Kick-off activities

During the Kick-off Activities you will be introduced to the faculty, the degree programme, the study association(s), and most of all, to your fellow students.
You can find these activities in the table below and in the UG Schedule if you search for your programme. We strongly encourage you to attend these.

Kick-off Schedule

You can find your timetable on rooster.rug.nl. For a detailed timetable of the introduction day on Friday 28 August 2026, please look below. To check the timetable for the remainder of the course period.

Your tutorial group will be available later, on the student portal(login required).

Kick-off activities by FMF

Study association FMF also organizes various fun kick-off activities:

When: 31 August 2026, 19:00-22:00
What: Pub quiz
Location: ACLO bar

When: 4 September 2026, 17:00-22:00
What: Board games evening
Location: Canteen Nijenborgh

Contact FMF for more details on these events.

Introduction to the degree programme

We start the academic year together on Friday 28 August 2026 with the programme director, the academic advisor, other staff members and your mentor. Please feel very welcome to meet us then.

Your timetable for 28 August 2026 can be found below (make sure to check the schedule for any final changes at the end of August):

Double degree Mathematics and Physics

Programme
If you follow the double degree programme in Mathematics and Physics, you do some more courses in a term than other students. Please find your programme here on Ocasys. To meet the Binding Study Advice requirements, you need to pass at least 45 EC of one of the programmes. We advise you to prioritize one of the programmes, so that you make sure to pass the BSA threshold for that programme.

Mentor
Both programmes have a mentor system, with more or less the same mentor programme. Sign up for one of the mentor programmes (do not sign up for both), typically you sign up for the mentor programme of the programme that you chose as your priority. Find the form for Mathematics in the emails your receive from the Mathematics academic advisor, information about the mentor programme of Physics can be found in one of the emails you receive from the Physics academic advisor. 

Introduction meetings
Please feel welcome to join the online introduction meeting for double degree students. During this meeting the academic advisors of both programmes will share useful information on studying two programmes and answer many frequently asked questions. Do you have any questions? Please ask them at the end of this meeting. Please find the details of this meeting below.

Please also join the introduction meetings for Physics on <INSERT DATE> and for Mathematics on Friday 28 August, during these days you will meet many fellow students and your mentor.

Information Market

The Information Market will be held on Tuesday, 1 September 2026 from 09.30-15.30 in the main hallway of the Energy Academy. It offers an opportunity for you to get all the information that you may need to start your journey here at the FSE outside the standard information regarding your programme.

Several organisations will be present at the market, ranging from university departments to external organisations offering their services and help to (international) students. There will be poffertjes and a barista available outside the venue throughout the day. Take 30 minutes out of your day and don't miss out on what is on offer!

Escape Game

We need your help solving a big problem! Prof. Ben Feringa, a professor at our faculty, won a Nobel Prize for his work on the development of molecular machines. But the Prize is missing! Can your mentor group find it in time?

The game will take approximately one hour, including instructions and playing time. It has been developed as a teambuilding activity for your mentor group. Your mentor will tell you when you will participate in the game.

The door will not be locked, and the environment will be that of a regular education setting in terms of lighting and sound. The puzzles are varied and require the use of different senses. Some require you to stand and move around, for others you can stay seated if you like. You can choose which puzzles you participate in. If you need to take a break during the game, that’s possible.

If you have concerns about participating in the FSE Escape Game, you can contact your academic advisor or let your mentor know.

Going Dutch: a crash course in culture & customs

Curious about the Dutch? Unlock the secrets of Dutch culture during our workshop going Dutch; a crash course in culture & customs on 10 September 2026 from 17:00-19:00 @ BB 5161.0165. We will dive deep into the world of Dutch rituals, values and communication styles. We will also deal with essential habits unique to the Netherlands while exploring the drawbacks of stereotypes. Don't miss this chance to explore and connect with Dutch culture like never before!

Introduction Camp

A great way to get to know your fellow students as soon as possible, is the Introduction camp, organized by the study association of your degree programme.

Pienter Camp

Dear prospective first year students

Have you ever wondered how nice it would be to meet your future peers, first year and older students alike, before the start of university and connect with the community of your future faculty? Even better, imagine if you could do that surrounded by nature over the course of a few days while enjoying various sports activities, games, and quizzes. Sounds good, right?

Good news! You can do all of this - at Pienterkamp!

Pienterkamp is an introductory camp for first-year (Applied) Physics, (Applied) Mathematics, and Astronomy students, and its main goal is to welcome you to your study community and foster the making of new connections and friendships.

The camp is taking place from August 28th to August 30th 2026 at de Loryann, Bakkeveen, to where we will cycle together on Friday the 28th. This will be a journey of approximately 40 kilometers, but don’t worry, SPAR provided a snack for the ride for all of you, however feel free to bring your own snacks and water if you want to!  Even though 40 kilometers may seem like a lot, the trip is doable even for inexperienced bikers. You will travel in groups of around ten with two older students assisting your group, so enough help will be present if needed. Do not worry about the rest of your luggage, for it will be transported to the location of the camp via a van, though keep in mind there is no need to pack heavily. After settling at the Loryann, you will experience the lovely first evening planned for you, including dinner and a board game evening along with plenty of free time to get to know each other!

Saturday will be even more fun because you'll be introduced to the classic Pienterkamp tradition of Vlaby, which we always save as a surprise for the camp weekend! Aside from that, we’ll play some sports and games at the Pienter Olympics and finish the day with a pub quiz and lots of fun.

Sunday will be calmer as you will have the option of hanging out at the camp location or going swimming. After lunch we will, to everybody’s sorrow, depart from de Loryann on our bikes and cycle back to Zernike campus.

Sign up here! Further information such as what to pack and what to expect can be found on our website and Instagram. Finally, should you have any questions, feel free to contact us via mail pienterkamp.nl. We look forward to seeing you on 28 August 2026!

Your Pienter Committee