Vrije Universiteit

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Latin: Universitas Libera(sometimes: Amstelodamensis or Reformata)
Motto	Auxilium nostrum in nomine Domini
Motto in English	Our help is in the name of the Lord
Established	1880
Religious affiliation	Protestant
Endowment	€ 420 million
Rector	Prof.dr. Lex Bouter
Academic staff	2,764
Students	22,730
Location	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Affiliations	EUA, Santander
Website	www.vu.nl/en

The Vrije Universiteit is a university in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The Dutch name is often abbreviated as VU and in English the university uses the name "VU University". The university is located on a compact urban campus in the southern part of Amsterdam in the Buitenveldert district. Though a faith-based institution, the VU receives government funding on a parity basis with the public universities.

The university should not be confused with the University of Amsterdam, which is a different university, located in the same city. That university was formerly owned and operated by the City of Amsterdam, but is now one of the public universities in the Netherlands.The VU has about 22,738 students, most of whom are full-time students. The number of faculty members and researchers is 2,764 (excluding personnel at VU University Medical Center). Teaching and research activities are supported by 1,905 administrative, clerical, technical, and other employees. The university's annual budget is around US$500 million, about two thirds of which comes from the Dutch government. Tuition, research grants, and industrial contracts provide the rest.The logo of the university is the griffin, pictured on the right. The position of its wings symbolizes the freedom in the university's name: freedom from both state and church.

History

Abraham Kuyper, founder of the VU

The VU was founded in 1880 by Abraham Kuyper as the first orthodox-Protestant (Calvinist) university in the Netherlands. Kuyper was a Dutch politician, journalist, and prime minister of the Netherlands from 1901 to 1905. He was a professor of theology at the VU as well as the first rector magnificus (President of the University).Vrije Universiteit literally means 'Free University' (or 'Liberated University') to signify freedom from both government and church. The education itself, however, is not free of charge. To overcome this association, recently a decision was made to use the term VU University instead of Free University whenever the English translation is needed. When the Vrije Universiteit started in 1880, it hired some rooms in the Scottish Missionary Church (today a theatre called De Kleine Komedie) and used them as lecture rooms. Here the founder Abraham Kuyper and his four co-professors gave their lectures. In 1883 the Scottish Missionary Church became too small for the quickly growing number of students and the university bought another building: Keizersgracht 162. In the following years the university bought more buildings throughout the city. Since 1968, the entire university has been located on a campus in the Buitenveldert district.

As with all accredited universities in the Netherlands, students pay a (government determined) tuition, which is currently (2009) around €1700/year for students from the European Union and ranges from €9000 to €12000/year for students from elsewhere. Most Dutch students receive a grant or loan from the government to cover tuition and living expenses. Although current students and faculty members are adherents of many religions, as a consequence of its Protestant heritage, the VU has always placed a special emphasis on the social and cultural context in which it operates. Many faculties offer courses teaching students about the historical, social, and cultural issues related to their discipline, with course names like "Social Aspects of Science". Topics such as the consequences of science for society, ethics, and related issues are discussed.

Management structure

The board of trustees of the university is the Vereniging VU-Windesheim, which also manages Windesheim University of Applied Sciences (Dutch: Christelijke Hogeschool Windesheim) in Zwolle as well as VU University Medical Center, which is the university's teaching hospital. The university is run by an executive board which makes decisions in consultation with the Board of Deans.

Recent university presidents have been:

1983-1987 Pieter Drenth
1987-1993 Cees Datema
1993-1997 Egbert Boeker
1997-2006 Taede Sminia
2006-today Lex Bouter

Mission, Core Values & Ambitions

VU University Amsterdam: looking further

Ever since it was founded in 1880, VU University Amsterdam has been known for its distinctive approach to knowledge. VU is an open organization, strongly linked to people and society. What matters is not just the acquisition of a greater depth of knowledge, but also a wider one. We ask and expect our students, researchers, PhD candidates and employees to look further – to look further than their own interests and their own field, and further than what is familiar and further than the here and now.

VU Strategic Plan 2011 - 2015

‘VU: looking further’ links the origins of VU with its ambitions for the future and the content of the VU Strategic Plan 2011 – 2015 (SP). The SP sets out the ambitions, objectives and policy measures for the next five years. The starting point of the SP is the VU Vision 2025, which states where VU University Amsterdam wishes to be in 2025.

