Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Limited placement university
- Open to undergraduate students only.
With the largest concentration of students and youth in the Netherlands, Amsterdam is a compact and user-friendly city. It has a great deal to offer: a variety of residential areas, international schools, international social clubs, culture, (water)sports, golf courses and many other recreational facilities.
Amsterdam is fortunate enough to have not one, but two major rivers – the Amstel – after which the city is named – and the IJ – which was once a major shipping harbour. Amsterdam is one of the most bicycle-friendly large cities in the world and is a centre of bicycle culture with good facilities for cyclists such as bike paths and bike racks and several guarded bike storage garages.
Courses
There are over 300 undergraduate courses taught in English from which to choose at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Each semester is divided into three periods, an 8-week block, a 4-week block, and an 8-week block. The normal study load for an 8-week block is 12 ECTS. The normal study load for a 4-week block is 6 ECTS. This is usually equal to two courses per period. You are allowed to take up to three courses per period.
We advise students to take at least four courses (24 ECTS) per semester. Completing 30 ECTS is the equivalent of 60 Credits at Massey University.
Dutch language courses
The Department of Dutch as a Second Language, part of the Faculty of Arts, offers extensive Dutch language courses for exchange students. The extensive courses cover eight weeks, and take place two evenings a week. In addition to attending these classes, you will spend at least 5 hours per week on self-study.
Exchange students can obtain 3.5 ECTS for completing this course. The course costs approximately 325 Euro.
Accommodation
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam will try to arrange accommodation for you, although they cannot guarantee the availability of space. Standard furnishings of campus accommodation include a bed, a desk and cupboard. The prices of the rooms are generally between € 2,000 and € 3,500 per semester.
Visas
Students from non-EU/EEA and visa required countries who will stay for a period longer than 3 months, are required to obtain a permit for temporary stay in order to enter the Netherlands. Once you have registered online and this registration has been approved, you will receive all information to apply for a visa and a residence permit.
Insurance
By law, it is mandatory for students to have health insurance. It is also recommended that you take out liability insurance.
Transport
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) is less than 20 minutes by train from Amsterdam Central Station. It is the biggest airport in the Netherlands, the 4th largest in Europe and the tenth largest in the world. It handles about 48 million passengers a year.
During the arrival days VU University Amsterdam offers a pick-up service from Schiphol Airport in collaboration with ESN-VUniverse.