1. Faculty of Geosciences
Welcome New students!
Faculty of Geosciences

2. International Officer Geosciences
Geosciences Studiepunt/ International Office
∏ Entrance Van Unnik
am/ pm Monday to Friday (Studiepunt)
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (International Office)
Sabrina Verheul
International Officer Geosciences 2

3. Outline Programme Today Monday 2nd February Faculty Orientation Day
Tomorrow Tuesday 3rd February General Orientation Utrecht University (International Master + Exchange students)
Start of Geosciences Classes: this week!
CEUT noemen

4. Faculty Orientation (1)
Practical Matters: studying in Utrecht & at Geosciences
End of this session for all master’s students (international master’s+new students to the faculty)
All exchange students remain seated!
Master’s students programme:
General Orientation by your own programmes  Student associations are waiting for you outside

5. Studying at Utrecht University
General information

6. Semester 1 Semester 2 Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4
Full time study (1)
30 ECTS per semester (2 semesters per year)
2 blocks per semester (4 blocks per year)
2 courses per block (7,5 ECTS per course)
Semester 1
Semester 2
Block 1
Block 2
Block 3
Block 4
Course1
Course3
Course5
Course7
Course2
Course4
Course6
Course8
sept - nov
nov - jan
feb - apr
apr - jun
Tracks Human Geography: Urban Geography, Economic Geography & Geo-communication
Tracks Earth Sciences: Hydrology, Biogeology, Geophysics, Geology, Geochemistry & Physical Geography

7. Full time study (2):Holidays
Relaxation is required:
Only Christmas break during Semester 1:
until
Check your schedules to see when you have
a couple of days off between blocks
Be aware!
Resits may take place after the end of the semester.
Courses and course registration at other faculties may vary in dates.

8. Grading System Grading from 1 (extremely poor) – 10 (excellent)
Final grade often combination of results (e.g. written exam 60% + paper 40%)
Minimum pass of final grade = 5,5
Resit possible by final grade > 4,0 (in case of a resit the maximum score is 6) 8

9. Grades compared to other countries
UU GEO
US CANADA UK
AUSTRALIA
BELGIUM FRANCE
SCANDINAVIA (OFFICIAL ECTS)
GERMANY 10
n.a.
100% 20 9 A+
90%
16,5 A
1,0 8 A-
75%
14,5 B
1,4 7 B+ B-
62%
12,7 C
2,0 6 D+
52% 11 D
3,3
5,5
Pass
45% E
3,5
NVD F
< 45%
< 10
Fail
< 3,5 9

10. Approach to learning Enquire-based learning:
Have your own opinion and be able to put this into words.
Study much of the course material independently.
Work on assignments independently, while also being able to work with others on group-assignments.
Exams usually take place at the end of each block.
Perform to the best of your ability:
Attend all compulsory classes, including tests
Hand in your assignments on time
BE ON TIME! 10

11. Academic rules
You are pursuing an academic career Plagiarism is prohibited and will be punished!
Always refer to academic sources by following the UU-guidelines!
Papers, essays, theses everything will be checked on plagiarism! See docs on
We have a beautiful library which can also be accessed through

12. Studying at Geosciences (1)
Practical information

13. Faculty Information Faculty of Geosciences ONLINE
No login needed for this website => choose your master’s programme => choose GEO exchange programme
Use it for:
Rules & Regulations at the Faculty
News & Events
Course schedules
More information on the programme
Tracks Human Geography: Urban Geography, Economic Geography & Geo-communication
Tracks Earth Sciences: Hydrology, Biogeology, Geophysics, Geology, Geochemistry & Physical Geography

14. Faculty Information Important!
Register for courses in time! Check the webpage of your programme!

15. Van Unnik Building (1) Departments:
Human Geography & Planning (floor 3, 4 & 6)
Innovation, Environmental & Energy Sciences (floor )
Classrooms ‘Van Unnik’ (floor 2-3)
Computer Rooms (floor 1) 15

16. Van Unnik Building (2) Zonneveld-vleugel Department: Physical Geogaphy
StudiePunt Geowetenschappen (student desk GeoSciences)
Educatorium
Examination rooms / Large auditoriums
Lunch hall
Ruppert Building
Classrooms
Computer rooms
VUGS (Human Geography & Planning) => books
STORM (Environmental Sciences) => books
HELIX (Innovation Studies) => books
EGEA (International Students in GeoSciences) 16

17. Buys Ballot Building Buys Ballot Building
Classrooms ‘BBL’ (floor )
Computer rooms (floor 1)
U.A.V. (Earth Sciences) => books (1st floor) 17

18. Next to Buys Ballot Building
Earth Science Building
Department: Earth Sciences
Several labs (0-3)
Computer room (1)
Minnaert Building
Classrooms
Lunch hall
TNO Building
Earth Sciences Library 18

