Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to 26,370 students with around 15,000 bachelor’s and 11,500 master’s degree students. The student body includes more than 4,000 international students that bring diversity to the campus. The faculty of science has the highest enrollment of students followed by the school of business and economics with 6,911 and 4,918 students respectively.
In terms of research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam has contributed to solving major social issues, promoting sustainability, and other topics like cross-disciplinary boundaries. Annually, 400 students complete their doctoral programs at VU Amsterdam, with thesis, thereby making significant contributions to the university’s academic research.
Talking about the application procedure and academic cycle, the university follows a semester-based system, with sessions beginning in Fall and Spring season. However, admission applications are invited only once a year from international as well as domestic students.
- Application process, for both UG & PG, constitutes of completion of Studielink form and VUNet application form.
- Financial aid offered to international students in the form of VU scholarships and student loans to study in the Netherlands.
- Submission of SOP and LOR is mandatory for PG applicants but is NOT required for UG admissions.
- GMAT/GRE scores are only required for MBA degree at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
- The application for the academic year 2023-24 will be available from October.
- Students willing to apply for Dutch taught bachelor’s degree programs must submit proof of Dutch language proficiency.
- A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent on an accepted test is required as proof of English language proficiency.
- International students are eligible to receive financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants and bursaries.
Highlights
| Application Portal | VUNet Application |
| Application fee | 100 EUR |
| Mode of Payment | Online(Credit/Debit Card) |
| Number of International Students | 4,088 |
| Number of English-taught UG Programs | 27 |
| Number of English-taught PG Programs | 137 |
| Intake Month | April (for International Students) |
| Academic calendar | Semester system |
| Financial Aid | Scholarships and Student Loans |
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Admission Deadlines
While the academic session is divided into two semesters, the admissions at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam takes place only once a year. Deadlines for upcoming session 2023-2024 are tabulated below:
| Student/Application Type | Deadline |
|---|---|
| International students (seeking VU Scholarships) | February 1, 2023 |
| International students (with non-EU/EEA degree) | April 1, 2023 |
| EU/EEA students (with non-EU/EEA degree) | June 1, 2023 |
International students are recommended to complete their application process at least 1-2 days before the deadline to ensure that their application fees is processed within the deadline. In case, your fees isn’t processed, the university will reject your application.
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam International Admissions
Currently, the application and admission process for international students at VU Amsterdam is a little complex. Students need to follow the proper application guidelines established by the university for UG and PG courses.
For prospective international applicants, the step-by-step application process and additional requirements such as language proficiency and visa requirements are discussed below:
Admission Process for International Students
The entire Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam application process comprises two steps: Studielink (Step I) and VUNet (Step II). The guidelines are the same for undergraduate and graduate programs.
Step I: Studielink
- Click on “Create a Studielink account without DigiD” and enter details: Personal information, Address, Contact, Summary.
- Activate your account by verifying email ID and login to complete the form.
- Complete the 5 steps to submit your enrollment application in Studielink
- Previous Education
- Choose to Study Programme
- Study Program Details
- Institutional Questions
- Confirm
- Add a new enrolment application, if you want to apply for more than one program.
Once you have submitted the studielink application, you will receive a login ID and password for the VUNet application portal.
Step II: VUNet
- Login using the credential received by email and set the language.
- Confirm your choice of program to continue the application.
- Enter/Check qualifications and other details in 6 steps:
- Check course and study period
- Enter personal contact details for emergencies
- Answer general questions (not entirely program-specific)
- Answer course-specific questions
- Upload supporting documentation like CV, LOR(s), Motivation letter, ELP scores
- Confirm the provided details and submit the application.
- Pay the application processing fee of 100 EUR
Once you have correctly completed all these steps, your application for admission will be successfully submitted to the university for evaluation.
English Language Proficiency for International Students
Applicants belonging to non-English speaking nations such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, China, etc are required to provide proof of proficiency in English language. To fulfill this requirement, students must meet the minimum score requirement of any one of the following tests:
Visa Process for International Students
The Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam helps students by applying for the Netherlands student visa on their behalf. While the process is simple, it takes approximately one month for visa approval. Therefore, students are recommended to complete their process in due time.
For the Netherlands student visa, you must provide the documents mentioned below:
- A passport which has to be valid for at least six months
- Copy of the Schengen residence permit if applicable
- English Language test results are mandatory
- The proof of financial proof will also have to be submitted
- Students will also have to pay the long-term visa fees and residence permit, which is 250 EUR
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Undergraduate Admissions
With 27 Undergraduate programs, VU Amsterdam offers both domestic and international students a chance to pursue higher education in a wide range of subjects like Health Sciences, Business and Mathematics, Engineering, Law and Governance, etc.
