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2009 2011 2010 2010 international study programmes

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`choosing the university of amsterdam means opting for the intellectual depth of an academic study in an environment that offers unique opportunities and experiences professor dymph van den boom cover photo may massoud from syria studying for a master degree in conflict resolution and governance

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word of welcome choosing the university of amsterdam means opting for the intellectual depth of an academic study in an environment that offers unique opportunities and experiences at the uva students from all over the world learn together on an equal footing discussion takes on a whole new dimension in this environment thanks to the diversity of the participants cultural national and academic backgrounds as one of the largest educational institutions in the netherlands we want you to feel at home and to enjoy your studies at the uva we provide everything you need to learn successfully in an inspiring challenging and international setting all we ask in return are your commitment and effort involvement and initiative we want you to feel responsible for your own academic progress and so put the best of yourself into your work from wherever in the world you come to us we hope and believe your time here will prove to be of lasting value for the rest of your student life and beyond professor dymph van den boom rector magnificus university of amsterdam 3 university of amsterdam international study programmes

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contents university of amsterdam study programmes overview of international study programmes taught in english practical matters student facilities useful addresses 4 10 16 20 22 26 4 www.uva.nl/isp

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university of amsterdam the university of amsterdam is a metropolitan university with an excellent reputation for research which gives students the chance to study in an international environment and enjoy the academic social and cultural opportunities the city of amsterdam has to offer the university of amsterdam uva is a modern university with a rich history its roots trace back to 1632 when the amsterdam city council founded the athenaeum illustre to train students in trade and philosophy until the nineteenth century this remained a small institution with no more than 250 students and eight professors in 1877 it was renamed the university of amsterdam and granted the right to confer the highest academic degrees the uva is now one of the largest universities in europe with seven faculties and more than 28,000 students and 5,000 staff members it currently offers the highest number of bachelor s and master s degree programmes in the netherlands with master s programmes covering nearly every academic discipline partly because many of the master s programmes are taught in english the uva is able to attract many international students it therefore has a student body in which countless nationalities are represented in addition the wide range of academic programmes and courses available to choose from means students can tailor their studies to suit their personal ambitions and talents the uva ensures they are supported during and after their studies via academic and career counselling a research university the uva prides itself on being an excellent research university many of its master s programmes directly reflect leading research in a given field of study thus exposing students to groundbreaking research during their studies research master s programmes are offered in nearly every discipline the research master s programmes are designed specifically to prepare students for phd level research or a research based career the research activities significance at the uva extends beyond the confines of the academic community and their findings benefit society at large in fact the problems and issues affecting society often provide the stimulus for the scientific studies the proximity of cultural and scientific institutes such as the maison descartes the royal netherlands academy of arts and sciences knaw the goethe 5 university of amsterdam international study programmes

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`the university of amsterdam is at the heart of our city both literally and figuratively studying here means learning in a lively world-class city a place that compels you to make choices and to think about how you view and experience life job cohen mayor of amsterdam institute sara computing and network services and the international information centre and archives for the women s movement iiav enriches research and independent study the uva is in the league of european research universities leru an association of leading research universities founded to strengthen the position of european universities in the arena of international scientific research together a dynamic mix of educational institutes research institutes and knowledge based enterprises in an inspiring collaborative environment in fact with the faculties spread across the city in this way the uva s campus is amsterdam itself rankings stimulating one another it is this dynamic and challenging environment that attracts many national and international students to the city the capital of the netherlands amsterdam is an exuberant smallscale metropolis where you quickly feel safe and welcome the city of rembrandt van rijn h.p berlage anne frank and johan cruyff it has a unique cultural and intellectual life countless museums festivals and artistic groups stage exhibitions and performances all year round in 2008 amsterdam was deemed one of the top 15 cities worldwide in terms of quality of life and with schiphol one of europe s major airports a mere 20 minutes away the world is just around the corner named after the amstel river amsterdam expanded rapidly from the thirteenth century onwards due to a thriving maritime industry to become the largest city of the netherlands by 1500 during the seventeenth century the `golden age it grew into one of the wealthiest and most powerful cities in the world it was then that its famous crescent-shaped canals were built with its tradition of intellectual tolerance amsterdam attracted scholars and writers unable to find the same level of freedom in their own countries baruch spinoza a metropolitan university the uva is inextricably linked with the city of amsterdam its facilities offices and faculties are spread throughout the city the majority of the uva s arts and social science programmes are housed in the city centre along with a large number of facilities including the university library the special collections library and the zoological museum amsterdam many of the faculties are housed in characteristic old buildings in the heart of the city most of the science programmes are based just outside the old city centre in the newly developed science park amsterdam in the watergraafsmeer district science park amsterdam brings in the 2008 the-qs world university rankings the uva was ranked the highest in the netherlands and 15th in europe several disciplines taught at the uva have also done well in more specific quality rankings high scores were achieved for example in the centre for higher education s che 2007/8 ranking of excellent european graduate programmes a league table for programmes in the areas of biology chemistry physics and mathematics the city amsterdam famous for its historical buildings and canals is a multifaceted city bustling with knowledge commerce creativity and innovation the tolerant atmosphere and the openmindedness of its inhabitants form an inviting setting for scientists entrepreneurs and artists who often work together inspiring and 6 www.uva.nl/isp

