VU Amsterdam is an internationally renowned research university. With more than 3,000 PhD candidates, we conduct cutting-edge research into problems of major societal and scientific importance. We live in a world where social issues fully influence each other and where contradictions grow. This requires a distinctive way of applying science. A university with a special focus on the future. The university campus is situated in the southwestern part of Amsterdam, in one of the most dynamic and fast-growing business districts in the Netherlands. Proximity to International Airport Schiphol and train connections within Europe make VU Amsterdam easily accessible to the world.
At VU Amsterdam we provide three- or four-year research-intensive PhD programmes, or part-time PhD programmes with a duration above four years, organised in graduate schools of nine VU Amsterdam faculties. We expect our doctoral graduates to become internationally engaged scientists with transferable skills and opportunities to plan a career in or outside academia.
VU Amsterdam has nine faculties:
• Faculty of Social Sciences
• Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences
• Faculty of Science
• Faculty of Humanities
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Religion and Theology
• Faculty of Dentistry (ACTA)
• School of Business and Economics
• VUmc School of Medical Sciences
• We offer customised training and supervision with a strong emphasis on the development of research as well as professional skills such as the ability to work in teams and collaborate.
• We aid in the development of engaged and responsible academics and future professionals who constantly explore and push back the boundaries of existing knowledge.
• Our doctorates are internationally oriented, multi and interdisciplinary, curiosity and results driven, creating an impact in science, society and economy.
• Earning a doctorate from VU Amsterdam often leads to a career as a scholar and researcher in universities, and non-universities (universities of applied sciences); non-profits and think tanks; consultancies and corporations.
Do you want to read more about the different faculties?
Scan the QR code!
The Netherlands has a binary system of Higher Education with 13 research universities, including VU Amsterdam, and 40 universities of applied sciences. The Dutch research universities are all of high academic quality, and consistently ranked among the first 250 universities in international rankings. Only the US and UK feature more research universities in the top 200. In no other system, except for Switzerland, is the proportion of all research universities in the top 250 this high.
The Leiden Ranking is based on publications in the Web of Science database produced by Clarivate Analytics. The Leiden Ranking uses the Science Citation Index Expanded, the Social Sciences Citation Index and the Arts & Humanities Citation Index. Only publications of the Web of Science document types article and review are taken into account. VU Amsterdam holds the 68th position in this ranking.
In the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2020 (ARWU, Shanghai Ranking), which focuses on research excellence, VU Amsterdam currently holds the 153rd position worldwide.
We are among the top 150 universities in the World University Ranking of Times Higher Education: this ranking places our university at spot 121. This global performance ranking judges research-intensive universities across their core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.
The QS Ranking (Quacquarelli Symonds) of 2023 places VU Amsterdam 214th in the world. We position ourself most strongly on the component ‘citations per faculty’ (position 150 worldwide). Compared to last year, VU Amsterdam also positions itself higher on the component ‘education to international students’.
When it comes to taking action against climate change, VU Amsterdam ranks 2nd in the THE Impact Ranking 2020, which assesses universities based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). VU Amsterdam aims to significantly contribute to all 17 SDGs, and does so through, among other organisations, the Green Office and the Aurora Alliance.
GLOBE-AFRICA Worldwide
Internal PhD candidates
Internal PhD candidates are paid employees of VU Amsterdam and enter into labour agreements with the university. They can apply through our PhD vacancies.
External PhD candidates
External PhD candidates undertake a PhD at VU Amsterdam with foreign funding or a scholarship scheme or are selffunded professionals or students.
The requirements for enrolment as an external PhD are the same as for internal PhDs, but as an external PhD you are not in a labour contract with the university, and you can therefore choose any research topic within VU Amsterdam's entire research field.
At VU Amsterdam, PhD candidates pay tuition fees on a yearly basis. The fees are paid directly to the faculty or graduate school. Each faculty/ graduate school defines their own tuition fees based on the training provision, supervision time and access to facilities, space and internet. However, faculties might offer exemptions and tuition fee waivers under certain conditions.
You can inquire in more detail about this once you have received an offer letter confirming that your application has been successful.
