The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is a public research university with more than 44,000 students, 62 bachelor’s and 72 master’s programmes, of which 14 and 53 are taught in English.[1] It is 60th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 62nd in the Times Higher Education ranking 2027.[2][3]
For 2026/27 the statutory fee for EU/EEA, Swiss and Surinamese students is €2,694.[4] The UvA fee page currently shows institutional rates for non-EEA students only for 2027/28, from €15,730 for a bachelor’s in Economics and Business to €37,200 for a master’s in Medicine. Students who enrolled on or before 1 September 2026 keep their own rate, indexed.[4]
Key facts
| Official name | Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA) |
| Location | Amsterdam, Netherlands (address on the UvA contact page: Spui 21, 1012 WX Amsterdam)[5] |
| Type | Public research university[6] |
| Founded | 1632, as the Athenaeum Illustre; university status in 1877[7] |
| Students | Over 44,000[1] |
| Staff | About 6,200 employees and 3,000 PhD researchers[1] |
| Programmes | 62 bachelor’s (14 in English) and 72 master’s (53 in English)[1] |
| Faculties | Seven: Humanities; Social and Behavioural Sciences; Economics and Business; Science; Law; Medicine; Dentistry[6] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 60th[2] |
| Times Higher Education 2027 | 62nd, second-highest Dutch university[3] |
| Tuition 2026/27, statutory rate | €2,694 (full-time)[4] |
| Tuition, non-EEA (published for 2027/28) | €15,730 to €37,200 depending on faculty and level[4] |
| Application fee, bachelor’s | €100, non-refundable, for applicants with an international diploma[8] |
| Official website | uva.nl |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About the University of Amsterdam
The UvA traces its history to 1632, when the Athenaeum Illustre was founded to educate the citizens of Amsterdam.[7] It was elevated to university status in 1877, and its main campus is in central Amsterdam. The Faculty of Science is based at the 70-hectare Amsterdam Science Park.[6]
The UvA reports over 44,000 students, about 6,200 employees and 3,000 PhD researchers, and says more than 100 nationalities are represented.[1][7] The university has seven faculties.[6]
How is the University of Amsterdam ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, the UvA is 60th in the world with a score of 80.2. That is second among Dutch universities, behind TU Delft (48th) and ahead of Utrecht (113th) and Leiden (119th).[2] IamExpat lists the UvA at 60th as well.[9]
In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, published on 30 September 2026, the UvA is 62nd, the same place as last year and the second-highest Dutch university in that list. Five Dutch universities are in its top 100.[3] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at the University of Amsterdam?
The UvA lists 62 bachelor’s programmes (14 in English, 3 joint degrees) and 72 master’s programmes (53 in English, 7 joint degrees). It also offers research master’s, dual master’s, teacher training and executive master’s programmes.[1] The seven faculties are Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Science, Law, Medicine and Dentistry.[6]
Four bachelor’s programmes have a fixed number of places (numerus fixus): Business Administration (English track), Economics and Business Economics (English track), Political Science (English track) and Psychology. Two others, Liberal Arts & Sciences (Amsterdam University College) and PPLE (Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics), have their own selection.[8]
How much does the University of Amsterdam cost in 2026/27?
The statutory fee for 2026/27 is €2,694 for full-time students. It applies to students from the Netherlands, the EEA, the EU, Switzerland and Suriname who meet the legal requirements, and to holders of certain residence permits.[4]
Institutional rate. Students who are not nationals of an EU/EEA state, Switzerland or Suriname pay the institutional rate. The UvA page shows institutional tables only for 2027/28 and none for 2026/27, so the table below is the latest published schedule, not the 2026/27 one. Students who enrolled on or before 1 September 2026 keep their rate, indexed for wage and price developments (2.85 percent for 2027/28), for the regular programme length plus one year.[4]
| Faculty | Bachelor’s, non-EEA | Master’s, non-EEA |
|---|---|---|
| Humanities | €17,600 | €25,900 (one year); €20,400 (two years) |
| Economics and Business | €15,730 | €24,500; Finance €25,300 |
| Law | €17,600 | €25,900 (one year) |
| Social and Behavioural Sciences | €16,670 | €23,455 |
| Science | €21,900 | €34,200 (one year); €26,000 (two years) |
| Medicine | €34,500 | €37,200 |
Other rates on the same page include €19,200 for the PPLE bachelor’s, €21,160 for Amsterdam University College and €13,200 for the interfaculty teacher training master’s. Dentistry charges €34,500 (bachelor’s) and €37,200 (master’s). The statutory fee for Amsterdam University College is €5,780 and for PPLE €5,819 in 2027/28.[4] A second Dutch degree is charged a separate, lower institutional rate on the page.[4] The page carries no “last updated” date.