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may massoud from syria studying for a master degree in conflict resolution and governance `my first visit to the netherlands in 2007 gave me the feeling that i will be back to this country soon so after i completed my ba degree in international relations at university of kalamoon syria and after few years of working in different professional fields i chose the university of amsterdam to continue my studies and obtain a master s degree in conflict resolutions and governance the supportive academic ambiance at uva helped me to enhance my skills and continue working on my knowledge development it was a wonderful year for me in holland where i enjoyed the diversity of cultures and thoughts and rené descartes flourished here alongside dutch painters poets and scientists such as johannes vermeer constantijn huygens and antonie van leeuwenhoek intellectual and cultural curiosity have prevailed in the netherlands ever since studying in an international environment to create an international environment where learning and creativity can flourish the uva has always encouraged international cooperation it attracts students from all over the world and presently has more than 1800 international students and researchers from over 80 countries.it also has one of the largest numbers of international study programmes of any university in europe most classes at the master s level feature students with different nationalities and cultural backgrounds in an era of globalisation and an increasingly international labour market this environment helps students prepare for their future careers it also allows faculties to seek international standards of excellence the curriculum is constantly reviewed and revised and comprises more than 100 study programmes taught in english the uva constantly strives to improve the quality and efficiency of existing programmes a well as developing new courses of study scientific and international business activity such as amsterdam students have ready access to a network of businesses institutions and agencies related to their academic programme the uva has an excellent relationship with numerous regional national and international businesses and organisations in an expanding global labour market international students in amsterdam can find many major multi-national organisations the uva student career centre provides international graduates with information training advice on career planning identifying opportunities for employment and how to market themselves effectively www.student.uva.nl/work amsterdam university college this same rich and diverse culture can be found in amsterdam today amid a climate of forward-thinking professionalism education has always played a vital role in the development of dutch culture the uva as one of the largest centres of study and research in the netherlands continues to be one of its key players career prospects the research-oriented and metropolitan uva could have no better home than a centre of cultural amsterdam university college auc opened in september 2009 it offers a top quality honours broad interdisciplinary internationally oriented bachelor s programme in the liberal arts and sciences the programme taught in english targets excellent students from in and outside the netherlands auc is a joint initiative of the university of amsterdam and the vu university amsterdam 7 university of amsterdam international study programmes