Where to Apply: VUNet Application Portal
Application Fees: 100 EUR
Application Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0
- Students should submit their official academic transcripts from institutions last attended in
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Copy of a valid passport
All Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam undergraduate courses have similar admission requirements, mentioned above, except for the in-depth coursework requirements. The academic requirements for a few programs are tabulated below:
| Course Name | Mandatory Coursework Requirements |
|---|---|
| International Business | Mathematics |
| Mechanical Engineering | Mathematics & Physics |
| Biomedical Sciences | Biology, Mathematics, Physics & Chemistry |
| Law in Society | Mathematics |
Submitting a one or two page resume is not mandatory for all undergraduate courses, but is highly recommended. However, such is not a case with SOP/Letter of Motivation and LORs. No VU Amsterdam UG requires you to submit these supplementary documents.
Country Specific Requirements
The diplomas from Asian countries that are considered equivalent to the general admission requirements are given in the table below:
| Country | Minimum Requirements |
|---|---|
| India | All India Senior School Certificate (CBSE) with A1, A2 or B1 grades in 5 academic subjects; or Indian School Certificate (CISCE) with minimum 75% GPA in 5 academic subjects |
| Bangladesh | Higher Secondary Certificate (humanities/sciences)/ Alim Certificate and minimum 1 year of credits in academic education from an internationally recognised university |
| Pakistan | Higher Secondary School Certificate/Intermediate School Certificate (with a final grade of at least C) and minimum 1 year of credits in academic education from an internationally recognised university; or passed a bachelor’s degree |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Lankan General Certificate of Education Advanced level with minimum three subjects at GCE-A level with at least grade C |
| Singapore | Cambridge GCE A level in 3 H2 + 1 H1 content-based subjects + General Paper/Knowledge and Inquiry (5 different subjects in total) |
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Graduate Admissions
The Masters programs at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam are offered in 200 subjects in full-time and part-time mode. While international students are eligible to apply for all graduate courses, currently, on 137 masters programs are taught in English.
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Graduate admission process is similar for all programs, though admission requirements vary. All international students must submit their applications before April 1, 2023, for the session 2023-2024.
Where to apply: VUnet application portal
Application Fee: 100 EUR
The admission requirements for a few top VU Amsterdam graduate courses are mentioned in the following table:
| Requirements | Executive MBA | Masters in Biological Sciences | Masters in Computer Science | Masters in Economics | Masters in Artificial Intelligence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Duration | 18 months | 2 years | 2 years | 1 year | 2 years |
| Transcripts | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Academic Qualification | 3-year bachelor degree | 3 year UG degree with an average grade of 7.0/10; a minimum 24 ECTS in molecular biology & human biology each |
3 year UG degree, preferably in Computer Science; coursework in Programming, Logic, Algorithm; Computer Systems; Software Engineering; Computer Network |
3 years UG degree with coursework in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Econometrics, and Statistics. | 3-year bachelor degree in Science |
| SOP/Personal Essay | Required, 750 Words | Required | Required | Required, 500 words | Required, 500 words |
| LOR(s) | 2 LORs; at least 1 Professional LOR | Required, 1 | Required, 2 | Not Required | Required, 1 |
| English Language Proficiency | IELTS: 7.0; TOEFL-iBT: 100 |
IELTS: 6.5; TOEFL-iBT: 92; CAE/CPE: A,B,C |
IELTS: 6.5; TOEFL-iBT: 92; CAE/CPE: A,B,C |
IELTS: 7.0; TOEFL-iBT: 100 |
IELTS: 6.5; TOEFL-iBT: 92; CAE/CPE: A,B,C |
| Resume/CV | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| GRE/GMAT | GMAT score of 600+ | Not Required | Not Required | Not Required | Not Required |
| Work Experience | Required, 5+ years | Not Required | Recommended | Not Required | Recommended |
| Admission Interview | Required | Required | Not Required | Not Required | Not Required |
| Course Fees | 43,500 EUR | 14,661 EUR | 14,661 EUR | 14,762 EUR | 14,661 EUR |
All the completed and successfully submitted application packages are transferred to concerned VU Amsterdam faculties. Though they might contact applicants for any further evaluation or information, the admission decisions are announced within 6 weeks.
Post receiving admission decisions, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam requires successful applicants to accept their admission offer via VUNet confirmation form. Their seat will be reserved when the students will complete the payment of the tuition fees of their respective UG and PG programs.
FAQs
Ques. How will classes be conducted in the academic year 2023-24?
Ans. Classes in 2023-24 will continue in the second semester as it is happening now. In a combination of on-campus and online education.
Ques. What if I do not meet the requirements for direct admission?
Ans. International students who do not meet the requirements for direct admission can apply for a preparation program offered by the Holland International Study Centre. After successfully completing the International Foundation Year program, students will be able to progress to the first year of the bachelor’s degree at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Ques. Which bachelor’s degree programs have limited spots?
Ans. The bachelor’s degree programs that have limited spots include Psychology, Dentistry, Criminology and Medicine.
Ques. What are the financial aid options available to international students?
Ans. International students at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam can apply for a variety of scholarships, grants and bursaries.
Ques. Is it possible to apply for part-time master’s degree programs?
Ans. No. All master’s degree programs at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam are offered full-time only.
Ques. Can I apply before obtaining English proficiency test results?
Ans. Yes. While filling the online application, students must indicate when they are planning to take the test and send the results as soon as it is available. Students will be offered conditional admission with the condition that you have to submit an English language test result.
