The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is home to 38,940 students from over 10% international students belonging to 100 countries across the world. UvA offers a varied range for UG and PG courses through its seven faculties. For academic session 2021-2022, UvA is offering 200+ programs in disciplines of Arts and Humanities, Applied Science, Economics, Business, Law, Medicine, Dentistry, Behavioral and Social Science.
As a globally ranking university, currently ranking #55, the admissions at UvA are competitive. International students have recorded an acceptance rate of 47% at University of Amsterdam in 2019. However, for its top subjects like Sociology, Psychology, Medicine, Computer Science and Information Systems, the recorded acceptance rate is as low as 10% in the last 5 years.
To be considered for admission, international students need to have an IELTS score of 6.5 and 7.0 for UG and PG courses respectively. Other tests required to study in the Netherlands include Dutch language tests. For postgraduate courses, students need to have a GMAT score of at least 550. The test scores not only help international students increase their chances of admission, but also secure UvA scholarships.
UvA Covid-19 Updates
- University of Amsterdam is committed to return to on-campus classes for the next academic session.
- The Dutch government is supporting students financially in the academic year 2021-2022. The Dutch government has halved The tuition fee for the students who haven’t studied before in the Netherlands.
Highlights
| Application Portal | Studielink |
| Application Fees | 100 EUR |
| Total Enrolment | 32000 |
| International Students | 5,000 |
| Academic Calendar | Semester-based |
| Intake Months | September & February |
| Work Experience | Required for Specific Programs |
| GMAT/GRE | Required |
University of Amsterdam Admission Deadline
For both UG and PG courses, Amsterdam University deadlines for international students are different from Netherlands applicants. September 2021 deadlines for international students seeking admission to UG & PG courses are tabulated below:
| Intake Type/Program Type | Deadline |
|---|---|
| UG course in Business Administration | January 15, 2021 (closed) |
| UG course in Psychology | January 15, 2021 (closed) |
| UG course in Liberal Arts and Science | February 1, 2021 (closed) |
| UG course in PPLE (Politics, Psychology, Law, and Economics) | March 1, 2021 (closed) |
| MBA (Full-time) | June 1, 2021 (closed) |
| MBA (Part-time) | August 1, 2021 |
| Other UG & PG Program Applicants (needing accommodation) | April 1, 2021 (closed) |
| Other UG & PG Program Applicants | May 1, 2021 (closed) |
University of Amsterdam International Admissions
The UvA is a habitat for students from over 100+ nationalities across the world. UG and PG courses at UvA are available for all international students, no matter the language of instruction. However, the University of Amsterdam has a 4% acceptance rate for international students. The admission requirements for the international students UvA include:
- Language proficiency- English and Dutch
- Student visa and passport
- Academic transcripts and certifications
- Statement of Purpose
- Recommendation letters
- Resume
Language Proficiency Requirements
| Tests | Selected Programs | General Requirements | Dutch-taught Programs |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOEFL-iBT | Overall score100 (Reading & Writing: 24; Listening: 22; Speaking: 25) | Overall score 92 (subscore: 22) | – |
| Cambridge | Level C1: 190 | Level C1: 180 | – |
| IELTS | 7.0 (subscore: 6.5) | 6.5 (subscore: 6.0) | – |
| NT2 (Dutch) | – | – | NT2 state exam |
Netherlands Student Visa
If the students are required to study in the Netherlands for more than 90 days, then there is a need for both a visa (MVV) and a residence permit (VVR). The visa can be obtained after an inquiry at the Dutch Embassy. The following points should be noted before applying for the Netherlands Student Visa.
- Application for a residence permit can only be made via Maastricht University.
- The application starts automatically after you have been admitted to a program
- The service is free of charge.
- Statutory cost of 171 Euro has to be paid for the Residence cost.
- The Dutch Immigration will never contact anyone by phone nor will it ask any applicant to transfer money.
