Liberal Arts and Sciences

The Bachelor’s Programme in Liberal Arts and Sciences at Utrecht University offers a distinctive and flexible interdisciplinary education designed for students who are curious about a wide range of academic disciplines and eager to develop a broad set of skills. This programme emphasizes a holistic approach to knowledge, combining insights from the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences to prepare students for the complexities of contemporary global challenges. Throughout the programme, students have the opportunity to tailor their learning path by choosing from a diverse array of courses across various disciplines, enabling them to develop a personalized academic profile aligned with their interests and career aspirations.

The curriculum promotes critical thinking, intercultural competence, and innovative problem-solving skills, encouraging students to analyze issues from multiple perspectives. The programme comprises core courses that provide foundational knowledge, elective modules for specialization, and a final project or thesis that synthesizes learned concepts and skills. Students are also guided to develop essential competencies such as effective communication, teamwork, and research methodology, which are highly valued in today’s dynamic job market.

Learning methods include lectures, seminars, project work, and interdisciplinary team assignments, fostering collaboration and practical application of theoretical knowledge. Utrecht University’s vibrant campus environment and strong international orientation offer students excellent opportunities for cultural exchange, internships, and research projects both locally and abroad. Graduates of the Liberal Arts and Sciences programme are well-prepared for diverse career paths, including academia, public policy, international organizations, media, and business sectors, as well as further studies at master’s level.

The programme’s flexible structure, combined with Utrecht University’s reputation for academic excellence and innovative teaching, makes it an ideal choice for motivated students seeking a broad, integrative education that equips them to thrive in a complex, interconnected world. With a focus on fostering independent thinking, adaptability, and a global outlook, the Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts and Sciences aims to develop highly versatile graduates capable of making meaningful contributions to society.

Detailed Course Facts

• EUR 1713 Year (EEA)
• EUR 8620 Year (Non-EEA)

There is an additional fee, the international profile fee, of 1100, to be paid by all students. The IPF is mainly used for scholarships.

• English

Course Content

A UCU education is characterized by its broad and interdisciplinary nature. As a student, therefore, you design your own curriculum. This means that the curriculum does not have a fixed structure; instead you combine different courses to assemble a personal study program. The full three year program has six semesters of four courses each, so by the end your curriculum consists of at least 24 courses.

During the first year you explore the academic world and the various academic disciplines. You take general academic skills courses that help develop writing, presentation and methodological skills, and you start learning a foreign language. You take courses at the introductory 100-level in at least two of the three departments - Science, Social Science and Humanities. By the end of your UCU program you must have taken at least one course in all departments.

The second - or junior - year is aimed at expanding knowledge and skills. Before the start of this year you declare a major in one of the three departments, or possibly an interdepartmental major. You take courses at the intermediate 200- and advanced 300-level.

During the third - or senior - year efforts are focused on finalizing the program by gaining sufficient disciplinary knowledge to apply for a Master´s program or a job. This culminates in the research thesis, a sizeable academic paper on a topic of your own choice.

Support

To guide you in your decisions and to safeguard a certain level of coherence in your curriculum, every UCU student has a personal tutor. Your tutor monitors progress and signals possible obstacles.

Options

You can enrich your program with the following options:

• study abroad for a semester or a year
• do an (international) internship
• take off-campus courses
• take a minor, four related courses in a department other than your major
• write an honors thesis

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 7 CAE score : 75(Grade B) TOEFL paper-based test score : 580 TOEFL iBT® test : 92

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

Selection of students

To be accepted at UCU applicants must undergo a selection procedure. Each year UCU selects about 225 students from a considerably larger pool of applicants. Candidates must meet a set of minimum requirements and fit a general profile to be accepted. The same assessment criteria hold for all students and are applied fairly and impartially.

Minimum requirements

Applicants must have a Dutch high school diploma at VWO level (any profile) or a foreign equivalent, such as the International Baccalaureate diploma or the British A-levels. Since English is the official language at UCU, non-native speakers are required to demonstrate proof of proficiency.

Selection criteria

In addition to meeting the minimum requirements applicants must demonstrate that they fit a general profile:

• academic excellence and curiosity
• ambition and motivation, academically as well as professionally
• broad intellectual orientation
• interest in contributing to campus life
• social engagement
• affinity with living and studying in an international environment

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Alumni Study Travel Fund

  Scholarships for students who are already attending the University of Reading.

• Amsterdam Merit Scholarships

  The University of Amsterdam aims to attract the world’s brightest students to its international classrooms. Outstanding students from outside the European Economic Area can apply for an Amsterdam Merit Scholarship.

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than Utrecht University.

Funding

Scholarships / Grants:

Utrecht University:
In addition to the scholarships which UCU issues, Utrecht University also has six scholarships available for UCU students. These 'excellence' scholarships are merit-based and between € 1.500,- and € 16.400,- a year.
For additional information: Website

Utrecht University:
For additional information: Website

Accreditation

This Bachelors program has been accredited by the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO).