University of Amsterdam (UvA)

Overview

The University of Amsterdam grew out of the Athenaeum Illustre, founded in 1632, and became the municipal University of Amsterdam in 1877. Today it is a large public university with campuses spread across the city: Roeterseiland for economics, psychology and social sciences, Science Park in the east, the University Quarter in the centre for humanities and law, and the Amsterdam UMC location for medicine.

The UvA describes itself as offering more than 60 bachelor programs, over 20 of which are taught in English. English-taught options include social sciences, psychology, economics and business, and the interdisciplinary programs run at Amsterdam University College, a liberal arts and sciences college run jointly with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

How the Dutch system shapes your application

Dutch universities share one national entry point, Studielink. You register your program choice there, then complete the UvA application with documents and, for some programs, a motivation letter. Programs fall into three groups: open programs with a matching activity, selective programs, and numerus fixus programs with a fixed number of places. Each program page states which group it belongs to.

For a September start, the UvA lists these deadlines: 15 January for numerus fixus programs (such as Psychology and the English tracks of Business Administration, Economics and Business Economics, and Political Science), 1 February for the selective programs Liberal Arts and Sciences and PPLE, 1 April as the advised deadline for applicants with international prior education who need a visa or UvA housing, and 1 May as the final deadline. Register in Studielink at least a week before your deadline. International diploma holders pay a 100 euro application fee. Confirm the dates for September 2027.

Requirements for Canadian and US graduates

Your diploma must be comparable to the Dutch pre-university (VWO) diploma. For a high school diploma from the US or Canada, Dutch universities often look for additional evidence of academic level and for specific subjects such as mathematics. The UvA points applicants to its diploma finder for international qualifications; if your diploma is not listed, its Central Admissions Office assesses your documents individually. Read the entry requirements on your program page before choosing your final-year courses.

English-taught programs require proof of English unless you are exempt; many Dutch universities exempt applicants who completed secondary school in Canada or the US. Confirm the exemption on the UvA language page.

Tuition and costs

The Dutch statutory fee for full-time study is 2,694 euros in 2026-27 and 2,771 euros in 2027-28, as published by Dutch universities. It applies to EU, EEA, Swiss and Surinamese students. Most students from outside these groups pay an institutional fee set by the UvA, which is higher and varies by program. Find the amount on the UvA fees and funding page. Housing in Amsterdam is scarce, and you should look for a room as soon as you apply.

Preparing with StudyBrix

Many UvA programs, especially in psychology and economics, use statistics from first year. Our statistics foundations course and intro psychology deck help you arrive ready. The Netherlands guide explains Studielink, matching and numerus fixus in more depth.