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10 reasons to study at the university of amsterdam 1 2 3 4 international recognition we are among the top 15 universities in europe and the leading one in the netherlands according to the times qs world university rankings 2008 international student barometer 96 of uva students polled were `very satisfied about safety and 96 said it was `the place to be range of study 7 practical support the uva has one of the largest numbers of international master s study programmes of any university in europe with over 100 taught in english and several of the courses offered being unique to the uva the uva presently has more than 1,800 international students from over 80 countries all actively supported by the international student network while in amsterdam the uva helps with logistics such as opening a bank account applying for visas and finding accommodation depth of study excellent academic career paths with multiple options to pursue study within or across disciplines all the way from bachelor through to phd level and further 8 career prospects research quality the uva is in the league of european research universities leru an association founded to strengthen the position of european universities in the arena of international scientific research the uva is also an active partner in many eu wide initiatives with other universities or research institutions the presence of numerous dutch and international firms e.g philips ing heineken academic institutions and cultural organisations make amsterdam the commercial social and artistic heart of the netherlands and a prestigious global business centre students benefit from having access to major corporations during their studies and afterwards 9 prime location 5 6 history the university of amsterdam continues a tolerant open and international academic tradition dating back to 1632 the faculties are located in either the heart of the old city or state of the art purpose-built facilities amsterdam is well connected for travel to the rest of europe with excellent links to the rest of world the city has long been a cultural and commercial crossroads and gives students access to all the arts entertainment and social possibilities of a capital city 10 personal development quality of life the city of amsterdam features as one of the world s 15 best places to live in mercers 2008 quality of living survey in the 2008 pan-european study programmes at the uva offer a high level of autonomy respect for each individual s opinions and convictions are central in the netherlands diverse and plural society this leads to an interactive teaching style encouraging students to develop self reliance and independent thought.

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study programmes the uva offers a range of programmes which not only allow students to study the subjects they want in depth but provides the opportunity to investigate multi-disciplinary topics the university actively cooperates its peers to provide its students with access to the best academic minds available in whichever areas they choose all the bachelor s and master s programmes are overseen by one or more of the relevant faculties namely the faculty of economics and business the faculty of humanities the faculty of medicine amc-uva the faculty of social and behavioural sciences the faculty of science the faculty of law the faculty of dentistry acta a joint undertaking with the vu university amsterdam in addition there is the interdisciplinary bachelor s programme in the liberal arts and sciences offered by the amsterdam university college auc a joint initiative of the university of amsterdam and the vu university amsterdam official transcript indicating the courses taken and the credits and grades obtained students can enrol in certificate programmes for one semester or for a full year bachelor s programmes undergraduate programmes certificate programmes these non-degree programmes made up of electives are designed for students who have successfully completed two years of academic training in a relevant field certificate students receive an these are three-year study programmes leading to a bachelor s degree students with qualifications equivalent to the dutch university preparatory education vwo can apply for these programmes this starting level is equivalent to that of most other western european countries but can be more advanced than in some countries outside the region at the uva only two bachelor s programmes are taught in english the bsc in economics and business and bachelor s programme in the liberal arts and sciences at the auc all other bachelor s programmes are taught in dutch cooperation with the hogeschool van amsterdam the uva cooperates closely with the hogeschool van amsterdam hva a university of applied sciences with some 30,000 students the hva is one of the largest institutes of professional education in the netherlands it offers a number of bachelor s programmes taught entirely in english www.hva.nl 10 www.uva.nl/isp

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studying in dutch research master s programmes students with foreign qualifications wishing to enrol in an undergraduate programme taught in dutch can visit www.uva.nl/education for more information about the options available www.uva.nl/education graduate programmes master s programmes the uva has more than 180 master s programmes several of which are unique in the netherlands and others renowned around the world the master s programmes cover a diverse range of subject areas ranging from public international law to forensic science from mathematical physics to gender sexuality and society from urban studies to preservation and presentation of the moving image and from cultural analysis to business economics more than 100 of these are taught entirely in english from regular to advanced research master s programmes prepare students for a career in research or the pursuit of a phd the minimum entry requirement is a dutch bachelor s degree or its equivalent in a relevant field students are also selected on the basis of motivation research skills and previous academic results a research master s programme usually takes two years students with a previous master s degree may be allowed to complete the programme in a shorter period professional master s programmes years of relevant work experience can also apply upon successful completion of the programme graduates receive a master s degree in the appropriate discipline executive master s programmes are similar to advanced master s programmes these are designed for professionals who already hold a master s degree and who have either experience in management or management potential phd programmes professional master s programmes are extended master s programmes lasting between one-and-a-half to two years designed to combine indepth theoretical knowledge with practice-based learning the knowledge of theory that students acquire is put into practice during an internship upon successful completion of the programme graduates receive a master s degree in the appropriate discipline advanced and executive master s programmes in addition to regular master s programmes the uva offers research professional advanced and executive master s programmes www.uva.nl/isp see `programmes advanced master s programmes are intended for specific groups of professionals with a master s degree who are seeking to extend their knowledge of a specific discipline these usually last one year students with a bachelor s degree and several each faculty has a keen interest in supporting phd research in or across all the disciplines covered at the university both dutch and international students can take part in phd programmes at the university of amsterdam international candidates must have an academic qualification equivalent to a dutch master s degree students at the uva pursue their phd qualifications in different ways as a `promovendus which is in effect a researcher employed within a research initiative which has advertised for applicants occasionally by enrolling on an existing formal study programme where they pay tuition or as an external candidate with funding who has proposed a research programme which has been accepted by a full professor www.uva.nl/phd 11 university of amsterdam international study programmes

