Introduction activities for exchange students

[No registration needed, free of charge]

The Practical Matters Days offer you the perfect opportunity to easily arrange practical matters in a short period of time: registering at the municipality (Amstelveen only), arranging health/liability insurance, opening a bank account or ask your questions to someone from the International Office. You can also pick up your student card here. 

The Practical Matters Days are free of charge and registration is not necessary. You are welcome between 10:00am and 04:00pm (free walk-in) at the VU Sports Centre, Uilenstede 100 in Amstelveen. It is only necessary to attend one of the two days.

[Registration needed, free of cost]

Location: VU main building (De Boelelaan 1105) - room 'Aula'

Studying at another university can be quite a transition, as the educational environment in the Netherlands is often perceived to be different to that in other countries. Although studying abroad encompasses many different experiences and allows for development on a personal, social and cultural level, we also want you to succeed academically. The aim of How 2 Make it at the VU is to equip you with the knowledge to swiftly adapt to a new cultural and educational environment.

10:00 – 12:00 How 2 Make it at the VU (Including Word of Welcome)

When planning to study in a different country, most students expect to experience culture shock in a social setting. Differences in the academic environment are seldomly considered, however, this can be an issue when starting your studies in the Netherlands. Factors like a different grading system, a high level of independence and interaction with both lecturers and students can play a role in how well you function in and adapt to the new learning environment. In this presentation, Sylvia Glabbeek (trainer in intercultural communication) and Ana Clara Cassanti (lecturer in sustainability and Mixed Classroom facilitator) will provide valuable insights in how to navigate a different learning environment. The presentation will be concluded with a student panel. 

13:00 – 14:00 Crash course Dutch

Koentact: there’s a reason this language school claims to teach Dutch the fun way. Bringing never-ending energy and a large dose of humor to the classroom, previous workshops left all attending students with a smile on their face. After attending the crash course, you will learn some of the basics of the Dutch language, allowing you to pronounce the infamous ‘ggg’ sound, order a drink, and potentially even flirt with a local.

14:30 – 15:30 Jellinek: Navigating alcohol and other drugs, and life as an international student

As an international student in the Netherlands, the city of Amsterdam offers a diverse and vibrant experience. Student life equals trying out new things. While discovering a new city and making new friends, you may become curious about alcohol and (other) drugs. The use of these substances can affect you in many ways. How do you handle social pressure surrounding alcohol? What happens when you take ecstasy while feeling low? Is hanxiety  real? Where can you find reliable information about alcohol and other drugs? And is it true that everyone in the Netherlands is stoned all day? (spoiler: it’s not). Facilitated by experts from Jellinek and Unity Amsterdam, these topics will be explored in a safe environment. Additionally, we will highlight the importance of understanding Dutch laws related to alcohol and other drugs.

Information market (free walk-in 12:00 -16:00)

In the afternoon, you can pass by the information market. Here you can find several student associations and organisations (both on a faculty and university level), and also other services VU has to offer such as 3D, StartHub and the University Library.

Location: VU main building (De Boelelaan 1105) – Foyer

VU Tours (several time slots available)

In the afternoon you can sign up for a tour around campus. You will discover the campus in groups. The tours will be facilitated by students and employees.

[Registration needed, free of charge]

During the city day, you and your group will participate in one or two activities: a visit to a museum and/or a scavenger hunt and to conclude we meet-up to end the day together. You can sign up per activity, based on this groups will be made.  

Rijksmuseum (national museum) 

Step back in time and experience the captivating stories of ancient civilisations and majestic artworks in the Rijksmuseum. Wander through stunning galleries that house centuries-old masterpieces, and get inspired by renowned artists. 

The Rijksmuseum visit lasts a maximum of 2 hours in total. Your starting time and location will be mailed to you in the second half of August.  

Scavenger hunt  

Explore Amsterdam like never before! Get ready for an exhilarating quest through the enchanting canals, charming streets, and hidden gems of this vibrant city. Unleash your inner detective and embark on a thrilling journey as you solve riddles, follow clues, and uncover the city's best-kept secrets! 
 
Sharpen your mind and gather your team for a brain-teasing adventure. By deciphering cryptic clues, you will have to find your next destination. Reveal Amsterdam's rich history and culture as you explore its world-famous landmarks. 
 
The scavenger hunt lasts a maximum of 2 hours in total, and has several starting points. Your starting time and location will be mailed to you in the second half of August.  

Meet up  

You've had a long day filled with activities, and now it's time to treat yourself! What better way to end the day than by having a drink or a bite together with your group? We selected two locations in the city centre that we think you will love - Belushi's and Coco's. Here you will be able to meet other groups as well. 
 
Together with your group of the day you can go to the meet-up location assigned to your group. This location will be mailed to you in the second half of August. Drinks and food are not included.