Freedom in responsibility: three core values

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.

Education

Eastern entrance to the campus

Organisationally, the university is divided into 12 faculties, which offer a great variety of bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. programmes in many fields. These faculties are:

Arts
Dentistry
Earth science and life science
Economics and business
Human movement
Law
Medicine
Philosophy
Psychology and pedagogy
Exact science
Social science
Theology

The language of instruction for most bachelor's courses is Dutch. However, many of the master's programmes are given entirely in English in order to attract students from outside the Netherlands. In fact, in some master's programmes, international students outnumber the Dutch students by a large margin.

The Ph.D. programme is different from that in the United Kingdom and the U.S.A. Rather than applying to the university for admission in the winter, prospective students must find a (full) professor who has a position for a Ph.D. student, called an AiO (Assistant in Opleiding—Assistant in Training), and contact him or her directly. Most professors and faculties advertise their open positions on their Websites. AiOs are paid a salary and are considered university employees. They do not have to pay tuition.

Faculties

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Earth and Life Sciences
Human Movement Sciences
Economics and Business Administration
Sciences
Medicine
Theology
Arts
Centre for Educational Training, Assessment and Research
Psychology and Education
Law
Social Sciences
Dentistry/ACTA
Philosophy and Education

Institutes & Centres

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Interdisciplinary Research Institutes
National Research Schools
Faculty Research Centres
Graduate Schools
Faculty of Law: Institutes and centres

Research Centres

ACCR Amsterdam Center for Career Research (ACCR) is a large-scale research project on careerdeterminants. Careerdeterminants are individual factors, such as personality, learning style and behaviour, and situational factors. Amsterdam Institute for Business and Economic Research (AMBER) facilitates research for the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.

Centre for International Cooperation (CIS) makes knowledge, experience and expertise accessible to institutions and individuals in developing countries and countries in transition, and by doing so, contributes to national development processes in those countries. Climate Centre VU University Amsterdam researches the climate system.

Center for Research on Aging (CVO) is a working group on research and education in gerontology and geriatrics. As part of the Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, EXPres focuses on rehabilitation, ergonomics and sports. The historical Documentation Centre for Dutch Protestantism (HDC) focuses on the history of Protestantism in the Netherlands from
1800 to the present day. The research Centre Prevention Overweight Zwolle (OPOZ) focuses on overweight prevention in the age group 0 - 19 years old.

Political-science

Within the Radionuclide Centre (RNC) scientific research with radioactive material is performed. The RNC has facilities for all kinds of chemical, biological and medical research with Radionuclides at Type-2-level. VU Centre for Entrepreneurship researches entrepreneurship in relation to innovation, ethnicity, governance, corporate sustainability, regional development, international commerce, science and technology, and culture and values. Het Zijlstra Center provides a contribution to the improvement of the management of governments and civil society organisations, by academic shaping and research.

Research

Left: Exact Sciences; Right: Humanities and law

From its humble beginnings, the VU has become a modern research university. The research focus is given by the VU-star, which emphasizes seven broad areas in which the university excels:

Communication, knowledge, and meaning
Computerization and digitization
Economics and society
Health and disease
Legal and administrative issues
Life sciences
System earth

Many of these research foci are interdisciplinary, with faculty members and students from multiple faculties working together to forge new breakthroughs. Some of the key faculty members are listed below.

Vision on research

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Science without limits

The search for answers to scientific and social questions is nowadays no longer confined to single academic disciplines. Thanks to the layout of the campus and the proximity of VU University Medical Center, it is now possible for different disciplines to work together.A significant proportion of the research activities at VU University Amsterdam are therefore carried out in interdisciplinary research institutes. Examples include the collaboration between biomedical, biophysical, psychological and clinical neurology (Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam) or cultural, economic and scientific aspects of heritage that are being examined from a different angle (CLUE). In other words, this multi-disciplinary approach offers more than the sum of the constituent disciplines.

