Living and studying in Amsterdam
University of Amsterdam
The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is one of Europe's most prominent research-led universities. It is a modern institution with a long and rich history dating from 1632.
With 5000 staff members, 30,000 students and 100 different nationalities, UvA is connected to thousands of researchers and hundreds of public and private institutions in the Netherlands and around the world.
UvA ranks among the top 100 worldwide in QS World University Rankings. While, in the area of Communication Science & Media Studies, UvA ranks best in the world for the past five consecutive years in a row.
The Politics & Communications specialisation is housed within the Graduate School of Communication. With approximately 500 new full-time students each year, the Graduate School of Communications is among the largest in the world.
The faculty of the Graduate School of Communications is also directly involved in the School of Communication Research (ASCoR). ASCoR is the largest institute for communication science research in Europe and one of the largest in the world. ASCoR received excellent results from the Research Assessment in 2014.
More information about living and studying at the University of Amsterdam can be found here.
Amsterdam, the Venice of the North
Amsterdam is the Netherland's capital, known for its artistic heritage, elaborate canal system and narrow houses with gabled facades - legacies of the city's 17th-century Golden Age. Its Museum District houses the Van Gogh Museum, works by Rembrandt and Vermeer are shown at the Rijksmuseum and modern art at the Stedelijk.
Although Amsterdam is famous, it is not a big city. About 750,000 people live there - and you can ride your bike from left to right and from north to south easily within one day.
Amsterdam has one other university (the Vrije University) and a lot of other institutions for higher education, making it a real student city. The city was ranked 11th out of 200 cities worldwide in Mercer's 2015 Quality of Living Survey. In the pan-European International Student Barometer, 91% of students polled said Amsterdam was "the place to be". There are many ways to enjoy yourself as an international student, and many on-campus organisations to help students.
Take a look at our Mundusian Guide to living, studying and working in Amsterdam for insight from our students, alumni and staff based in the city. The guide covers topics like where to eat, shop and socialise in Amsterdam. We also provide helpful information about housing, working, living costs, visa, banks and health insurance.
For all kinds of information about what to expect, what to do and see, and how to live in Amsterdam, please also check I amsterdam.