Programme
On this page, you can find out how the Honours College is structured and how you can combine the programme with other activities.
Honours College: your testing ground
Honours education provides a testing ground for students and lecturers to experiment beyond their comfortzone. There is room to practise other skills, such as negotiation, and for creative assignments.
In addition, the Honours College is the ideal place to develop an interdisciplinary way of thinking and doing during your bachelor’s. You will explore other fields and learn to collaborate with students from other faculties. In some courses, you will work in an interdisciplinary student team to tackle a challenge for or an organisation or society as a whole.
Programme's structure
The Honours College comprises 20 EC of interdisciplinary honours courses. The programme's set-up depends on when you start. There are two possible starting moments (view the exact application dates at application and admission):
| Starting in: | Application period | First course starts in |
|---|---|---|
| bachelor year 1, second semester | Dececember to the half of February (bachelor year 1) | March (bachelor year 1) |
| bachelor year 2, first semester | May to the end of June (bachelor year 1) | October (bachelor year 2) |
- If you start in the first year of your bachelor, you will take 5 EC in the first year and then 15 EC in your second and third years.
- If you start in the second year of your bachelor, you will take 20 EC spread across your second and third years.
Year 1: first-year course (5 EC)
If you join the Honours College in the second semester of the first year of your bachelor’s, you will take a first-year course (5 EC) to familiarise yourself with the programme. This course counts towards the total of 20 EC you will ultimately earn for the Honours College.
Years 2 and 3: a wide variety of honours courses (15 or 20 EC)
The courses in your 2nd and 3rd year are worth 5 EC or 10 EC. You follow as many until you reach the needed 20 EC total. You may take a maximum of one Honours College course per semester. You are responsible for staying up to date on the course application periods.
Combining honours with other activities
Taking part in the Honours College offers many benefits: you’ll explore new fields of study, learn a lot about yourself and meet motivated fellow students. At the same time, following an additional programme requires time and commitment from participants.
Time commitment
Attendance is mandatory for honours courses. You will also have assignments to complete. Some course will be more demanding than others, but as a rule of thumb: when you take a 5 EC honours course, you should expect to spend around 6–10 extra hours per week on your studies.
Flexibility of the programme
To help you along, the Honours College programme offers a degree of flexibility:
- The study load 20 EC is spread out over multiple years.
- You may choose if and in which academic year you take a 10 EC honours course. The advantage of a 10 EC course is that it allows you to explore a subject in even greater depth and earn a large number of credits in one go, but it does require a greater time commitment.
- You may also choose to only take 5 EC honours courses.
- Many honours courses take place after 17:00 hrs or on Friday afternoon, so that interference with regular classes is reduced as much as possible. Please note: This does not apply to all honours courses. Always check your availability before you apply for an honours course.
Internship or exchange abroad
Do you wish to combine the Honours College with other activities, such as a semester abroad or an internship? Make sure to plan your 20 EC of honours courses around the semester you're away.
Tips from students 💡
Find out how students combine honours with other activities by watching the video below and by reading students' experiences.
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