Incoming Exchange

If you would like to come to Wageningen University as an Exchange Student, you should confirm with your Exchange Office whether there is a current Exchange agreement in place between your home university and WUR. You can also have a look at our page with partner universities.

We advise you to contact your home university to find out about the options regarding the study field that is relevant for you.

In order to apply for an exchange at WUR, your home university must first nominate you for an exchange period. Once the nomination by your home university has been accepted by WUR, you will receive an email about the online application procedure.

Admission to the Erasmus+ and NON Erasmus+ Exchange

If you would like to be admitted to the Erasmus programme, you should meet the following requirements:

1. There should be an exchange agreement between your home university and Wageningen University.
2. You need to be nominated for an exchange period by your home university (before our nomination deadlines).
3. You should be a regular student, registered at one of our partner universities.
4. You have completed at least 90 ECTS at the time of your nomination (but preferably 120 ECTS, which equals at least two years of study at the home university/academic background).
5. You are not allowed to make claims to other grants of the EU in the same study period.
6. Please note that you have to submit a proof of your English language proficiency with your application (unless you are a native English speaker or study at a university that teaches fully in English). You need to hand in one of the tests mentioned here or a certificate (written in English) from the language centre of your home university stating your level of English (minimum B2). The minimum requirement is English skills at the B2 level, but we recommend you to obtain C1 before your start in Wageningen. The OLS-result for Erasmus+ students is not accepted.
7. Hand in your application before our application deadline.   

Information for exchange students

Your online application must be completed before the following deadlines:

Start 1st semester (September):

Deadlines NON-EU nationality students:

• Nomination by home university: 1st of April
• Application submitted by student: 15th of April
• Fully signed Learning Agreement: 1st of June
• Payment and documents Legal Stay: 1st of July (the International Office cannot apply for legal stay after this date)

Deadlines EU/EFTA* nationality students:

• Nomination by home university: 15th of April
• Application submitted by student: 1st of May
• Fully signed Learning Agreement: 1st of July

Start 2nd semester (January or later):

Deadlines NON-EU nationality students:

• Nomination by home university: 15th of September
• Application submitted by student: 1st of October
• Fully signed Learning Agreement: 1st of November
• Payment and documents Legal Stay: 1st of December (the International Office cannot apply for legal stay after this date)

Deadlines EU/EFTA* nationality students:

• Nomination by home university: 1st of October
• Application submitted by student: 15th of October
• Fully signed Learning Agreement: 1st of December

*  Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland

Great that you have made your choice for our university!

Before you apply it is necessary to prepare yourself carefully using the information below.

Make sure to apply before the application deadline.

More information about how to select courses can be found here.

The online application consists of:

• An online application form.
• An official transcript of records (upload). Do not forget to mention the subjects not listed on your transcript of records. These can be subjects you are currently doing or are going to do in the time before your exchange period at Wageningen University starts.
• A proof of English proficiency (minimum B2 level), if applicable (upload).You need to hand in one of the tests mentioned here or a certificate (written in English) from the language centre of your home university stating your level of English (minimum B2). The minimum requirement is English skills at the B2 level, but we recommend you to obtain C1 before your start in Wageningen. The OLS-result for Erasmus+ students is not accepted.
• Passport or Identity Card (upload).
  EU students: a passport or European ID must be valid at the moment of registration (No driver licenses are accepted).
  NON EU students: only passport and must be still valid 6 months after registration.

After your application has been submitted your Exchange Coordinator will contact you to discuss your course selection. Once the course selection has been approved, you will receive a Learning Agreement. In June (for period 1 and 2) or November (for the remaining periods), an acceptance letter and further instructions will be sent.

Note that we receive many applications at the same time. It can take some time before you get feedback. Because of visa regulations, students with a non-EU nationality will be contacted first.

This information is for non-EU students applying for an exchange at Wageningen University.

• Please click here to download the immigration leaflet. This document also applies to non-EU students currently living in an EU/EFTA country.
• Students (staying longer than three months) who need an entry visa and/or a residence permit for studying in the Netherlands will be contacted by the Student Immigration Office (SIO) of the SSC (Student Service Centre) at WUR.

Thinking about extending your stay in Wageningen as an exchange student? In some cases this is possible. Below you will find the possibilities, requirements and procedure.

Extending your semester exchange within either semester 1 or semester 2

• Extension is possible for courses ONLY (not for MSc thesis)
• Extension is only possible within one semester, where semester 1 includes periods 1-3 and semester 2 includes periods 4-6
• The approval of an extension is done by the WU Exchange Coordinators and depends on permission (per e-mail) from the home university
• Indicate (by email: incoming.exchange@wur.nl) that you would like to extend your exchange. Deadline: 1st December (for semester 1) / 1st April (for semester 2)
• After you have been granted permission for extending your stay, you will need to arrange a fully signed Changed Learning Agreement. Your WU Exchange Coordinator can then extend your registration at SSC.
• Note that extending your stay will only be possible if the whole process leaves you sufficient time to register for courses and to extension of your VISA and/or residence permit (if these apply to you).

