Prepare for IBA

What you can find on this page

Starting your studies: introduction events, academic calendar and more
Preparing for your arrival in Rotterdam: medical insurance, bank account, city hall registration, and more
Student life: connecting with fellow students, student organizations, the campus, and more

Housing for incoming IBA students

Join our upcoming webinar about finding housing hosted by three current students.

Prepare for your studies

Mandatory Kick-Off IBA

Friday, 28 August!

The official IBA programme kick-off is mandatory for all students starting with the IBA programme. During this event you will get essential information regarding how to navigate the university, more about the programme, receive your course schedule, booklist, meet your mentor and fellow mentor group members, etc. More information to come in July from the Bachelor Programme Management team (bachelor1@rsm.nl). For now save the date!

Other recommended introduction events

Get your student life started with the following events. Especially the Eurekaweek is very popular and recommended to all students!

Eurekaweek 17-19 August 2026

Eurekaweek is the official introduction week for all new students of the Erasmus University Rotterdam!

Together with a group of around 15 students of your own studies and two guides (senior students), you will explore student life in Rotterdam. In this week:

We will show you the campus
You will discover the city of Rotterdam
You will meet many fellow students
You will also get to know the student, sport, study, multicultural and cultural associations.

Eurekaweek is a great way to start your studies!

For more information you can visit the website of the Eurekaweek or follow the Facebook page and Instagram page for the latest updates. Registration opens soon!

ESN Summer Introduction Days TBD

Typically towards the end of August (exact dates TBD), ESN Rotterdam will organize the ESN Introduction Days. These days are focused on meeting over 300 other international students and getting to know Rotterdam. This event will be three days filled with great activities to make you familiar with Rotterdam and its amazing student life. The memories you make and the friends you’ll find will stay with you for a lifetime!

ESN Rotterdam also offers the ESN Buddy Programme where you are paired with a fellow current student to exchange knowledge, gain insights about different cultures, and a to meet new people in Rotterdam.

STAR IBA Freshman Weekend TBD

This weekend (exact dates TBD) is the perfect opportunity to meet new friends and make lots of unforgettable memories. Are you up for some fun to start your student life in the best way?

This event is brought to you by the study association RSM STAR, in collaboration with IBA Programme Management (PM). This event is highly recommended by PM, so why not check it out? For more information about this event please click here.

All welcome & orientation programmes

For an overview of all of the welcome activities specially organized for new students at the Erasmus University Rotterdam and also lots of helpful information about student life, university facilities, and life in Rotterdam please check out the Erasmus University Rotterdam’s official welcome page.

For a helpful guide with everything you need to prepare before starting IBA, check out the Arrival & Orientation fact sheet.

Prep programmes

Below are two programmes for you to complete before the start of your studies to help you prepare for university work and life.

Pre Academic Programme by EUR

The transition from high school to university is exciting—and sometimes quite a challenge. During the Pre-Academic Programme (PAP), you'll discover how to get the most out of yourself and your studies. In this inspiring summer school, you'll meet fellow students, receive practical tips, and learn how to succeed in higher education.

Whether it's studying effectively, collaborating in an international environment, or finding your way around campus – after the PAP, you'll have a head start on your studies at EUR.

What you can expect:

Inspiring workshops and training sessions
Handy study tips for effective studying
Setting goals for your first year
Getting to know fellow students from your own and other programs

All in all: a perfect start of your student life at Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Deadline to register is 1 July!

Learn more

RSM Onboarding course

The Onboarding course contains information and instructions on how to use the different communication platforms, how to check your schedule, how to register for a workshop, the contact details of different departments and much more.

More detailed information and link to the course will follow in August via email from BSc Programme Management (bachelor1@rsm.nl).

Academic calendar

Click here for the IBA Academic Calendar of 2025/26. Please note that this calendar is just to give you a general overview of the blocks and holidays, academic calendar is subject to change.

The start of the academic year is Monday, 1 September but we recommend that students arrive in Rotterdam/the surrounding area by mid-August.

Learning environments

All the different platforms, applications and websites can be quite intruiging as a new student. Below you will find some links to the most important platforms to help you get started. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page for contact details or consult the FAQ for any questions.

The most important study environment is MyEUR. From here you can access basically all applications and services such as the library, timetable, Canvas, student mail, OSIRIS, the service desk, and course guides. You can edit the top pane of the page using the green toggle in the bottom-right corner.

For an overview of the curriculum, please go here. If you want to know which books you might need, please consult the course guides that you can find in Canvas. The course coordinators will indicate what material you need during the first class or through email. So please keep an eye on your inbox.

Below we have listed the most important links that you might need now or during the first weeks of your study.

Timetable

You can access the timetable here once it has been published. Make sure to log in with your ERNAid.

See your timetable

Canvas

Via Canvas you have access to all your courses, online lectures, study material, and grades.

Go to Canvas

OSIRIS

Here you find your course registrations and progress. You can also access all of the course guides when they are not on Canvas.

Go to OSIRIS

Study support

Student advisor team

RSM has a dedicated student adviser team which serves as a point of contact where you can access professional help, advice and guidance during your studies.

Students are free to make a confidential appoinment with the study advisors for any of the circumstances below and more:

If you have questions regarding studying in general: study planning, study methods, time-management, taking exams etc.
If personal circumstances may affect your study progress (illness, family matters etc.)
If you need help in case of specific situations: studying whilst having a professional sports career, studying with a functional impairment, study delays in general, special arrangements for taking exams etc.
If you are a prospective student and if you want more information about our programmes.
If you need advice about possible exemptions.

