Electives faculty of social sciences

Last updated on 14 March 2024

Students of the Faculty of Social Sciences can follow electives within their own degree programme/faculty, another VU faculty, or another university.

The first semester of year three of Bachelor’s programme is the elective space. The elective space has a workload of 30 ECTS.

You can fill in your elective space with (a combination of):

All students who are going to fill in their elective space have to fulfil the requirement that at least 12 EC of courses are of "level 300" (advanced level); the other courses have to be of at least "level 200". This means the following for the different ways in which you can fill in your elective space:

Electives

If you fill in your elective space with separate electives, there must be at least two courses (12 ECTS) of “level 300”. The level of the courses at VU Amsterdam is indicated in the course description. You can choose from the courses on the Faculty of Social Sciences elective list without permission from the Examination Board.

If you want to take elective courses at another university and the level thereof is not indicated in the course description, ask for a statement from that university showing the level of the course. If you want to take electives at another faculty of VU Amsterdam or at another university, you must submit a request to the Examination Board.

In principle, you are not allowed to include electives of “level 100” (introductory level) in your electives. The only exception that the Examination Board can make is that one “level 100” course is approved if you have compiled a coherent package of electives in which that “level 100” course is explicitly required as prior knowledge for another course in that package.

Furthermore, a language proficiency course may be included in the electives for a maximum of 6 ECTS. In some degree programmes it is possible to expand this to 12 ECTS if convincing arguments are provided. This is at the discretion of the Examination Board.

A language minor can also be an option, but have it approved by the Examination Board first.

In order to be allowed to go abroad on exchange to fill in your elective space, you must have completed the first year of the Bachelor's programme at the time of departure and have obtained a total of at least 90 ECTS. To be eligible for selection, you must have obtained at least 60 ECTS of your Bachelor's degree when you register. Registration and placement is done via the International Office.

Also see the information under Overview of electives on this page.

Combination internship and electives:

If you are following a level 300 internship, then any remaining space in your profile space must be filled in with electives of at least level 200. If you are following a level 200 internship, you must fill in the remaining credits of your profile space with at least 2 electives (12 ECTS) from level 300.

More about internships FSS.

Overview electives FSS

Put together a package of electives yourself

You have the possibility to put together a package of electives yourself.

Electives within FSS

You can follow courses from other Bachelor’s programmes of FSS or extra electives within your own study programme. Check the elective’s list below for the complete overview of electives of FSS

You do not need permission of the Examination Board for FSS electives. However, do check the requirements to be met with regards to the elective space.

Electives at another VU Amsterdam faculty

Would you like to take courses at another faculty within VU Amsterdam? Then look for an overview and descriptions of possible courses in the study guide. Search for 'courses' and make sure to check the option 'secondary subject' on the left side of the menu.

Ask the Examination Board of FSS in advance for permission to use the elective and check the requirements to be met with regards to the elective space.

Electives at another university

If you want to follow courses at another university you must consult the website of the corresponding university.

Check with the corresponding university whether you can partake in the elective and ask that university how you can sign up for the elective.
Ask approval from the Examination Board of FSS to use the elective in your elective space and check the requirements to be met (tcm:6-412768).
Register at the other university as a guest student (via studielink). In order to do so you need a Proof of Payment of Tuition Fee from the VU.

When you have passed the course, submit your certified list of marks via Submit externally obtained result.

Electives at a foreign university

If you want to take courses at a foreign partner university of VU Amsterdam, please visit the Studying abroad page for more information.

Request approval from the FSW Examination Board to be allowed to use the course in your electives and check the requirements for the electives.

If you have passed a course at a foreign university, see Exchange: to do after return.

Do you have any questions?

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