Introduction September 2026

The welcome session for international- and incoming exchange students will take place on Friday 28 August from 10:00 to 11:00 at the faculty (room tba). You will receive an invitation with further details and information on how to register at a later stage.

You are strongly urged to attend the welcome session to get acquainted with the program coordinator, master's study advisor and your fellow students.

Should you have any questions then please contact the master's study advisor: fil-study-advisor rug.nl

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

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.

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.

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.

Opening academic year High Tea

Join us for a festive start to the new academic year! On September 2nd, from 4:00–5:30 pm, all students and staff are warmly invited to the opening academic year High Tea in the Omega building and facult garden.

Enjoy a relaxed afternoon with drinks, treats, and the opportunity to meet fellow students and staff. We will provide vegan, gluten-free, and vegetarian options. If you have any allergies or dietary requirements, please let us know in advance via fil-secretariaat rug.nl.

We look forward to welcoming you and kicking off the new academic year together!

The introduction for new students of the Bachelor's programme Philosophy of a specific discipline will take place on Friday, August 28, from 14:00 to 15:00 in lecture room Beta, Faculty of Philosophy.

If you have any questions, please contact the study advisor Anouk Labberté: fil-study-advisor@rug.nl

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.

You can already take a look at our 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