Amsterdam University College
Published 17 March 2009

AUC partner schools

Photo of student on the stairs

In order to ensure a smooth transition for students from secondary education to the AUC programme, AUC works in close collaboration with a select number of partner schools. These partner schools have provided AUC with very useful, experience-based information and have helped to shape the AUC admission policy. The AUC partner schools have much in common with AUC and have been selected on the basis of the following key elements: high standards of excellence, international and/or bilingual education, a special focus on science, and a strong emphasis on the importance of cultural diversity. 

Cygnus Gymnasium

The Cygnus Gymnasium is a new and ambitious school in Amsterdam-Watergraafsmeer. It is an independent secondary school whose first students will receive their diplomas in 2011. The school offers a distinctive education programme that is intended to challenge talented students. One of the key elements in the curriculum is inquiry based learning: students are encouraged to make their own choices, to sharpen their analytical skills, and to engage in both individual and collaborative learning.

The Cygnus Gymnasium works with Dutch universities, for example by offering elective classes (such as archaeology, psychology and theatre studies) taught by university lecturers.

Every student has a laptop, and wireless internet and electronic whiteboards are used in all classrooms. Cygnus offers a 21st century version of the classical 'gymnasium' secondary school.

For more information about the Cygnus Gymnasium, please see link below.

Hermann Wesselink College (HWC)

HWC is a school that seeks to offer students a thorough education enabling them to choose from a wide variety of subjects including Latin, Greek, music, and art. In 2001 a start was made with bilingual education (TTO). TTO-students not only learn more English, but they also receive some of their other lessons in English, and take part in an international programme. The school is also a ‘Universum school' because it pays extra attention to science subjects.

The school has an exchange programme with a number of schools in other European countries.

HCW focuses on the quality of its educational programme, but a lot of attention is also paid to a wide variety of cultural activities (visits to museums, exhibitions, trips to France, Switzerland, England, Italy, etc)

For more information about Hermann Wesselink College, please see link below.

The International School of Amsterdam (ISA)

The International School of Amsterdam (ISA) has been meeting the educational needs of the international community of the greater Amsterdam area for four decades. ISA provides education for students aged 3 to 18 years from over 50 different countries by offering stimulating and creative academic programmes in a secure and caring environment. The education is based upon a full International Baccalaureate Programme. This curriculum, with a strong academic orientation throughout the Upper School, prepares students to attend some of the world's finest universities and colleges.

Small classes and individual attention play a central role in the success of Upper School students. Teachers work closely with students to ensure that students are stimulated, challenged and supported. The school's purpose-built campus is located in Amstelveen, a quiet residential suburb of Amsterdam.

For more information about the International School of Amsterdam, please see link below.

Vechtstede College

Vechtstede College is a secondary school for pre-vocational and pre-university education catering to approximately 1000 students. It offers bilingual education (Tweetalig Onderwijs, tto) for its pre-university students, preparing them for further internationally-oriented education. In the bilingual programme international contacts and communication are very important. For instance, the school regularly invites guest speakers and also takes part in student exchange programmes. Through European and International Orientation Programmes, Vechtstede College encourages its students to apply their language and communication skills, to expand their horizons and to work with English speaking people, companies and institutions from all over the world. In short: the aim is to prepare students for a successful international career.

For more information about the Vechtstede College, please see link below.

Vossius Gymnasium

The Vossius Gymnasium is a comparatively small school of approximately 800 pupils. Situated in a quiet and green neighbourhood in Amsterdam Zuid, Vossius is a close community which constitutes a home for its students and provides safe and rich educational surroundings.

We provide motivated pupils the opportunity to explore all their talents, while being taught in a classical atmosphere. Our enthusiastic teachers have a thorough knowledge of the subjects they teach and much attention is paid to the counselling of our pupils. A high standard of challenging English education results in Cambridge Certificates (FCE, CAE or CPE) and German and French courses aimed at internationally accepted certificates are also available. In addition to arts and culture education through subjects like music, philosophy and visual arts education, we also provide a high level of science education. Talented pupils are offered all kinds of possibilities to further explore their talents outside of Vossius Gymnasium. For example: participation in Olympiads and pre-university programmes.

The Vossius Gymnasium collaborates with the Barlaeus Gymnasium, the 4e Gymnasium and the St. Ignatius Gymnasium

For more information about the Vossius Gymnasium, please see link below.

Source: AUC
Also refer to