VU Infoguide for exchange students 2013-2014

information guide for exchange students

2013-2014

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14 interdisciplinary research institutes 12 faculties

80 programmes taught in english campus university in amsterdam

checklists

What should you have arranged before arrival?

• Accommodation: if you have arranged accommodation via VU University Amsterdam, you will need to pay a part of the rent and a deposit in advance to the housing corporation.

For information: www.vuamsterdam.com/accommodation • A n entrance visa, MVV, and/or a residence permit VVR (not applicable for European students).

For information: www.vuamsterdam.com/visa • A valid passport or European ID card

What should you bring upon arrival?

• Your acceptance letter • In some situations, you might need a birth certificate. ­ For information: www.vuamsterdam.com/visa

When you arrive, the international office will help you with: • Opening a bank account • Registering with the municipality

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This section contains a number of checklists to remind you of the things you need to take care of before coming to VU University Amsterdam.

About VU University Amsterdam VU University Amsterdam is a leading European research university, established in 1880 by the statesman and theologian Abraham Kuyper, the first Dutch university free of state and church interference. That heritage fuels our drive to excel and our close relationship to the society in which we are rooted. We seek quality in education through structure and by providing the support necessary for our students to develop and realize their ambitions, all on a personal scale.

Over 24,000 students and 4,600 staff work closely together in pursuit of new knowledge, with scientific research as a key part of the educational process.

Our students are encouraged to ask critical questions, tackle problems and place what they are learning in a wider philosophical, ethical and social context.

Education is provided at three levels: Bachelor’s (BA, BSc), Master’s (MA, MSc) and doctoral (PhD). Twelve faculties share a single campus and cover a wide spectrum of arts, sciences, business and medicine. We have always encouraged scholars and students to look beyond the boundaries of their own fields.

VU University Amsterdam: internationally oriented, with many multidisciplinary programmes based on outstanding research.

Exchange programme VU University Amsterdam welcomes students from all over the world as degree seeking as well as non degree seeking students, e.g. exchange students from partner institutions. On our website you will find information about the courses we offer on Bachelor’s as well as Master’s level. A wide range of English taught courses is available at both levels. Check out the online study guide to find courses open to exchange students per faculty: www.vuamsterdam.com/exchange.

VU Honours Programme The VU Honours Programme offers talented and motivated students the opportunity both to invest more time in their own area of study and to broaden their horizon. Students take courses in their own department as well as completing interdepartmental courses. The VU Honours Programme is taught in English and the inter-departmental Honours courses are open to exchange students who qualify. If you are interested in this programme, please check www.vu.nl/honours.

International Relations VU University Amsterdam has entered into various bilateral agreements with institutes abroad. These vary from exchange

contracts to intensive programme cooperation and span the globe from Europe to South-Africa, from Asia-Pacific to the Americas. VU University Amsterdam also participates in a number of international exchange programmes including the European Erasmus programmes and the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) for Dutch-American exchanges.

Nearly all faculties of VU University Amsterdam have bilateral agreements with partner universities in the USA, Canada, Australia, South-Africa, or Asia, and all have many Erasmus agreements throughout Europe. There are also some university wide bilateral agreements. These agreements are meant to facilitate bilateral student exchanges. These exchanges are usually for one semester, or for a maximum of two semesters.

Please check with your own university te see whether there is such an agreement between your university and VU University Amsterdam and ask them about the possibilities.

Lifelong Learning programme Erasmus The easiest way of arranging a short-term stay is through an existing student exchange programme, such as Erasmus, which is part of the European Lifelong Learning programme.

VU University Amsterdam has bilateral agreements with various European universities. You can inquire about the possibilities at your university’s International Office. The advantage of participating in such a programme is that the universities already know each other, so arrangements tend to run more smoothly. Moreover, you will be exempt from paying tuition fees at VU University Amsterdam, provided that you are registered as a student at your own university. You may also qualify to receive an Erasmus grant (application through the home university).

Syrup waffles, bicycles and canals - that is what the Netherlands is to me!

“When I was doing my Bachelor’s, I went to Italy as an exchange student, and that was where I first heard more about the Netherlands and VU University Amsterdam. My curiosity was aroused, and I’m now working on my Master’s thesis. It’s great to cycle round the city at the weekend, especially if there aren’t any tourists around. Even though I don’t feel like I’m a tourist any more, I still sometimes find myself acting like one! One of the first things I did when I arrived in the Netherlands was to buy a bike, even though I had never cycled before! I bought a second-hand one from ‘Klavertje vier,’ the cycle shop near the VU. At first I used to just cycle up and down the street, but now I travel across the whole city on my bike.

I also have a great deal of contact with my fellow Finance students - there are forty of us. After the end of each period we go to The Basket (the bar on the campus premises), and sometimes the tutors come with us! The tutors here are very approachable anyway - the door is always open, and you always get feedback. In Romania it’s a different story.

The strangest thing to me when I first came here is that you are allowed to eat during lectures!

If you’re coming to Amsterdam, my tips are to look at www.lastminuteticketshop.nl where you can get a 50% discount on tickets for concerts and the theatre! And don’t forget to bring some rainwear when coming to the Netherlands.”

Gabriela Fortfota from Romania

Credits Students’ progress is tracked according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). The aim of this system is to foster academic recognition throughout the European Union, thereby encouraging students to complete part of their studies in another country. The ECTS credit system is based on study workload, which includes contact hours and time spent completing papers and assignments and preparing for examinations. In this system, one ECTS credit represents 28 hours of study (including class attendance). A full-time student is expected to earn 60 ECTS credits in one academic year and 30 credits in one semester.

for ‘pass’, a grade of less than 6.0 for ‘fail’.

Grades The Dutch grading system is generally based on a mark between 1 (minimum) and 10 (maximum). A grade of 6.0 or more stands

After successful completion of the course components, a transcript of records is drawn up.

ECTS%

Quality Assessment

ECTS grade Grades

10%

Excellent/Very good

A

8.0 - 10.0

25%

Good

B

7.5 - 7.9

30%

More than satisfactory

C

7.0 -7.4

25%

Satisfactory

D

6.5 - 6.9

10%

Sufficient

E

6.0 - 6.4

Fail

F

0.0 - 5.0

Planning your stay There are different ways of arranging a short-term stay (6-12 months) at VU University Amsterdam. The most important thing is that you should start making arrangements for your stay at least six months in advance. When planning your trip, we strongly recommend arriving during the designated arrival days. There is also a pick-up service available from the airport.

For up to date information about the pick-up service and the arrival days check www.vuamsterdam.com/introduction.

Our International Offices At the central International Office of VU University Amsterdam we can help you to find accommodation and to apply for a visa and residence permit (if applicable). We also offer orientation periods for international students in August and February consisting of social events, sports activities and a cultural programme. The faculty International Offices will help you with course overviews, course registration and transcripts. You can go to them with study related questions. In addition, the international students’ association ESN-VUniverse organizes a range of activities throughout the year.

They say that variety is the spice of life “They say that variety is the spice of life. This mix of Dutch and international students is really inspiring! It’s really interesting to consider different perspectives when studying business models. Being located in an area of Amsterdam with so many multinational companies so close by really has been a fantastic motivation for me personally.”

Anna van der Heij international student of IBA from Russia

Accommodation The International Office of VU University Amsterdam is usually able to provide accommodation for short-stay foreign exchange students at the University. The rental period is 6 or 12 months. The prices vary between €320 and €600 per month per person. Housing contracts cannot be cancelled during your stay at the university. If you have any questions about our accommodation or the rules and regulations check www.vuamsterdam.com/accommodation.