Introduction september 2024

Dear students,

Welcome to the Faculty of Philosophy! We are delighted that you have chosen to join us and embark on this intellectual journey. Soon, you will dive into the fascinating world of philosophy. We hope that you will encounter ideas that are enlightening and that captivate you in ways you never imagined. Keep an open mind and let the arguments lead you to new horizons.

Our faculty is deeply committed to high-quality research, with collaborations spanning the globe and projects that transcend traditional academic boundaries. We are equally dedicated to teaching, striving not only to provide top-notch lectures but also to create an environment where everyone can engage with new arguments and develop philosophical skills. In a world where many prefer to remain in their own „bubble", we value the exploration of diverse perspectives and remain open to evolving our views as we encounter new ideas.

Faculty life and the activities of our student association STUFF are about more than just academic achievements. They are about fostering a sense of community where social interactions and intellectual encounters flourish. Our shared canteen is a hub for students, academic staff, and administrative personnel. STUFF hosts a variety of social events that you are cordially invited to attend, and it publishes its own philosophy magazine, Qualia. We hope you will soon feel a sense of belonging in this community and, if you choose, take an active role in it.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact your student mentor, the STUFF board (stuffvoorzitter gmail.com), study advisors (fil-study-advisor rug.nl), or any faculty member, including myself.

On behalf of all faculty members and the board, I wish you an excellent start and a wonderful time studying philosophy in Groningen.

Prof. Dr. Lisa Herzog

Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy

Aside from academic staff such as professors, lecturers and PhD students, the faculty also has various support staff which you will deal with during the course of your studies.

Study advisors

The study advisors Anouk Labberté (bachelor students) and Janine Weeting (master students) are there to assist you with questions and matters relating to your study programme such as:

• Study progress, planning and delay

• Support during your studies (in Dutch: Studie Ondersteunings Groep, SOG)

• Study choice and transferring to another programme

• Choice of subjects within the philosophy programme

• Students with a disability

• Transitional arrangements

• Alternative exam schedule

• Personal circumstances and other matters

• Mental and physical wellbeing

Please contact the study advisors should you experience any difficulties or problems. They will keep an eye on your study progress and will invite you for a meeting should this be necessary. Appointments with the study advisors are always confidential. See the study advisor page for more information.

Contact: Anouk Labberté (Bachelor) or Janine Weeting (Master), room 0015 (ground floor, next to the secretariat): fil-study-advisor rug.nl

Student affairs, secretariat and international office

Student affairs & education: Siepie Blom and Stefanie Kosch (for questions about your schedule, Progress and course enrolment): fil-admin rug.nl

International office (incoming and outgoing exchange / study abroad): Bente de Jong and Susan Garthuis: phil.international rug.nl

New students can select their upcoming (master) course or programme and view the corresponding schedule on the university's schedule generator.

If your course or study programme is not yet available then please email the master study advisor Janine Weeting fil-study-advisor rug.nl who can advise you further. The administrative team can (also) assist with your schedule and enrolling for courses: fil-admin rug.nl.

Incoming exchange students can contact the international officer Susan Garthaus phil.international rug.nl for information about about their courses.

We welcome all staff and students to the opening of the academic year High Tea on Wednesday 2 September. This will be held from 16:00-17:30 in lecture room Omega. Everyone is welcome!

We would like to introduce you to STUFF, the Study Association of the Faculty of Philosophy. STUFF is run by and for students of the Faculty of Philosophy.

Throughout the year, the association organises a wide range of fun (philosophical) activities and events, such as philosophical lectures, monthly drinks, laser gaming throughout the faculty building, the Christmas dinner, and much more! As a member of STUFF, you are welcome to join all these activities, receive discounts on study books through our book sponsor, and receive the association magazine, Qualia.

Meet the the STUFF board for 2026-2027:

Jelle Rienstra - chair

Cas Klein Douwel - secretary

Frouke van Kolck - treasurer

Konstantin Gavrilov - commissioner faculty & education- and external affairs

Tristan van der Kuur - commissioner internal affairs

Become a STUFF member by visiting the website and Instagram, or sign up directly by filling in this form.

