INTERNATIONAL BACHELOR S PROGRAMMES

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1 INTERNATIONAL BACHELOR S PROGRAMMES

2 VU UNIVERSITY AMSTERDAM VU University Amsterdam is an internationally renowned research university. Located in the vibrant city of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we conduct cuttingedge research into problems of major societal and scientific importance. Ever since its foundation, the university has been known for its distinctive approach to academic research and education. What matters is not just acquiring in- depth knowledge, but also taking a broad perspective. We ask and expect our students, researches, PhD candidates and employees to look further; to look beyond the boundaries of their own field, culture, traditions, and philosophy to become critical and socially engaged academics. RANKING AND EDUCATION The overall quality of Dutch higher education is among the best in the world. The Dutch higher education system has been ranked 7th in the world by Universitas 21, a global network of research universities. In the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2015 (Shanghai Ranking) VU University holds a position 100. At VU University Amsterdam, generally speaking, the teaching style can be described as student-centred: we encourage students to develop their own opinions through independent and creative thinking. This means that teaching is mainly conducted in small tutorials, where interactivity is the norm rather than the exception. At every opportunity, students are encouraged to engage in constructive dialogue with their professors. WHY LIVE IN AMSTERDAM? LIVING IN THE NETHERLANDS Images of the Netherlands abound, from windmills and tulips to vibrant Amsterdam and an open and welcoming society. But these traditional perceptions of the country hide a much more interesting story: one of excellent universities and an international reputation for research and development in many of the most exciting fields of education, science and technology. There are few non- English speaking countries where the range of English-speaking programmes is so wide and diverse. LIVING IN AMSTERDAM Amsterdam is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, boasting 179 different nationalities, and English is widely spoken. At VU University Amsterdam some 78 nationalities work and study closely together, creating an international and dynamic academic community. DID YOU KNOW THAT: Amsterdam has approximately 800,000 inhabitants? Amsterdam has 165 canals? Amsterdam is the largest city in the Netherlands? according to Mercer s 2015 Quality of Life Survey, Amsterdam is ranked 11th worldwide? Amsterdam is in the top 5 safest city in the world according to the Safe Cities Index 2015? with almost 92,000 students, Amsterdam is a great and lively place to study? BACHELOR S, MASTER S AND PHD PROGRAMMES BACHELOR S AND MASTER S PROGRAMMES IN ENGLISH Once you have completed your Bachelor s degree, a broad range of Master s programmes is available for you to choose from. VU University offers more than 80 Master s programmes in English. More information can be found online at BACHELOR S AND MASTER S PROGRAMMES IN DUTCH VU University Amsterdam also offers many Bachelor s and Master s programmes in Dutch. If you are interested in following one of these programmes as a non-dutch speaker, you can take advantage of the special language-learning facilities offered by the university. Further information can be found on our website. HONOURS PROGRAMME VU University Amsterdam offers an Honours Programme for excellent students. The programme is designed for students who have passed all of their first-year Bachelor s subjects by the end of that year with an average mark of 7.5 or higher and who are motivated to take extra subjects in their second and third year. 2 VU UNIVERSITY AMSTERDAM PHD PROGRAMMES For people with a recognized Master s degree, VU University Amsterdam offers the possibility of obtaining a doctorate or PhD. More information can be found at

3 Facebook f Logo CMYK /.ai Facebook f Logo CMYK /.ai WHY LOOK FURTHER INTO VU UNIVERSITY AMSTERDAM? VU University Amsterdam: is consistently listed among the world s top universities in various rankings; is located in one of the most dynamic and fast-growing business districts in the Netherlands; is a modern campus university with student housing just a five-minute bike ride away; helps you with housing, visas and the administrative side of studying in the Netherlands; offers an international environment a significant proportion of the students in our English-taught programmes come from abroad; provides high-quality education in small and highly interactive classes; is located in lively and multicultural Amsterdam, the city with the largest concentration of students in the Netherlands and where English is the second language; welcomes all cultures, nationalities and religions; collaborates with major companies to provide real-life challenges in its Bachelor s programmes. AARONY ZADE/BANGLADESH BACHELOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION When I had to pick out a course for my Bachelor s degree, the IBA programme stood out for me. The emphasis on the international aspect of business is vital because it is helping me understand how different business cultures come together. The small tutorial classes are very helpful because it gives me a chance to work with my group as well as the lecturer more closely, which is essential for understanding the courses better. The exchange programme abroad, which I am looking forward to, promises to put our understanding of the global business world to practice. Coming to VU University Amsterdam was an easy decision. The city is exactly how I pictured it to be, beautiful, fun and bustling with life all year round. The Dutch people are open and friendly, but very direct! The university has been excellent in helping me adjust to a culture that is nothing like mine and feel welcome. I have made friends from all over the world because VU University as well as the city of Amsterdam hosts a massive mix of different cultures. For me, coming to the Netherlands and studying at VU University has been a crucial step to becoming a global citizen. The small tutorial classes are very helpful because it gives me a chance to work with my group as well as the lecturer more closely, which is essential for understanding the courses better INTERNATIONAL BACHELOR S PROGRAMMES 3

