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University · Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam University College

By

Location
Amsterdam Science Park
Students
About 900
Tuition 2026/27
€5,580 / €20,430
Founded
2008 (first class 2009)
The short answer

Amsterdam University College (AUC) is a three-year, English-taught honours college for liberal arts and sciences at Amsterdam Science Park. It is a joint initiative of the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam, and graduates receive a joint bachelor’s (honours) degree issued by both.[1] It has around 900 students and aims to admit about 300 new students a year.[2][3]

For students starting in 2026/27 the tuition fee is €5,580 a year for those who qualify for the statutory fee (Dutch and EU/EEA students, among others) and €20,430 for everyone else.[4] AUC is residential: all students live on campus for the three years.[4] The usual English requirement is IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each part, or an equivalent.[5]

Key facts

Official nameAmsterdam University College (AUC)
LocationAmsterdam Science Park, the Netherlands (Science Park 113, 1098 XG Amsterdam)[6]
TypeHonours college for liberal arts and sciences, a joint initiative of the University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; not a separate university[1]
FoundedOfficially founded in 2008; the founding class started in 2009 and the first graduates received their diplomas in 2012[7]
DegreeJoint bachelor’s (honours) degree issued by the UvA and the VU; three years, full-time[1]
Language of teachingEnglish[1]
MajorsSciences, Social Sciences or Humanities; a student applies for one major[8]
StudentsAround 900 in total; around 300 new students a year[2]
IntakeAims to admit 300 students a year, about 50% of them science majors[3]
HousingResidential: on-campus accommodation guaranteed for three years[4]
Tuition 2026/27, statutory fee level€5,580 per year (Dutch and EU/EEA students and other eligible groups)[4]
Tuition 2026/27, non-EU/EEA€20,430 per year[4]
Quality label“Distinctive feature of small-scale and intensive education” awarded by the NVAO[4]
Official websiteauc.nl

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.

About Amsterdam University College

AUC offers a liberal arts and sciences programme based on the American model, with students living and studying together on an international campus at Amsterdam Science Park. It is small-scale, selective and open to Dutch and international students, and it enrols up to 50% science majors.[1] AUC was officially founded in 2008 on the initiative of the two Amsterdam universities and the municipality, and started with its founding class in 2009.[7]

A college, not a university: AUC is a programme run jointly by the University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The degree is issued by both, and AUC applications are submitted through the UvA’s systems.[1][8] The country table on University.im lists AUC under the University of Amsterdam.

Most alumni go on to graduate study: an AUC survey from September 2023 found that 85% of the 1,930 alumni with a usable LinkedIn profile (of 2,403 alumni in total) had started or completed a graduate degree.[9]

How is Amsterdam University College ranked?

AUC does not appear as a separate institution in the QS World University Rankings. The University of Amsterdam, one of its two parent universities, is 60th in the world and 16th in Europe in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026.[10] We found no QS position for Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the source we read, and no ranking position for AUC itself.

On quality, AUC reports that the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organisation (NVAO) awarded it the “Distinctive feature of small-scale and intensive education”.[4] A ranking of the parent university says little about a single honours college, so treat the UvA position as context only. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at Amsterdam University College?

AUC offers one programme: a full-time, selective three-year honours bachelor’s in Liberal Arts and Sciences, taught entirely in English.[1] You choose one of three majors when you apply: Sciences, Social Sciences or Humanities.[8] Science majors earn a BSc and social science and humanities majors a BA.[7]

The programme combines breadth with depth and stresses the sciences. Students tackle “big questions” in science and society from the first day, and the college says a key aspect is working on real-life problems.[1] Each student is supported by a personal tutor, and students can move on to master’s programmes at the UvA, VU Amsterdam, other Dutch universities and abroad.[9]

How much does Amsterdam University College cost in 2026/27?

CostDutch and EU/EEA (statutory fee level)Non-EU/EEA
Tuition fee per year (2026/27)€5,580€20,430
Residential campus fee (one-time, covers three years of housing)€675€675
Rent for a standard single room, approximate per year€4,392

The fees apply to students starting in September 2026. AUC says the fee supports small-scale, intensive teaching, personal tutoring and career development.[4] The rent estimate includes service charges and municipal taxes and takes the 2026 rent benefit (huurtoeslag) into account; the student residences are owned and managed by the housing association DUWO and rent is paid to DUWO.[4] Shared apartments do not qualify for rent benefit.[4]

Who pays the statutory fee level?

Nationals of EU/EEA countries, including Dutch students, pay the statutory fee level if they have not previously obtained a bachelor’s degree in the Netherlands. Swiss and Surinamese nationals and non-EEA students who are eligible for Dutch study grants (DUO) meet the nationality condition too, and students enrolled via the Foundation for Refugee Students (UAF) pay the same rate. Everyone else pays the non-EU/EEA fee.[11]

Financial aid

The AUC Scholarship Fund supports talented and underrepresented students selected on merit and financial need.[4] Dutch student finance depends on programme, age, nationality and residency; see the DUO website.[4] For living costs in Amsterdam see our Study in the Netherlands guide.

