context. The people aspect focuses on the individual and helps you to understand and manage international and cultural challenges. The business aspect is about the different disciplines that together represent the business environment, so you become a well-rounded academic as well as business professional. Finally, the international context addresses the global marketplace that you aspire to become part of. By integrating people, business, and international context, you develop not only knowledge and skills, but also a strong cultural sensitivity and self-awareness that is needed to truly become a world citizen. Commit yourself, Connect to the community, Challenge the ordinary, Create your own path. STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAMME IBA is a three-year, full-time programme. In addition to a course on People in Business and Society, the programme consists of courses from each of IBA’s main disciplines: Strategy and Marketing, Finance and Accounting, Organization and Human Resource Management, and ICT and Logistics. The first two years of the programme have a set structure. In your third year you will go on exchange or take an international internship minor. In the second half of the third year you choose two elective courses and you will write your bachelor thesis. YOUR FUTURE CAREER As an IBA graduate you will be well- equipped for entry-level positions in global or multinational organizations. You will be trained for management and consultancy roles. You can work directly for service- based organizations, find employment with a major industrial company or continue your studies at the Master’s level in the field of Business Administration or Marketing, for example. SPECIFIC ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS Only 150 students are admitted to the International Business Administration programme each year. Students must hold a Dutch pre-university school diploma (VWO) or an equivalent thereof. Places are allocated by means of a faculty selection procedure. The Admissions Board will consider the following criteria when making its selection: your motivation, skills in Mathematics and English proficiency. International students are given priority. Specific requirements and more details about the selection criteria can be found on our website. INTERESTING MASTER’S AFTER YOUR BACHELOR’S Accounting and Control, Business Administration (six specializations), Entrepreneurship, Finance and Marketing.
Why study Liberal Arts and Sciences at VU University Amsterdam? Amsterdam University College
offers a liberal arts and sciences programme, leading to a joint Bachelor’s (Honours) degree from VU University Amsterdam and the University of Amsterdam. The AUC programme combines breadth of experience with depth of knowledge. A liberal education teaches you to read intelligently, think critically and write effectively. At AUC you will be trained to analyse complex issues from different academic perspectives. You will be involved daily in intensive and small-scale seminars with high-calibre international staff.
3 YEARS (180 CREDITS) • SCIENCES • SOCIAL SCIENCES • HUMANITIES WWW.AUC.NL admissions@auc.nl VU UNIVERSITY AMSTERDAM
international bachelor’s programmes 2015-2016
“The AUC programme combines breadth of experience with depth of knowledge.” STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAMME AUC’s programme is based on three years of study, covering six semesters. You can major in the sciences, social sciences or humanities. AUC enrols up to 50% science majors. All AUC students undertake community service or an internship, and AUC offers a wide range of opportunities to study abroad. At AUC you will be trained to analyse complex issues from different perspectives based on a range of academic fields of interest. Discussions start from the ‘big questions’ in science and society and lead to in-depth study in a wide range of disciplines. Six interdisciplinary themes provide an orientation to your studies and choice of course options: 1: Energy, Climate and Sustainability, 2: Life, Evolution, Universe, 3: Health and Wellbeing, 4: Information, Communication, Cognition, 5: Social Systems and 6: Cities and Cultures. YOUR FUTURE CAREER As an AUC graduate, you will be well equipped to continue your studies at Master’s or PhD level at a major research university in the Netherlands or abroad, or to pursue a career in an international corporate or public organization. You will join a community of AUC alumni who have already been accepted on to Master’s/PhD programmes, not only in Amsterdam but also at prestigious institutions in the USA and across Europe. SPECIFIC ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS As a residential and selective honours college, AUC attracts students from all over the world. Applicants are assessed on the basis of their academic performance, interests and motivation. The AUC Scholarship Fund promotes diversity in the student body with generous support from the international business community.
liberal arts & sciences
see you at vu university amsterdam!
INTERESTING MASTER’S AFTER YOUR BACHELOR’S You will be qualified to apply for a wide range of Master’s and doctoral level studies.
Published by: Communications & Marketing VU University Amsterdam Graphic design and Photography: Haagsblauw en Studio VU Edition 23030/2 September 2014 No rights may be derived from the information contained in this brochure. ADDRESS VU University Amsterdam De Boelelaan 1105 1081 HV Amsterdam The Netherlands T +31 20 598 9898 F +31 20 598 9899 E International@vu.nl www.vuamsterdam.com
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VU UNIVERSITY AMSTERDAM Founded in 1880, VU University Amsterdam is a leading European research university. With over 24,000 students and about 4,600 staff, we are a modern organization at the cutting edge of higher education. VU University Amsterdam offers a wide range of English-taught programmes at three levels: Bachelor’s (BA, BSc), Master’s (MA, MSc) and doctoral (PhD). Twelve faculties share a single campus and cover a wide range of disciplines from the arts and sciences to medicine. RANKING AND EDUCATION he overall quality of Dutch higher education is among the best in T the world. The Dutch higher education system has been ranked 7th in the world by Universitas 21, a global network of research universities. In the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2013 (Shanghai Ranking) VU University holds a position in the 101-150 category, which is a shared 4th place nationally. In CWTS Leiden Ranking 2014 we even hold a 2nd position out of the 13 Dutch universities. Education at VU University Amsterdam is structured according to the Bologna system. After completing a Bachelor’s programme, which usually takes three years, students may elect to follow a one-year or two-year Master’s programme. After graduating from the Master’s programme, some students opt to study a PhD. Generally speaking, the teaching style can be described as student-centred: we encourage students to develop their own opinions through independent and creative thinking. At VU University Amsterdam this means that teaching is mainly conducted in small tutorials, where interactivity is the norm rather than the exception. At every opportunity, students are encouraged to engage in constructive dialogue with their professors.
