Useful information for pre-students

All you want to know!

• General

  Take a look at the VU Guide which offers you an overview of all important, fun and useful things that will help you to start your studies at VU Amsterdam.

  More information about your courses can be found in the Study guide. 

  The academic calendar provides information on semester, exam and resit dates as well as collective VU holidays.

  International students may find that the Dutch grading system is different from their own. To help set your expectations of the Dutch system, you'll find a short explanation on Study in Holland.

• Books

  In the course descriptions in the Study guide you will find the literature you need for each course. You might receive more information about extra relevant literature during the first lecture of the course in question or via Canvas.

  Please note that you buy the most recent edition of your study material. You can acquire the literature you need (online) via the VU Bookstore. To do this, check the book list of your study programme.

  Sometimes you can receive a discount on your study books through your study association. Check out the study and student associations and become a member!

• Canvas

  Our digital learning environment is Canvas. There is a Canvas course available for each course we offer. You are automatically enrolled in the Canvas course as soon as you are registered for a course. On Canvas you will find, among other things, the syllabus for the course and useful documents, such as examples of exam questions. The lecturer will also keep you informed on the progress and you will sometimes have to hand in assignments. After a lecture, lecturers often also put the lecture sheets on Canvas, so that you can revise them at home.

• Useful apps

  Do you join the VU Introduction Days? Then download the VU Introduction Days app to stay informed about the latest news on the introduction days both before and during the event. The app will be the first place to view the programme and we will give you a sneak peek of what you’ll be doing! The app is available at the App Store and Google Play Store.

• Manual digital services

  Are you new to VU Amsterdam? To help you become familiar with our digital services we have created a manual to guide you in the online environment of VU Amsterdam (e.g. course registration), Canvas and the University Library. Please read it carefully before you start with your studies!

• Academic and Examination Regulations (AER)

  The examination programme and all academic regulations are officially laid down in the Academic and Examination Regulations (AER). Here you can find the rules applicable to assessment and examinations, the degree programme structure and regulations regarding study progress and student guidance. The AER is binding. In case of any differences between the AER and the Study guide, the regulations as described in the AER shall prevail. Students are expected to be fully acquainted with the content of the AER. You can find the AER in the Study guide of your programme.

• Eduroam and wireless internet

  Eduroam is a secure wireless network that allows students, researchers, and staff to connect seamlessly at their educational or research institutions. More information on setting up Eduroam can be found at: vu.nl/wifi

• VU mail

  Each student is assigned a personal VU Amsterdam email address before the start of their studies. In your VU mailbox you will receive important notifications regarding: 

  • class cancellations
  • information meetings
  • internships and other relevant information
  • your study progress and the binding recommendation on continuation of studies (BSA)

  Please note! The university and your faculty use your VU email address exclusively when corresponding with you about your studies. Please check your inbox regularly to ensure you do not miss important information about your degree programme. All email you receive from VU Amsterdam, arrives at your VU mail. You cannot forward your VU mail to your personal email address.

  You can check your VU mail via internet (webmail). This can be done both on and off campus via outlook.office.com or via the email button on your dashboard on VU.nl. You log in with your VUnetID or your VU email address and password.

• VUnetID and VU.nl

  Your VUnetID is your username and password to access all digital services VU Amsterdam has to offer, such as your personal dashboard on VU.nl and Canvas. You also need your VUnetID to be able to take digital exams. If you lost your VUnetID, please contact the Student Desk. Keep your university registration card or any other form of identification ready for identification purposes.

  VU.nl is an important information source during your studies. On your personal dashboard you can find all relevant information such as your email, your personal schedule, exam grades, important announcements, news and all you want to know about courses, examinations, student wellbeing or student guidance. As soon as you receive your VUnetID and your application is completed, you can enter all VU.nl services.

• Schedule

  You can find your personal schedule on rooster.vu.nl/schedule after you have logged in with your VUnetID and password. Your schedule is based on the lectures, seminars and exams of the courses for which you have registered. You can also view the schedule without logging in by selecting a particular course or study programme.

  The schedule is updated regularly. It is, therefore, important to frequently check the schedule website.

  More information about the schedule

• Study guide

  The Study guide is another important source of information. The Study guide offers a complete overview of the content of education (including courses, periods, literature) and the test format(s). It also provides the Education and Examination Regulations (OER) of your degree programme and the option to download the year schedule of your degree programme and/or specialisation under 'Programme'. Make sure you are familiar with the content of the Study guide for each course you are enrolled in.

• Questions?

  Do you have any questions about your registration? Please ask them at the Student Desk