Application and Admission Summer School

Our registration deadline has passed, it is no longer possible to apply. You can leave your contact details to be added to our summer 2023 newsletter. 

Once you have filled out the application form, you will be directed to a payment page. You have the choice to complete the payment to secure your spot in the course, or you can decide to pay at a later moment. Please be aware that your spot in the course is only secured once we have received the payment. If you want to apply for multiple courses, you only need to fill out the form once. 

Once we have received your application and thus your payment, the summer school team will review your application and will inform you within 5 working days if your admission is accepted or denied. In case your admission is denied then you will receive a full refund. 

In the online application form you will be asked to provide the following two documents (no larger than 1 MB per document):

• Curriculum Vitae/Résumé (mostly important for us to understand your educational background)
• Transcript of records (a print screen of your most recent grades is sufficient and needs to include your name and the name of your University)

The documents will be shared with the professors before the start of the course. 

Accommodation registration: Once you have been accepted into the programme you will receive a link to register for accommodation. We will divide the rooms on a first-come-first-serve basis (the earliest you apply and pay for your course, the earlier you can select your accommodation).

Social programme registration: In May all participants will receive a link to sign up for the additional social programme. We will again work with a first-come-first-serve basis (the link to the sign up form will be shared with students based on the date you have applied/paid for your course).

Application deadline (extended deadline)
15 May (23:59 CEST). Please be aware that courses could fill up before this date. 

Course confirmation
Mid-May you will be informed if your chosen course is confirmed to run. In the unfortunate case your course is cancelled (in case it does not reach the course minimum amount of participants) you will be able to move to another course (based on availability) or request a refund.

If you have any questions regarding the procedure or anything else, let us know at amsterdamsummerschool@vu.nl. 

*If on the basis of the provided documents doubts remain about the academic level of the student, VU Amsterdam Summer School reserves the right to ask for additional documents and/or a telephone/video interview.

Courses are taught at Bachelor's, Advanced Bachelor's or Master's level, and are suitable for students as well as for PhD staff and professionals. Some courses are offered at both Bachelor's and Master's level. While submitting your application you are able to select the level. 

The following entry requirements are set: 

• Bachelor's: at least enrolled in 1st year of Bachelor's studies 
• Advanced Bachelor's: at least enrolled in 2nd year of Bachelor's studies 
• Master's: at least enrolled in final year of Bachelor's studies - professionals need to have a Bachelor's diploma

Individual courses may have their own entry requirements, please check the course page under course overview. If you are having doubts about your academic level then please contact us via amsterdamsummerschool@vu.nl. 

Application deadline
15 May (23:59 CEST)

*If on the basis of the provided documents doubts remain about the academic level of the student, VU Amsterdam Summer School reserves the right to ask for additional documents and/or a telephone/video interview.

It is not necessary to provide us with proof of your English. We do expect your English to be sufficient to understand classes and course literature. This means you should have at least a B2 level of English, as developed within the Common European Framework of References for Languages (CEFR). This is comparable to a TOEFL internet test with a score of 92, or an IELTS score of 6.5.

Some students may require an entry visa* (or Schengen visa) to the Netherlands, depending on their nationality. Make sure to check if this is the situation for you via Government of the Netherlands.

If you require an entry visa, you should apply by handing in a visa application form to the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country. Find a list of Dutch embassies. When your application to VU Amsterdam Summer School is confirmed you will receive a confirmation which you can use to request the visa. You will need to arrange the visa yourself.

If you are not required to apply for an entry visa, you are free to enter and stay in the Netherlands for 90 days. 

We always give a 100% refund in case your visa gets rejected and you have requested it in time. We do require a copy of the rejection letter issued by your local embassy. Please be aware it is your own responsibility to make a visa appointment in time. Enquire with your local embassy if it is possible to finalize your application before the start of your course. When time constraints are the reason for not obtaining a visa, we follow the normal cancellation policy. 

We will not refund travel costs and such. We therefore strongly recommend to hold on to booking your travel arrangements until your visa is approved and your on campus course has been confirmed to run. 

If you have been accepted to VU Amsterdam Summer School and have paid the tuition fee/accommodation/social programme, but due to unforeseen circumstances need to cancel, the following refunds will be given: 

• Cancellation before 1 May: 100% of total fee will be refunded
• Cancellation before 1 June: 50% of total fee will be refunded
• Cancellation after 1 June: no refund will be given

On this page we will post the latest updates and answer some frequently asked questions. If you have any other questions about this, please don't hesitate to contact us.