WHY LIVE IN AMSTERDAM? • LIVING IN THE NETHERLANDS Images of the Netherlands abound, from windmills and tulips to vibrant Amsterdam and an open and welcoming society. But these traditional perceptions of the country hide a much more interesting story: one of excellent universities and an international reputation for research and development in many of the most exciting fields of education, science and technology. The international orientation for which the Netherlands is famous is also reflected in the range of degree programmes offered. There are few non-English speaking countries where the range of English-speaking programmes is so wide and diverse.
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VU UNIVERSITY AMSTERDAM
• LIVING IN AMSTERDAM Amsterdam is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, boasting 179 different nationalities, and English is widely spoken. At VU University Amsterdam some 78 nationalities work and study closely together, creating an international and dynamic academic community. DID YOU KNOW THAT: • Amsterdam has approximately 800,000 inhabitants? • Amsterdam has 165 canals? • Amsterdam is the largest city in the Netherlands? • according to Mercer’s 2014 Quality of Life Survey, Amsterdam is ranked 11th worldwide? • Amsterdam is one of the safest cities of the world? • with almost 92,000 students, Amsterdam is a great and lively place to study?
Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programmes • Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in English Once you have completed your Bachelor’s degree, a broad range of Master’s programmes is available for you to choose from. VU University offers more than 70 Master’s programmes in English. More information can be found online at WWW.VU.NL/INTERNATIONALMASTERS • Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in Dutch VU University Amsterdam also offers many Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in Dutch. If you are interested in following one of these programmes as a non-Dutch speaker, you can take advantage of the special language-learning facilities offered by the university. Further information can be found on our website. • Honours Programme VU University Amsterdam offers an Honours Programme for excellent students. The programme is designed for students who have passed all of their first-year Bachelor’s subjects by the end of that year with an average mark of 7.5 or higher and who are motivated to take extra subjects in their second and third year. The Honours Programme is taught in English and consists of two components: one faculty-specific and the other interdisciplinary. You will be able to earn an extra 30 credits in addition to the 180 credits in the standard Bachelor’s programme. On completion of your Bachelor’s, your honours achievement will be stated on your degree certificate and the extra subjects taken will be listed on your diploma supplement. WWW.VU.NL/HONOURS • PhD programmes For students with a recognized Master’s degree, VU University Amsterdam offers the possibility of obtaining a doctorate or PhD. The process of earning a doctorate normally takes four years or more and consists of conducting independent research and writing a doctoral thesis. PhD candidates in the Netherlands are not regarded as students but have the status of professional researchers with a contract of employment. You can apply for a PhD position if you meet the requirements of the PhD programme. Positions are advertised at WWW.WORKINGATVU.NL More information can be found at WWW.VU.NL/PHD
PRACTICAL MATTERS
Why look further into VU University Amsterdam? V U University Amsterdam:
• is consistently listed among the world’s top universities in various rankings; • i s located in one of the most dynamic and fastgrowing business districts in the Netherlands; • i s a modern campus university with student housing just a five-minute bike ride away; •h elps you with housing, visas and the administrative side of studying in the Netherlands; • offers an international environment – a significant proportion of the students in our English-taught programmes come from abroad; •p rovides high-quality education in small and highly interactive classes; • is located in lively and multicultural Amsterdam, the city with the largest concentration of students in the Netherlands and where English is the second language; • c ollaborates with major companies to provide real-life challenges in its Bachelor’s programmes.
• VU UNIVERSITY AMSTERDAM SERVICES The International Office at VU University Amsterdam can help you find accommodation and apply for a visa and residence permit (if applicable). We also offer orientation periods for international students in August, consisting of social events, sports activities and a cultural programme. An International Student Advisor (ISA) assigned to the faculty you are interested in will help you with the application procedure and any other information you may need. You can also contact the ISA with any questions you might have about your study programme. Contact details can be found at WWW.VU.NL/INTERNATIONALOFFICE • FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES As a student at VU University Amsterdam, you will have a wide range of facilities at your disposal. You will have access to an extensive library, a university-wide wireless network and numerous computer rooms and reading rooms. The university’s sports centre offers more than 35 different sports and the Griffioen cultural centre organizes a variety of courses in the arts as well as other cultural activities. • FINANCES Students from the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) pay the same tuition fees as Dutch students. The tuition fees for most programmes are set by the Dutch government on an annual basis and vary per programme. Experience shows that it costs between €800 and €1,000 a month to live and study in the Netherlands, excluding tuition fees and
“Get out of your comfort zone and get international”
other non-recurring expenses. Some students manage to spend less, but of course that depends on your individual lifestyle. Please consult the website to see specific tuition fees: WWW .VU.NL/TUITIONFEE • SCHOLARSHIPS As an international student planning to study at VU University Amsterdam, you can apply for a variety of grants and bursaries. Please check WWW.GRANTFINDER.NL
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES • EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS All programmes have specific admission requirements. To enter a Bachelor’s programme, you will need a Dutch pre-university school diploma (VWO) or an equivalent thereof. All programmes start in September. • LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS For all international study programmes, students need to be proficient in English. International applicants are requested to submit an English proficiency test with their application. Please see our website for information about the exact requirements WWW.VU.NL/APPLICATION For information specific to a study programme, please consult the corresponding programme’s website. • APPLICATION DEADLINES The application deadline for Computer Science and International Business Administration is 1 April for all international students. For Liberal Arts & Sciences the application deadline is 1 February for all international students. For more specific information, please check the programme website. • APPLY ONLINE The application procedure can be found online at WWW.VU.NL/APPLICATION If you want to apply to Liberal Arts & Sciences at Amsterdam University College, you should do so via WWW.AUC.NL
STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAMME After the three year Bachelor, you understand the language of computers. From the logic that systems are built on to the various abstractions of language used to program them. Moreover, you’ll learn how computer networks share information in an efficient and secure way and how users interact with systems. The first year is an introduction to everything. From the basics of computer systems and networks to the logic behind them and the way they are used on the web. You learn the programming language Java and you’ll start to develop your academic skills. The second year is more in-depth. Within courses like security, databases and software modeling you actively use the techniques you learned during year one. Everything comes together in your final year where your chosen minor and bachelor project give the programme its own flavor. This puts you firmly in the driver’s seat, with all your skills and knowledge ready to be applied. YOUR FUTURE CAREER Knowledge in the field of Computer Science is invaluable for almost any industry or company so you will have many options when it comes to finding the right job. Still it is worthwhile to continue your education and go for a Masters degree that will open up even more doors. SPECIFIC ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS Only 100 students are admitted to the Computer Science programme each year. The formal admission requirements are the possession of a Dutch pre-university school diploma (VWO) with Mathematics B or an equivalent thereof including mathematics at IB standard level (mathematical studies is not accepted). Failing this criterion means that admission can never take place. Places are allocated by means of a faculty selection procedure. The Admissions Board will consider the following criteria when making its selection: skills in Mathematics, English proficiency and your motivation. Specific requirements and more details about the selection criteria can be found on our website. INTERESTING MASTER’S AFTER YOUR BACHELOR’S Computer Science, Information Science, Artificial Intelligence, Bioinformatics & Systems Biology, Parallel and Distributed Computer Systems.
Taija Sironen/finland
BACHELOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND MASTER BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SPECIALIZATION IN IKM)
The small-scale classes in the IBA programme were very important for my personal development. They really force you to participate, get to know your teammates and see your own individual input as part of the team effort – skills that are essential to my working career. The wide and varied range of subjects in the IBA programme also gave me a broad perspective and wide-ranging knowledge of how organizations work and the role they play in society. The biggest benefits of studying abroad, and at VU University Amsterdam in particular, have been working in an international context, becoming familiar with other ways of thinking and having the opportunity to develop an international network. I gained all of these things at VU University Amsterdam and during my exchange period in Mexico City. I would also say I’ve learned a lot from Dutch people about directness and openness. Sitting next to someone on a tram, smiling or starting a conversation with a stranger, is no longer as much of a stretch for me as it was when I was growing up in Finland. I’m happy that I took this opportunity to come to the Netherlands and study at VU University Amsterdam. I can sincerely say it has been the experience of a lifetime. 3 INTERNATIONAL bachelor’S PROGRAMMES
computer science 3 years (180 credits) www.vu.nl/cs Admissionscs@vu.nl
Why study computer science at VU University Amsterdam? Studying Computer Science at VU University Amsterdam means receiving education from some of the top researchers in the field. We strongly believe that our research staff should teach at all levels so you will find that most of our courses are taught by some of the world’s most cited researchers. The education you’ll receive is pro-active and challenging, with a clear structure that nurtures technical, academic and social skills in a cooperative and open international environment.
international business administration 3 YEARS (180 CREDITS) WWW.VU.NL/IBA Admissionsiba@vu.nl
Why study International Business Administration at VU University Amsterdam? Our IBA programme is based on three core elements: people, business, and international