Excellence and society

VU University Amsterdam employs many researchers who are among the best in their respective fields, at both national and international level, and for several years has been one of the leading academic research centres in Europe. Its research is driven by a desire to learn more, and its researchers are encouraged always to go that much further. Social relevance is the guiding principle, and the value that VU University Amsterdam attaches to this is reaffirmed every year through the bestowal of the Societal Impact Award in recognition of academics whose research efforts have had a major societal impact.VU University Amsterdam’s research activities conducted on behalf of industry or social organizations, often referred to as ‘contract research’, operate on the same principle. A good example of this is the Renewable Energy in Africa (RENEW) research programme, run by the Amsterdam Global Change Institute (AGCI). Projects of this kind ensure that society benefits directly from the scientific knowledge and experience of VU University – not just in the Netherlands, but also beyond, such as in developing countries. In other words, it contributes to the process of improvement in countries that are not in a position to do so themselves.

Attracting and supporting research talent

VU University Amsterdam invests in talent. After all, the quality of research depends on the quality of researchers, which is why Master’s students and promising PhD candidates are sought out and assisted in the interdisciplinary research institutes – for example through the guidance programme or support scheme when submitting research proposals. This helps them prepare for external talent programmes like the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research Innovative Research Incentives Scheme and ERC Ideas. These programmes provide young and talented researchers with the financial means to enable them to develop their skills. Researchers who are considered outstanding are awarded funding to invest in their research projects, as well as to attract new talent.

Research in the spotlight
Researchers in the spotlight

Organization & Cooperation

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Research no longer takes place in isolation. For this reason, much of the research at VU University Amsterdam is organized in interdisciplinary research institutes. In addition, researchtakes place in faculty research centres and VU University Amsterdam participates in national research schools which mainly provide courses for PhD students. VU University Amsterdam gives outstanding students from all over the world the opportunity to take an internationally oriented research programme as part of the VU Graduate Schools initiative. Our researchers work closely with other research institutes and organizations from outside the academic world. These external cooperative alliances strengthen our research and contribute towards its quality.

Quality of research

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VU University Amsterdam is a leading research university that ranks among the best in Europe. In order to maintain this position and improve its research efforts still further, it is vital to measure the quality of the research carried out to gain an insight into which areas might be improved.The quality of the research carried out at VU University Amsterdam is assessed on a regular basis, in accordance with the Standard Evaluation Protocol (SEP). The SEP was set up by the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU), the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).

Every research institute and unit at VU University Amsterdam conducts a self-assessment once every three years. Additionally, research activities are evaluated every six years by an external committee. The self-assessments are evaluated by the University Monitoring Committee (UTC). The assessment consists of an evaluation of both the scientific and societal relevance of the research, and the standard of supervision and teaching of PhD students is also examined. The comments received following the external evaluations form an important thread for the university when setting out its research strategy.

The approach that VU University Amsterdam will be taking during the next few years towards shaping its quality assurance policies and other related procedures is summarized in the Quality Assurance Memorandum. It covers quality safeguards, transparency and the need to emanate excellence, and provides the framework for quality assurance in the research units. Monitoring quality assurance is ‘work in progress’, so the memorandum will inevitably be modified and tightened up from time to time.

Most research projects at VU University Amsterdam are adjudged to be good to excellent. The university takes measures if ever there is a negative opinion.

The evaluations are described in the following reports, which are available to the public:

Quality assessment schedule
Most recent evaluations of the research institutes and faculties

Top researchers

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VU University Amsterdam employs many researchers who are among the best in their respective fields, at both national and international level. This hall of fame lists the top researchers who received prestigious awards, grants, prizes and honorary appointments for their scientific achievements during their time at VU University Amsterdam.

International awards, grants and prizes

ERC Ideas laureates

Dutch awards, grants and prizes

NWO Spinoza Prize winners
KNAW Academy Professorships
KNAW Academy Members
KNAW Young Academy Members
NWO Innovational Research Incentives Scheme laureates
NWO Mosaic laureates

NWO = Dutch Organization for Scientific Research
KNAW = Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences

Honorary appointments made by VU University Amsterdam

University professor : http://www.vu.nl/en/research/topresearchers-at-vu/university-professor/index.asp
University Research Chair : http://www.vu.nl/en/research/topresearchers-at-vu/university-research-chair/index.asp
University Research Fellow : http://www.vu.nl/en/research/topresearchers-at-vu/university-research-fellow/index.asp
Honorary doctorates : http://www.vu.nl/en/research/topresearchers-at-vu/honorary-doctorates/index.asp
Desmond Tutu Chair : http://www.vu.nl/en/research/topresearchers-at-vu/desmond-tutu-chair/index.asp
Fenna Diemer-Lindeboom Chair : http://www.vu.nl/en/research/topresearchers-at-vu/fenna-diemer-lindeboom-chair/index.asp
Societal Impact Awards : http://www.vu.nl/en/research/topresearchers-at-vu/societal-impact-award/index.asp

Research support

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In spite of the large number of grant schemes that exist, demand for grants exceeds the level of available resources many times over, resulting in stiff competition among academics at both national and international level. VU University Amsterdam assists its own researchers in preparing themselves to face that competition.

