A Reciprocal Exchange agreement between the University of Iowa and Radboud University Nijmegen allows UI students to take up a year or semester of study in the Netherlands alongside local students in regular classes and standard student housing. Though the language of instruction at Radboud University is Dutch, responding to the new Erasmus initiative of promoting European student mobility throughout the region and English being a common language to this student population, a number of classes throughout the curriculum are taught in English. The exchange is particularly suitable for UI students interested in American studies, European studies or pre-Law. It is also of interest to majors in German, linguistics and political science. Prior Dutch language is not required for participation.

On this one-for-one exchange, cost is based on your regular UI tuition. Added expenses include airfare, local housing and living expenses, visa fees, a UI administrative fee, and as much travel as students care to do during the academic breaks. Students admitted to the program are eligible to receive a Stanley grant of $1500 in support of UI exchanges to Europe Off the Beaten Track.

Academic Program

Radboud University Nijmegen is a student-oriented research university where classes are small and individual responsibility and independence in academic pursuit is assumed on the part of students. Most disciplines apply the model of “student activated education” which is characterized by instruction in study groups and the organization of courses as a series of study tasks, to be carried out by the students with guidance from the instructor. The option is most appropriate for UI students ready for upper level coursework in their major or minor.

Exchange students typically enroll in 4-5 classes. As this is a bilateral exchange sponsored by the American Studies Department of the Faculty of Arts at Radboud University, UI students are required to select two classes from among offerings in the American Studies department any given semester. Be sure to discuss conversion of ECTS credits to UI semester hour credit with the UI study abroad adviser.

Courses taught in English are listed in the ECTS Guide for visiting students. Offerings can be consulted here. American Studies is found in the Faculty of Arts. In due course, the ECTS Guide pertinent to your academic year will be available; in the meantime, the previous year’s Guide is useful for a preliminary choice of classes.

NEW development! In the Radboud Certificate Programme, English-taught classes have been clustered around particular themes to create a course selection that will yield a Certificate upon completion. This is a great aid to class selection! Check options here.

Otherwise, you may search in various departments as follows:

At Faculty of Arts, click on the last item ECTS guide. To see a listing of offerings in the American Studies department with links to course descriptions, click on Contents in the left hand bar.

Other departments to consult here include Comparative Arts and Cultural Studies, many literature and culture classes in English Language and Culture, History, Language and Communication, and Linguistics.

For anthropology, artificial intelligence, psychology, political science and gender studies, go to Faculty of Social Sciences, click on the FSW- ECTS Guide, and then click on Contents in the left hand bar.

Program Dates

The academic calendar is available at this page. Students should plan to arrive for the “introductory activities” about 10 days prior to the first day of classes in the semester.

Radboud University Nijmegen

Click here for a short film introducing the university to international students. Some of this also applies to you as a short-term exchange student.

Nijmegen

Nijmegen is the oldest city in the Netherlands dating from Roman times when it was called Noviomagus or New Market. It is situated close to the German border on the banks of the River Waal, a branch of the Rhine. Badly damaged during the Second World War, much was done to rebuild the city in the post-war period leaving monuments of Nijmegen’s rich historical past to occupy a special position in the new city center. Today, it has some 161,000 inhabitants with a significant student population of more than 15,000. It is a green city, a safe and friendly place with a rich social and cultural life – theaters, cultural centers, cinemas and museums number in the twenties. Nijmegen's location and excellent rail service is also ideal for travel throughout Europe during the year.

Living Arrangements

Student housing is at a premium in the town of Nijmegen, however under the benefits of the bilateral exchange, students who submit the required housing application in a timely manner will be guaranteed adequate housing upon arrival. Once you have been screened for admission and the program adviser in the UI Study Abroad office forwards you name to Nijmegen, you will receive an e-mail from the International Office at Nijmegen containing full information on how to apply to Radboud University; this will include an application for housing.

For a discussion of housing in the ECTS Guide go here.

Travel Arrangements

Students make their own travel arrangements to arrive in Nijmegen by the required date. Information for arrival will be provided by Radboud University’s International Office upon acceptance.

Eligibility

Students must have a minimum 2.8 cumulative grade point average and have completed at least one semester in residence at the University of Iowa. Preference is given to UI participants who will have junior or senior standing during their session abroad.

Costs

For Fall 2011 or Spring 2012, the semester cost of tuition and fees, including the UI administrative fee for study abroad, was Resident $4310 Nonresident $12,975.

Additional cost including airfare, local housing and living expenses, visa fees and health insurance was estimated at $6950. This does not include textbooks, out-of-pocket expenses, personal travel.

For information on local living expenses, go here and click on the tab Practical matters; see Housing and Daily expenses.

How to Apply

Students are encouraged to discuss their interest with exchange program adviser Maria Hope in the UI Study Abroad office as soon as possible. They must provide a viable study plan before receiving instructions for completing an application to Radboud University.

Application Deadline

The application deadline is April 10 for fall semester or the academic year, and October 30 for the spring.

Once accepted, students will receive a current ECTS Guide from Radboud University’s International Office with comprehensive information about student life in Nijmegen. Students should plan to arrive for orientation at Radboud about 10 days before the first day of classes.

Prior to departure, all students also attend a general TIPS orientation for UI Students Studying Abroad. In addition, the exchange program adviser provides individualized information about billing and credit procedures at Iowa.

There are no photos available for this program yet. Do you have any photos to share with us? If you do, please contact us at:

1111 University Capitol Centre
The University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1802
USA

Phone: (319) 335-0353
Fax: (319) 335-0343
E-mail: study-abroad@uiowa.edu