Vrije University (VU) Amsterdam

Founded in 1880, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is one of the world’s top 100 research universities with about 25,000 students and hundreds of courses taught entirely in English from various disciplines. Located in the business district called Amsterdam-Zuid (South), VI is a multicultural and creative environment.

The city has the highest museum density in the world and is home to cultural highlights such as the Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, Hermitage Amsterdam, and the Rijksmuseum with Rembrandt’s world-famous "Nightwatch". Other well-known places of interest in Amsterdam are the Jewish Historical Museum. An excellent and extensive public transportation system puts it all within reach.

This program runs in both fall and spring semesters:

• Fall: mid-August to mid-December 
• Spring: early-February to early-June

Students are required to take either one Dutch language (will come back to LUM as a free elective) or one Dutch history course(will meet upper level history core requirement at LUM).

Students will take a total of five courses while studying at VU. The Dutch language or history course will be taken throughout the semester. The other courses are taken as follows:

• The fall semester is divided into P1 & P2.
  • During P1 students will take two courses
  • During P2 students will take the other two courses 
• The spring semester is divided into P4 & P5
  • During P4 students will take two courses
  • During P5 students will take the other two courses 

*All grades from abroad are transferred and calculated into your Loyola GPA.  All passing grades from VU are transferred and calculated, however no "F" letter grades will come back to your LUM transcript.

• Round-trip airfare
• Welcome orientation
• Loyola University Health coverage
• Furnished accommodation
• Dutch buddy system

Loyola University Maryland relies on the professional student office at VU Amsterdam. The International Office at Vrije University holds an arrival and introductory program at the beginning of each semester. 

• Onsite support – International office
  • Admission
  • Accommodation
  • Resident permit assistance
  • Counselors

The academic year is divided into two semesters (Fall and Spring).

• Students complete 5 courses per semester.
• Courses range from level 100 to 300 with 100 being first year/introductory, 200 being second year/middle, and 300 being third year/advanced. 
• Nearly all courses are taught in English with the exception of language courses. Students can expect a much more independent learning style as compared to Loyola.

Students live in OurDomain Diemen.

• Located in the Campus Diemen Zuid (south)
• A train ride or bike ride from VU main campus
• Single studio apartment- with a kitchen and a bathroom
• The studio is partially furnished 
• There is a 24/7 security desk
• Gym membership available - tennis, basketball, soccer, and a climbing wall
• There is a lounge with a TV and a game room
• Other facilities/services: Supermarket, medical and dental services, bars and restaurants, a hair salon
• Housing is guaranteed and is close to train & metro stations

*Meal plans are not available at VU

Loyola financial aid applies and students are eligible for consideration for all forms of federal, state, institutional and private sources of aid except the Federal Work Study Program. Students studying abroad for either a semester or full academic year will forfeit the value of a Federal Work-Study assignment for the semester/s that they go abroad. If the student qualifies for federal work study, they can use the award for the semester they are on campus during their abroad year.

If you receive GI/Veterans benefits, please contact our Registrar’s office as soon as possible before you apply!!

Students/parents pay to Loyola the following charges:

• Loyola Tuition
• Loyola Housing
• Study Abroad Program fee
• International Insurance Premium

Students are required to pay a seperate housing deposit to OurDomain that is refundable at the end of the semester upon checkout pending no damages or repairs to the room.

Students should have access to their US insurance. Loyola University Maryland also covers students during the program for emergency medical/evacuation/ repatriation services abroad through Loyolas travelers’ insurance policy. Students should NOT cancel any domestic insurance coverage while studying abroad.

Once accepted into the program, students must call their bank and credit card carriers to tell them that they will be abroad for the semester. Students should carry debit or credit cards with them. Both Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted forms of payment, Discover and AmEx are less commonly accepted. Cash in Europe is also widely utilized.

Loyola University students who have a U.S. passport will start the process to get a residence permit while they are in the United States and complete it after they arrive in Amsterdam. The cost is approx. $330 at the time of the application.

*Cost subject to change

Loyola will arrange group travel to and from Amsterdam. While we encourage students to stay for the duration of the program, if necessary, students can change their return date upon completion of final exams, but it would be at their own cost. Loyola does not pay for any flight deviations or tickets changes.

Group flights are arranged for students traveling to Amsterdam. Student departures are usually from Newark International Airport in New Jersey or JFK Airport in New York.

Application Requirements 

Students must submit an online application AND a Course Planning form by 11:59 pm on the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving break of their sophomore year to study abroad in the fall or spring term of junior year. 

• Attend a Study Abroad 101 information session.
• Declare a major before applying to the study abroad program.
• Discuss with your major advisor the possible courses you could take abroad and see if there are any potential problems, he/she sees with your plans to study abroad; Students cannot be on disciplinary probation nor have a history of serious disciplinary problems.

Criteria for Acceptance

• • Minimum cumulative CQPA average of 3.00
  • Students who can find courses which fit their Loyola program and allow full-time participation and who are neither on disciplinary probation nor have a history of serious disciplinary problems.
  • ROTC candidates can apply as freshman to study abroad in the spring of their sophomore year. 
  • An academic interview with the program coordinator at Loyola University Maryland is required.