Are you moving to Rotterdam to study? Then you are in the right place. This guide walks you through what you need to know as an international student at Erasmus University Rotterdam, from the way the Dutch university system works to what student life actually looks like once you get here.
Studying at a Dutch university is probably different from what you are used to. Teaching styles, academic expectations and even the structure of the academic year can vary a lot. So how are courses organised? What can you expect from lectures and exams? And how strict is that famous Binding Study Advice? Let's go through it.
Studying in Rotterdam: an international experience
Rotterdam is one of the most international student cities in the Netherlands. Erasmus University Rotterdam attracts thousands of international students every year, and English is widely spoken both on and off campus.
What makes studying here stand out is the practical, career focused approach. Most programmes combine academic theory with real world application. You will regularly work on case studies, group projects and assignments that mirror actual challenges in psychology, business, economics and beyond.
The city plays a big role too. Rotterdam is modern, diverse and fast paced. Unlike the more traditional Dutch student cities, it has a global, urban feel, which is exactly what you want if you are looking for an international environment.
Psychology at Erasmus University: two different programmes
This one trips up a lot of applicants, so it is worth getting right. Erasmus University offers psychology as a Dutch-taught bachelor and as the International Bachelor in Psychology (IBP). The curriculum is largely the same, but the language is not. In the Dutch-taught programme the lectures and the literature are in English while the tutorial groups are in Dutch, so you need to speak Dutch at an academic level. The IBP is taught entirely in English, which is the programme you want if Dutch is not your language.
A few practical things about the IBP:
- It is a numerus fixus programme with a fixed number of places: 600 in total, split into 400 for the Dutch-taught track and 200 for the English-taught one, each with its own ranking list.
- The application deadline is 15 January, including all documents, and you apply through Studielink.
- Selection includes an assessment with an online knowledge test and questions about your motivation and study approach. Your grade point average counts as well.
- You need to prove your English at an academic level, for example with IELTS or TOEFL.
- There is no mathematics requirement, but statistics is a serious part of the programme.
- Tuition for 2026-2027 is €2,694 for the statutory rate (Dutch and EEA students who qualify), €8,300 for the institutional rate for Dutch and EEA students, and €13,500 for non-EEA students. Always check the university website for the current figures.
One thing to keep an eye on if you are applying for a future year: the intake for the English-taught track has been capped as part of the national debate on international student numbers, and the university has said the programme may eventually be offered in Dutch only. Plans have shifted more than once, so check the latest status on the EUR website before you apply. This information is current as of August 2026.
How the Dutch academic year works
Most bachelor's programmes are split into blocks, also called periods. At Erasmus University the year is divided into four periods of roughly ten weeks. In each period you take two theory courses plus a practical, and in the first period a ThriveTrack course is added on top. Each period ends with its own exams, which means you focus on a small number of subjects at a time. Do not let that fool you though, the pace is quick and the workload is real.
What does a typical week look like?
- Lectures. Large sessions where a lecturer explains the core material. These are mostly passive, so you will be listening, taking notes and absorbing key concepts. Some lecturers take questions during the session, others prefer you save them for the end.
- Tutorials and workgroups. Smaller and far more interactive. You discuss papers and cases, work through assignments and practise skills in a group. Important: at the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, attendance at tutorials and workgroups is compulsory. These are not optional extras.
- Practicals. This is where you do what a psychologist actually does. Administering tests, analysing data, reporting your findings and practising professional conversations.
- Self-study. The biggest part of your week. Reading literature, preparing assignments and reviewing exam material, either alone or with peers.
In practice you will have around twelve contact hours a week, spread across about three days. Add self-study and you land somewhere between 24 and 40 hours a week, roughly a full-time job. Your timetable changes every period, so there is no fixed weekly rhythm to settle into.
Campus life: Woudestein Campus
Most Erasmus University students study at Woudestein Campus, the university's main campus, located in the east of the city. It is modern, compact and well equipped, and everything you need during your day is within walking distance:
- The university library
- Study spaces and silent areas
- Food courts and coffee spots
- Sports facilities
Mindbooks tip: the Erasmus Paviljoen is a long-standing favourite for coffee breaks and casual studying.