University of Amsterdam Undergraduate Admissions
UvA offers a wide range of undergraduate courses to students to choose from. Currently, the university offers around 100+ UG programs to international students. The admission process and guidelines are mentioned below:
Admission Portal –https://www.studielink.nl/
Application Fee– 100 EUR
Admission Requirements-
- Academic transcript
- CV/Resume
- Passport
- English language test results
- Motivation letter
- Qualification equal into Dutch VWO
University of Amsterdam Graduate Admissions
The university offers 180-200 masters level courses to international students. Some of the popular PG-level courses include Accountancy, Business Administration, Data Science, and Information Systems. The application process and requirements for international students are:
Application Portal: Studielink
Application Fees: 100 EUR
Admission Requirements for Amsterdam MBA Program
The University of Amsterdam MBA program is offered as a 12-month course taught in English. Designed as a mix of theoretical and practical curriculum, the program consists of study trips, electives, and Amsterdam leadership program. For international students, the cost of the Amsterdam MBA program is 39,900 EUR.
| Category | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Resume | Required |
| Work Experience | 3+ year |
| Academic Qualification | Bachelor degree |
| SOP | Required |
| LORs | 2 LORs |
| IELTS/TOEFL Score | IELTS Score of 6.5 (6.0) or TOEFL- iBT: 90 (20) |
| GRE/GMAT Score | Recommended GMAT score of 550+ |
| Additional Requirements | ABS Video Assessment; Admission Interview |
Requirements for Masters-taught Courses at University of Amsterdam
| Requirements | MSc Accountancy and Control | Masters in Business Economics | Masters in Medical Informatics | MSc Business Administration | MSc Finance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fees (in EUR) | 13,516 | 14,291 | 13,516 | 14,291 | 14,291 |
| TOEFL-iBT | Overall 92 | Overall 92 | Overall 100 | Overall 92 | Overall 92 |
| Transcripts | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Resume | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| GMAT Score | 650+ | 550+ | – | 600+ | 640+ |
| SOP/essay | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Additional Requirements | Interview | – | Interview, Research proposal | Interview | Iinterview |
The admission committee of the University of Amsterdam will only review the complete application once that Biggins application has been reviewed, you will receive an email notifying whether you have been conditionally admitted to the program or not. Once The applicant has been conditionally admitted to the university the applicant will have to confirm their place in the program for some programs the applicant will automatically receive a link to the acceptance form for the others the applicant will need to log in to the digital system of Studielink.
Facilities
It also has some peculiar collections of the Department of Rare and Precious Works, the Manuscript and Writing Museum, the Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana on Jewish history and culture, and the Department of Documentation on Social Movements.
Aside from the central library, some departments also possess their own libraries. In addition to the central library, there are roughly 70 departmental libraries in the university.
The university also has a printing press, which is known as “the Amsterdam University Press” and this printing press has a publishing list of over 1,400 titles in both the Dutch and English languages.
The University of Amsterdam also has museums. The museums include; the Allard Pierson Museum, the University Museum, the Museum Vrolik, The J.A. Dortmond Museum of Script, the UvA Computer Museum and the Zoological Museum Amsterdam. Each of these museums has some particular purposes.
The Allard Pierson Museum contains antiquities from the ancient world between 4000 BCE to 500 CE, notably from Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, the Near East, and central Italy during this periods; the University Museum holds collections of the history of the university from 1632 till this present day; anatomical, zoological and teratological specimens are housed in the Museum Vrolik.
The J.A. Dortmond Museum of Script contains exhibits that shows the history of writing in the West from 3000 BCE until present; the UvA Computer Museum as the name implies, has displays that shows how computers of the past worked and how calculations were made before the advent of the electronic computer.
In addition, the Zoological Museum Amsterdam has a collection of millions of shells, insects, mammals, birds, fishes and other animals that are used in scientific researches.
University of Amsterdam Ranking
In the 2018-19 QS Rankings, the University of Amsterdam was ranked in the 57th spot and came up as one of three Dutch universities that made the top 100. In the Rankings by Subject Area, the University of Amsterdam was ranked globally in the top 50 for 20 subject areas.
Communication and Media Studies at the University of Amsterdam came up at number one in the global rankings. The University of Amsterdam also took the 4th spot for Dentistry and occupied the 14th spot for Sociology, Anthropology, Linguistics, and Geography. Psychology at the University of Amsterdam was ranked at 17 and came up at 23 for Education.
Also, in the 2017-18 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the University of Amsterdam was ranked at 59 and was the highest-ranked Dutch University.
Times Higher Education also included The University of Amsterdam in four of the eight top 100 sub-rankings for subject areas. The rankings based on subject areas are Social Sciences which ranked at 26 and the highest-ranked Dutch University. Arts and Humanities at the University of Amsterdam came up at 32. Clinical, Pre-Clinical, and Health took the 55th spot and Life Sciences ranked at 68.