	Researchers can go to the grants desk for help in looking for and applying for grants, and when funded projects are underway.
	The TTO VU/VUmc supports VU researchers seeking to protect and use new knowledge.
	The VU offers a support programme for researchers seeking to apply for an ERC Starting or Advanced Grant, a Veni, Vidi or Vici grant, or a Mosaic scholarship.
	Applying for research grants is a long process that requires a lot of time and energy. You will find a number of tips & tricks on this page that will increase your chances of making a successful application.

PhD doctoral

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Obtaining a PhD at VU University Amsterdam means doing so at a university that prizes social involvement and quality very highly – the quality of its research, of its supervision and of its teaching in a well-organized and fascinating working environment.

All the faculties are located closely together on a single campus. That offers opportunities for multidisciplinary and doctoral research at VU University Amsterdam.
The university is situated on the Zuidas – an area that is becoming the international business centre of the Netherlands – and it has excellent public transport connections and outstanding links to the road network.
VU University Amsterdam offers its PhD students a wide range of teaching possibilities and invests in researchers with talent.

Every year, around 250 PhD students complete their research with a thesis, thereby making an important contribution to academic research at VU University Amsterdam. The Doctorate Regulations cover all matters relating to obtaining a doctorate in detail.

There are different ways of obtaining a doctorate at VU University Amsterdam. Most people do so in a doctorate programme as an employee of the university. It is also possible for employees from outside the university to be supervised by a VU professor (promoter) when composing their thesis.

Most PhD programmes at VU University Amsterdam are run, together with the research Master’s programmes, in six Graduate Schools.

Contact details

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VU University Amsterdam is home to more than three thousand researchers. If you have specific questions about research at VU University Amsterdam, you are welcome to get in touch with our Academic Public Relations department. They will be happy to help you find the answers you are looking for.

Academic public relations & press office
Contact our public relations staff : http://www.vu.nl/nl/nieuws-agenda/contact-met-voorlichters/index.asp

VU University Amsterdam in the media
VU press releases : http://www.vu.nl/nl/nieuws-agenda/persberichten/index.asp
VU University Amsterdam on YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/vrijeuniversiteit

Notable faculty

De Rode Pieper ('red potato'), housing the Institute for Health and Wellness

Andrew S. Tanenbaum, professor of Computer Science who wrote the MINIX operating system, the inspiration and precursor to Linux. Tanenbaum is the author of five textbooks, which have been translated into over 20 languages and are used at universities all over the world. He is also the founder and webmaster of electoral-vote.com.
Henri Bal, professor of Computer Science and author of several books, who together with his student John Romein wrote a program that broke the ancient game of Oware (Awari) and gives the best move in any situation, usually leading to a forced win.
Frank van Harmelen, professor of Artificial Intelligence who co-designed Web Ontology Language (OWL) and authored many books on semantic web.
Dorret Boomsma, professor of biological psychology and winner of the Spinozapremie
Brad Bushman, since 2005 a visiting professor from the The Ohio State University in United States who is a foremost expert on the causes and consequences of human aggression.
Jet Bussemaker, assistant professor of political science 1991-2001, undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport (2007–2010)
Jaap Doek, professor of law and chairman of the U.N. Committee of the Rights of the Child (2001–2007)
Peter Koslowski the ethicist and philosopher, author of nearly 20 books
Peter Nijkamp, professor of spatial economics, president of the governing board of the Netherlands Research Council (NWO), and winner of the Spinozapremie
Bob Pinedo, professor of medicine, director of the VUmc Cancer Center, and winner of the Spinazopremie
Piet Rietveld, professor of economics, and leading researcher in transport economics
Jan Smit, professor of earth science, was one of the people who contributed to the theory that an impact of a meteor near Mexico caused the ending of the Dinosaur age about 65 million years ago.
Richard Tol, professor of economics, and leading researcher in the economics of climate change.
Pier Vellinga, director of the Climate Centre
Frank den Butter, former chairman of the Royal Netherlands Economic Association and former director of the Tinbergen institute.