Find
Internships in the Valley is a programme that connects PhD candidates and Master's students with their dream internship at companies in the US. We make this happen by coaching candidates on how to find internship positions and proposing top talent to our partner companies.
The programme is a triple helix initiative between government, industry, and academia, set to establish a transatlantic talent bridge between the Netherlands and the US.
Our partners are:
• 13 research universities in the Netherlands that form part of the Universities of the Netherlands Association.
• Consulate General of the Netherlands in San Francisco who serve as local point of contact for companies and students interning in the US. The Netherland-America Foundation who support our interns with the J-1 visa process.
Many companies in the US are looking for experienced upcoming talent with particular expertise. In other words, PhD candidates are much desired. This is your chance to bridge from academia to industry, and gain some real-world experience.
Applications for the programme open multiple times during the year. You can apply when pursuing a PhD at VU Amsterdam, or if you have graduated less than a year ago. When applying, you will need to submit your resume and academic transcript, and answer some short questions. The programme is open to all faculties.
VU Amsterdam is home to 3,000 PhD students with over 100 different nationalities, making us a truly international and diverse university. Our students come from all around the globe to study at our campus. Curious to find out how they feel about the Netherlands and the city of Amsterdam? On this page you can find several testimonials from candidates, who all took the leap and chose to pursue their PhD at VU Amsterdam.
“I have found that VU Amsterdam has a wonderfully supportive community that has helped me grow personally and professionally. Pursuing my PhD in Amsterdam allows me to be connected to an international community of diverse colleagues and I have come to feel incredibly at home here. Experiencing Dutch culture as well as the various cultures of my colleagues and students is an intriguing and encouraging part of my daily life."
Teresa Mexico“At VU Amsterdam I found a supportive community to develop my diverse research interests. The PhD path is carefully planned with courses, workshops, teaching experience (amongst other engagements) and values that provide the necessary tools to develop advanced skills allowing you to connect with other scholars around the world. But that's not all! The open and international atmosphere at VU Amsterdam makes your professional and personal experience unique."
“I am originally from China, and after travelling in Europe for quite some time, I became attracted by its diversity and lifestyle. Deciding to move to the Netherlands for my PhD was adventurous because it is challenging and far away from my home country. However, I truly enjoy getting to know and work with people from various backgrounds and cultures. Now I feel pretty satisfied and lucky to be in diverse and friendly teams, where we work together and learn from each other. The PhD trajectory lasts four years, but it propels me to keep learning and grow in life."
“I did my Master's degree in Accounting and Control at VU Amsterdam for one year, and soon after I realised that I didn’t want to leave yet. So, I decided to continue studying accounting at VU Amsterdam for another four years! My supervising team is the best; they are supportive and flexible, but they never compromise on research quality. With the VU networks, I manage to connect with accounting scholars from all over the world as well."
“Amsterdam, and particularly VU Amsterdam, is the place to be if you want to study in Europe. I am currently doing a PhD in Entrepreneurial Economics and I have had amazing experiences in the Netherlands. Studying in this country has given me international experience, offered me quality and competent skills and enhanced my perspectives. Additionally, I have had the opportunity to extend my networks and make friendships from all over the world, as Amsterdam is a home to many people from diverse backgrounds. This has exposed me to many collaboration and partnership opportunities.”
Bicycle 881,000 bikes, which is more than the number of residents
SHIP 165 canals
tree-alt 40 parks to relax or work out in
USER-SHIELD 2nd safest city in Europe and the 6th safest in the world
user-friends 873,338 inhabitants
smile 11th in Mercer’s Quality of Living ranking
landmark 100 museums
Amsterdam is a city filled with water. You can tell by looking at the name of the city: Amsterdam comes from ‘dam in the river Amstel’. The Amstel is the biggest and most famous waterway, but there are also 165 canals running through the city. You can easily rent a boat to cruise around, or perhaps go on a guided tour that shows you all the highlights. From the water, you will have a great view of the canal houses.
The best way to feel truly like an Amsterdam local, is by riding your bike through the narrow streets of the city. In Amsterdam everyone owns a bike, and it is the cheapest and healthiest way to move through town. You can easily rent a bike to get the hang of it, but for that true local feel it’s best to buy one. Don’t forget to get some insurance with it, and always lock your bike!