In 2016, the University of Amsterdam was listed in the 101-150 group of the global top 500 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) ranking. The University of Amsterdam has remained in this same group for a number of years now.
In the 2017 Leiden ranking, the University of Amsterdam was ranked in the 74th position. In the ranking by fields, the University was ranked in the top 100 in two fields: Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Amsterdam came up at the 8th position and Biomedical and Health Sciences occupied the 44th position.
University of Amsterdam Ranking in Netherlands:
The University of Amsterdam is ranked as number one at apex of the top 5 universities in the Netherlands; this position was arrived at due to the university’s rankings in the World University Rank 2018 and its size in enrolment, as it is the largest in the Netherland by enrolment.
University of Amsterdam Admission Requirement:
For prospective students to apply for the Bachelor’s and Master’s programme at the University of Amsterdam, they have to go through the following procedures:
- Proceed to the university’s website and choose an English-taught course from the list of courses available in the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes.
- Then check the specific entry requirements and application deadline for the programme of your choice.
- Afterward, start your enrolment application in Studielink. Studielink is the main application organization for all prospective students of the university and you have to register there before you can start your application process.
- You will receive an email with your UvA student number and the next steps of the application process after you have registered in Studielink.
- Applicants for the Bachelor’s programme would have to register for and participate in UvA Matching or the selection procedure.
- After you have been awarded admission to the programme of your choice, you will have to pay your tuition fees. Note that at each step of the application process, you must meet each requirement necessary to proceed to the next.
University of Amsterdam Courses Offered:
The University of Amsterdam has a wide range of Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degree programmes for prospective students.
Bachelor’s Degree Programme
The Bachelor’s program has both the Full-time and Part-time mode of study and there are four faculties; Economics and Business, Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, and Law. The University of Amsterdam offers prospective Bachelor’s students about 16 English-taught courses. The courses include:
- Actuarial Science
- Business Administration
- Communication Science
- Econometrics and Operations Research
- Economics and Business Economics
- English Language and Culture
- European Studies
- Liberal Arts and Sciences (Amsterdam University College)
- Linguistics
- Literary and Cultural Bachelor’s Analysis (Literary Studies)
- Media and Information
- Political Science
- Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (PPLE)
- Psychology
- Sign Language Linguistics (Linguistics)
- Sociology
Master’s Degree Programme
The Master’s program has both the Full-time and Part-time mode of study and there are seven faculties; Economics and Business, Humanities, Medicine, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Science, Law, and Interdisciplinary. The Master’s program at the University of Amsterdam has the following program type:
- Master’s
- Research Master’s
- Dual Master’s
- Executive Master’s
- Joint Programme
- Advanced Master’s
Available Masters Programs
The University of Amsterdam offers prospective Masters Students about 201 English-taught courses. The courses include:
- Accountancy and Control
- Accountancy and Control: Accountancy (track)
- Control (track): Accountancy and Control
- Actuarial Science and Mathematical Finance
- General (track): Actuarial Science and Mathematical Finance
- Actuarial Science and Mathematical Finance: Quantitative Risk Management (track)
- American Studies (History)
- Ancient History (Classics and Ancient Civilizations)
- Ancient Studies (Classics and Ancient Civilizations)
- Archaeology of Northwestern Europe (Archaeology)
- Archival and Information Studies (Heritage Studies) (Masters)
- Archival and Information Studies (Heritage Studies) (Dual Masters)
- Argumentation, Rhetoric, and Communication
- Art Studies (Arts and Culture)
- Artificial Intelligence
- Artistic Research (Arts and Culture)
- Arts of the Netherlands (Arts and Culture)
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
- Biological Sciences
- Biological Sciences: Ecology and Evolution (track)
- Freshwater & Marine Biology (track): Biological Sciences
- Biological Sciences: General Biology (track)
- Biological Sciences: Green Life Sciences (track)
- Biomedical Sciences
- Medical Biology tracks: Biomedical Sciences
- Biomedical Sciences: Neurobiology tracks
- Brain and Cognitive Sciences
- Business Administration (MBA)
- Business Administration (MSc)
- Digital Business (track): Business Administration (MSc)
- Business Administration (MSc): Entrepreneurship & Innovation (track)
- Business Administration (MSc): Entrepreneurship and Management in the Creative Industries (track)
- International Management (track): Business Administration (MSc)
- Business Administration (MSc): Leadership and Management (track)
- Business Administration (MSc): Marketing in the digital age (track)
- Strategy (track): Business Administration (MSc)
- Business Economics
- Business Economics: Competition Law and Economics (track)
- Managerial Economics and Strategy (track): Business Economics
- Business Economics: Neuroeconomics (track)
- Business in Society (joint Research Master’s program)
- Chemistry (joint degree UvA/VU)
- Chemistry: Analytical Sciences (track)
- Molecular Sciences (track): Chemistry
- Chemistry: Science for Energy and Sustainability (track)
Amongst a host of other Master’s programme courses.
