The University of Amsterdam, also known as UvA, is a renowned public research university situated in the vibrant city of Amsterdam, Netherlands. Founded in 1632 by municipal authorities, this academic institution stands as one of the longest-running in the Netherlands.
University of Amsterdam is one of two prominent research universities in the city, alongside the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU). Additionally, it is affiliated with one of the largest research universities in Europe, boasting an impressive student body of 31,186, a dedicated staff of 4,794, a thriving community of 1,340 PhD students, and a substantial annual budget of €600 million. This university has the highest number of students in the Netherlands. The primary campus is situated in the heart of Amsterdam, while some faculties are found in nearby boroughs. The university is structured into seven faculties, each specialising in different areas of study. These faculties include Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Science, Law, Medicine, and Dentistry.
University of Amsterdam has established strong connections with various institutions around the world, including its membership in prestigious organisations such as the League of European Research Universities (LERU), the Institutional Network of the Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA), European University Association (EUA), and Universitas 21. The University of Amsterdam has an impressive track record, with six Nobel Laureates and five prime ministers of the Netherlands among its alumni.
The university is organised into seven faculties, each led by a dean. The university offers a wide range of faculties, covering areas such as Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Science, Law, Medicine, and Dentistry. Before commencing their studies, students must gain admission to the faculty of their chosen programme.
University of Amsterdam has received accreditation from the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. This accreditation is granted to institutions that meet a comprehensive set of regulations and quality assurance controls established at the national level. The Ministry has granted it WO, or research university status. Completing a six-year preparatory programme is necessary for Dutch students to gain admission to national research universities. A mere fifteen percent of students manage to successfully complete this preparatory programme.
For the 2015-2016 academic year, the tuition fees for EU full-time students were set at €1,951 annually for both Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes. Part-time students were charged €1,696, while non-EU students had a wider range of fees, ranging from €9,000 to €25,000 per year for Bachelor’s programmes and €10,500 to €25,000 for Master’s and Doctoral programmes. The costs for non-EU students can vary based on the faculty they are enrolled in. When it comes to scholarships, the university provides a range of options including the UvA Amsterdam Excellence Scholarship (AES), Amsterdam Merit Scholarships, scholarships through the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Dutch Study Grants, and various European scholarships.
Together, the faculties provide a wide range of academic programmes, including 59 Bachelor’s programmes, 133 Master’s programmes, and 10 postgraduate programmes.35 In 2009-2010, the university granted an impressive number of degrees across various levels of education. Specifically, they awarded 2,565 propaedeutic, 3,204 Bachelor’s, 3,990 Master’s, 438 Doctoral, and 242 Post-Doctoral degrees. The total number of degrees granted during that period amounted to an impressive 10,438. The school’s academic year spans from early September to mid-July, divided into two 20-week semesters. The first of these concludes in late January and the second commences in early February. There are no mid-term breaks, only a brief holiday around Christmas and New Year, as well as Dutch National holidays.