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non degree programmes summer programmes each year the university offers a range of summer programmes in the fields of law the social and behavioural sciences and cognitive science www.uva.nl/summerprogrammes dutch grade 8 10 7.5 8 7 7.5 6-7 5.5 6 5.5 ects equivalent excellent very good good satisfactory sufficient fail distribution 10 25 30 25 10 us grade abbcdf ects grade abcdef exchange programmes all the programmes described in this brochure are open to fee-paying students enrolled at the university of amsterdam students already registered in a degree programme at a foreign university can also take courses at the uva i.e an `academic exchange exchange students attend the uva for a limited period of time one academic year or one semester while remaining registered at their home university they attend the uva as part of an exchange programme such as erasmus tempus or isep or as a result of a bilateral agreement between their home university and the uva exchange students do not receive an academic degree or diploma from the uva but they are issued an official transcript credits received at the uva should be transferable to their home university study information the academic year first runs from early september to early february the second from early february to mid-july the duration of individual programmes can be found in the specific programme descriptions www.uva.nl/isp educational style credit system semesters are composed of courses each worth 5 to 10 ects credits in accordance with the european credit transfer system ects this makes it possible to transfer credits more easily between european academic institutions a full-time study for one academic year represents 60 credits corresponding to 1,680 hours of study grading system students from other countries may notice a considerable difference between the style of education in their own country and here in the netherlands the approach at the uva entrusts students with a high degree of individual responsibility encouraging them to develop an independent and critical way of thinking this type of academic environment will be part of the challenge students face when they follow a programme at the uva study programmes comprise a number of courses and generally conclude with a thesis depending on the course classes meet once or twice a week in sessions of two or three hours each core courses and electives most certificate and master s programmes include a number of compulsory core courses and electives which the students can choose students enrolled in one of the international study programmes may also take courses in other academic disciplines or programmes the criteria and grading system used at the uva are common to dutch academic institutions although students will find they vary from those applied in other parts of europe and elsewhere the uva s academic year is from 1 september to mid-july divided into two semesters of 21 weeks each the 12 www.uva.nl/isp

