Pre-Departure Mentors

Become a Pre-Departure Mentor!

To help incoming international students make a smooth transition to their new exciting life chapter in the Netherlands, we link them one-on-one to an Utrecht-based mentor. This way they can learn about Dutch culture and the amazing student life in this wonderful city directly from a local.

As a pre-departure mentor, you are matched to a maximum of four incoming students. You can give them tips on how to arrange a public transport card, where to buy a bike or share a list of must-try Dutch snacks! Moving to a new city can come with a lot of uncertainty, but you as a mentor are there to answer international students’ questions to make sure they are all set for a great experience.

Once they arrive in Utrecht, you can of course meet up and show them around! It may be the case that your matched incoming student(s) will self-quarantine after their arrival. You can support them through this period by connecting digitally and offering assistance with practical tasks such as grocery shopping.

We are looking for caring mentors excited to help incoming students get settled in Utrecht! Sign up by filling in this form.

Introduction Week Mentors

Become an Introduction Week Mentor!

At the start of each semester, we organise an Introduction Week to welcome newly arrived international students to Utrecht and to celebrate the start of a new semester. As a mentor, you get to guide a small group of students through a week filled with fun activities and help them form a tight group of friends in their new city! Together with your co-mentor, you can introduce them to all the quirks of the Dutch culture and share your best tips on how to make the most out of the amazing Dutch student life.

The Introduction Week programme takes place during the evenings on weekdays to make sure nobody misses any of their study commitments. Please note that the Introduction Week is currently planned to take place physically but if conditions change, it might need to be switched to being online. In either scenario, besides bonding at activities you will get to know your mentor group through a series of unique challenges and fun activities!

If you have any questions about being a Introduction Week mentor, please contact the Communication Manager at [email protected].

Arrival Assistance

Help us out during the Arrival Assistance!

We organise the Arrival Assistance in collaboration with the SSH Accommodations. During these days our ESN volunteers will be present at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Utrecht Central Station to provide incoming students with information about public transport and to guide them to the correct train or bus for their destination.

The Arrival Assistance days will be organised on:

  • 18th of August 2023
  • 24th of August 2023
  • 28th of August 2023

Are you a volunteer looking to help out at the Arrival Assistance? Great that you want to help us out! We need people to welcome the international students at Utrecht Central Station. You can send an email to [email protected] for more information.

Alumni

Stay in touch!

ESN Utrecht has a rich history with its volunteers. For more than 30 years the international student life in the beautiful Domstad has been thriving thanks to the hard work of ESN Utrecht and all the people who helped during those years. It doesn’t matter if you’ve just been active for one introduction period, one whole year or if you kept on coming round for years and helping everyone out with your vast and extended knowledge. This page is for every former committee and board member from ESN Utrecht. 

Have you been active within ESN Utrecht in the past as a committee member or a board member and would you like to stay up-to-date with our current affairs?
Join our Facebook group and LinkedIn group.