How do you apply to Amsterdam University College?

The route is the same for Dutch and international applicants:[8]

  1. Verify your identity: students living in the Netherlands use DigiD; students abroad use a digital copy of their passport or ID.
  2. Submit an enrolment request in Studielink, choosing the University of Amsterdam and the programme “Liberal Arts and Sciences – joint degree UvA-VU”, then your major (Sciences, Social Sciences or Humanities).
  3. Activate your UvAnetID, which arrives by email within 72 hours.
  4. Complete and submit your application in the UvA’s Student Information System (SIS).
  5. Wait for the decision, then accept your offer in SIS.

You may submit only one application per cycle and cannot change your major during the process.[8][3] Applications are assessed on their merits as a whole. Each complete application is reviewed independently by two admissions tutors, and the Admissions Committee oversees the selection.[3] Every offer is conditional.[12]

AUC has early, regular and sometimes late deadlines, which differ every year. We list none here; check the official deadlines page for the intake you want.[8]

Entry requirements

  • A secondary school diploma equivalent to the Dutch VWO, checked with the Diploma Finder on the UvA website. Predicted grades, as in the International Baccalaureate, are not accepted.[12]
  • Mathematics as an examination subject at secondary school at a level that depends on your major.[12]
  • Proof of English (see below).[12]
  • Students admitted so far have averaged a secondary school GPA of 7.0 or above on the Dutch scale, but AUC says this is only an average and that motivation, affinity with liberal arts and sciences and personal context count equally.[12]

Which English level do you need?

English is the language of instruction and interaction, and you must meet the requirement before you start.[5] You meet it with one of the following:[5]

  • Dutch VWO diploma with a final grade of 7 or higher in English.
  • Education entirely in English in a country where English is the first language, or a secondary school diploma taught completely in English (this excludes the European Baccalaureate and the French OIB).
  • TOEFL iBT: 100 in total with at least 24 in Reading, 22 in Listening, 24 in Writing and 25 in Speaking, or 5 in every part on the 1–6 scale. MyBest scores and the Home Edition are not accepted; the UvA reporting code is 9011.
  • IELTS Academic: 7.0 overall and at least 6.5 in each of the four parts, taken in person. IELTS Online and One Skill Retake are not accepted.
  • Cambridge English Scale: 190 or higher on the C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency.

Other proofs, such as certain national diplomas or an IB Standard Level English grade 5, may be accepted on request. Proof older than two years must be renewed.[5]

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Amsterdam University College cost?

For students starting in 2026/27 the tuition fee is €5,580 a year at the statutory fee level and €20,430 for students who do not qualify. Housing is extra: a one-time residential campus fee of €675 and rent of about €4,392 a year for a standard single room.[4]

Is Amsterdam University College part of the University of Amsterdam?

It is a joint initiative of the University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and the bachelor’s degree is issued jointly by both. You apply through the UvA’s systems.[1][8]

Do I have to live on campus at AUC?

AUC is a residential programme: all students live in on-campus accommodation for the three years of their study, and AUC guarantees housing for all enrolled students.[4]

What English test score does AUC require?

IELTS Academic 7.0 overall with at least 6.5 in every part, TOEFL iBT 100 with minimum subscores, or 190 on the Cambridge English Scale. Some applicants are exempt, for example with a Dutch VWO English grade of 7 or higher.[5]

How competitive is Amsterdam University College?

AUC describes itself as selective and aims to admit about 300 students a year.[1][3] It does not publish a success rate on the pages we read.

More about studying in Netherlands

More university profiles in Netherlands

Sources

[1] Amsterdam University College: About AUC (page without a date)

[2] Amsterdam University College: AUC FAQs (page without a date)

[3] Amsterdam University College: Policy on admissions (page without a date)

[4] Amsterdam University College: Tuition fees & costs (page without a date; fees for students starting in September 2026)

[5] Amsterdam University College: English proficiency requirements (page without a date)

[6] Amsterdam University College: Visit AUC (page without a date)

[7] Wikipedia: Amsterdam University College (founding history and degree types)

[8] Amsterdam University College: Application guidelines (page without a date)

[9] Amsterdam University College: Alumni facts and figures (page without a date; survey of September 2023)

[10] NL Times: TU Delft continues as top Dutch university in QS World Rankings (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (article of 18 Jun 2026; QS 2027 edition)

[11] Amsterdam University College: Who pays the statutory tuition fee level? (page without a date; general guidance only)

[12] Amsterdam University College: Admission requirements (page without a date)

Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.