Exchange nomination and application

If you wish to go on exchange abroad, the first step is always to start at your home university. Your international office or international representative will be able to inform you about all options to go abroad and the practicalities that come with it.  

Your home university also has to select and nominate you for an exchange at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. This selection procedure is entirely in the hands of your own university. 

Before you submit Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam as one of your preferences for studying abroad, we strongly advise you to consult our course offering to see if we offer sufficient courses that fit your study plan. It is unfortunately not possible to perform an internship or research project during your exchange. Also, note that there are additional requirements in case you wish to take master's courses (see further below). 

Once you have been selected by your home university, your university will still have to nominate you at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. We will need to receive your nomination from your home university by the following dates: 

• 1 April for the Fall semester (September-January) or a whole academic year (September-June); 
• 1 October for the Spring semester (February-June). 

After the nomination deadline we will send detailed application information to all nominated students at the same time. Please note that this information is not posted online for everyone to see.  

Fall semester (September until January): 

• You will receive information about our application procedure by email at the beginning of April 
• Application deadline: 15 April 

Spring semester (February until June): 

• You will receive information about our application procedure by email at the beginning of October 
• Application deadline: 15 October 

Our application procedure is a fairly straightforward process during which we will ask you to upload the following documents:  

• an ID or passport copy 
• a transcript of records issued by your home university 
• a passport style photo of yourself 

In case you wish to follow master's courses, you need to also submit the following document by 1 June (fall semester) or 1 November (spring semester): 

• your official bachelor's diploma  

Only once your application is approved, you can start applying for a visa (if applicable) and accommodation. 

If you wish to take master’s courses, you are required to upload an additional document, preferably before 1 June for the first semester or 1 November for the second semester: 

• Bachelor's diploma in a relevant field of study. If you will not receive your Bachelor's diploma by the time you start classes in Amsterdam, it is also possible to submit a letter from your university indicating that you will have fulfilled all requirements to graduate by the start of the semester at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. 

You do not have to submit proof of English proficiency, however we do expect you to meet the minimum requirements in English proficiency that apply to our English-taught master's programmes. 

If you are planning to take bachelor's courses only, we do not require any proof of English proficiency. We do expect you to have a good command of academic English to be able to participate in classes.

English language proficiency requirements for master level courses 
It is not necessary to submit an English proficiency test if you wish to take master's courses. However, even though you do not have to submit proof, please make sure that you meet the minimum requirements in English proficiency that apply to our English-taught master's programmes.

Internships, thesis work, research projects or any other study-related activities that require you to find a supervisor do not fall under the exchange programme at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.  

It is also not permitted to perform an internship or research work parallel to being enrolled as an exchange student. You are required to study full-time at VU and you must be registered for a minimum of 24 ECTS per semester. Nominations for internships or research projects will therefore unfortunately be rejected by our office. 

Unfortunately, it is not possible to join our exchange programme if there is no bilateral exchange agreement between your home university and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. If you still wish to go on exchange, we advise you to contact the international representative at your home university. Together you can explore alternative destinations. 

If you still wish to study at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam but not as part of our exchange programme, we have a few alternative options: 

• Semester in Amsterdam – this is a tailor-made, fee-paying programme for students who wish to study at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam for one semester. All courses that are available to exchange students are also open to Semester in Amsterdam students. 
• Amsterdam Summer School – this option is available to students who wish to study in Amsterdam for a short period of time during the summer. The Amsterdam Summer School offers interesting courses in various fields of study.