4 PRACTICAL MATTERS VU UNIVERSITY AMSTERDAM SERVICES Once you have been admitted to the VU University s programme, the services-team at VU University Amsterdam International Office can help you find accommodation and apply for a visa and residence permit (if applicable). We also offer orientation periods for international students in August, consisting of social events, sports activities and a cultural programme. An International Student Advisor (ISA) assigned to the faculty you are interested in will help you with the application procedure and any other information you may need. Contact details can be found at FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES As a student at VU University Amsterdam, you will have a wide range of facilities at your disposal. You will have access to an extensive library, a university-wide wireless network and numerous computer and reading rooms. The university s sports centre offers more than 35 different sports and the Griffioen cultural centre organizes a variety of courses in the arts as well as other cultural activities. FINANCES Students from the EU or EEA pay the same tuition fees as Dutch students. The tuition fees for most programmes are set by the Dutch government on an annual basis and vary per programme. Experience shows that it costs between 800 and 1,000 a month to live and study in the Netherlands, excluding tuition fees and other non-recurring expenses. Some students manage to spend less, but of course that depends on your individual lifestyle. Please consult the website to see specific tuition fees: ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS All programmes have specific admission requirements. To enter a Bachelor s programme, you will need a Dutch pre-university school diploma (VWO) or an equivalent thereof. All programmes start in September. LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS For all international study programmes, students need to be proficient in English. International applicants are requested to submit an English proficiency test with their application. Please see our website for information about the exact requirements: For information specific to a study programme, please consult the corresponding programme s website. APPLICATION DEADLINES The general application deadline for Computer Science, Business Analytics, Literature & Society and International Business Administration is April, 1 (non-eu) / May, 1 (EU). Please note that the application deadline for Liberal Arts & Sciences is February, 1 for both EU and non-eu students. For more specific information, please check the programme website. APPLY ONLINE The application procedure can be found online at If you want to apply to Liberal Arts & Sciences at Amsterdam University College, you should do so via SCHOLARSHIPS As an international student planning to study at VU University Amsterdam, you can apply for a variety of grants and bursaries. Please check 4 VU UNIVERSITY AMSTERDAM

