University of Amsterdam

A modern university with a rich history, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) traces its roots back to 1632, when the Amsterdam city council founded the so-called Athenaeum Illustre. Until the nineteenth century, the Athenaeum Illustre remained a small institution. Today the UvA offers the largest number of Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes in the Netherlands. Many of the Master's programmes are taught in English. The UvA is thus able to attract a large number of international students and as such has a heterogeneous student body in which countless nationalities are represented.

The wide range of academic programmes and courses available to choose from also means that students can tailor their studies to suit their personal ambitions and talents. The UvA further ensures that students get the best support both during and after their studies through extensive academic and career counselling.

Studying in an international environment

In an effort to create an international environment in which learning and creativity can flourish, the UvA has always encouraged international cooperation. It attracts students from all over the world, and presently has more than 2,500 international students and researchers from over 100 countries among its ranks. The UvA currently has one of the largest numbers of international study programmes of any university in Europe

Most classes at the Master's level include students with different nationalities and cultural backgrounds. In an era of globalisation and an increasingly international labour market, such an environment helps to prepare students for their future careers. It also allows faculties to seek international standards of excellence. The curriculum is constantly being developed, and today comprises more than 80 study programmes taught entirely in English. As well as developing new programmes, the UvA constantly strives to improve the quality and efficiency of existing programmes.

A research university

The UvA prides itself on being a research university. Many of its Master's programmes directly reflect leading research in a given field of study, thus exposing students to groundbreaking research during their studies. Research Master's programmes are offered in nearly every discipline. The Research Master's programmes are designed specifically to prepare students for PhD research or a research career in an academic or non-academic environment.

The research activities at the UvA have a broad significance extending beyond the confines of the academic community. The research findings are also - and in fact, especially - meant to benefit society at large. At the same time the problems and issues affecting society provide the impetus for the scientific studies.

In the field of academic research, the UvA has a reputation to uphold. The UvA is ranked the 69th on the World University Rankings (THES, 2006) and 10th in continental Europe. Hurthermore, the UvA is the highest ranked comprehensive university in the Netherlands. The lecturers incorporate today's research results into tomorrow's lectures.

The UvA is part of the League of European Research Universities LERU, a network of renowned European Research Universities, like Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Zurich, Leuven, Leiden and Edinburgh. This European association of leading research universities was founded to strengthen the position of European universities in the arena of international scientific research.

Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FMG)

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences has a prominent standing within the social sciences in Europe and is the largest educational and research institution in the social sciences in the Netherlands. It offers a creative study, research and working environment for students, researchers, and staff members.

The Faculty serves 7,500 students in numerous Bachelor's and Master's programmes in Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, Communication Science, Psychology, Social Geography, Planning and International Development Studies, and Educational Sciences.

The academic staff is employed in education as well as research. There are over 1,100 employees at the Faculty, which resides in a number of buildings in the centre of Amsterdam. To optimize its core functions of education and research, the faculty offers room for further development of separate disciplines in an international framework. Where desirable, it offers a platform for an inspiring interaction between relevant disciplines.