Below we have set down information to help you plan your finances during your time at VU Amsterdam (and after). This includes details on estimated living cost, working regulations for non-EU/EEA students, insurance, DUO finance and more.
If you have an EU/EEA or Swiss passport, then you are permitted to work in the Netherlands without limitation.
If you are a non-EU/EEA student, you are only permitted to work a maximum of 16 hours per week averaged throughout the year or else full-time during the summer months of June, July, and August. Your employer must apply for a work permit.
Under Dutch law, everyone who works in the Netherlands is obliged to pay income tax to the Dutch government. However, the rules may be different if you are already paying income tax in your home country and that country has signed a treaty with the Netherlands that income tax is only to be paid in one of the two countries. All EU member states have signed such a treaty.
What does the Dutch government do for international students working in the Netherlands?
The Dutch government has a comprehensive system of social security, insurance, and tax measures related to working in the Netherlands.
More information can be found on the Nuffic website Working While Studying. There is also a factsheet on international students and part-time jobs.
VU Amsterdam regularly posts student vacancies on their job platform:
Tips:
You can work on a self-employed basis as an international student. Keep in mind that if you’re a non-EU/EEA student you are still bound to the restrictions stated by your residence permit. You will not need a work permit. For more information:
For international students, volunteering is a great way to get involved in Dutch life, make new connections, CV building and grow your abilities. Just keep in mind that there are some practical points to consider. This video will take you through the essentials.
You may be interested in doing an internship as part of your degree. Please note that there are quite a few variables determining your options.
For some studies, an internship or graduation project is a compulsory part of the programme. Check the Study Guide to see whether this is the case for your study programme.
Reversely, for some some study programmes do not allow you to do an internship in your elective space. An internship is sometimes only possible as a graduation project.
In most cases it will be up to you to find a suitable internship. However, some studies have fixed internships that you can choose from.
Many programmes/faculties have their own internship coordinator who you can turn to for advice.
We know that increasingly, students are preparing for their career early on in their academic career. To help you with this, we will share some tips below per stage of your studies
1. Orientation & study choice phase
Look at info on the specific programme page for your studies, and click on the “ Future” tab for information on career possibilities.
You can also look up relevant statistics on your programme/faculty of choice in the National Alumni Survey.
2. During your studies
3. Nearing graduation
For those of you for whom graduation is nearing, we have collected the most relevant information in one Career Guide.
Moreover, below you will find some job search platforms:
After graduation you are an alumnus of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. And together with over 150,000 other former students, part of a diverse and global alumni network.
Dive into the VU alumni community and what it has to offer for you.
At VU Amsterdam, we have two types of PhD candidates:
If you are a Dutch national (or have the same rights) and are about to start your studies, you can apply for student finance. Student finance consists of various components. You decide which parts to apply for. With the calculation tool from DUO, you can calculate how much student finance you are eligible for and then determine which components you want to apply for.
You will receive the amount for the tuition fees as soon as you begin your studies, usually as of 1 September, on the condition that you are registered by that date. The additional financing amount will be deposited into your account at the end of every month, also during the summer holidays.
When you apply for student finance, you can apply for the public transportation student card (also called the student travel product) at the same time.
Extra travel costs
When you cannot get by with your week- or weekend student travel product, for instance because you cannot get at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam on time in the morning for the first class or because you need to travel more than an hour and a half just to get there, you may be eligible for extra compensation for travel costs from DUO. To apply for compensation, go to www.duo.nl. In order to apply for this compensation, you need a signed statement of the educational institution.
You can only get the form for extra compensation for travel costs signed when you are fully enrolled for the academic year for which you want to receive the extra compensation. Please bring or upload a print of the travel planner which indicates your time of travel. You can also send the form through email: studentdesk@vu.nl.
There are various scholarships available for students. For more information, please take a look on the Scholarship webpage. Other finance options can be found on the Study in Holland website.
Read more about possibilities for financial aid for incoming international students.
VU has a fund available for students who need extra support, for example, due to a physical or sensory disability (paraplegia, hearing problems, etc.), chronic illness (diabetes, Crohn's disease, etc.), pregnancy or disabilities, such as dyslexia, autism, and psychological problems. The costs for this support are covered by VU's Student Support Regulation, and you can apply for this support at VU.
More information about studying at VU with a disability is available.
While some students are able to keep their expenses lower, your actual monthly costs will largely depend on your personal lifestyle. As a general guideline, you can expect the following monthly expenses:
Please note that these figures are estimates and your actual costs may vary.
Additional Costs
You may also be required to pay yearly municipal taxes, such as the waste collection tax. Whether this applies to you depends on the type of accommodation you rent.
Keep in mind that most ticket machines for the tram and metro do not accept cash; and some shops, such as many popular grocery stores, do not accept cards without a V-Pay or Maestro logo. It is for this reason that we recommend opening a Dutch bank account after arrival.
You might consider bringing some cash for your first few days in Amsterdam, just in case of emergencies. Or you can also pull out cash upon arrival from one of the many ATMs in the airport and all over the city.
Major credit and debit cards are accepted in most shops and restaurants, but not all supermarkets.
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