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Study abroad: overview

Make the world your classroom: study abroad

Step 1: Explore your options

Each year, the UvA organises the Study Abroad Fair, a large scale information event to help you explore all your options. All Dutch and international Bachelor’s, pre-Master's, and Master’s students of the UvA are welcome to join. Please check out www.uva.nl/studyabroadfair.

Before attending the Study Abroad Fair, explore the variety of programmes on studyabroad.uva.nl, and research the different destinations on www.uva.nl/worldmap. To support you in your quest to study abroad, the UvA offers you a range of different programmes:

  • Student exchange programmes

    In exchange programmes, students are ‘exchanged’ between two universities. Universities have agreed on entry requirements, the length of the study period, and the number of students exchanged per year. As a UvA student, you pay tuition fees to the UvA, and you will not have to pay tuition fees to the host university.

  • Other international opportunities

    If you do not want to study abroad for an entire semester or year, check out the wide range of shorter Other international opportunities that offer something for everyone. You can participate in a global challenge as part of an international team, attend a student conference, or take part in one of the many summer schools that are on offer. These are just a few examples.

  • Internships and research

    An internship abroad gives you actual work experience and enables you to put your theoretical knowledge into practice. International experience will benefit your CV, while expanding your network will improve your chances of success in the international job market. If you are interested in researching at a university or institute abroad, consult your study adviser or the lecturers and professors involved in your degree programme.

Man walking alone through a black-white-gray landscape with mountains and clouds.
photo: Bouke Bentvelsen

Step 2: Meet like-minded students, and learn important study abroad skills

Spending time abroad during your degree programme has many benefits. Studying abroad means integrating an international dimension into your learning environment and allows you to acquire international competencies that are key to learning, living and working in an intercultural society and an international labour market. Please download the handout ‘the value of study abroad’ to learn more about the benefits of an international experience. This document serves as a guideline for all our workshops and will help you translate your experience into a set of useful skills, knowledge and attitudes to showcase on your CV.

Handout: The Value of Study Abroad

Please download the handout below to discover all the benefits of an international experience. This handout serves as a guideline for all our workshops and will help you translate your experience into a set of useful skills, knowledge and attitudes to showcase on your CV.

Workshops

To help you meet other students interested in studying abroad and support you in tackling some of the biggest challenges in studying abroad, you can register for workshops delivered by our study abroad experts. Interested? You can find all information on UvA Corsizio:

Step 3: Online training

To improve the impact of your study abroad experience, the UvA collaborated with five other world-renowned universities to create an online training programme called Digipass. A series of webinars supporting you in all important topics at orientation, pre-departure, during and after mobility:

  • Going Abroad?
  • Is going abroad accessible to everyone?
  • Cultural Awareness
  • Health and Wellbeing
  • Practical Advice!
  • Culture Shock
  • Dealing with problems while abroad
  • Crisis Support while you're abroad
  • Reflective thinking & Making the most of your time abroad!
  • Launching your career!
  • Ambassadorship
  • Reverse culture shock

Step 4: Practical support

When you're selected for an exchange, summer school or internship, we'll help you with all practicalities to arrange your study abroad. First, you'll get access to a UvA Canvas page with specific information. Topics include culture shock, health and travel insurance, medical and money matters, and support during a crisis. While you're abroad, the host university will also have a broad range of support services.

Step 5: Building on your experience, and sharing what you've learnt

Upon returning, students sometimes need to comply with procedures outlined by their programme. Also, it will take some time to adjust to being home again. To support you after your programme you'll find useful information on your UvA Canvas page. In addition, you can sign up for the Cultural Exchange Ambassador Programme.