If you are eager to take an independent, fresh look at the world and at yourself, let Amsterdam redefine your perspective. This progressive city is defined by its cutting-edge contributions to the arts, business, politics, and social policy, and its importance in the history of Europe and the world.
Our Study Amsterdam Program takes advantage of the city’s unique balance of history and contemporary culture, and lets you structure your studies at the prestigious Universiteit van Amsterdam and at the IES Abroad Center. Several courses include hands-on components to help you explore the city of Amsterdam and its surroundings while learning about the city’s past and present.
Amsterdam will also be your classroom. With an important place in European history, the city is far from frozen in time—many forward-looking public policies originated here. Study Amsterdam’s history by visiting some of the city’s historical spots, including Anne Frank’s home and the Rembrandt House. Explore the city’s well-known museums, such as the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum, to find out more about this diverse culture. Welcome to study abroad!
We want you to feel at home in Amsterdam, so we will do everything we can to help you integrate into life here. Our goal is to give you every resource you need to make the most of living and learning in Amsterdam.
These dates are preliminary and are subject to change. Students should not book flights according to these dates.
Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences.
We offer unique courses that explore Dutch Language, Culture, and the Arts. The world-class professors and course options at the Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA) enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives each day in class.
While in Amsterdam, you take 15–19 credit hours per semester. Most UvA courses and the IES Abroad courses are worth up to 6 U.S. credits each.
You create your own academic experience by selecting from the following required and optional components:
Research Experience The IES Abroad course RE395 Exploring Dutch Society and Culture allows you to choose, design, and execute a research project on a topic related to Dutch society. To complete your research experience, you study primary and secondary research sources and conduct at least 60 hours of research, which may include volunteering, interviewing, shadowing, observing, visiting organizations, attending lectures, or engaging in other activities that support your individual area of research.
During this course you will:
By the end of this course you will have:
Once admitted to the IES Abroad program, you can access the Research Experience application online.
This is a list of planned course offerings. After you are accepted, you will see a list of final course offerings in your MyIESabroad account.
About the Universiteit van Amsterdamwww.uva.nl/en The Universiteit van Amsterdam prides itself on its wide range of multidisciplinary offerings and its strong focus on internationalization. These qualities are reflected in the large number of international and study abroad students at the Universiteit. Rooted in 17th century Amsterdam, the university is known for its rich intellectual, artistic, and commercial history, and for its contributions to contemporary scholarship, business, and politics.
The Study Amsterdam Program is part of the Undergraduate Certificate Program (UCP) in the College of Social Sciences (CSS) at the UvA.
Courses As an IES Abroad student, your course of study will fall largely under the Undergraduate Certificate Programme (UCP) within the College of Social Sciences (CSS). Requests to take a course outside of the UCP are handled on a case-by-case basis, as the individual departments at the UvA have the final admission decision to each specific course.
Visit the UCP's course catalog to see which courses may be offered during your term abroad. (Note: Be sure to click on the different "clusters" to see a full range of what may be available.)
You can select from courses in:
Depending upon availability, you may also have the opportunity to take classes in the Faculty of Humanities in the following areas:
Courses at the UvA are listed in ECTS credits. 2 ECTS credits equal 1 U.S./IES Abroad credit. For example, a course worth 12 ECTS is worth 6 IES Abroad credits.
Our job is to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding what landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local students are living. Our goal is that when you leave Amsterdam, it will feel like home.
Apartment Live in a spacious studio apartment that has its own kitchenette and bathroom. Most rooms are shared, but there are some single rooms available for an additional fee. Local Resident Assistants live in the apartments to provide assistance with our housing. Meals are not included. Most students cook meals in their apartments or eat in student canteens and restaurants.
Part of making you feel at home in Amsterdam is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it is the orientation program that makes you feel prepared, your housing that is well-located and comfortable, or the field trips that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services. This is just one of the things we’re known for.
The program begins with an orientation that introduces you to the IES Abroad Amsterdam staff, your fellow students, and the city of Amsterdam. Topics such as academics, housing, transportation, and health and safety are covered during this time.
Additionally, CORE™, IES Abroad’s Comprehensive Orientation & Re-entry Experience, begins during orientation and continues throughout the semester with activities focusing on cultural adjustment, goal achievement, and preparing for the return home.
A field trip is also organized to introduce you to other parts of the Netherlands and to Dutch pastimes. Past trips have included an excursion to the Zaanse Schans and Utrecht.
In the first few weeks of the program, you participate in a volunteer activity that creates a sense of community with your fellow students, offers you deeper insight into life in Amsterdam, and gives you a point of contact if you’d like to continue participating in volunteer projects throughout the semester.
Redefine the way you live and learn in Amsterdam through cultural events, such as:
Although your adventure begins in Amsterdam, our field trips take you to other great cities in the Netherlands to provide contrast and content for what you are learning in Amsterdam. You share a portion of the cost with IES Abroad. Past destinations are listed below.
Island of Texel 2 Days | Fall Tour the island by bike, visit a seal rescue center, and take a trip on a shrimp boat.
Maastricht 2 Days | Spring Tour the city, explore the famous caves of Limburg, and take a country walk in the beautiful hilly countryside.
Rotterdam 1 Day | Fall & Spring Take a guided walking tour and visit the famous cubic houses.
The IES Abroad Amsterdam Center is housed in a university building within a short walking distance from Dam Square.
Near the Center, you have access to:
Chantal OmlooIES Abroad Director Chantal Omloo earned an M.A. in History of International Relations at the University of Utrecht and an MSc in Development Studies at the School for Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. Her academic focus was centred on economic development in Sub Saharan Africa and she has published a number of articles in this field. Prior to joining IES Abroad in 2001, Chantal worked for Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO), a NGO based in the United Kingdom. Chantal managed customized programs out of the IES Abroad London Center before moving back to her native Netherlands to take up the IES Abroad Amsterdam Center Director’s position.
IES Abroad Staff Anabelle GouletteStudent Affairs and Office Coordinator
Diana KaekebekeAcademic and Student Affairs Coordinator
Faculty Depending on your program, you will be taught by faculty from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Gerrit Rietveld Academie, IES Abroad, or the Universiteit van Amsterdam.
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