Start Your UG Journey at the Welcoming Ceremony 2026
Starting your studies in a new country is a moment worth celebrating. You may have spent months arranging your admission, travel plans and housing, and suddenly Groningen is no longer just a place on a map. It is where your next chapter begins.
The University of Groningen Welcoming Ceremony is designed to give new international students a warm and confident start. On Thursday 27 August 2026, new international Bachelor’s and Master’s students will come together at Martiniplaza for an afternoon of welcome, practical information and first introductions to student life in Groningen.
The ceremony starts at 14:00 and brings together students who are beginning their studies in Groningen and Leeuwarden. It is a chance to pause before the academic year begins, look around the room and realise that you are surrounded by people from all over the world who are starting a new adventure too.
Your Official Welcome to the University and the City
The Welcoming Ceremony begins with a short plenary session featuring speakers from the University of Groningen, the City of Groningen and Erasmus Student Network Groningen. Together, they introduce you to the university, the city and the student community that will become part of your everyday life.
For many international students, this is one of the first moments Groningen starts to feel like home. You may arrive without knowing anyone, but the ceremony gives you an immediate connection to a larger community of students who are equally new to Dutch life, local traditions and the wonderfully unpredictable Groningen weather.
After the official opening, you will have the opportunity to collect useful information that can make your first weeks easier. From practical arrangements to student activities and local support, the event is designed to help you feel prepared for what comes next.
Keep an Eye on Your Email
The University of Groningen will send an invitation by email in the six weeks leading up to the event. This invitation will include the final programme, location details and a registration link.
Make sure you check the email address you used for your university application regularly during the summer. It is also worth checking your spam folder, just in case an important message has taken a scenic route there.
Once registration opens, sign up as soon as you can. The Welcoming Ceremony is a valuable opportunity to start your time in Groningen feeling informed, connected and part of the university community.
Arriving Through Schiphol Airport?
If you are arriving at Schiphol Airport on Tuesday 25 August or Wednesday 26 August between 08:00 and 20:00, the University of Groningen’s Movin’ to the University of Groningen team will be there to welcome new students and help them continue their journey to Groningen or Leeuwarden.
It is a small but helpful touch after a long flight. Seeing a familiar university sign at the airport can make your arrival feel much less overwhelming, especially when you are carrying luggage, navigating a new transport system and trying to remember which train platform you need.
A Warm Start to Groningen
Starting university abroad can feel like a lot, but you do not have to figure everything out on your own. Mark Thursday 27 August 2026 in your calendar, watch for your invitation and give yourself the chance to start your Groningen experience with a proper welcome.