[Registration needed, free of charge]

Sports Centre programme  

In the afternoon various sports/workshops are offered by the VU Sports Centre. You do not need sign up for a specific sport/workshop as everything will be offered on a free walk-in basis. On the day you will find a schedule of everything offered that day, so you can pass by any class you like. 

Sports offered: 

• Kickboxing 
• Boxing 
• Yoga 
• Pole dance 
• Zumba 
• Soccer 

Evening programme: Karaoke 

This night you get the opportunity to convince everyone that you are a star in the making, or just have blast while singing along your favorite song. Karaoke night will be held at Upper East at Uilenstede, the place where most prospective students will live. What a great way to get to know your neighbours’ voice before you hear them singing in the shower. So get your singing skills going at our Karaoke party! 

[Registration needed, 5 euros]

This day we close the international introduction week in style with an amazing party at Melkweg in the city centre of Amsterdam (Leidseplein). 

What is the exchange introduction?

The exchange introduction is an introduction aimed at getting you familiar with the VU campus, the city of Amsterdam and your fellow students. By participating, you will already know a lot of people before your first lecture (not necessarily from your own programme)!  

Who is the exchange introduction meant for?

The exchange introduction is organised for exchange students who will start their degree programme in the first semester of the academic year 2024-2025 and who have completed their previous education abroad. 

Note: During some activities, you may be grouped with Semester in Amsterdam students in addition to your fellow exchange students. 

When will the exchange introduction 2024 take place?

The exchange introduction is scheduled on 21, 22, 23, 26 and 27 August. This includes the Practical Matters Days on Tuesday 20 August and Wednesday 21 August. On Monday 26 August there will be an evening programme in addition to a daytime programme. On Tuesday 27 August there will only be a night programme (closing party). 

What are the costs?

The programme/activities are free of charge. Only the tickets for the closing party will cost 5 euro.  

What additional costs can I expect? 

You have to take care of food/drinks yourself. Also do not forget about travel costs/expenses to get to campus or to travel in Amsterdam.

Do I have to attend the whole programme? What if I have other appointments?

Participation is not mandatory. Moreover, you can sign up per activity. However, we do advise students to fully participate so they can have the best experience in the beginning of their studies. 

Is there somewhere I can stay overnight?

We do not arrange sleeping places, but we always make sure the programme ends in time to still be able to take public transport. With exception of the Closing party: when registering, please keep in mind that the closing party starts later, which might affect your travel times if you live outside of Amsterdam.

How will I get to know the Dutch culture?

Successful integration into Dutch culture and making our international students feel at home and connected are key values of VU Amsterdam.  In this regard, the exchange introduction is designed to get you off to a good start. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you participate in the entire programme! 

Moving to Amsterdam to continue your academic career at a university abroad is both an exhilarating and perhaps slightly scary experience. After all, you will be alone in an unfamiliar place. We know it can be difficult to know where to go, what to do, how to organise, and what to prioritise. The exchange introduction offered by VU Amsterdam plays a role in offering you a soft landing and preparing you for your new life in Amsterdam. 

Is it mandatory to participate in the exchange introduction?

No it is not mandatory, but highly recommended! For new international students, this introduction is a fun way to get to know your way around VU Amsterdam and the city better, and to make your first contacts with fellow students. 

How can I register?

Exchange students who will start their exchange programme in the first semester of the academic year 2024-2025 will receive a newsletter with registration links via mail around 29 July. The registration via the links in this email will open on 1 August 2PM (CET).  

Did you not receive the newsletter?   

1. This could be because you have not yet completed your VU application procedure far enough. So do this as soon as possible! Is your registration at VU Amsterdam fully completed and do you think you belong to this category, but have not yet received an invitation? Then send an email to internationalintroduction@vu.nl  

Until when can I register?

Please note that for most activities there are limited spots available. So do not wait too long to register (first come, first served).  

I registered but want to cancel an activity. How do I arrange this?

Please do cancel your registration if you are no longer interested in an activity, so your spot becomes available for another student. In this case please cancel by sending an email to internationalintroduction@vu.nl.

There are no more spots avaiIable for the activity I wanted to attend, what can I do? 

This is very unfortunate, but we work with limited spots. We do advise you to check the registration links every once in a while as others might cancel and a new spot might become available. 

Religion and the exchange introduction

VU Amsterdam has traditionally been a university where students from diverse cultures feel at home. We take all religions into account, also during the exchange introduction. 

I have an allergy, illness or disability; can I participate?

We will do our best to make this introduction accessible to students with disabilities and/or (chronic) illnesses as well. If you want to be sure, please send an email to internationalintroduction@vu.nl and indicate what we need to take into account or what you need help with. We will be happy to help!

What is the privacy policy of the exchange introduction?

The privacy policy (for all introduction periods) can be found here.