Prepare for your arrival to Rotterdam

Below we have listed some of the most important things that you need to do either before or soon after you arrive in the Netherlands. If you're not an international student, just scroll down for information about student life. Make sure to check out the orientation page of EUR where you can find information about the One Stop Shops, an IKEA service, and various helpful webinars.

✈️ If you're an international student arriving at Schiphol Airport, you can get one free public transport voucher here! ✈️

Will you be under 18 during the first year of IBA? There are some extra steps for minors.

Pre-arrival: Medical insurance & healthcare

You are by law obliged to be properly insured during your time in the Netherlands. Also go here for other information regarding health such as contact details of a GP or "huisarts" in Dutch.

Get a medical insurance
Pre-arrival non-EU: Pick up entry visa (MVV)

After IND’s approval regarding your immigration application, you will receive a letter and a notification with instructions via email about how to contact the appropiate embassy to schedule an appointment to collect your MVV (entry visa) sticker. Once you have obtained your MVV, the EUR International Office will send an email about making an appointment at the IND to collect your residence permit.

More information
Post-arrival: Register with City Hall/Municipality

If you will be in the Netherlands for more than 4 months, you are obliged to register at the municipality in the town or city in which you are living. This how you receive your BSN number (citizen service number) which you will need to open a bank account, get a job or internship, DigiD, etc.

Register online
Post-arrival: Bank account & financial matters

Information on the tuition fee, living costs, opening a bank account, and more on the EUR website. Make use of the navigation menu in the right-side pane. Please note that we strongly advise students to bring enough money with you to sustain yourself in the first two months after arrival, while you are setting everything up.

Student finances

Prepare for your student life

Last but not least on the to-do list to get ready for studies is student life. Nothing might be as important for your mental health as a stable and enjoyable social life during your studies at RSM.

Below are a variety of ways for you to connect with fellow classmates and life on campus.

Student organisations

Do you want to meet like-minded people?

Life-long friendships are formed at a wide range of student associations in Rotterdam. Join an international association, learn more about a specific work area, meet with students from your cohort, join events, or work for a good cause. One of the best ways to live your student life to the fullest is by joining a student association. Click on the button below to find out more.

Student organisations

Connect to your fellow classmates

You don't have to wait until August to meet your new classmates. Check out the Goin app and the STAR study association below to start connecting today!

Goin app

Instead of WhatsApp groups this year, RSM and Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is working with the app Goin.

Goin' is an app that helps connect you with other incoming students starting in September 2026. You can join different groups based on similar interests, background or programme. Connect with others to create new friendships and share new ideas. Also in the app, you can read onboarding tips to prepare for your arrival and studies as well as stay up-to-date with important events.

To join the environment please email bscmsc@rsm.nl.

STAR study association

RSM's study assciation STAR’s mission is to enrich RSM students' life.

This mission is facilitated by the great number of activities that are organized by numerous Bachelor committees and Master Study Clubs. The Active Members form a base which is underpinned with three pillars: Career start support, development and academic support, social Interaction.

You can find ways to connect to your fellow classmates on their website below.

STAR

Student support and Safe@EUR

The wellbeing and safety of our students is very important for Erasmus University Rotterdam, and therefore we have multiple initiatives to support personal development, provide mental health resources and enhance overall student experience.

Student wellbeing

Platform: the EUR Student Wellbeing programme aims to help student grow and thrive during their time at univeristy. Discvoer how on the dedicated student wellbeing platform.
The Living Room: is a welcoming space for all EUR students located in the Langeveld Building. It offers a place to relax, play games, meet other students, or seek support from trained student hosts. Learn more about the Living Room.
Personal Support Hub: is the central place for student well-being and personal development at EUR. It offers workshops, walk-in consultation hours with professionals, and information on EUR support services. You can find PSH in the Langeveld Building, accessible through the Living Room door. You can find more details on the PSH webpage.
ROOM App: is an innovative app that uses science-based tools to help students thrive academically and personally. It teaches stress regulation skills, builds self-awareness, and offers personalized content to enhance student well-being. Learn more about the ROOM app.
Wellbeing Week: To embrace student well-being and personal development, EUR organizes the annual Student Wellbeing Week, offering diverse activities, workshops, and support services. Check out the list of activities on the Student Wellbeing Week webpage.

Safe@EUR

Safe@EUR is the central contact point at Erasmus University Rotterdam, offering support for issues such as bullying, intimidation, and harassment through specially trained case managers. It is accessible online, on campus, or by phone, anonymously if needed.

More information

Campus map & facilities

Did you know that the buildings on our campus where only given names in 2012? Before that, each building only had a letter. That's why Mandeville building is indicated with a T and Theil building with a C.

As the different building names and the non-matching letters can be quite confusing, the Eramus Magazine created a nice map to help you get around the Woudestein Campus. Find out more about the available study spaces, food & drinks, and more by clicking on the button below!

Sports

Erasmus Sports has a brand new state-of-the-art facility on campus!

Get active during your stay in Rotterdam by taking a subscription at the Erasmus Sports centre where you can find classes and equipment for over 50 different sports. Students can also join one of the 26 sports associations or clubs.

Check it out by clicking on the button below.

Go to Erasmus Sports