Please note: this is a Dutch-language event intended for new first-year students.

STUFF organiseert het introductiekamp voor alle eerstejaars filosofiestudenten. Je hoeft geen lid te zijn van STUFF om deel te nemen aan het kamp.

Kom mee op introductiekamp van Filosofie! Wil jij je mede-aspirant-filosofen (waar je de aankomende drie jaar aan vastzit ;-) op een gezellige en informele manier beter leren kennen? En ook een aantal van je docenten? Kom dan mee op introductiekamp! Het introductiekamp vindt plaats van 18 t/m 20 september op het Holtingerzand in Uffelte. Waar dit kamp de perfecte start is van je toekomst, kijkt het thema juist terug naar je jeugd: Disney! Kom dus vooral in stijl! Schrijf je in voor het (spectaculaire) introductiekamp via deze link.

De locatie is:
't Holtingerzand
Studentenkampweg 2
7975 RD Uffelte (Drenthe)
Telefoon: 0521-351403

All Master’s students will receive an email before 1 August concerning their programme and the (Master’s) courses they need to enrol for.

If for some reason you cannot enrol for your courses in Ocasys then this is no problem. You can still arrange for course enrolment later by sending an email to fil-admin rug.nl.

Also, during the faculty introduction for international Master students and exchange students, on Friday 28 August, you can still be enrolled for courses.

Contact the education office if you have questions: fil-admin rug.nl.

Student Portal

The Student Portal (Brightspace) is your central information hub. It serves as a communication portal for students and teachers and provides personalized access to all important study information such as assignments, schedules and very important, faculty and university announcements seen as Need to know and Nice to know (My News) messages on the blue Today tab.

The Student Portal consists of different tabs (see the screenshot below): Today, Study Info, Career and Tools. We advise you to check the Student Portal on a daily basis! If you have questions about logging into your account then please contact EDU support.

Progress

You will find the results of your exams and study progress in Progress.

Not yet registered for the (master) courses of semester 1? No need to worry! You can arrange this during the master- and exchange faculty introduction on 28 August or you can contact the educational office to help you enrol for your courses: fil-admin rug.nl.

Once you have enrolled for your courses in Ocasys, these will be automatically added to the Student Portal (Brightspace).

Ocasys

In Ocasys you can find information about all the courses offered by the university and all faculties. You will usually find a short course description, requirements needed to participate in a course and the literature that will be studied. Remember to select 2026/2027.

Do you have a question or are you looking for information about your programme and/or courses? Then check the Study Guide first!

Please find the new Study Guide Philosophy 2026-2027.

Dear prospective philosophy student,

If you are new to the University of Groningen, or new to our faculty in particular, you may need some guidance regarding the specifics of the faculty and Groningen student life more broadly. Our student mentor is here to help you with this!

Student mentors are experienced students who act as points of contact and organize several social gatherings of international students at our faculty. They are able to tell you all about the ins and outs of our small beautiful faculty and can help you make the most out of your stay in Groningen.

The international student mentor for 2026-2027 is Sofia Piknjac Phillips. You can reach out to her on: S.C.Piknjac.Phillips student.rug.nl

At the beginning of the semester, Sofia and I will be in touch with you.

All the best,

Yorick Karseboom

In addition to the mentor groups, you will also be assigned to a practicum group. With this group you will follow the practical classes, the content of which is related to the first-year subjects. Every week you will work practically on developing philosophical skills. You will learn to debate, present and analyze texts, as well as broader academic skills such as planning and referring to literature. Furthermore, you will work a lot together on assignments, so you will truly form a learning community with fellow students. After the practicals, you should have mastered the basic skills to successfully continue with the rest of your studies and make studying easier and more fun.

View the university's online course catalogue Ocasys to find the literature applicable to each course offered in your year. Remember to select 2024/2025 to find the most up to date literature.

In some cases you can order books with a discount via the study association STUFF. Please email stuffcommissarisfeno gmail.com for more information.