5 BUSINESS ANALYTICS 3 YEARS (180 CREDITS) ADMISSIONSBA@VU.NL Why study Business Analytics at VU University Amsterdam? VU University Amsterdam is the only university in the Netherlands which offers a degree programme in Business Analytics (BA). The Business Analytics programme is notable for the combination of three disciplines - mathematics, computer science and business economics - to address business problems. The programme is unique not only by virtue of the combination of three disciplines, but also because of the project-based approach it applies. The Bachelor s in Business Analytics (BA) is a three-year programme, during which you obtain the knowledge and skills of all steps for turning (big) data into decisions. This involves three main disciplines: business economics, mathematics and computer science. You will learn all steps of Business Intelligence and Analytics: how to collect and manipulate large data sets, how to analyse these data using statistics and data mining techniques, and how to use your findings to predict the future and make optimal decisions. You will obtain the knowledge but also the required skills to be able to apply your knowledge in practice right away. As a graduate in Business Analytics you will enjoy a very strong position on the employment market: demand for BA graduates is high. Ninety percent of students enter full-time employment immediately on graduation (and some do so even before graduation). There is a constant demand for graduate students who have learned how to analyse quantitative problems, devise solutions and put those solutions into effect. SPECIFIC ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS In order to be admissible, candidates must have a Dutch preuniversity school diploma (VWO) or an equivalent qualification. They need to have a diploma with Mathematics B, or an equivalent thereof, and also need a proof of proficiency in English. OTHER INTERESTING PROGRAMMES Computer Science - Econometrics and Operations Research - Mathematics. COMPUTER SCIENCE 3 YEARS (180 CREDITS) ADMISSIONSCS@VU.NL Why study computer science at VU University Amsterdam? Studying Computer Science at VU University Amsterdam means receiving education from some of the top researchers in the field. We strongly believe that our research staff should teach at all levels and several courses are taught by some of the world s most cited computer scientists. The education you ll receive is pro-active and challenging, with a clear structure that nurtures technical, academic and social skills in a cooperative and open international environment. After the three year Bachelor, you understand the language of computers. From the logic that systems are built on to the various abstractions of language used to program them. Moreover, you ll learn how computer networks share information in an efficient and secure way and how users interact with systems. The first year offers an introduction to a wide range of topics. From the basics of computer systems and networks to the logic behind them and the way they are used on the web. You ll learn the programming language Java and you ll further improve your academic skills. The second year is more in-depth. Within courses like security, databases and software modeling you actively use the techniques you learned during year one. In your third year your chosen minor and bachelor project give the programme its own flavor. This puts you firmly in the driver s seat, with all your skills and knowledge ready to be applied. Knowledge in the field of Computer Science is invaluable for almost any industry or company so you will have many options when it comes to finding the right job. Still it is worthwhile to continue your education and go for a Masters degree that will open up even more doors. 5 INTERNATIONAL BACHELOR S PROGRAMMES

6 SPECIFIC ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS The formal admission requirements are the possession of a Dutch pre-university school diploma (VWO) or an equivalent thereof including mathematics at B standard level (mathematical studies is not accepted). The secondary admission criteria specify the level of proficiency in English, the degree of international education and/ or experience, motivation, etc. INTERESTING MASTER S AFTER YOUR BACHELOR S Computer Science - Information Science - Artificial Intelligence, Bioinformatics & Systems Biology - Parallel and Distributed Computer Systems. the programme have a set structure. In semester 2 of the second year, you can already tailor the programme to your own interest by choosing electives from a range of internationally oriented courses focussing on developed versus emerging economies. In the first semester of your third year you will go on exchange. When you return from exchange, the final semester is dedicated to specialized courses of the discipline of your choice, as well as finalizing your bachelor thesis. As an IBA graduate you will be well-equipped for entry-level positions in global or multinational organizations. You will be trained for a variety of management and consultancy roles. You can work directly for service-based organizations, find employment with a major industrial company or continue your studies at the Master s level in the disciplines introduced in the Bachelor programme. SPECIFIC ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS Only 150 students are admitted to the International Business Administration programme each year. Students must hold a Dutch pre-university school diploma (VWO) or an equivalent thereof. Places are allocated by means of a faculty selection procedure. The Admissions Board will consider the following criteria when making its selection: your motivation, skills in Mathematics and English proficiency. International students are given priority. Specific requirements and more details about the selection criteria can be found on our website. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION INTERESTING MASTER S AFTER YOUR BACHELOR S Business Administration (six specializations) - Entrepreneurship, Marketing - Accounting and Control and Finance. 3 YEARS (180 CREDITS) ADMISSIONSIBA@VU.NL Why study International Business Administration at VU University Amsterdam? Our IBA programme is based on three core elements: people, business, and international context. The people aspect focuses on the individual and helps you to understand and manage international and cultural challenges. The business aspect is about the different disciplines that together represent the business environment, so you become a well-rounded academic as well as business professional. Finally, the international context addresses the global marketplace that you aspire to become part of. By integrating people, business, and international context, you develop not only knowledge and skills, but also a strong cultural sensitivity and self-awareness that is needed to truly become a world citizen. Commit yourself, Connect to the community, Challenge the ordinary, Create your own path IBA is a three-year, full-time programme. In addition to a course on People in Business and Society, the programme consists of courses from each of IBA s main disciplines: Strategy and Marketing, Finance and Accounting, Organization and Human Resource Management, and ICT and Logistics. The first 1,5 years of LIBERAL ARTS & SCIENCES 3 YEARS (180 CREDITS) SCIENCES SOCIAL SCIENCES HUMANITIES INFO@AUC.NL Why study Liberal Arts and Sciences at VU University Amsterdam? Amsterdam University College (AUC) offers a liberal arts and sciences programme leading to a joint Bachelor s (Honours) degree from the University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam. The AUC programme 6 VU UNIVERSITY AMSTERDAM