Notable past faculty

Anthony Tol, documentalist
Jan Peter Balkenende, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, was a special professor of "Christian Social Thought".
James Kennedy, professor of modern history (20th century) (2003–2007)
Jacob Klapwijk, philosopher
Pieter Kooijmans, currently a Judge on the International Court of Justice, Professor of International and European Law (1965–1973)
Ronald Plasterk, professor of molecular biology, 1993–1997, winner of the Spinozapremie, former Minister of Education (2007)
D. H. Th. Vollenhoven, theologian
Reijer Hooykaas, historian of science
Jan Woltjer, linguist
Abraham Kuyper, theologian, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, 1901–05
Herman Dooyeweerd, philosopher of law
Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy, professor of law, Prime Minister of the Dutch government-in-exile, 1940–45
Herman Bavinck, theologian
Gerrit Cornelis Berkouwer, theologian
Arie van Deursen, historian

Notable graduates and former students

The science building

Christine Aaftink, multiple National Champion Sprint (skating) and winner of medals at the WC; studied at the faculty of Human Movement Sciences
James Olthuis, philosopher, theologian, psychotherapist, and Senior Member Emeritus at the Institute for Christian Studies, Toronto.
Calvin Seerveld, philosopher and Senior Member Emeritus in Philosophical Aesthetics at the Institute for Christian Studies, Toronto.
Hendrik Hart, philosopher and Senior Member Emeritus at the Institute for Christian Studies, Toronto.
Gerrit Cornelis Berkouwer, influential theologian and professor at the Vrije Universiteit
Jan Peter Balkenende, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, studied history and law at the VU
Wouter Bos, party leader of the Dutch Labour Party and former Minister of Finance of the Netherlands, studied political science and economics at VU
Elco Brinkman, previous leader of the CDA party, studied political science and law at the VU
K.J. Martijn Cremers, associate professor of finance at Yale School of Management
Wim Deetman, Mayor of The Hague, studied political science at the VU
Piet Hein Donner, Minister of Justice in several cabinets (Balkenende I, II, III) and Minister of Social Affairs (Balkenende IV), studied law at the VU
Herman Dooyeweerd, founder of Reformational Philosophy, got his Ph.D. at the VU and became a full professor there
Mient-Jan Faber, well-known peace activist, studied mathematics and physics at the VU and is currently adjunct professor there
Bas de Gaay Fortman, the world's only Chair in Political Economy of Human Rights
Benny Giay, Papua activist
Pim Fortuyn, the assassinated party leader of the LPF studied sociology at the VU.
Hans van Goor, long-distance swimmer
Laetitia Griffith, former alderman in the Amsterdam city council, now member of the Dutch parliament, studied law at the VU
Nico Habermann, well-known computer scientist and professor at Carnegie Mellon University
Marijke Höweler, writer, studied psychology at the VU.
Bert Koenders, Minister of Developmental Cooperation in the cabinet Balkenende IV, studied social science at the VU
Pauline Krikke, former alderman in the Amsterdam city council, now mayor of Arnhem
Dolf Jansen and Hans Sibbel, together form the comedy team "Lebbis en Jansen," both studied at the VU
Jona Lendering, Historian and author of seven books, mostly about antiquity
Linda de Mol, Dutch and German celebrity, who gained her celebrity status from hosting TV shows and acting in movies
Atzo Nicolaï, Minister of Government Reform and Kingdom Relations in the cabinet Balkenende III, studied law and political science at the VU
Lewis B. Smedes, American Reformed ethicist and author; also visiting professor at VU
Nico Rienks, double Olympic Champion rowing (1988, 1996); studied at the faculty of Human Movement Sciences
André Rouvoet, Minister of Youth and Family Affairs and Vice-Prime Minister in the cabinet Balkenende IV, studied law at the VU
Robert Charles Sproul, a popular American Reformed theologian and apologist
Karel Marinus Van Vliet, physicist
Geert M.N. Verschuuren, Philosophy of Science, in particular Philosophy of Biology
Werner Vogels, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Amazon.com, got his Ph.D. in Computer Science at the VU
Gerrit Zalm, Minister of Finance in the cabinets Kok I, Kok II, Balkenende II and Balkenende III, studied and taught economics at VU.
Yair Pinto Psychologist working on consciousness and dynamic attention

