Welcome to Utrecht

Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands. It is centrally located, lively and has a lot to offer to its residents. Since Utrecht is a very popular place to live and study, the availability of student housing is very limited. During the summer, the Utrecht Summer School offers its participants the dorms that are occupied by international students throughout the academic year. Because of this, the housing provided is affordable, but very basic. Student rooms are not hotel rooms. It's therefore also not possible to bring family or friends. On this page, you can find all of the information needed to decide whether the USS housing is the best option for you. We only offer student housing during the summer school period. For 2025 this will be between 5 July and 22 August.

How does it work?

The housing offered by the Utrecht Summer School costs €200,- per week (plus €55 for an optional Utrecht Summer School Sleeping bag & inflatable pillow, see information below). You can only stay in the housing for the duration of your course(s). All accommodations are student residences and they are located throughout the city, but can mainly be found in the Utrecht Science Park. You will have your own bedroom and share the kitchen and bathroom with other students of all genders. (Will you join one of our courses abroad? Please make sure to check this page).

If you decide to make use of our student units, you will be assigned a room by the Utrecht Summer School staff. You will not know which residence you will be staying in, until the day of your arrival. When you arrive you can pick up your key and receive all the necessary information about your accommodation and how it can be reached.

Key Pick-Up & Check-in/out

You can pick up your room key from the Utrecht Summer School office upon arrival, where you will also receive further instructions about your stay.

Check-In

  • When: Saturday/Sunday before the start of the course, from 12pm to 6pm*
  • Where: Janskerkhof 30, 3512 BN Utrecht

Check-Out

  • When: the last Friday of your course, before 10am**
  • Key drop off option 1: With your professor if you have class on Friday morning
  • Key drop off option 2: Janskerkhof 30, 3512 BN Utrecht

* The office is also open from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm for you to pick up your key. Arriving outside opening hours? Ask a fellow student to pick up your key via the Goin' Connect app, or contact us.

** It is not possible to stay longer in the accommodation. If you wish to stay longer, you will need to make your own arrangements. 

You will have to leave your dormitory on the last Friday of your course before 10am. More information can be found in the Pre-departure Document that you can download from your account after your payment has been processed by us.

What is included in the rooms?

The Utrecht Summer School housing is basic and includes:

  • A private bedroom (with new matrass cover)
  • Shared facilities such as kitchen, bathroom and toilet
  • Kitchen supplies (pots/pans/cutlery/plates/cups)
  • Toilet paper & basic cleaning supplies for your first days
  • A laundry machine
  • Free wifi

Not included are: 

  • A pillow & blanket*
  • Towels & sanitary products
  • An iron & hairdryer
  • A private bathroom
  • Meals

*You are welcome to buy our sleeping bag and inflatable pillow before arrival or at our office. 

USS Sleeping Bag

When you select our student accommodation, you can either decide to bring your own bed linen, or you can buy our Summer School Sleeping Bag. This light weight summer sleeping bag includes an inflatable pillow and is designed especially for Summer School students. Costs: €55, which will be itemized separately on the invoice. If you wish to bring your own bed linen or pillow, please deselect or remove one or multiple items in the application procedure, before completing the payment. You can also buy the Summer School Sleeping bag and pillow at our office (payment by card). 

Additional Expenses

There are some additional expenses that you need to keep in mind whilst planning your stay in Utrecht. 

Meals: they are not included in the housing. You will be able to store groceries and do your own cooking. Food in the Netherlands can be quite expensive and you should count on spending approximately € 15-20 per day on food (three meals, snacks and coffee/tea or other refreshments).

Travel costs: All accommodations are situated within easily accessible distances from the various educational institutions located in Utrecht (in general not more than 30 minutes by public transport). The accommodations are in the city centre, the Utrecht Science Park (Uithof), or in the suburbs of Utrecht. You should count on spending approximately € 4-7 per day on public transport travelling from your accommodation to your course location.

Hotel

Keep in mind that we offer affordable student housing. Do not expect hotel quality. Feel free to make your own arrangements if you prefer to stay at a hotel. We have listed a few suggestions on this page.

Before your course starts, you will probably be able to see the location of the course in your pre-departure document. Most courses are either in the city center or at the Utrecht Science Park. When you wish to book a hotel, hostel or Airbnb, feel free to use www.9292ov.nl to see the travel distance from the course to your accommodation.