileges. If your company or institution wishes to become a professional partner of UCU, please click
here for more information.
About UCUUniversity College Utrecht (UCU) is the international undergraduate Liberal Arts and Sciences honors college of Utrecht University (UU). UCU is a place for ambitious students with broad academic and social interests and an international orientation. UCU students believe learning is much more than taking classes; they want to achieve their best through active and intensive study, as well as partaking in an array of extra-curricular (social) activities. UCU offers its students the opportunity to transform their interests and ambitions into academic excellence, intellectual independence and world-citizenship, qualities that will benefit them in both their professional and personal life. UCU graduates are accepted in outstanding graduate programs and international employers all over the world.
UCU was founded in 1998 and was the first Liberal Arts and Sciences College in the Netherlands. It has since then remained frontrunner in innovative higher education in the Netherlands, and has developed a strong reputation amongst the top universities of the world. It was founded on the principles of the Liberal Arts and Sciences philosophy, common to most higher education institutions of the Anglo-Saxon world. This entails:
An in-depth, multi- and interdisciplinary approach: At UCU, students are equipped with a broad knowledge base, and also choose a number of fields to study more profoundly. They learn to look beyond the scope of one subject or profession and are trained to combine knowledge and insights from different fields of study.
International orientation and social growth: UCU provides an environment that stimulates the development of open-minded individuals. Students are trained and encouraged to see the world beyond their doorstep, to appreciate and enjoy cultural differences.
General academic training and constant guidance: students acquire the fundamental academic skills that enable them to work in a constructive and independent manner, fully preparing them for the world of international (post)graduate education and/or professional life. In addition, tutors are assigned to students to help them plan their personal curriculum and career after UCU. Please see page 4 for more information on the UCU curriculum and tutoring system.
Community input: an active stance in the community is much encouraged. UCU students learn to conceptualize, organize and host events both on and off-campus. This allows them to develop their “non-academic” talents and it helps the community grow.
Ambition and character: as an honors college, UCU looks for ambitious students with a dedication to make a difference in the world. This is reflected by the expectation that students combine both the significant study load as well as the numerous social engagements at UCU.
UCU students form an active community. A range of established student clubs and committees await the contributions of the next group of incoming students: sports, visual arts, music, drama, dance, debate, choir, philosophy, poetry and the Boomerang (the student newspaper) are examples. These committees host an array of activities on campus, ranging from sports tournaments and debating competitions to art exhibitions and performances. All these committees are overseen by the student-run University College Student Association (UCSA). UCU strongly believes in the social role these committees play, meaning that if your interest isn’t represented on campus, you can always present your plans to the UCSA and start your own committee.
The All Students' Interest Council (ASIC) represents the students on academic issues and facilitates the communication between the students and the College administration. ASIC also organizes many events in order to involve students in current issues on campus and regularly launches projects to improve campus life.
About UCU graduatesUCU graduates are awarded an internationally recognized diploma from Utrecht University: a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science. They have reached advanced undergraduate levels in the fields of their choice. Through their individual study program, off-campus courses and research projects they are well-prepared to take on specific ambitions after UCU.
In its relative short existence, UCU alumni have already built a solid reputation for the college. UCU graduates find their way to for example:
- An academic graduate program at a university in the Netherlands or abroad; recent graduates have been accepted at international universities such as Cambridge University, Oxford University, the London School of Economics (UK), University College and King’s College London, University of California campuses, Columbia, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Stanford, Lund and Bologna. Many have received PhD’s by now.
- A professional graduate program in the Netherlands or abroad. Graduates have continued at medical schools, law schools and business schools, and the first generations have started as physicians and lawyers.
- A position as trainee or a job in an international company, or in a governmental or non-governmental organization, ranging from oil companies, leading consultancy firms, international banks, and coveted training programs for diplomats to the peace corps.
For more about UCU please consult our website:
www.ucu.uu.nl.