Your first year at a glance
Your first year is built to give you a solid foundation. Alongside the theory courses you take practicals and ThriveTrack, which focus on practical skills and on personal and professional development. Students usually find these less stressful than the theory courses, because most of the work happens during the contact hours rather than at home. Here is the first-year structure of the psychology bachelor at Erasmus University Rotterdam:
Period 1: Discovering People and Society
- Social Psychology: People in Groups
- Personality Psychology: Differences Between People
- Practical: Psychodiagnostics (Personality)
- ThriveTrack I: Mapping your Path to Personal and Professional Growth
Period 2: Measurement is Key
- Methods and Statistics I
- Biological Psychology: Brain and Body
- Practical: Psychodiagnostics (Neuropsychology)
Period 3: (un)Healthy Development
- Child and Adolescent Development
- Mental Health Challenges Part I
- Psychodiagnostics (Testing Children)
- Practical: Communication Skills I
Period 4: The Psychological Lens
- History and Methods of Psychology
- Cross-cultural Psychology
- Practical: Academic Writing Skills I
Note that cognitive psychology, learning and work and organisational psychology come in year two. You choose a specialisation at the end of the second year, picking from Clinical Psychology, Brain and Cognition, Work and Organisational Psychology or Educational Psychology. In year three you take a minor or go on exchange, choose electives and finish with your bachelor thesis.
Expect a lot of group work along the way. Collaboration is a core part of Dutch education, and it is a core part of the profession as well.
Exams and grading in the Netherlands
Exams here may look different from what you are used to. At Erasmus University they typically include:
- Multiple-choice questions, which dominate in year one
- Open-ended questions
- Case-based questions, where you apply theory to a situation you have not seen before
- Reports, presentations and skills assessments in the practicals
Grades run on a scale from 1 to 10, and 5.5 is the minimum passing grade. You will hear Dutch students joke about the "student's ten", meaning a six: just enough to pass and not a point more. It gets you through the course, but most students aim higher, because your average starts to matter once you apply for a selective master's programme.
Important: the Binding Study Advice (BSA)
This is the single most important rule to understand before you arrive. The Binding Study Advice is not a friendly suggestion, it decides whether you may continue your degree. Erasmus University has the strictest version in the country. Under a policy called "nominaal is normaal", which translates as nominal is normal, you have to pass all 60 credits of your first year. Most other Dutch universities set the bar at 45 credits or lower.
Before you panic: there is more nuance to it. A compensation scheme lets you offset a course you narrowly failed against higher grades elsewhere, under set conditions, and you get a limited number of resits. The exact rules differ per cohort and are written down in the Teaching and Examination Regulations, so read those in your first weeks. It is also worth knowing that around 86 per cent of first-year psychology students do move on to year two.
If you do not meet the norm, you receive a negative Binding Study Advice. You have to leave the programme and you cannot re-enrol in that same programme for three years. If you deregister before 1 February, you do not receive a Binding Study Advice at all. And if things go wrong during the year because of illness, family circumstances or anything else, tell your academic advisor straight away. Personal circumstances can be taken into account, but only if the university knows about them in time.
For internationals this system can feel intense, especially while you are still adjusting to a new country and a new way of studying. The reassuring part is that students who show up to their tutorials and keep up with the weekly material usually get through the year without drama. You do not need to be perfect, you need to stay on track. And everyone around you is going through the same thing, so talk about it.
Student life in Rotterdam
Studying in Rotterdam goes well beyond lectures and exams. The city offers a dynamic and international student lifestyle, known for its modern architecture, its diversity and its energy. Compared to the more traditional student cities it feels like a proper metropolis.
- A highly international community. You will meet students from all over the world, and internationals make up a large share of many programmes at Erasmus University.
- A busy social scene. From student bars to large-scale events, there is always something happening. Student nights and faculty events make it easy to meet people.
- Cultural hotspots. The Markthal is the obvious one for food from every corner of the world, and the museums and festivals keep the city interesting all year.
- Green escapes. Need a break? Head to the Kralingse Bos and the lake next to it. It is a student favourite for picnics, walks and outdoor studying in summer.
Rotterdam has a clear rhythm: weekdays are for working hard, evenings and weekends are for friends.
Student associations and networking
If there is one tip every international student should hear, it is this: join an association. They matter for your social life and for your professional development, and when you are new in a city they are the fastest way to build a network.
Study associations
A study association is linked to your faculty or programme. For psychology students at Erasmus University that is Cedo Nulli, the association of the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, which also covers sociology, public administration and educational sciences. They organise exam preparation sessions, guest lectures, career events, trips, parties and game nights. Membership comes with no obligations, so if you are busy or not in the mood, nothing happens.
International student organisations
These focus specifically on international students. ESN Rotterdam, part of the Erasmus Student Network, is the best known. They run buddy programmes, trips across Europe, socials and parties, all aimed at helping you settle in. Look for them during the introduction week.
Dutch student associations
These are the traditional social associations, not tied to a single programme. Well known ones in Rotterdam are R.S.C./R.V.S.V., R.S.V. Sanctus Laurentius, SSR-Rotterdam, N.S.R. and R.S.G. The larger ones are traditional in character and often expect you to attend certain events during the week. Smaller associations focus on sports, music or creativity and tend to be more relaxed about obligations. Be aware that a lot of the programming at these associations runs in Dutch.
Why bother? Because it helps you make friends quickly, build a professional network and, most importantly, avoid feeling isolated in a new country. Moving abroad is not all fun and games, and a support network makes the difference.