Extending your semester 1 exchange into a semester 2 (or full year) exchange

• Extension is possible for courses ONLY (not for MSc thesis)
  The approval of an extension is done by the WU Exchange Coordinators and depends on:
  • the exchange balance
  • your study progress (a minimum of 12 ECTS passed)
  • permission (per e-mail) from the home university
• Indicate (by email: incoming.exchange@wur.nl) that you would like to extend your exchange. Deadline: 1st December
• After you have been granted permission for extending your stay, you will need to arrange a fully signed Changed Learning Agreement. Your WU Exchange Coordinator can then extend your registration at SSC.
• Note that extending your stay will only be possible if the whole process leaves you sufficient time to register for courses and to extension of your VISA and/or residence permit (if these apply to you).

Interested in Wageningen University? Below you can find an overview of the current exchange partner universities of Wageningen University.

Overview of our partner universities

• Courses at Wageningen University are taught in six periods. The academic year starts in September.
• Period 1, 2, 5 & 6 consists of eight weeks
• Period 3 & 4 consist of four weeks.
• Have a look at the academic calendar the exact date.
• As a rule each course is only offered once a year.
• At the end of each period, the student takes examinations of the courses of that period.
• In general, courses in period 1 (September - October) and 2 (November -December), are introductory or methodological courses. Nevertheless, these courses assume background knowledge on 3rd year BSc level within the same field of study.
• In most cases courses in period 3 (January) and period 4 (February) continue on those offered during previous periods).
• In general, courses in period 5 and period 6 (March - July) are more advanced courses and assume that the student has also attended the WU courses mentioned in the assumed knowledge section that is specified in each course description.
• Courses often involve group-work.
• Also fieldwork and excursions are frequently planned in the 6th period.
• No courses are offered during summer.
• All the subjects from the MSc programmes are given in English, as well as most of the 3rd year BSc courses.
• The language of instruction can be found in the course description of the Study handbook on the website.
• Different types of teaching methods are used. The most commonly used teaching methods are lectures and practicals. (Group) assignments, presentations, literature studies and case studies are often involved. The final mark is based on the different elements.

Students can usually select two courses per period (12 credits in total). In period 3 and 4 one course of 6 credits or two courses of three credits. Two courses, 12 ECTS credits, per period may not seem very much, but this is a quite considerable workload of 42 hrs/week. This includes lectures and “practicals” (computer work or working in the laboratory), additional work like individual or group assignments, presentations, and preparation work (reading) for classes. Please note that in general you can follow one course during morning hours and one in the afternoon. Plan your subjects well with help of the Scheduling site.

Every course has its own subject-code, e.g. ‘AEP 20306 Economics of Agribusiness’. The three letters in this code indicate the Chair group offering the course. The next part of the code indicates the level of the course. Digits 1 and 2 indicate introductory (bachelor) level and digit 3 and above a more advanced level. Courses with a first digit of 1 are sometimes offered in Dutch only. The last two digits indicate the number of ECTS credits.

• Exchange students are not allowed to follow Advanced MSc courses and Academic Master Cluster courses including MOS-modules (1.5 ECTS). These courses have a course code with starting digit 4 or 6 after the first three letters, e.g. FTE40306 or ELS65500.
• Courses starting with the letter X-- are not allowed for exchange students because these courses are not given in Wageningen.
• It is not allowed to conduct a BSc thesis.
• The possibilities for conducting a MSc thesis are currently under discussion. Given this uncertainty we strongly advise you to focus on following courses.

Note that some courses have a maximum number of participants (this is indicated in the Study Handbook). We never advise exchange students to take these courses as they do not get priority to participate. Nevertheless, you can select these MAX-courses but you must consider that students from the regular programme get priority, since these courses are often compulsory or restricted optional courses for their programme. You always need to select an alternative course for each MAX-course in case you are not admitted in the MAX-course.

1. In period 1, 2, 5 and 6 you can select a total of 12 credits. In period 3 and 4 you can select a total of 6 credits. You can select two courses per period (select one in the morning and one in the afternoon).
2. When selecting two courses in a period, make sure to select one in the morning and one in the afternoon. (To know if the classes are during the morning or the afternoon, look at: MO (=Morning)/AF (afternoon) in the schedule.) In period 6 there are also courses that are scheduled for a whole day. You can select two 'whole days courses', but make sure that you select one course that is given in the first few weeks and an other course at the end of the period.
3. Check if the language of instruction is English.
4. Most of the courses are 6 ECTS. The last two digits of the course code identify the number of credits. EXAMPLE.
5. All courses from MSc level are advanced level and they require background knowledge on the topic on a BSc level. We strongly recommend you to choose courses from your own field. Always check the required assumed background knowledge.
6. We recommend to select courses from one specific programme.
7. If you want advise about the courses you have selected, contact the exchange coordinator and send her/him your application form with your study plan.
8. It is very important that you register yourself for the courses before the registration deadline. Registration for courses is mandatory and failing to register will result in no admittance to the course. For instruction see chapter 'Registration for courses'.

