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International Office

International Office

VU Amsterdam’s International Office is part of Student & Educational Affairs and assists in students’ and employees’ international mobility. The International Office consists of three departments, with several sub-departments:

International Mobility

The International Mobility department connects VU Amsterdam to the world by promoting international mobility and contributing to a diverse, inclusive and globally oriented learning environment. Our goal is to attract the best students and support them throughout their entire journey, from admission to integration. We also want to offer every VU student the opportunity to gain a groundbreaking international experience, both here and abroad. This is how we build a VU community enriched by global perspectives and cooperation.

International Relations

The International Relations Department serves as the connecting link between VU Amsterdam and the rest of the world. Our mission is to promote intercultural understanding and cooperation, with the concept of knowledge diplomacy at its core. We do this through strategic partnerships, academic networks and alliances in research and education.

Centre for International Cooperation

The Centre for International Cooperation (CIS) initiates, coordinates and implements programmes and projects in capacity building, education, research and outreach, in cooperation with various partners, such as universities, government institutions and civil society organisations, especially in Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. These activities reflect the social commitment of VU Amsterdam from a global perspective. In line with the university's strategic profiling themes, CIS collaborates with faculties on various short-term and long-term programmes. CIS takes an integrated, inter- and trans disciplinary approach to tackling global issues, working closely with VU faculties and international partners. As a centre of expertise within VU Amsterdam's International Office, CIS has focused on sustainable development and promoting mutual learning between different cultures since 1955.

Our mission

Innovation is very important to VU Amsterdam. VU Amsterdam is constantly changing and adapting to meet the demands of the international community by transforming its programmes and campus to include English-taught courses and English-language signs, activities and projects. The university is also proud of its diverse students and members of staff.

Further promoting diversity among incoming and outgoing members of staff and students is an important point of focus for the International Office. The International Office also provides all the necessary information to international students about application procedures, how to find housing, organise visas and work permits and anything else they may need prior to, during and after their stay in Amsterdam.

Internationalisation

The VU Amsterdam community continues to grow and expand, creating a warm and welcoming environment with an international atmosphere where students and employees from different backgrounds and nationalities can come together and meet. By actively encouraging the societal engagement of students and employees, the university promotes interdisciplinary and cross-border academic cooperation and international exchange. Both the quality of our education and research and our societal engagement allow internationalisation to flourish.

To help students from the Netherlands and abroad prepare for their future careers, VU Amsterdam devotes a great deal of time and attention to the internationalisation of its range of programmes. Besides that, various grants and subsidies are available for international researchInternational cooperation is also of great importance.

Read more in our Internationalisation Strategy 2020-2025

Partner networks

Managementteam International Office

The sub-departments within the International Office are managed by these people

Wendy Maat

Head of International Mobility

Denyse Snelder

Acting Director of CIS

Henk van den Heuvel

Acting Head of International Relations

Want to know more?

Please contact one of the subteams of International Office

Contact information of the International Office teams

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