Practical information & dates
Academic calendar of the Faculty of Spatial Sciences
The academic year consists of 2 semesters that are each divided into 2 teaching terms (semester 1a, 1b, 2a and 2b). The Faculty of Spatial Sciences is running a smarter academic year pilot since 2024/2025. Each of the four 10 week teaching terms have 7 or 8 teaching weeks and 1 or 2 examination weeks. Resits (re-examinations) for exams of courses in semesters 1a and 1b will be in the last week of the next teaching term; resits for semester 2a and 2b courses will be late June.
At other Faculties, the teaching terms may be scheduled in a different way.
Introduction for exchange students
All exchange students are invited to attend the University of Groningen Welcoming Ceremony for international students on the Thursday preceding the start of the semester and are required to attend the Spatial Sciences Acquaintance and Introduction session (compulsory) on the Friday preceding the start of the semester.
Housing
Student housing in Groningen
A lot of information on the student housing market in Groningen can be found on the website of 'At home in Groningen'. In general, the supply of student rooms and private housing in the City of Groningen is very limited, while at the same time the demand for housing from the tens of thousands of students studying at the University of Groningen and the University of Applied Sciences Groningen is very high. These two universities do not own student housing themselves, nor do they directly provide student housing to Dutch or international students. As a visiting exchange student, you need to actively find housing yourself.
Accepted exchange students have the possibility to apply for temporary, furnished housing in one of the International Student Houses of SSH (a company not affiliated with the University of Groningen) in the city of Groningen. Although some students are successful in arranging their own accommodation, most visiting exchange students register for housing in an international student house of SSH. We therefore recommend that you explore the housing options of the SSH.
SSH International Student Houses
The rooms in the SSH International Student Houses are all fully furnished, and with one or more student managers on site. The default rental agreement term with SSH is almost 6 months for a semester exchange (early August until the end of January for the first semester and early February to end of July for the second semester) and almost 1 year for an exchange for a full academic year. Please visit the SSH website for more information on housing options, prices, precise housing locations, housing conditions and application. SSH offers single rooms and shared (or double) rooms that are somewhat less expensive. We advise exchange students visiting the Faculty of Spatial Sciences, located on the Zernike University Campus, to apply for housing located in or near the city centre, or in the area between the city centre and the Zernike University Campus in the north-west outskirts of the city of Groningen.
Application for housing at SSH
Accepted exchange students are urgently advised to register (step 1) and book a room (step 2) as soon as the registration window and booking window open (in April or early May for first semester and full year exchanges and in October or early November for second semester exchanges). In the past, students that waited a few days or longer after the booking window opened have developed disappointments in finding housing in the city of Groningen. We will timely send you an email specifying the dates the registration and booking window open, including a step-by-step guidance for the application procedure.
The SSH has a non-refundable reservation fee. You will be asked to pay the reservation fee as well as the first month and the last period of your rental agreement and additional fees beforehand.
Costs of studying in Groningen
Compared to cities like London or New York, Groningen would be considered by many as an affordable place to stay. However, for many students coming from for example countries in Southern Europe or Central Europe, Groningen is probably perceived and experienced as an expensive city. A rough estimate of the costs of various aspects of student life in Groningen is provided on the website about living expenses.
Credits and grading system
The University of Groningen uses ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). Course workloads are expressed in ECs (European credits). One credit equals approximately 28 hours of study (class attendance, preparation, reading, paper production etc.). In one academic year, University of Groningen students collect 60 ECs.
Grade conversion table
|
ECTS grade |
Dutch grade |
% of successful students normally achieving the grade |
definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| A |
9 or 10 |
10% |
EXCELLENT - outstanding performance with only minor errors |
| B |
8 or 8.5 |
25% |
VERY GOOD - above the average standard but with some errors |
| C |
7 or 7.5 |
30% |
GOOD - generally sound work with a number of notable errors |
| D |
6 or 6.5 |
25% |
SATISFACTORY - fair but with significant shortcomings |
| E |
6- or 5.5 |
10% |
SUFFICIENT - performance meets the minimum criteria |
| Fx |
|
FAIL - some more work required before credit can be awarded |
|
| F |
< 5.5 |
FAIL - considerable further work is required |
|
|
FAIL |
FAIL - considerable further work is required |
||
|
'O' = 'Onvoldoende' |
FAIL - At least 1 course requirement (paper, exam, assignment etc.) graded, but not all course requirements submitted |
1 full academic year = 60 ECTS credit points = 42 full study weeks (of 40 hours each)
1 ECTS = 28 hours of study
| Last modified: | 13 November 2024 3.47 p.m. |