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chris castiglione from the usa ma in new media `the new media programme is one of the best the faculty and its professors have an excellent reputation having the opportunity to work under key figures in the field was great so it was really the ma programme that brought me here but of course there were other factors in comparison to most schools back home i could complete a master s in a year instead of two and the student experience is more laid back and relaxed and i think that makes it a better place to study the classes at the uva are interesting because they challenge the students to think critically amsterdam is one of the most beautiful cities in the world i really can t say how enjoyable it is just riding my bike everyday over the bridges past the canals and through the main squares it is a very international city and you meet and learn from people who have come from all over the world at the uva if there is room and the student meets the entrance requirements plagiarism if you copy material from websites encyclopaedias books or other sources without giving full credit to the original authors you are committing plagiarism this is regarded as a serious breach of the university s rules plagiarism can result in the loss of credits or even suspension and can seriously jeopardise your academic future or other career prospects papers may be electronically screened for plagiarism please familiarise yourself with the uva s regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for uva students and contact your programme coordinator if you have any questions on this matter teaching practical training practical training forms part of the curriculum of some programmes during practical training the emphasis is on assignments rather than reading academic texts in chemistry or physics the assignments can take the form of laboratory experiments while dentistry or medicine students may copy or perform medical procedures practical training can also involve computer work fieldwork in some programmes students conduct fieldwork students go into the field in order to examine their object of study in its natural environment or to gather research data language courses dutch language courses the uva s institute for dutch as a second language intt offers dutch language courses at six different levels from absolute beginners to advanced before the start of the academic year there are intensive three-week summer courses involving 48 hours of classes in total extensive day and evening courses 36 hours in total are also organised at all six levels throughout the year applicants are advised to apply at least two months before the starting date to be sure of a place www.intt.uva.nl student language exchange amsterdam are you interested in learning dutch and meeting dutch students if so check out the student language exchange website at www.sle-amsterdam.nl students at the uva will be exposed to diverse teaching methods assessment for participation in a course can be based on a written examination a test a paper or a combination of all three tutorials during tutorials or seminars students discuss subject matter undertake assignments and write papers as well as practice their presentation skills english language courses various courses are available at uva talen the independent language centre of the uva for students wishing to improve their english english skills courses are offered at four different levels from elementary to advanced courses focus on speaking writing and presentation skills including writing academic papers in english and preparing essays in english for lectures and tutorials these courses usually have to be funded by the student themselves www.uvatalen.nl the goal of this online forum a joint initiative of the international student network and the asva student union is to foster language exchange between dutch and international students at the uva and the hogeschool van amsterdam in this way in an informal setting international students can learn dutch from dutch students who also want to improve their skills in another language 13 university of amsterdam international study programmes

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application and admissions procedures entry requirements faculities entry requirements vary per programme the minimum requirements for most bachelors programmes include a suitable high school education equivalent to the dutch vwo diploma including relevant topics applicants from some countries require an additional one or two years of university or college education for all master s programmes a bachelor s degree in a related subject is a general entry requirement potential students will also need a letter of motivation letters of recommendation and a curriculum vitae some programmes have additional selection procedures check the programme details on the international study programmes website for details www.uva.nl/isp go to `programmes and then `application and admission english language requirements non-native english speakers must have a reasonable level of proficiency in english please note that some faculties or institutes require higher test scores than others scores from the following tests are accepted toefl ielts academic module cambridge international please note that not every

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department or programme accepts all these test scores for more information about each study programme s english language requirements please visit www.uva.nl/isp go to `programmes and then `application and admission native english speakers with a degree from one of the following countries do not need to take an english language proficiency test australia canada ireland new zealand the united kingdom and the united states of america applications early registration also increases the chances of finding suitable accommodation as a rough guide for students from outside the eea deadlines are between 1 february and may 15 for those coming from inside the eea between 1 april and 15 may again individual programmes have their own schedules and students are generally advised to apply as soon as possible www.uva.nl/isp see specific programme information students from non-eu/eea countries financial matters government funding for students from non-eu/eea countries with the exception of switzerland is no longer available the tuition fee for these students is therefore now considerably higher the uva has established a scholarship programme known as the amsterdam merit scholarships ams specifically designed to offer talented and hardworking non-eu eea students the opportunity to pursue a degree at the uva www.uva.nl/ams www.uva.nl/tuitionfees current application forms are available online completed application forms and all accompanying documentation should be sent directly to the programme managers or institutes as indicated on the website these will be the point of contact for all further information regarding application and admissions please note that some study programmes charge an application fee www.uva.nl/isp go to `programmes and then `application and admission please note that some programmes such as the certificate advanced master s and executive master s programmes are not funded by the dutch government as a result tuition fees for these programmes are generally substantially higher than the regular tuition fee the same fee is applicable to all students regardless of their nationality students from eu/eea countries suriname and switzerland financial aid in additions to the amsterdam merit scholarships other forms of financial support are available to exceptional students for studying in the netherlands please note that in some cases students may make use of the dutch government s system of student grants and loans studiefinanciering www.uva.nl/scholarships www.ib-groep.nl/international_visitors welcome.asp www.grantfinder.nl www.studyin.nl deadlines the deadlines for application vary per programme since the application procedure and possible visa procedures can take some time it is strongly recommended to begin the application procedure well in advance most international study programmes are financed by the dutch government students under the age of 30 from one of the eu/eea countries or from suriname and switzerland pay the regular national tuition fee for these programmes 15 university of amsterdam international study programmes

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