Established in 1880, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (#236 as per QS World ranking 2023) is a public research university offering more than 250 UG and PG programs to students from across the world. The university’s current student population 17% international students from 87 different nationalities; all part of VU Amsterdam’s educational and research success.

Ever since its establishment, the university has determined its own academic and research structure, created its own single and joint degree programs. Since the cost of living in Amsterdam is comparatively higher, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam ensures that the program fees and other academic charges are low. Thereby, allowing international students to pursue high studies in the Netherlands at a reasonable cost.

  • The University offers 50 undergraduate and 180 postgraduate programs in different fields.
  • The total student population at VU Amsterdam is 26,378. International students constitute 17% of the total student body from 87 different countries across the globe.
  • The University's International office assists students with services such as the search for housing, visa, residence permits, etc.
  • Annual cost of attendance for an international student at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is around 18,000 EUR- 25,000 EUR.
  • The university campus has excellent education facilities and research facilities for students and teachers.
  • It is one of the 14 Universities in the Netherland that offers academic education and Master's Degree programs.
  • It is recognized by the Dutch Ministry of Education and is in the process of receiving accreditation.

Highlights

University Type Public
Establishment Year 1880
Campus Setting Urban
Mode of Programs Full-time; Online
No.of Courses (English-taught) UG: 27;
PG: 137
No. of Faculties 9
No. of Professors 879
No. of International Students 4,088
Annual Cost of Attendance 24,287 EUR
Annual Budget 482.6 million EUR
Contact Information +31 205985020

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Ranking

Top and latest rankings of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam by various prestigious ranking agencies are as follows:

Ranking agencies Category Ranks
QS ranking World University ranking #236
THE ranking World University ranking #116
THE ranking Impact ranking #39
THE ranking World reputation ranking #151-175
US News and world report Best global university #80
US News and world report Best global university in Europe #22
US News and world report Best global university in Netherland #4
CWUR World university ranking #146
CWUR National university ranking #6
ARWU World university ranking #101-15

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Programs

With 27 UG and 137 PG-level courses at VU Amsterdam, international students have an abundance of subjects and courses to choose from. Some of the top-ranking courses & streams at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam are mentioned below:

  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Communication and Media Studies
  • Development Studies
  • Philosophy
  • Economics
  • Earth and Marine Sciences
  • Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies

All these courses are offered via nine faculties and are available in the form of part-time programs, full-time programs, and joint degree programs. Students also have the option of choosing a combination of subjects in one specific field, Known as minor program(s). 

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Campus 

VU Amsterdam is a campus university with all study halls and buildings situated on one site. Located in the business district of Amsterdam, the university campus offers students and teachers several leisure activities, along with a glimpse of the business world. A few key elements of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Campus are

  • Old and new buildings in and around campus are built according to BREEAM standards, meeting the sustainability standards as much as possible.
  • The campus is entirely urban and modern, fulfilling the expectations of international students from varying parts of the world.
  • VU Amsterdam campus is just a 15-minute tram ride from the historic city centre and an 8-minute train journey away from Schiphol Airport.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Accommodation

VU Amsterdam offers accommodation to only those international students who will be commencing studies as a first-year student enrolled in an English-taught degree. While the university doesn’t guarantee housing to all students, it tries its best to accommodate as majority of students in its various furnished and unfurnished (single) rooms. Some of the accommodation facilities available Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam are tabulated below:

Name/Housing Corporations No. of Rooms Rent per month (EUR)
Ravel Residence 40 700
Amstel Home 10 710
Karspeldreef 130 825-855
DUWO Short Stay 305 354-446
EERSTE RINGDIJKSTRAAT 32 581
KRELIS LOUWENSTRAAT 84 577-583
PIERRE LALLEMENSTRAAT 50 584-768
DEBOELELAAN 24 477-551
CORNELIS LELYLAAN 100 586-799
THE FIZZ SPARTAAN 110 760

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Admission Process

Admissions at VU Amsterdam take place annually, wherein the admission deadline for international students with non-EU/EEA qualification is April 1, 2023. Prospective applicants are urged to start their application process well before the deadline to ensure that their application fee of 100 EUR is processed in time as well.

Application Process

Talking about the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam admission process, the applicants have to adhere to the following steps:

  • Step I: Register at Studielink and create a login ID. Verify the provided email ID to complete the form.
  • Step II: Complete the enrollement application by providing the necessary details:
    • Education history
    • Chosen program to study
    • Chosen program’s details
    • Chosen institution
    • Confirmation
  • Step III: On completion, you will get login ID and password for VUNet application system. Note that down.
  • Step IV: Login into VUNet system and confirm the chosen program to continue the application.
  • Step V: Enter the necessary details:
    • Course details and program duration
    • Personal information and contact details
    • Program-specific question
    • General questions
    • Uploading supporting documents
  • Step VI: Verify all details and submit the application form.

Admission Requirements

  • Academic transcripts along with their in English
  • Language Proficiency Test:
  • One or two letters of recommendation, depending upon course
  • Letter of motivation or SOP to study in Netherland
  • Resume/CV
  • Copy of passport for proof of identity.

Netherlands Student Visa

For the Netherlands student visa, you must provide the documents mentioned below:

  • A passport, valid for at least next six months
  • Copy of Schengen Residence Permit, if applicable
  • Language proficiency test
  • Evidence of financial stability

Students will also have to pay 250 EUR for the long-term visa fees and residence permit.

Bachelor degree deadline:

Student/Application Type Deadline
Non-EU/EEA students 1st April
EU/EEA students and students who do not need a study visa/residence permit 1ST May
Numerus Fixus (Psychology, Dentistry, Medicine, Criminology) 15 January

Master degree deadline

Student/Application Type Deadline
International students (seeking VU Scholarships) February 1, 2023
non-EU/non-EEA students who need a visa/residence permit April 1, 2023
EU/EAA students 1 June 2023

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Cost of Attendance

The Cost of attendance at VU Amsterdam incorporates tuition fees, housing charges, books, insurance, and other miscellaneous expenses. While all other charges are uniform for international students, the tuition fees vary from program to program.

An estimated cost of attendance ar VU Amsterdam for international students is:

Expense Cost in EUR  
Undergraduate degree tuition fees 8,796-12,110 (course fees)
Postgraduate degree tuition fees 14,110-24,310 (course fees)
Books and Supplies 600- 1000 (annual)
Accommodation Charges 300-1000 (per month)
Insurance 1,475 (annual)
Residence permit 317 (annual)
Handling fees 670 (One-time)

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Scholarships

At VU Amsterdam, international students are entitled to only two forms of financial aids: Student Loans and Scholarships. While the details of the former are to be discussed by each applicant separately, university scholarships uniform for all.

Some of the internal and external Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam scholarships available to international students are:

  • Orange Tulip Scholarship: Its a tuition fee waiver scholarship program, designed for international students commencing English-taught master’s degree programmes. 
    • No. of Scholarships: Two for Indian students
    • Benefits: Varies
    • Eligibility: Enrolling in full-time PG program
    • Application Deadline: February 1, 2023
  • VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP): Offered to prospective masters degree students, VUFP aims to attract academically outstanding international students.
    • No. of Scholarships: Varies
    • Benefits: Covers tuition fees
    • Eligibility: Minimum GPA of 80%, beginning full-time PG course
    • Application Deadline: February 1, 2023
  • Holland Scholarship Programme: Financed by Dutch Ministry of Education, the scholarships offer a fixed award amount to new masters-level students, to cover their tuition expenses.
    • No. of Scholarships: Varies
    • Benefits: 5,000 EUR (non-renewable)
    • Eligibility: Enrolling in a full-time PG program
    • Application Deadline: February 1, 2023

Apart from these, there are other scholarship options available to international students such as Orange Knowledge Programme, NN Future Matters Scholarship, Desmond Fortes Scholarship, etc.

As one of the leading universities in Netherlands and a reputed institution in the world, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam aims to promote sustainability and awareness towards social disintegration amongst the students. All VU Amsterdam graduates have corroborated to the university’s drives to make education a bigger platform than just a stepping stone for a career.

  • At VU Amsterdam each faculty organizes exclusive career events, workshops, coaching sessions, networking events with potential employers, alumni, and study associations.
  • Student’s interest in ICT or information management can also participate in Tech fairs.
  • Itea at UV prepares students and graduate for the career world by sharpening their CV writing skills, interviews, and various work-related skill that an employer is looking for.
  • According to the emolument, the highest-paid degree at VU is Masters in Management with an average salary of 141,000 USD.

Top VU Amsterdam graduate salaries-by Degree:

Degree Salary
Masters in management 1,41,000 USD
Doctorate 139,000 USD

Masters in Finance

91,000 USD

Executive Masters

83,000 USD

Masters in Science

69,000 USD

LLM

 62,000 USD

FAQs

Ques. Do I need to submit SAT or ACT scores for admission to VU Amsterdam?

Ans. No, SAT or ACT score is not required for admission in VU Amsterdam.

Ques. Is there any scholarship for international students at VU Amsterdam?

Ans. Yes, VU offers various scholarship options for an international student like VU Fellowship programs (VUFS), Orange tulip scholarship (OTS), etc.

Ques. What are the English language requirements for international students while applying for admission?

Ans. All the international students can submit the IELTS test, Cambridge test, and TOEFL test score to meet the English language requirements at VU Amsterdam.

Ques. Does VU provide on-campus accommodation to international students?

Ans. Yes, the University provides on-campus accommodation but does not guarantee it.

Ques. What is the average undergraduate tuition fee at VU Amsterdam?

Ans. Average undergraduate tuition fee at VU Amsterdam ranges from € 8,796 to € 12,110.

Ques. What is the cost of on-campus housing at VU Amsterdam?

Ans. The on-campus housing rent at VU

Amsterdam ranges from 354 EUR to 850 EUR.

Ques. Are there any exchange programs offered at VU Amsterdam?[25]

Ans. Yes, the University offers around 300 bachelor exchange programs in English and many Master's Courses.

Ques. Which test scores are considered by VU Amsterdam for admission in the MBA degree program?

Ans. MAT score of 600+ is considered by VU Amsterdam for admission in an MBA degree.

Ques. Is there any admission application fee?

Ans. Yes, 100 EUR is the admission application fee.

Ques. When will the university announce the admission decision?

Ans. The university announces the admission decision after 6 weeks of application submission.

Ques. What is the minimum required GPA for admission in undergraduate courses?

Ans. The minimum required GPA for admission in undergraduate courses is 3.0.

Ques. Is an interview required for admission in graduate courses?

Ans. Yes, an interview is required for some of the graduate courses like executive MBA and Masters in biological sciences.