VU UNIVERSITY AMSTERDAM Amsterdam Netherlands V17/07/17 12:45 Exchanges Portfolio
KEY FACTS Subject Area Business Language Language of instruction is English and Dutch. Minimum English language proficiency level of B2 required and level C1 recommended. If participating in Dutch classes, level C1 in Dutch required. Academic Calendar Semester 1 Early September to Early February Semester 2 Early February to Late June Module Catalogue Have a look through the module catalogue for modules available to exchange students. Fiancial Support As a UK Erasmus student, you are entitled to receive an Erasmus Grant for your time away at a a participating Erasmus institution.
CONTENT 4 5 7 8 9 The City The University Accomodation & Living Contacts Student Experiences
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS Amsterdam is one of the greatest small cities in the world. From Amsterdam canals to world-famous Amsterdam museums and historical Amsterdam sights, it is one of the most romantic and beautiful cities in Europe. Amsterdam is also a city of tolerance and diversity. Amsterdam is a multicultural, multilingual and a student-friendly city in which English is generally understood and spoken. The city has an attractive business climate for a multitude of leading international companies that have their headquarters in Amsterdam, including ABN-AMRO, Heineken, TomTom and Philips. At the same time, Amsterdam is a creative and innovative hotspot and a hotbed for new ideas, with many opportunities for startup businesses. Amsterdam is a historic city with a long academic tradition and is a city that thrives on its innumerable cultures, nationalities and ethnicities. Our global exchange programme gives you the opportunity to experience a global perspective and become crossculturally versatile. You will feel at home in no time. Amsterdam is a compact metropolis, and not only in terms of business. Much to everyone s convenience, everything within Amsterdam can be easily reached by bicycle or the city s excellent public transport system. Amsterdam s central location, with easy access to Schiphol Airport and the Port of Amsterdam, makes it the ideal gateway to Europe. Brussels, Paris, Madrid, London and Berlin can all be reached within a few of hours. 4 MORE INFO vu.nl amsterdam.info iamsterdam.com Population 851,000 Currency Euro Time difference GMT+1
VU UNIVERSITY AMSTERDAM Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Abraham Kuyper, Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1901 to 1905, founded VU University Amsterdam in 1880. At first the university was only open to Reformed Christians and was entirely financed by their fund-raising efforts and donations. Since the 1960s, however, VU University Amsterdam has been open to everyone and funded in the same way as the other Dutch universities, although it still retains its tradition of Christian standards and values. This finds expression in the emphasis placed upon social involvement in the university s teaching and research programmes. Academic research and education at VU is characterized by a high level of ambition, and encourages free and open communications and ideas. VU stands for universal university values such as academic freedom and independence, which is reflected in our name ( VU is the Dutch abbreviation for free university ): free from the church, state and any commercial interest. VU University is a campus university: almost all university buildings are situated on one site, with teaching & research facilities and several leisure activities all together. It is located in the business district of Amsterdam, so that during your studies you can also get a glimpse of the business world. 5 vu.nl Guide for International Students University Videos
Erasmus code NL AMSTERD02 No of students 22,891 Style of study Students work in relatively small groups, in which considerable emphasis is placed on interaction and a personal approach. The teaching is well-organized. Grade system Grades are awarded on a scale from 1 to 10, in which 1 represents a very poor result, and 10 an outstanding performance. The minimum passing grade is 5.5. Grade ECTS grade Descriptor 8-10 A Excellent/Very good 7.5-7.9 B Good 7-7.4 C More than satisfactory 6.5-6.9 D Satisfactory 5.5-6.4 E Sufficient 5.4-0 FX/F Fail Application Times Please note that you have to apply to the exchange programme in your current year by 20 December. Applications for the host university must be submitted between April and May or September and October (depending on the Trimester), in the year following your initial application. Going abroad in Trimester 1 Going abroad in Trimester 2 Initial Application Form Host University s Form Initial Application Form Host University s Form 20 December (current year) April May (following year) 20 December (current year) September October (following year) 6
ACCOMODATION & LIVING Living Costs You will need between 1000 and 1,100 per month to cover rent, food, insurance, transport and other expenses. Some students manage to spend less, but this of course depends on your own lifestyle. Rent 320-760/per month Food 250/per month Public transport 50/per month Books, stationery, etc 50/per month Leisure activities & other costs 60/per month Housing fee 200/per semester More on Cost of Living in Amsterdam Numbeo.com Once your application has been accepted and you have confirmed your participation in VUnet, you will receive an email with information on how to apply for accommodation. You are of course free to find accommodation on your own. However it can be very difficult (and expensive) to find a room in Amsterdam. We therefore strongly advise you to accept accommodation from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Accommodation consists of furnished (single) rooms with private or shared facilities. Students usually have their own bedroom. In most cases, bathroom, kitchen and living room must be shared with other students. Transport Amsterdam is a city of bikes, however the city is also served by an excellent public transport network. Public transport (metro, bus and tram) in Amsterdam is operated by GVB and trains in the Netherlands are run by Dutch Railways (NS). The OV-chipkaart (Public Transport Chip Card) is the main means of payment for all public transport. The OV-chipkaart can be topped up with credit in euros for travel anywhere within the Netherlands. There are different types of cards with varying rates and applicability. For public transport travel information, including detailed travel directions, visit 9292. 7
CONTACT FOR INCOMING STUDENTS If you re interested in the programme or you have any queries, please contact the Edinburgh Napier University s Global Mobility team first: studyabroad@napier.ac.uk 0131 455 4574 or 0131 455 3412 napier.ac.uk/exchanges VU UNIVERSITY Incoming Exchange Team VU International Office Main building VU University Amsterdam De Boelelaan 1105, Room 0E-68 1081 HV Amsterdam The Netherlands incoming@vu.nl +31 20 598 6387 8
STUD ENT EXPERIENCES not It is possible to get bored in Amsterdam. Student Feedback Photos from students 9
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