Program Overview

Introduction to the Broader Mind Course

The Broader Mind Course is an extracurricular, interdisciplinary course that focuses on personal development and involvement with societal issues. The course is designed for all VU bachelor's and master's students, regardless of their faculty or year of study.

Course Description

The Broader Mind Course is a unique opportunity for students to develop a broader view of their academic discipline, society, and themselves. The course covers various themes, including success and failure, poverty, human body, rebellion, health and happiness, digital world, viewpoints and worldview, and sustainability. Each theme takes three weeks to complete and involves blended learning, with online and on-campus activities.

Course Structure

The course is divided into two tracks: Track A and Track B. Each track covers four themes, and students can choose one of the two tracks. The total study load is 40 hours, which breaks down into about two hours per week, spread over four months, except during exam periods.

Course Schedule

The course runs from February to June in the year 2026, with registration opening from December 9, 2025. The course takes place in periods 4 and 5, except during exam weeks. There are 10 meetups on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 17:30-19:30.

Registration and Participation

To register for the course, students can go to their dashboard and enter the course code or the name of the course in the registration module. Registration opens on December 9, 2025, and runs until January 12, 2026. After successfully completing the course, students will receive a certificate of participation, be awarded a Broader Mind Course Edubadge, and have the course included on their diploma supplement.

Co-Creation and Student Guides

A unique feature of the Broader Mind Course is that the curriculum is not only developed by teachers but also by students. Students can help develop the content of the course by working together with diverse teams of students, educators, and professionals. Additionally, enthusiastic senior bachelor's and master's students can act as student guides for the course, helping students with on-campus and online activities, giving feedback, and assessing the final assignment.

Student Experiences

Some students of the Broader Mind Course share their experiences, highlighting the opportunity to discuss social issues with people from other disciplines and to think about challenging issues and try to find solutions. The course provides a great opportunity to listen to others, to think about challenging issues, and to try to find solutions to them.