University of Amsterdam Tuition Fees:
In the University of Amsterdam as well as other universities in the Netherlands, you are required to pay an annual tuition fee. There are two different fees: the statutory fee and the institutional fee. The fee you pay depends on your nationality status, degree programme and if you study either full-time or part-time.
STATUTORY FEE
The table below shows the statutory tuition fee for the 2018-2019 academic year.
| Specification | Amount |
| Full-time students | €2,060 |
| Part-time students | €1,755 |
| Amsterdam University College (AUC) students | €4,336 |
| Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (PPLE) students | €4,120 |
The statutory fee is paid by students from the Netherlands, other countries within the European Economic Area (EEA), the EU, Switzerland and Suriname. This is only if these students meet the legal requirements.
Due to the bill approved by the Upper House of Dutch parliament to cut university tuition by half. All first-time applicants into higher education in or after 1 September 2020 will now pay a subsidized rate during their first year, as long as they are eligible for the statutory fee.
INSTITUTIONAL FEE
Institutional fee are for students that do not qualify for the statutory fees. The following sets of students are required to pay the institutional fee:
- International students who are not nationals of an EU or EEA Member State, Switzerland or Suriname
- Students who enrol in a second Bachelor’s programme after obtaining a Dutch Bachelor’s degree
- Students who enrol in a second degree programme after obtaining a Dutch Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.
The table below shows the institutional tuition fee per faculty for the 2018-2019 academic year.
Faculty of Humanities
| · Institutional tuition fee for the second or next Dutch degree program | |
| Bachelor’s | €7,600 |
| Master’s (one year) | €12,100 |
| Master’s in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage | €13,400 |
| · Institutional fee for non-EEA students | |
| Bachelor’s | €8,360 |
| Master’s (one year) | €13,310 |
| Master’s in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage | €14,740 |
Faculty of Medicine (AMC)
| · Institutional tuition fee for second or next Dutch degree programme | ||
| Bachelor’s in Medicine | €18,600 | |
| Bachelor’s in Medical Informatics | €10,300 | |
| Master’s in Medicine | €20,600 | |
| Master’s in Medical Informatics | €13,300 | |
| · Institutional fee for non-EEA students | ||
| Bachelor’s in Medicine | €20,460 | |
| Bachelor’s in Medical Informatics | €11,330 | |
| Master’s in Medicine | €22,660 | |
| Master’s in Medical Informatics | €14,630 | |
Faculty of Economics and Business
| · Institutional tuition fee for second or next Dutch degree programme | ||
| Bachelor’s | €7,600 | |
| Master’s | €14,850 | |
| Entrepreneurship (Master’s) | €14,850 | |
| Master’s Business in Society | €15,000 | |
| Tinbergen Institute Master of Philosophy in Economics | €15,000 | |
| · Institutional fee for non-EEA students | ||
| Bachelor’s | €9,280 | |
| Master’s (Amsterdam School of Economics) | €14,950 | |
| Master’s (Amsterdam Business School) | €16,850 | |
| Master’s in Entrepreneurship | €15,500 | |
| Master’s Business in Society | €15,000 | |
| Tinbergen Institute Master of Philosophy in Economics | €15,000 | |
Faculty of Law
| · Institutional tuition fee for second or next Dutch degree programme | ||
| Bachelor’s | €7,600 | |
| Bachelor’s in Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (PPLE) | €10,100 | |
| Master’s (one year) | €13,400 | |
| Master’s (two years) | €9,500 | |
| · Institutional fee for non-EEA students | ||
| Bachelor’s | €8,360 | |
| Bachelor’s in Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (PPLE) | €11,110 | |
| Master’s (one year) | €14,740 | |
| Master’s (two years) | €10,450 | |
Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
| · Institutional tuition fee for the second or next Dutch degree program | |
| Bachelor’s | €7,600 |
| Master’s | €13,400 |
| Master’s Interfaculty Teacher Training Programme (ILO) | €12,000 |
| · Institutional fee for non-EEA students | |
| Bachelor’s | €8,360 |
| Master’s | €14,740 |
| Master’s Interfaculty Teacher Training Programme (ILO) | €13,200 |
Faculty of Dentistry
| · Institutional tuition fee for the second or next Dutch degree program | ||
| Bachelor’s | €18,600 | |
