AUC aims to admit around 300 new students each year, including both Dutch and international students. AUC has around 900 students in total.

A liberal arts and sciences programme is traditionally a course of studies that provides a well-rounded education in the humanities, social sciences and sciences. The emphasis is on acquiring the academic skills, knowledge and intellectual tools that will help students to be successful in any career that they choose. It provides students with a broad academic orientation, an independent critical way of thinking and writing, and in-depth learning as a basis for further specialisation at the graduate level.

AUC offers a liberal arts and sciences programme that is actively oriented to the demands and challenges of the 21st century.

AUC does not have a separate ranking; it is a programme of the University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. To find more information on the world rankings of these two universities please view the links below. 

AUC is located in the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The AUC campus is at Amsterdam Science Park in the neighbourhood of Watergraafsmeer in the borough of Amsterdam Oost (Amsterdam East). AUC is about 20 minutes by bike from the city center. 

AUC's visiting address is Science Park 113, 1098XG Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Yes, all students will need to bring their own laptop when studying at AUC. All ICT facilities, including a wireless network throughout the academic building, are designed to support students’ use of personal laptops for academic purposes. There are no computer labs or common spaces equipped with PCs for student use within the academic building.

Please note that the laptop must be capable of running a full operating system that allows for downloading and installing programmes. This means that Chromebooks, iPads or other tablets are not suitable.

The majority of recommended software at AUC works on both Apple and Windows devices, but official technical support is limited. Students should ensure they are comfortable setting up and troubleshooting their laptops as needed.

You can apply directly to AUC using our online application form. Our website provides a step-by-step guide to help you through the application process.

The costs of studying at AUC will include your tuition fee, housing fee, accommodation, visas (if applicable) and a variety of personal costs that vary per individual (food, transport, leisure, etc.). You can find the current tuition fees, indications of accommodation costs and average estimates of personal expenditures by following the link below.

There are three deadlines for which you can apply: the early-bird deadline on 1 December, the regular deadline on 1 February and the late deadline on 1 May (depending on the year).

Applying for the early-bird deadline has some advantages. Applications of early-bird candidates are considered first and decisions on admission (including acceptances) are issued in the first week of February. For regular applicants, their applications are reviewed in February with any offers of admission being issued in the first week of April. Late applications are reviewed in May, with decisions being issued in the first week of June.

Since there is no limit on the number of early-bird candidates we accept, those applying for the early-bird deadline have a better chance of receiving an offer of admission to AUC than those who apply for the regular deadline or late deadline, as the first round of offers will have already been made by the time regular and late applications are reviewed.

If you were registered in the BRP (Basisregistratie Personen) before 1 January 2021, you pay the statutory tuition fee (if you have never previously obtained a similar degree from a Dutch institute of higher education). If you were not registered in the BRP before 1 January 2021, you will pay the institutional tuition fee.

Tuition fees for UK nationals

For more information on the tuition fee level you should expect to pay as a British national, please see the page "Who pays the statutory tuition fee?" via the link below.

Yes. You should apply in the year before you plan to begin your university studies. If you are in your final year of secondary school, the Admissions Committee will assess your academic performance based on your results to date. If you are offered admission, your offer will be conditional upon successfully completing your secondary education and submitting your final examination results and/or secondary school diploma.

• For the early-bird deadline (1 December), you will hear back in the first week of February.
• For the regular deadline (1 February), you will hear back in the first week of April.
• For the late deadline (1 May), you will hear back in the first week of June. 

Each academic year is divided into two semesters. Semester 1 consists of a 16-week period from September to December, followed by a 4-week period in January. Similarly, Semester 2 consists of a 16-week period from February to May, followed by a 4-week period in June.

Students typically take four courses during each 16-week period and one course during each 4-week period. As a result, students complete 10 courses per academic year, or the equivalent of 60 credits.

Amsterdam University College offers a Bachelor's degree programme in the liberal arts and sciences that provides both breadth and depth of learning.

The programme focuses on far-reaching themes and real-world problems in science and society by crossing the boundaries between the natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities. You will learn to approach complex issues from different perspectives, and to understand relationships between different fields of knowledge. For an idea of the subject areas offered per major (Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities), please see the table and links below.

First-year requirements

In the first year, each student will take ten courses (60 EC), subject to the requirements below.

1.) Academic Core courses required for all students (3 courses, 18 EC) 

You will take the following courses from the Academic Core:

• Academic Writing Skills
• The Global Identity Experience
• Logic, Information, Argumentation

2.) Methodology courses (1 course, 6 EC) 

You'll then take maths and/or methodology courses. Which one(s) will depend on your major: 

• Sciences:
  • Calculus or
  • Methods in Life and Earth Sciences
• Social Sciences:
  • Methods for Social Sciences Research
• Humanities:
  • Methods in the Humanities I

3.) Freely chosen courses (6 courses, 36 EC)

You will then choose six additional courses from a broad range of options to complete the required 10 courses (60 EC) for your first year. These are typically 100-level major courses and, depending on the discipline, may count towards the requirements of your major. You may also take courses in other majors, provided you meet the relevant prerequisites.