Amsterdam is home to many great museums. On the Museum square you can find three of the most popular ones: the national Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk museum, which showcases modern art, and the Van Gogh museum, dedicated to the most famous Dutch painter. The square itself is a great place to hang out as well. You can also visit more specialised museums, such as science museum NEMO or the Dutch costume museum.
Amsterdam has quite a large forest: ‘het Amsterdamse Bos’. From our campus, it’s only a 10-minute bike ride to the entrance. In the Amsterdam Forest you can stroll around or have a picnic. But it's also possible to sail on the big lake in the middle, rent a canoe, or pet a goat on the goat farm. During the summer many artists perform in the so-called ‘Forest theatre’. Bring some snacks, cuddle up under a blanket and listen to your favourite music: what’s not to love?
Amsterdam forest
Flower Market
Westerkerk
Artis Royal Zoo
Van Gogh Museum
Royal Palace & Dam Square
Leidseplein
Eye Filmmuseum Rijksmuseum
Stedelijk Museum
A'DAM Lookout
Anne Frank Huis
Sustainability is an integral part of teaching, research, operations management and the building at the VU campus. VU Amsterdam has its own sustainability platform, the Green Office, which aims to make significant and sustainable impact by empowering the VU Amsterdam community.
Proximity to Schiphol International Airport and train connections within Europe make VU Amsterdam easily accessible to the world. Amsterdam has a wide variety of buses, trams and subways to get you where you need to be. But if you truly want to experience life as an Amsterdam resident, buy a bike! Amsterdam has more bikes than people, and you will learn that Dutch people cycle everywhere within the city, no matter the distance or weather.
Counting 3,400 residents, Campus Uilenstede is the largest university housing complex in Northern Europe. Uilenstede is home to many of our international candidates. Of course, aside from living there, there is a lot more to do for on campus such as professional and social events and several dining options. Read more about housing in the next few pages.
VU Amsterdam wants to offer an attractive study and working environment that responds to the modern demands that students and employees have. Our campus is a dynamic, urban environment in direct connection with business district ‘Zuidas Amsterdam’. This brings new opportunities for cooperation with alliances and our surroundings.
The VU Sports Centre brings people together. With two locations on campus, there is a sport for everyone: from fitness to yoga, and from futsal to boxing. Both students and staff can use the facilities at a competitive rate. Every year an enthusiastic group of students take part in the Race of the Classics, the biggest student sailing race in Europe. Also during the internationally known ‘Dam tot Dam’ running competition, a big team represents VU Amsterdam.
Griffioen is the cultural centre of VU Amsterdam. In addition to courses, Griffioen organises film screenings, music, theatre and dance performances. The Events Office can host all kinds of cultural activities and various rooms are available for rent. The VU Amsterdam Orchestra is the student orchestra of VU Amsterdam and was founded in 1962. Together, the students mainly perform late-romantic and twentiethcentury music in the most beautiful halls at home and abroad.
From the first cup of coffee in the morning to a delicious hot meal at the end of the day: the campus has a wide variety of cafés and restaurants to satisfy any craving. More and more shops are opening up on our Campus square, i.e. VU Amsterdam bookshop, SPAR University supermarket, Doppio Espresso, Science Café (O|2 Lab building), Grand Café The Basket and several food trucks.
Study associations are attached to a particular faculty, programme or course. The emphasis is on social events and relaxation, although most also organise activities which are relevant to the coursework itself. Having joined an association, you may wish to take a hand in running it by sitting on one of its (sub-) committees. You can then help to organise excursions or to produce the association's magazine for example.
Costs
Housing options through VU Amsterdam range from €800€1,000 a month for a 1–2-person studio apartment. Service costs will be added to the rent. We strongly recommend that you also look for housing on the private market. Costs for similar types of privately rented apartments range from €800 - €1,500 a month, depending on the neighbourhood.
• You have a non-Dutch nationality. Please note that when you have dual citizenship of the Netherlands and an EU/ Non-EU country, you are not eligible for accommodation via us.
• You are not currently living in the Netherlands. If you have already found accommodation on your own or have received accommodation from us before, it is not possible to apply again.
• We do not offer accommodation for families at VU Amsterdam. If you are planning on arriving in the Netherlands with your family, we encourage you to start your private rental search at your earliest convenience.