Accommodation in the Netherlands

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The International Office of VU University Amsterdam provides accommodation for the following students:

Short-stay accomodation for IBA, International Masters, and exchange students
Short-stay foreign PhD's and visitors

Rental periods

This is the period during which student and VU University Amsterdam, in co-operation with the housing association, have agreed to rent (out) accommodation. The rental periods for VU University Amsterdam students are always fixed periods, even if you arrive later, or leave earlier.

Rental period Master students

International Master’s will receive a tenancy agreement for a fixed period of 1 year.
For students who are enrolled in a two year Master programme, it is possible to obtain accommodation for a second year. During the first year (around April or May) you will be asked to extend the tenancy agreement for the maximum period of another year. If you choose not to extend you will have to find accommodation by yourself for the 2^nd year.

Rental period: 17 August 2012 - 12 August 2013
For students of 1 year master programmes it is not possible for any reason to extend after the first year.

For students of 2 year master programmes it is not possible for any reason to extend after the second year.
Rental period Bachelor students
International Bachelor’s will receive a tenancy agreement for a fixed period of 1 year. After the first year, it is not possible for any reason to extend after the first year.

Rental period: 17 August 2012 - 12 August 2013
Rental periods Exchange students
Exchange students will receive a tenancy agreement for the fixed period of 1 semester of 1 year, depending on the period they will come to VU University Amsterdam.
For exchange students that come to the VU University Amsterdam for 1 year, the rental period is:

Rental period: 17 August 2012 - 12 August 2013
For exchange students that come to the VU University Amsterdam for 1 semester, the rental periods are:

First semester: Rental period: 17 August 2012 - 29 January 2013
Second semester: Rental period: 1 February 2013 - 12 August 2013

Limited rooms

The International Office does its utmost to find suitable accommodation for everyone. However the number of available rooms and apartments in Amsterdam is limited, so unfortunately accommodation cannot be guaranteed. In order to improve your chances of obtaining accommodation via the International Office, you are strongly advised to apply well in advance.

Facilities

Accommodation consists of furnished (single) rooms with private or shared facilities. Some rooms can be reserved in one of our student dorms with shared shower and toilet. Students usually have their own bedroom. In most cases, bathroom, kitchen and living room must be shared with other students. It is common that men and women live together in the same student house. Given the shortage of good accommodation, you may find the room you get is rather small and not of the standard you had expected. Accommodation in Amsterdam is not only limited, but can also be more expensive than at home. Thinking about these things in advance could help avoid unpleasant surprises later.

Housing fee

Students who want to obtain accommodation through VU University Amsterdam will be have to pay a fee of €400. (€200 for students who stay for one semester). This fee is charged to cover the costs of the university in providing the housing service to international students.
Students have to pay VU University Amsterdam this fee of €400/€200 by 1 June 2012 at the latest. Applications for accommodation will not be dealt with until the university has received this sum. Details of how to pay this fee will be included in the offer letter which you will receive from VU University.

Refund of housing fee

If you do not actually come to the Netherlands to study, your housing fee can be refunded. You must request this refund before 13 July 2012. For the transfer we need your address and your bank account details. You can email this to admissions-support@vu.nl. Depending on when you request the refund, it will be transferred back to your account on 25 July, 26 September, or 12 December.

Rental prices

All prices mentioned are subject to change, and as such you cannot derive a right from these prices. If you have any questions about the rooms and apartments or the rules and regulations (please be sure to check these first!), please contact the contact person for accommodation at the faculty.

Complaints Complaints about housing should be addressed to the caretaker from the housing company. In case they do not deal with your complaint seriously, you can come to the International Service Desk.

Admission and application

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Admission Bachelor's programme

Find out al the requirements for admission to Bachelor's programmes for international degree holders and Dutch degree holders.
Bachelors : http://www.vu.nl/en/programmes/admission-and-application/bachelors/index.asp

Admission Master's programme

Find out al the requirements for admission to a Master's programme for international degree holders and Dutch degree holders.
Master's : http://www.vu.nl/en/programmes/admission-and-application/masters/index.asp