| Master’s | €20,600 | |
| · Institutional fee for non-EEA students | ||
| Bachelor’s | €20,460 | |
| Master’s | €22,660 | |
Faculty of Science
| · Institutional tuition fee for second or next Dutch degree programme | |
| Bachelor’s | €10,300 |
| Bachelor’s Chemistry | €11,200 |
| Bachelor’s Physics and Astronomy | €11,200 |
| Master’s (one year) | €19,100 |
| Master’s (two years) | €13,300 |
| Master’s Chemistry | €13,300 |
| Master’s Physics and Astronomy | €13,300 |
| Master’s Computational Science | €13,300 |
| Master’s Computer Science | €13,300 |
| Master’s Bioinformatics and Systems Biology | €13,300 |
| · Institutional fee for non-EEA students | |
| Bachelor’s | €11,330 |
| Bachelor’s Chemistry | €12,320 |
| Bachelor’s Physics and Astronomy | €12,320 |
| Master’s (one year) | €21,010 |
| Master’s (two years) | €14,630 |
| Master’s Chemistry | €14,630 |
| Master’s Physics and Astronomy | €14,630 |
| Master’s Computational Science | €14,630 |
| Master’s Computer Science | €14,630 |
| Master’s Bioinformatics and Systems Biology | €14,630 |
Amsterdam University College (AUC)
| Institutional tuition fee for second or next Dutch degree programme | ||
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | €11,927 | |
| Institutional fee for non-EEA students | ||
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | €11,927 | |
Note
Please take into note that the institutional fee does not apply to prospective students who have already obtained a Master’s degree earlier and now start a Master’s program in either education or health care. In such an event, the student gets to pay the statutory fee of €2,060.
Also, international students pay the same fee irrespective of whether the student is enrolled in a full-time or part-time program.
University of Amsterdam Scholarship Opportunities:
The University of Amsterdam has several scholarships and loan opportunities to offer international students to enable them to pursue a degree at the university without hassles.
The scholarships include:
- UvA Scholarships
- Faculty Scholarships
UvA Scholarships
The University of Amsterdam has two scholarships for intelligent and talented international students. These scholarships are to enable these international students to cover their studies at the university. The scholarships are:
Amsterdam Merit Scholarship (AMS)
Intelligent, talented and outstanding students from outside the EU/EEA can apply for this Scholarship.
Who is eligible?
International students who have applied for a degree programme at the University of Amsterdam and hold a non-EU/EEA passport can submit an application for this scholarship.
How to apply?
Applications for this scholarship should be submitted to the Admissions Offices of the Graduate Schools. The deadlines for the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship vary per Faculty or Graduate School. Specific eligibility requirements, selection criteria and application instructions can be found on the Faculty pages of the university’s website.
Holland Scholarship
International students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) can apply for this non-recurrent scholarship of €5,000. The scholarship is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science in collaboration with 48 Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences.
Who is eligible?
Prospective students who would like to do a Bachelor’s or Master’s programme at the University of Amsterdam and hold a non-EU/EEA passport can apply for this scholarship.
UvA exchange students who are going to a non-European country are also eligible for this scholarship.
How to apply?
The method of application for this scholarship differs from faculty to faculty. Most faculties do supplement the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship with the Holland Scholarship. Specific eligibility requirements, selection criteria and application instructions can be found on the Faculty or Graduate School websites.
The Holland Scholarships at the Faculty of Humanities is only available to Bachelor’s students and is awarded separately from the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship.
Faculty Scholarships
Some faculties have different numbers of scholarships for international students. The following faculties offer scholarships to international students.
- Economics and Business
- Humanities
- Social and Behavioural Sciences
Leave a Reply