More information about the first-year requirements, as well as the requirements for each major, can be found in the Academic Standards and Procedures.

Course "constellations" guide interdisciplinary study

AUC encourages students to broaden their horizons and enhance their interdisciplinary knowledge and skills. To further support students’ mobility between majors and help them discover synergies between the Humanities, Social Sciences and Sciences, six course "constellations" have been developed that relate to VU and UvA research themes and focus on important societal challenges.

What is a constellation?

A constellation consists of 12 to 14 courses spanning AUC’s majors that examine complex societal issues. While students continue to concentrate on courses in their major, the courses in a constellation will help them discover new pathways through the curriculum to form multidisciplinary perspectives and explore pathways they may previously not have considered. The constellations serve as a source of inspiration and are not mandatory.

1. Cognition and Imagination
2. Digital Worlds
3. Energy and Climate
4. Health and Society
5. Human Development
6. Order and Complexity

AUC offers majors in Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities. When you apply to AUC, you choose one of these majors as your prospective major. If you want to change your major during your first year, this is possible, but you have to discuss it carefully with your AUC tutor before confirming your choice, as a change of major has a big impact on your study programme and may require additional coursework.

Together with your tutor, you will put together a coherent package of courses in your major to follow during your second and third years, focusing on the subjects that interest you most. Your tutor will help ensure that your study programme will meet the graduation requirements for your major.

Your tutor will also help to make sure your major and study programme align with your future ambitions. If you want to go on to study a particular Master's programme, for example, you may need to include specific courses in your major.

If you are interested in pursuing postgraduate studies in the health and life sciences, AUC's curriculum includes courses to help you prepare. In collaboration with the Amsterdam University Medical Centers (Amsterdam UMC), AUC has developed a Pre-Med course packet for students who wish to enter a Dutch medical pre-master's programme (zij-instroom) after graduation.

The Pre-Med area of study consists of eight medical sciences courses covering subjects required for admission to the medical pre-master's programmes at VUmc and AMC. You can find more information, including the required courses and admission requirements, via the link below.

If you are interested in pursuing a legal career in the Netherlands, AUC offers a Pre-Law Track that incorporates existing AUC law courses. By completing the required mandatory and elective courses in this track, and meeting the Dutch language requirements, you can become eligible for admission to the UvA-AUC ‘Civiel Effect’ Fast-track Law Bachelor's (LLB) Programme.

In collaboration with the Faculty of Law of the University of Amsterdam (UvA), AUC offers Dutch-speaking students who complete the Pre-Law Track the opportunity to enter the one-year UvA-AUC ‘Civiel Effect’ Fast-track Law Bachelor (LLB) Programme.

Upon enrolling at AUC, you will be assigned a tutor who will serve as your personal academic adviser. Your tutor will help you explore your academic interests, develop a coherent course plan for your major, ensure that your study programme meets graduation requirements, and support you in making informed decisions about your future career or admission to a Master's programme.

If you have already completed or will complete courses at a recognised university as part of a full-time study programme, you may be eligible to have credits transferred to AUC (ranging from 6 credits to 60 credits) or receive a course waiver. Please submit the completed transfer of credit request form and all required accompanying documentation to the AUC Admissions Office before 15 June of the year in which you intend to start studying at AUC.

It's important to note that transfer of credit requests are not based on specific individual courses offered at AUC. Instead, they are assessed in comparison to AUC's graduation requirements. This means that students do not apply for a transfer of credit to take the place of a specific course given at AUC. The Admissions Office will look at how the courses a student has taken (and received credit for) compare to AUC's graduation requirements and how the transfer credits may be applied.

When applying to AUC, we advise prospective students not to make their decision to attend contingent on receiving transfer credits. The deadline for submitting a transfer of credit request is 15 June, which is later than the deadline for accepting an offer of admission to AUC (mid-February for early-bird candidates, mid-April for regular deadline candidates; mid-June for late deadline candidates). Any decisions regarding transfers of credit will only be made after 15 June. This means applicants will not know until starting at AUC whether credits from previous studies will count towards their degree programme.

Your study programme is designed to be 40 hours or more per week, including both in-class activities and independent study. During the 16-week periods (September–December and February–May), you will take four courses simultaneously. During the 4-week periods (January and June), you will take one course intensively. This adds up to a total of 10 courses per academic year.

Although it is possible to take more than 10 courses per year, this is not recommended for first-year students. You may not take an additional course during your first semester. Before enrolling in any additional courses, you should discuss your plans with your tutor.

Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts

If you major in the Social Sciences or Humanities, you will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences. If you major in the Sciences, you will graduate with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Dutch law distinguishes between Bachelor's degrees awarded for 'research-oriented higher education' (wo-bachelor) and those awarded for 'higher professional education' (hbo-bachelor). AUC offers a wo-bachelor. The Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education (Nuffic) offers more information on Dutch higher education and English translations of Dutch higher education terminology on their website.

Honours programme

AUC offers an Honours programme characterised by intensive lectures, small classes, active student engagement, self-study and discussion. Honours distinctions (Honours, Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude) are awarded to students who graduate with a final GPA above the required threshold.

Accreditation by NVAO

The NVAO (the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders) formally accredited the AUC programme on 2 September 2008. The University of Amsterdam and VU Amsterdam jointly applied for accreditation for the AUC programme. On 6 October 2011 the NVAO formally converted the accreditation of the AUC programme to a joint degree of the University of Amsterdam and VU Amsterdam.

Requirements for the AUC Bachelor's degree

The following requirements must be met for the degree:

• Students complete 180 European credit points in six semesters;*
• Students complete the requirements for a major;
• Students complete the required Academic Core courses;
• Students complete a Capstone;
• Students complete a community project or an internship
• Students attain a cumulative GPA of 6.0 or higher (for students who started in academic year 2022-2023 or after) or a 2.0 (C) or higher (for students who started before the 2022-2023 academic year);
• Students complete at least two courses listed as a Humanities course, two courses listed as a Social Sciences course and two courses listed as a Sciences course;

*In certain circumstances, students may complete the study programme in more than six semesters

For more specific information on degree requirements, please review the Academic Standards and Procedures available via the link below.

Yes, the AUC programme is accredited.

The University of Amsterdam and VU Amsterdam jointly applied for initial accreditation for the AUC programme. The NVAO (the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders) formally accredited the AUC programme on 2 September 2008.

On 6 October 2011 the NVAO formally converted the accreditation of the AUC programme to a joint degree of the University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. In June 2012 the NVAO awarded the AUC programme the “Distinctive feature of small-scale and intensive education".

After re-accreditation in 2014, the NVAO formally re-accredited the AUC programme again on 15 July 2019. The most recent re-accreditation took place in 2024.

AUC's degree programme is designed to be completed in three years (six semesters). You should aim to obtain 30 EC per semester, as falling behind this pace may affect your binding study advice (BSA). Your academic progress will be assessed continuously. No single assessment can count for more than 25% of a course's final grade, and there are no additional opportunities to retake exams or other assessments (no resits).

You should also keep in mind that accommodation in the AUC student residences is not guaranteed beyond six semesters and housing can be difficult to find in Amsterdam.

As an AUC graduate, you will have an internationally recognised Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Sciences degree. You will be qualified to apply for Master's and Doctoral level studies at major universities both in the Netherlands and abroad. Follow the link below for more information on the destinations of AUC graduates.

As an AUC student, you will live in modern student residences managed by housing association DUWO at Amsterdam Science Park. The residences are located just a few minutes' walk from the AUC academic building in the Watergraafsmeer neighbourhood, approximately 20 minutes by bike from Amsterdam city centre. All AUC students live in the residences throughout their three years of study.

Yes, all AUC students must live in the AUC student residences for the three years of their studies.

Living together in the student residences means that your time at AUC will become an intercultural and social learning experience. The residential aspect of the international campus is an important part of life at AUC. You will be able to cooperate and discuss issues with fellow students and lecturers both during and after class hours, and engage in various social and cultural activities.

If you are offered admission to AUC and accept your offer, you will be invited to select a room in June via uh.room.nl, the digital selection platform. All available rooms are listed on the platform, where you can view the room size, address, unit type, and rental price. In most cases, a floor plan will also be available.

It is not possible to allocate a single unit to every first-year student. However, at the end of your first academic year at AUC, you will have the opportunity to switch rooms before new students move in. This allows students to move into their preferred type of accommodation after their first year. Please note that shared units are always single-sex (as listed in your passport).

In a small number of cases, first-year students may initially be placed in a temporary occupancy room. These are furnished shared units intended as a temporary solution; students living in these rooms will be allocated a permanent room by the end of their first year.

Please direct all practical questions about student residences to DUWO (see link below).

Housing requests for health reasons or physical needs

In some cases, students may want to request a certain type of room from the start of their studies for health reasons or physical needs. If you would like to make a special request for your accommodation, please contact the AUC Student Life Officers for more information.

The Student Life Officers will review your request and place you on a waitlist for special accommodations in housing. Please note that due to the limited number of rooms, all such requests may not immediately be accommodated. If you have accepted an offer at AUC, you should be sure to inform the Student Life Officer of your request for specific housing needs related to physical or medical reasons as soon as you have received the instructions for choosing a room from AUC. 

For estimated costs, please see the links below. The exact amount will depend on whether you are allocated a single or shared unit, whether you are eligible for rent benefit (huurtoeslag), and the amount of your service costs (such as electricity and water).