The Eurekaweek: your start in Rotterdam
Before your first lecture you get one of the highlights of student life: the Eurekaweek, the official introduction week for new students at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
You are placed in a group with new students from across the university, with an older student as your mentor to show you around the city. Together you attend workshops, parties and events, and you get introduced to the associations you can join. For internationals this week is especially valuable, because it gives you a soft landing into Dutch student life before the coursework starts. Want to meet people even earlier? Join the official Mindbooks WhatsApp group and start connecting now.
Getting around in Rotterdam
Rotterdam is easy to navigate. The classic Dutch option is a bike, and it is genuinely the fastest way to get anywhere in the city. Almost every student owns or rents one. Public transport is excellent too, with a dense network of metros, trams and buses. The main stop for students heading to campus is Kralingse Zoom, right next to Woudestein. And plenty of neighbourhoods are compact enough to explore on foot.
Mindbooks tip: for public transport you can simply tap in and out with your contactless bank card or phone through OVpay, no separate travel card needed. The old OV-chipkaart is being phased out and replaced by the OV-pas. You do still need a travel card for some services, such as the guarded NS bicycle parking at stations, so check the NS website if you plan to use those.
Practical study tips for first-year students
Starting university abroad can feel overwhelming. Academic expectations in the Netherlands are high, but very manageable if you approach them the right way.
- Stay ahead of your reading. Courses move quickly here and falling one week behind snowballs fast.
- Do not skip tutorials. Beyond the fact that attendance is compulsory, this is where the material actually clicks.
- Practise with past exams. Dutch exams are application based, so working through old papers is one of the most effective things you can do.
- Build a study group early. It keeps you accountable, helps you crack difficult topics faster and makes the year a lot less lonely.
- Be proactive. Dutch education assumes a fair amount of independence. If you do not understand something, it is on you to ask.
- Consistency beats cramming. This one hardly needs explaining. It is the golden rule of studying for a reason.
Where to get your study materials
International students are often surprised by how much independent study is expected. Lectures alone are rarely enough to pass comfortably. Most students use some form of study support: summaries of the key literature, practice questions, mock exams and exam-focused guides. You can share materials with friends, and you can buy professionally made summaries and practice materials. Browse the Mindbooks first-year deals for Psychology in Rotterdam.
Checklist for international students
Before you arrive
- Arrange housing as early as possible, because Rotterdam is extremely competitive
- Register with the municipality to get your BSN, which you need for almost everything in the Netherlands
- Open a Dutch bank account
- Sort out health insurance, and read the note below before you buy anything
- Non-EU students: arrange your residence permit and visa through the university
About health insurance: if you come to the Netherlands purely to study and you do not work, you are generally not allowed to take out Dutch basic health insurance. EU and EEA students use their European Health Insurance Card, and non-EU students take out private international student insurance. The moment you take a paid job or a paid internship, the rules flip and Dutch basic insurance becomes mandatory from your first working day. Getting this wrong can lead to a fine, so check your own situation carefully.
Academic essentials
- Understand the Binding Study Advice and what it demands
- Check your timetable and course structure per period
- Get your books and study materials before the first week
- Find out where your classes are on campus
Daily life
- Get a bike, and a decent lock
- Download the transport apps: NS for trains and 9292 for buses, trams and metros
- Download your supermarket's app, since most discounts live there
- Explore your neighbourhood
- Find your go-to study spot
Social life
- Sign up for the Eurekaweek
- Look into ESN Rotterdam
- Join your study association
- Join the Mindbooks WhatsApp group
Ready to start your student life in Rotterdam?
Studying in Rotterdam as an international student is about more than earning a degree. It is an experience that challenges you, shapes you and connects you with people from all over the world. The combination of a demanding academic system, an international environment and a young, restless city makes this a genuinely unique place to study.
Whether you arrive fully prepared or still figuring things out, you will find your way here. So take the leap. Your Rotterdam chapter starts now.
Frequently asked questions
How many credits do I need to pass my first year at Erasmus University?
All 60 credits. Erasmus University applies the "nominaal is normaal" policy, softened by a compensation scheme and a limited number of resits.
Can I study psychology in Rotterdam without speaking Dutch?
Yes, through the International Bachelor in Psychology, which is taught entirely in English. In the Dutch-taught bachelor the tutorial groups are in Dutch, so that one requires Dutch at an academic level.
How many hours a week will I study?
Around twelve contact hours across roughly three days, plus self-study. In total you are looking at 24 to 40 hours a week.
When is the application deadline?
15 January, including all required documents, because psychology at Erasmus University is a numerus fixus programme with a Selection Assessment.
Do I need Dutch health insurance as a student?
Only if you work or do a paid internship in the Netherlands. If you only study, you use your European Health Insurance Card or private international student insurance instead.