How do you apply to the University of Amsterdam?
Bachelor’s. You submit an enrolment request in Studielink, activate your UvAnetID, pay the €100 application fee and then submit your file in the UvA application system. Required documents include diplomas and transcripts, an English test certificate if required, and a CV. Non-selective programmes use rolling admissions. The fee is non-refundable and is waived only in the cases the page lists, such as a fee already paid for another UvA bachelor’s in the same year.[8]
For the numerus fixus programmes you apply through Studielink, a selection procedure follows if applications exceed places, and Studielink assigns a ranking number. If you are offered a place you must confirm it in Studielink within two weeks.[8]
Master’s. Requirements are set by the programme. The Business Administration master’s, for example, asks for an academic bachelor’s or master’s degree with the required credits, a GPA of at least 7.0 (or equivalent), a GMAT or GRE score and a motivation letter of one page.[10]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by programme and by nationality. The bachelor’s page we read describes the 2027/28 application cycle.[8]
Which English level do you need?
For English-taught bachelor’s programmes the 2027/28 page accepts these tests: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with 6 in each section; TOEFL iBT 92 with 22 in each section (or 4.5 overall on the 1 to 6 scale); Cambridge C1 Advanced 175 or C2 Proficiency with 170 in each section; Pearson PTE Academic 71 with 65 per section; LanguageCert Academic 70 with 65 per section. The test must be less than two years old on 1 September, and IELTS Online, IELTS One Skill Retake, TOEFL Home Edition and TOEFL MyBest are not accepted. PPLE and Liberal Arts & Sciences have their own requirements.[8]
The Business Administration master’s asks for IELTS 6.5 overall (6.0 in reading and listening, 6.5 in speaking and writing) or TOEFL iBT 92 with 22 per section. Exemptions apply to applicants with previous education in the Netherlands, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States.[10] Other master’s programmes may set different levels, so check your programme page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the University of Amsterdam cost for non-EU students?
The UvA publishes non-EEA institutional rates for 2027/28 from €15,730 (bachelor’s, Economics and Business) to €37,200 (master’s, Medicine). The 2026/27 statutory fee for EU/EEA, Swiss and Surinamese students is €2,694.[4]
Which UvA bachelor’s programmes are numerus fixus?
Business Administration (English track), Economics and Business Economics (English track), Political Science (English track) and Psychology. Amsterdam University College and PPLE run their own selection.[8]
Which English test score do I need for a UvA bachelor’s?
IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with 6 per section or TOEFL iBT 92 with 22 per section, according to the 2027/28 page. Some previous education exempts you.[8]
Is there an application fee at the University of Amsterdam?
Bachelor’s applicants with an international diploma pay €100, non-refundable. The fee is waived only in the cases the page lists.[8]
More about studying in Netherlands
- Netherlands: best universities
- Study in Netherlands: complete guide
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Netherlands
- Amsterdam Business School (University of Amsterdam)
- Amsterdam University College
- Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)
- Eindhoven University of Technology
- Erasmus University Rotterdam
- Leiden University College The Hague
- Leiden University
- Maastricht University
- Nyenrode Business University
- Open Universiteit (Open University of the Netherlands)
- Radboud University
- Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM)
- Tilburg University
- University College Utrecht
- University of Groningen
- University of Twente
- Utrecht University
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- Wageningen University & Research
Sources
[1] University of Amsterdam: Facts and figures (page without a date; footer © 2026)
[2] NL Times: TU Delft continues as Netherlands’ top university in QS World Rankings (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (article of 18 Jun 2026; QS edition 2027)
[3] University of Amsterdam: UvA retains 62nd place in Times Higher Education World University Rankings (news item of 30 Sep 2026)
[4] University of Amsterdam: Tuition fees (page without a date; states the 2026/27 statutory fee, institutional tables are for 2027/28)
[5] University of Amsterdam: Contact (page without a date)
[6] Wikipedia: University of Amsterdam (faculties, campus and status; student figures differ from the UvA’s own)
[7] University of Amsterdam: About the university (page without a date; footer © 2026)
[8] University of Amsterdam: Applying for a Bachelor’s programme (page without a date; describes the 2027/28 cycle)
[9] IamExpat: TU Delft retains title of best Dutch university in QS rankings (article of 19 Jun 2026)
[10] University of Amsterdam: Master’s Business Administration, applicants with an international degree (page without a date; one programme as an example)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.