Housing Living in Amsterdam is a great experience, but the housing market is tight, so finding affordable housing can be a challenge. The International Office at VU Amsterdam has a limited number of housing options available for prospective international PhD candidates for a duration of up to 12 months.
Once you have confirmed your contract with your supervisor, you will automatically receive information regarding our accommodation services and an invitation to apply for the accommodation waiting list. We strongly recommend starting your application as soon as possible to have the best chance of securing a place before your arrival in the Netherlands since we cannot guarantee housing.
While we understand that many candidates prefer to obtain housing via VU Amsterdam, we strongly advise starting your own private search to increase your chances of finding suitable accommodation.
More information about the different types of housing, rental periods, taxes, housing allowance and contact details can be found on our website: www.vu.nl/accommodation
If you have any questions, please send an email to staffaccommodation@vu.nl
During your PhD you will potentially experience an issue or challenge where you will require support or advice from an independent body. Therefore, every faculty at VU Amsterdam has appointed a PhD candidate advisor for you to exchange ideas with, discuss the progress of your PhD project, your working environment and all kinds of issues you may encounter.
The PhD candidate advisor is independent, knows the faculty well and understands what it means to embark on a PhD trajectory. They can also refer you to other people or support at VU Amsterdam or the faculty.
You will meet the PhD candidate advisor at various times, starting with a welcome interview. Information about the PhD candidate advisor and contact details are available at your Graduate School. Find more information by scanning the QR code.
Making time to socialise and pursue other interests should be an important part of your PhD. Whether your interests are board games, a trip to the opera, boating or culinary adventures, we have got you covered! Our goal is to design and develop activities for PhD candidates to help you connect with each other across departments and faculties. The PhD Gatherings are a great way to increase your network, explore Amsterdam and have some well-deserved fun.
PhD Gatherings are organised by the International Office. For more information, please contact us at Phd@vu.nl.
The Forum for Young Scientists (FYS) was founded in 2016 and is a self-support system for PhD candidates and postdocs at VU Amsterdam. We organise workshops to train soft skills, discuss problems and challenges related to working in academia, and discuss non-scientific themes in a safe and non-hierarchical environment.
Examples of workshops that we organised are: masterclass of presentation skills, writing a good grant proposal, how to become a professor, leadership, from academia to industry, time management.
To find out more information about FYS and look at upcoming events please visit: www.forumyoungscientists.nl
fun, but also busy and at times stressful. It is important for us to provide you with the support you need to make your
experience successful. Here you will find a snapshot of some of the support and resources you can make use of during your time with us.
PhD life can be challenging. It can be quite a struggle balancing your research, social life, work, exercise, and more. That is why it is important to be aware of how you are doing and to take good care of yourself.
VU Amsterdam partners with Caring Universities to offer free online services to improve your mental well-being.
Caring Universities is an international initiative that offers free online services aimed at improving students' mental health. More information can be found at caring-universities.com
While moving to Amsterdam is a great decision, it is important to note that certain arrangements need to be made to ensure the process will go smoothly. Where will you live, and do you need a visa, or a residence permit for your stay here? Our Services Team at VU Amsterdam International Office is ready to help you with all these practicalities.
Accommodation and visa are two of the most important matters that need to be taken care of. Although we offer accommodation to international students, the number of available rooms is limited. This means there are no guarantees – though we do our best to find suitable accommodation for everyone. Additionally, there are things to keep in mind when it comes to potential immigration to the Netherlands. If you are a non-EU/EEA citizen, you need to complete the immigration procedure prior to starting your studies at VU Amsterdam.
Our Services team is ready to help ease the process and aid you in various matters, for example by applying for the immigration procedure on your behalf.
More information about our services can be found via www.vu.nl/visa or www.vu.nl/accommodation. It is also possible to make an application appointment with us via our online tool.
Map-marker Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam De Boelelaan 1105 1081 HV Amsterdam The Netherlands
T +31 20 598 9898
ENVELOPE-OPEN phd@vu.nl link www.vuamsterdam.com
facebook Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
YOUTUBE Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam International Students Instagram #vuamsterdam Edit www.amsterdamstudents.com