19. Studiepunt/ International Office Geosciences
Weekdays – & – 16.30
International Office: Mondays to Thursdays
If you have any practical problems on faculty level with for example:
Admission
Enrolment for courses
Graduation
International orientated issues
NOTE: Most of the information is available ONLINE: 19

20. Student Service Desk: (Bestuursgebouw, Heidelbergln. 8)
Monday to Friday hrs
If you have practical problems on a general level:
Problems with enrolment at the University
Problems with SOLIS-ID
General International Office
NOTE: Most of this information is available ONLINE: 20

21. Student Advisors Geosciences
If you have problems related to your study:
Study progress
Study Advise
Personal problems etc
Human Geography & Planning
Jos Bierbooms
Van Unnik Room 301
Innovation & Environmental Sciences
Monica Gorska / Pieter Louwman
Van Unnik Room 1023
Earth Sciences
Franca Geerdes
AARD O-106 21

22. Studying at the Geosciences (2)
ICT Systems 22

23. Important website

24. SOLIS-ID / UU LOG-IN Received log-in information by email Log-in for:
UU Computers UU
UU Blackboard (e-learning environment)
UU OSIRIS (online student administration)

25. UU Computers (1/2) Where: UU Library (also opened during weekends!)
1st Van Unnik Building
Ruppert Building
Buys Ballot Building
Earth Sciences Building (different logins!)
Computer ‘rush hours’: – 15.00
Use: studyspot.uu.nl 25

26. UU Computers (2/2)
All files saved to the C-drive will be deleted after logging off!!!
Use:
SOLIS U-drive: temporary personal drive (50 MB)
USB-stick (and don’t forget to take home)
SOLIS-AIR
Use your own laptop on the Solis-AIR / Eduroam Wireless Network. See also: 26

27. Looking for somewhere to study?
Be prepared!
Tips
Check   for available study places
Too busy in the library? There are many more places to study in other buildings
The libraries are quieter in the evening
Please remember that all study spots may be taken in busy times
Het plaatje linksboven (beschikbaarheid studieplekken) verwijst naar het Engelstalige filmpje over studieplekken (duur: 1 minuut). Zet het geluid aan.
Het plaatje linksonder verwijst naar de website

28. UU
If not published online, the Faculty and UU are using this account for announcements. Make sure you check the account regularly or set a forward to your current address! More information via the -portal: gmail.students.uu.nl 28

29. UU OSIRIS Online student administration www.uu.nl/osirisstudent
Solis-ID login
Used for:
Online personal information (address, etc.)
Online course descriptions
Online (de-)registration for courses (not for exchange students!)
Online final course results
Tracks Human Geography: Urban Geography, Economic Geography & Geo-communication
Tracks Earth Sciences: Hydrology, Biogeology, Geophysics, Geology, Geochemistry & Physical Geography

30. UU Blackboard E-learning environment www.uu.nl/blackboard
Solis-ID login
Used for: * Online hand-outs from lectures * Online assignments * Online (additional) literature => readers * Online results * Online announcements
Not all courses make use of Blackboard
Tracks Human Geography: Urban Geography, Economic Geography & Geo-communication
Tracks Earth Sciences: Hydrology, Biogeology, Geophysics, Geology, Geochemistry & Physical Geography

31. UU Blackboard => Readers
Order your readers online!
Tracks Human Geography: Urban Geography, Economic Geography & Geo-communication
Tracks Earth Sciences: Hydrology, Biogeology, Geophysics, Geology, Geochemistry & Physical Geography

32. So... I want to register for a course...
I bring a bottle of wine to the professor and ask him if I can participate
I log on to OSIRIS and register myself before the registration period ends
I search in Blackboard for the right course
Tracks Human Geography: Urban Geography, Economic Geography & Geo-communication
Tracks Earth Sciences: Hydrology, Biogeology, Geophysics, Geology, Geochemistry & Physical Geography 32

33. HELP! Where’s my class?!
I log on to OSIRIS and click on my registered courses
I go to the Faculty website and select my course on the schedule page
I go to the nearest coffee shop: I’m too late anyway…
Tracks Human Geography: Urban Geography, Economic Geography & Geo-communication
Tracks Earth Sciences: Hydrology, Biogeology, Geophysics, Geology, Geochemistry & Physical Geography 33

34. OH NO! I lost my Solis-ID…
I start crying and take the first train/plane home
I go to the Faculty’s Studiepunt and see if they can help.
I go to the Student Service Desk, bring my passport and ask my SOLIS-ID
Tracks Human Geography: Urban Geography, Economic Geography & Geo-communication
Tracks Earth Sciences: Hydrology, Biogeology, Geophysics, Geology, Geochemistry & Physical Geography 34

35. Forgot your SOLIS-ID password?
Go to
And click <Forgotten Password>
Tracks Human Geography: Urban Geography, Economic Geography & Geo-communication
Tracks Earth Sciences: Hydrology, Biogeology, Geophysics, Geology, Geochemistry & Physical Geography 35

36. We wish you all the best with your studies at the Faculty of Geosciences!