7 combines breadth of experience with depth of knowledge to encourage students to read intelligently, think critically and write effectively. At AUC you will be trained to analyse complex issues from different academic perspectives by participating in intensive and small-scale seminars with high-calibre international staff. AUC s programme is based on three years of study covering six semesters. You can major in the sciences, social sciences or humanities. AUC enrols up to 50% science majors. All AUC students undertake community service projects or an internship and AUC offers a wide range of opportunities to study abroad. Discussions start from the big questions in science and society and lead to in-depth study in a wide range of disciplines. Six interdisciplinary themes provide an orientation to your studies and choice of course options: (1) Energy, Climate and Sustainability; (2) Life, Evolution, Universe; (3) Health and Wellbeing; (4) Information, Communication, Cognition; (5) Social Systems and (6) Cities and Cultures. As an AUC graduate, you will be well prepared to continue your studies at the Master s or PhD level or to pursue a career in an international corporate or public organization. You will join a community of AUC alumni who have already been accepted to Master s/phd programmes at prestigious institutions worldwide. Why study Literature and Society at VU University Amsterdam? This BA-programme offers the unique chance to combine a classical programme in English literature with two contemporary specialization. You will of course read canonical British works by William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, and Virginia Woolf. In addition, you will explore contemporary novels from different English-speaking countries, such as Ireland, America, and Canada. You will analyse these texts from two cutting-edge perspectives: English literature in a changing world, and English literature in a visual culture. The focus of our programme is on the interactions between literature and society, and literature and visual culture. In the first year you are introduced to literary analysis and literary theory. You learn how to read a Brontë novel as well as a film version of a Shakespeare s play. We train your general academic skills and also kindle your creative writing practice. After the first year, you have a solid base from which to explore the relations between literature, culture and society. We take you from the Renaissance to the twenty-first century, reading both canonical English works of literature, as well as new and lesser known genres such as travel literature, graphic and gothic novels. You become a specialist either in English literature in a changing world or English literature in a visual culture, and conduct your own research project, resulting in your BA thesis. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS As a residential and selective honours college, AUC attracts students from all over the world. Applicants are assessed on the basis of their academic performance, interests and motivation. The AUC Scholarship Fund promotes diversity in the student body with generous support from the international business community. Our BA-programme prepares you for a range of job perspectives, such as the publishing world, (literary) journalism, and cultural organizations such as museums and libraries. Many of our students become teachers in secondary education. Did you know there is a shortage of English teachers in The Netherlands? If you enroll for the two-year educational master in English, you will be fully qualified to teach English at secondary level. SPECIFIC ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS In order to be admissible, candidates must have a Dutch preuniversity school diploma (VWO) or an equivalent qualification. The general application deadline is April, 1 (non-eu) / May, 1 (EU). For more specific information, please check the programme website. OTHER INTERESTING PROGRAMMES Within our department, we also offer an MA programme in English Literature in a Visual Culture and a Research Master programme in Literature. for a detailed brochure. LITERATURE AND SOCIETY 3 YEARS (BA) 180 CREDITS ENGLISH LITERATURE IN A CHANGING WORLD ENGLISH LITERATURE IN A VISUAL CULTURE ADMISSIONSLS@VU.NL 7 INTERNATIONAL BACHELOR S PROGRAMMES

8 SEE YOU AT VU UNIVERSITY AMSTERDAM! PUBLISHED BY: Communications & Marketing VU University Amsterdam GRAPHIC DESIGN AND PHOTOGRAPHY: Haagsblauw en Studio VU Edition 23426/5 September 2015 No rights may be derived from the information contained in this brochure. ADDRESS VU University Amsterdam De Boelelaan HV Amsterdam The Netherlands T F E International@vu.nl 8