Founded in 1880, VU Amsterdam is a research university with a strong focus on societal relevance and a campus located in the Zuidas business district.
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, VU Amsterdam, was founded in 1880 by the theologian and statesman Abraham Kuyper as a university free from state and church control, which explains its name. The founders were Dutch Protestants, and the university had a Reformed character for decades, although it is now open to all. It has about 32,000 students and 5,000 staff, and around one student in ten comes from abroad. The campus lies in the south of Amsterdam, along the Zuidas business district, with the main building on De Boelelaan.
The university is organised in faculties of humanities, law, science, social sciences, behavioural and movement sciences, economics and business administration, religion and theology, and medicine, with the Amsterdam UMC shared with the University of Amsterdam. Dentistry is taught in a joint centre, ACTA, with its partner. The location in the business district gives students many chances for internships in banking, law and consulting.
VU Amsterdam is known for research in earth and climate sciences, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, health and ageing, and economics. The university has a special interest in societal themes such as sustainability, migration, inequality and technology, and it asks researchers to work with partners outside academia. Its Network Institute brings together computer scientists and social scientists on digital society.
EU students pay the statutory Dutch tuition fee, which is around two and a half thousand euros a year, while students from outside the EU pay a higher institutional fee set by each programme. Check the current tariff. Applications go through Studielink, and some programmes use selection or limited places. Many bachelor’s programmes are taught in English, and most master’s degrees are in English.
Amsterdam rents are high, and housing is the main obstacle for newcomers. The campus is connected to the city centre by metro and train from Amsterdam Zuid station.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, Chemistry, Computer Vision, Data Analytics, Ecology and Sustainability, Mathematics, Microbiology and Genetics, Nanotechnologies, Physics, Software Engineering, Statistics
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Aurora Network. Collaborates with many international universities and organizations.
Research:
Human health and life sciences, Science for sustainability, Connected world, Governance for society.
Famous Alumnis:
Gerrit Zalm, Jan Peter Balkenende, Werner Arber (guest professor)
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
5000
Current students***:
32000
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
150000
Pros
Campus university in Amsterdam’s business district, strong societal engagement, increasing number of English programs.
Cons
Can be overshadowed by UvA in some rankings, campus location is not in the historic city center.
Best For
Research with societal impact, particularly in health and sciences, in Amsterdam.
Another national school that puts bioinformatics, nanotechnologies and microbiology and genetics at the centre is Radboud Universiteit, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
The comparison with Universiteit Leiden is straightforward on subjects, since both focus on bioinformatics, nanotechnologies and microbiology and genetics, and it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers astroscience as well.
Universiteit van Amsterdam follows much the same lines as this university, with bioinformatics, nanotechnologies and microbiology and genetics as common ground, and it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers astroscience and telecommunications as well.
Universiteit Utrecht shares the core fields of this institution, namely bioinformatics, nanotechnologies and microbiology and genetics; it is slightly larger, at about 37,000 students against roughly 32,000 here, and is also a public institution.
A good alternative in the same country is Technische Universiteit Delft, which likewise covers bioinformatics, nanotechnologies and bioengineering; it is slightly smaller, at about 27,500 students against roughly 32,000 here, and is also a public institution.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
If this institution is on your list for bioinformatics, nanotechnologies and microbiology and genetics, Universiteit Antwerpen in Belgium deserves a comparison, because it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers process control and telecommunications as well.
A foreign alternative with a similar emphasis on bioinformatics, nanotechnologies and bioengineering is Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium, and it covers optics and fluid dynamics as well, and is smaller, enrolling about 20,000 students against roughly 32,000 here.
A foreign alternative with a similar emphasis on bioinformatics, nanotechnologies and microbiology and genetics is Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca in Italy, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Fudan brings a China setting to the same core fields, bioinformatics, nanotechnologies and microbiology and genetics, and it has almost the same size, at about 35,000 students, and is also a public institution.
For bioinformatics, microbiology and genetics and bioengineering outside the home country, Università degli Studi di Verona in Italy is a natural reference; it is slightly smaller, at about 24,000 students against roughly 32,000 here, and is also a public institution.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is VU Amsterdam?
The main building is at De Boelelaan 1105 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Zuidas district.
When was it founded?
In 1880, by Abraham Kuyper.
Why is it called Vrije Universiteit?
The name means Free University, as it was founded free from state and church control.
How large is it?
About 32,000 students and 5,000 staff.
What is it best known for?
Earth and climate sciences, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, health, economics and law.
What is ACTA?
A joint dentistry centre run by VU Amsterdam and the University of Amsterdam.
What does it cost?
EU students pay the statutory Dutch tuition fee, around two and a half thousand euros a year. Students from outside the EU pay a higher institutional fee. Check the current tariff.
How do you apply?
Through Studielink, and some programmes use selection or limited places.
In which language are courses taught?
Many bachelor's programmes in English, and most master's degrees in English.
Is it easy to reach from the centre?
Yes, by metro and train from Amsterdam Zuid station.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Human-Centered Design, Sustainable Development, User experience (UX)
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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