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Academics
Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences.
While in Amsterdam, you take 15-18 credits per semester at VU University Amsterdam (VU), known for its strong offerings in Psychology and the sciences.
Create your own academic experience by selecting from the following required and optional components:
- 3-5 Psychology or Science courses at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) (required, 3 credits each)
- One IES Abroad area studies course (optional, up to 6 credits)
Courses
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.
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AH 315 - Highlights of Dutch Art: From Rembrandt to Mondriaan and Beyond | Fall, Spring | English | 4 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AR 250 - Studio Rietveld: An Introduction to Studio Art in Amsterdam | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CU/DU 101 - Dutch Language and Culture | Fall, Spring | Dutch | 2 |
| IC/CU 221 - Dialogues on Difference | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CU/DU 101 - Dutch Language and Culture | Fall, Spring | Dutch | 2 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SS/SO/GS 315 - Introduction to the Study of Sexuality and Gender in the Context of Amsterdam | Fall, Spring | English | 4 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IC/CU 221 - Dialogues on Difference | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| IC/PS 311 - Cross Cultural Psychology | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IC/PS 311 - Cross Cultural Psychology | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SS/SO/GS 315 - Introduction to the Study of Sexuality and Gender in the Context of Amsterdam | Fall, Spring | English | 4 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SS/SO/GS 315 - Introduction to the Study of Sexuality and Gender in the Context of Amsterdam | Fall, Spring | English | 4 |
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) Courses
You can find more information about the options offered at the VU through the links below: You can find the 2017-2018 VU course information here. Click on Bachelor courses to find course descriptions for individual courses and on Minor programmes for info on minors.
*Please note the following:
- Courses at the VU are listed in ECTS. 2 ECTS=1 U.S. Credit.
- Fall classes are offered in Periods 1 and 2. Spring courses are offered in Periods 4 and 5
- Fall students are expected to enroll in a minor for their course of study.
Partner Institution(s)
About Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU)
The VU, founded in 1880, enrolls about 25,000 students, and offers courses in eleven faculties covering arts and science fields, and takes pride in a very studentcentric teaching style. The VU is situated on a campus (unlike many European city universities), just outside of central Amsterdam, near the business district in South Amsterdam.
Originally set up as an institution of higher education separate from church or state, the current day VU takes this heritage seriously. Students will feel comfortable on campus, and can access the many resources available, including modern buildings and infrastructure, the Griffioen Cultural Centre, shops, cafés, and an extensive library.
The VU boasts a strong international environment; its goal is to have one in four students in its English-taught programs be an international student.
Field Trips & Events
Even though your adventure starts in Amsterdam, our field trips take you beyond the city to discover the culture and traditions of your host country. You share a portion of the cost with IES Abroad. Here are a few possible destinations:
Ardennes, Belgium
2 Days| Fall
Take a weekend getaway in nature, with campfires and outdoor activities.
Gouda
1 Day | Fall
Take a guided walking tour of the beautiful city of Gouda in South Holland and make your own stroopwafel (a famous Dutch cookie).
National Park Hoge Veluwe and Kroller Muller Museum
1 Day | Fall
Visit the largest privately managed conservation area in the Netherlands - home to several endangered species, as well as visit the park's museum.
Maastricht
2 Days | Spring
Explore this university city with its beautiful medieval architecture and lively arts and culture. Visit the famous labyrinth caves of Limburg, and take a walk in the spectacular hilly countryside.
Rotterdam
1 Day | Spring
See Rotterdam's amazing modern architecture on a guided walking tour through this rebuilt city. In the afternoon, you can explore Rotterdam's many museums.
Course-Related Trips
Course-related excursions are academic trips associated with courses. They are organized to complement IES Abroad courses and contribute to a general knowledge of Amsterdam culture and society. Participation is based on course registration.
Past examples include:
- Go to a psychiatric care museum
- Visit a Dutch sex education NGO
- Tour contemporary art museums and galleries
- Take a walking tour of Amsterdam's neighborhoods
Daily Life
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.
Orientation
Our orientation introduces you to the IES Abroad Amsterdam staff, your fellow students, and the city of Amsterdam.
Our Comprehensive Orientation & Re-Entry Experience (CORE™) begins right when you arrive and continues through the semester with activities focusing on academic and cultural adjustment. Detailed information about housing, public transportation, culture, health and safety, and other important topics are also covered.
You also participate in a VU-led orientation to get to know the VU staff and facilities, and have the option to join the European Student Network’s (ESN) orientation for international students, led by Dutch students.
Local field trips and activities are also arranged, as well as an overnight orientation trip, where you’ll have the opportunity to further sample elements of Dutch culture and get to know the other students.
Housing
We want to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding which 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.
Shared Student Apartment
Live in a single room in a mixed gender apartment suite with five to six other students. You share a kitchen, bathroom, and living spaces. Located in Amsterdam South, just five minutes from the VU academic buildings. No meals included.
Private Student Residence
Live in single room with a private bathroom. You share a kitchen with other students on your floor. The building features 24-hour reception and a gym. This option carries an additional cost. No meals are included.
Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events
- Seeing the windmills in the Zaanse Schans
- Visiting a cheese market in Alkmaar, followed by canoeing on the Alkmaar canals
- Touring the Keukenhof tulip garden (spring only)
- Visiting Hoge Veluwe National Park
- Bicycling to Volendam and Marken
- Exploring the medieval castle Muiderslot and the Isle of Pampus
Get to Know Your New City
Rent or buy a cheap bike and get around Amsterdam the way the Dutch do!
From excellent coffee and sweet stroopwafels and poffertjes (tasty little pancakes), to more unusual fare like thick fries with Dutch-Indonesian peanut sauce or stamppot (a hearty dish of potatoes, onions, kale, root vegetables, and sausage), eating in Amsterdam is a real treat.
Stock up on fresh produce, cheese, and other food, as well as souvenirs and gifts at the Albert Cuypmarkt. Or dig for the perfect find at the I-J Hallen vintage market.
Amsterdam is home to so many art museums, from the “big ones,” like the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum to lesser known gems like the Museum Willet-Hothuysen and the Foam Photography Museum.
For a thrill, try riding the swings found on the observation deck on the new A’DAM Tower. Or just marvel at the beautiful 360° views of the city.
Program Cost
Consider these prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your study abroad office to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your home school policies, and other factors.
Use our budget worksheet to calculate your costs
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