The best way to search for courses is to look at the courses of a particular BSc or MSc programme in the Study Handbook. Click on the programme you are interested in and you will get a list of all the courses involved. By clicking on a particular subject you will see a description of the course, including textbook titles, if any are used, names of lecturers, a course schedule, and an examination schedule. Please also check the ‘assumed knowledge’, to see whether your background is sufficient to follow the selected course.

We strongly recommend you to select courses within one field of study, fitting your preference and background. This guarantees a coherent and well-balanced selection.

Feel free to contact your specialisation coordinator at WU or your WU exchange coordinator (depending on your field of study) and discuss your study plan with her/him.

Please note that your supervisor from your home university should approve your selection in order to be sure about the academic recognition of your courses.

Many students are interested in a wide range of topics. Choosing a minor provides you with the chance to learn to think outside the box. It can also allow you to deepen your knowledge and competencies within your own field of knowledge. Exchange students from partner universities have the possibility to follow a minor at Wageningen University. Minors consist of sets of courses of 24 ECTS with coherence and profundity. Minors are scheduled in either the first or the second semester of the academic year. If you need more ECTS than the minor offers, you can add single courses to a minor.

For more information about minors see here (check the language table to see if your preferred minor will be taught in English)

Please note: some minors include 'max courses' (courses with a maximum amount of students) meaning students taking the course in their regular programme have priority over exchange students and other students taking the course in their free choice.

Registration for courses is mandatory and failing to register will result in no admittance to the course.

When you have sent in your registration form and received your username and password from our registration office, it means have been enrolled as an exchange student. You can then register yourself for courses on internet via Osiris.

You can only register for courses if you have been enrolled as an exchange student!

How to register for courses when you have not been enrolled, yet? If you are a student from outside the EU or if there is no time left for the enrolment procedure, it isn’t possible to register officially, yet. Therefore, after approval of you study programme, you have to send an e-mail to the professor (contact person) mentioned in the course description in the Study Handbook. When you select the person, you will get the e-mail address.

Tell the professor that you are a new exchange student and that you are not able to registerlectronically yet. Add your full name, date of birth and the selected course (+ code) to your message.

This way the professor is informed that you want to join the course, even though he/she cannot register you. Make sure that you give the professor your registration number as soon as possible, so he/she can officially register for the course and the exam.

Important

To avoid changes at the last moment you should only register for the courses after your study programme has been approved by the exchange coordinator at Wageningen University. If you change your mind about a course, do not forget to inform the professor of that course.

You should only send e-mails for the courses you have selected for the first period of your study at Wageningen University. Please send your exchange coordinator a copy of the e-mails you send to the university lecturers.

For your next period(s) you should register yourself via Osiris.

If you have registered for a course through Osiris, you are automatically registered for the exams of that course.

You can register for an exam (test) in case you have to make a resit exam.

Important

Resit periods are scheduled after period 3 (A), 5 (B) or 6 (C). Always check when your resit exam is scheduled and inform your WU exchange coordinator for the extension of your WUR registration. You can only take a resit exam with a valid WUR registration.

The most used teaching methods are lectures and practicals. The courses often contain (group) assignments, presentations, tutorials, literature/case studies, excursions and fieldwork. You can find the specific teaching methods for each course in the Study Handbook.

For courses that include an excursion, please know that the travel and lodging expenses usually involve extra costs for exchange students. For exact information about this, please see the course description in the Study Handbook and/or contact the relevant course coordinator.

• A1: Afternoon 1st-Half of period
• A2: Afternoon 2nd-Half of period
• AF: Afternoon
• AF-1ST-HALF: Afternoon 1st- Half
• AF-2ND-HALF: Afternoon 2nd- Half
• D1: Distance Learning 1st-Half of period
• D2: Distance Learning 2nd-Half of period
• DL: Distance Learning
• DL-1ST-HALF: Distance Learning 1st-Half
• DL-2ND-HALF: Distance Learning 2nd-Half
• M1: Morning 1st-Half of period
• M2: Morning 2nd-Half of period
• MO: Morning
• MO-1ST-HALF: Morning 1st- Half
• MO-2ND-HALF: Morning 2nd- Half
• O: Other
• W1: Whole Day 1st-Half of period
• W2: Whole Day 2nd-Half of period
• WD: Whole Day
• WD-1ST-HALF: Whole Day 1st- Half
• WD-2ND-HALF: Whole Day 2nd- Half