If you wish to apply for an exchange course at the UvA, there is a number of steps you need to take.

Step 1: Apply for exchange with UvA

Start preparing for you stay abroad approximately one year in advance, depending on your home university. Check whether your home university has an exchange or bilateral agreement with the Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA).

Your application package needs to contain:

• Evidence of proficiency in English, i.e. TOEFL scores, if English is not your first language;
• Certified true copies of certificates and academic transcripts relevant to the application. Documents need to be in English, French or German, otherwise they must be accompanied by a certified translation;
• Motivation letter in which is stated why you wish to study at the UvA;
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume;
• A copy of your passport.

Step 2: Nomination procedure at home university

The selection committee of your home university decides which students are to be nominated for the exchange programme with the Universiteit van Amsterdam. Therefore you need to fill in all the application forms and hand in all required documents.

If you are nominated, your application will be sent to the UvA school or faculty where you would like to take your courses. The admission committee of this faculty or school decides about your acceptance. They will inform the international office of your home university about the decision.

Step 3: Acceptance procedure at UvA

The UvA receives your file from your university and starts the acceptance procedure, which takes 6 to 8 weeks.

Step 4: Confirmation

Your future faculty or school, or the International Office of the UvA will send you a conformation of your acceptance together with further information.

Step 5: Apply for visa (if necessary)

The International Office of the UvA will apply for your visa and will ask you to provide them with all documents required.

Step 6: Confirm your exchange

You will receive an e-mail with the request to confirm your acceptance. You will need to download a confirmation form on the UvA website, which the UvA needs for your central registration at the UvA.

Step 7: Housing arrangements

Depending on your status as an exchange student, housing will be guaranteed or not. If your faculty/school reserves housing for you, the housing corporation will give you notice 3 to 1 months in advance. It may happen that you are put on a waiting list. In that case the housing corporation will give you notice in a later stage.
After having received an offer for a room you will need to confirm this offer.

Step 8: Course registration

The registration procedure varies per faculty or school. After acceptance as an exchange student, your faculty or school will inform you about the required procedure.

Step 9: Information package

Before you arrive in Amsterdam you will receive a general information package containing the International Student Network (ISN) brochure and the International Student Guide, containing practical information concerning your stay in Amsterdam, the Introduction period, insurance, and much more. The International Student Guide can also be downloaded from this website.

Step 10: Register at UvA after arrival

Upon arrival you are expected to come to the Service and Information Centre to register at the UvA. You will receive a student card (ID-card), a letter for opening a bank account, information about getting a residence permit, and much more.