Prospective Master's Students

Track the status of your application in VUnet
Make sure that you have completed your registration for your programme by 31 August at the latest. See your status overview on VUnet for any requirements you still need to meet to complete your registration.

Your registration is only complete once you see the indication ‘registered’ in the ‘my programmes’ field in Studielink. If you change anything in relation to your application or registration in Studielink or VUnet, it will be shown the next day in your status overview.

Once your registration is complete, you will receive a Proof of Registration document within two to four weeks.

Where will you find the status of your registration?

1. Log in to VUnet.
2. Under ‘Complete Application’, go to the relevant programme.
3. Under ‘Status’, click on ‘Check status’.
4. For each requirement, you can see if you still need to take any action.

Questions?
Do you have questions about the registration process? Please contact the Student Desk or, if you applied with an international diploma, the International Student Advisor (International Office).

Additional information for international students:
Not yet admitted at VU Amsterdam?
If you are still waiting for admission, you are advised to not yet arrange payment. Please wait until you have received a letter of admission.

How can you pay?
If you are a student from a SEPA* country:
You will be able to select the digital authorization option in order to arrange a spread payment option (in 5 instalments), in which case the first payment will be collected from your account around 25 September. Alternatively, you can pay the whole amount ina lump sum.

If you are a student from a SEPA country with a VUFP scholarship:
You can select the digital authorization option and fill out your bank details to stop the messages from being sent. If you do not confirm the digital authorization form in the to-do list in the next step, no payments will be taken out of your account.

If you are a student from a non-SEPA country:
You can fill out your country details to stop Studielink from sending out the messages. Studielink will notify you that you cannot arrange payment directly via Studielink. You can either wait until you have opened a Dutch bank account in August, or arrange an international bank transfer.

All payment details can be found on Tuition Fees.

Do you still have questions about tuition fee payments? Please contact the Student Desk.

* Single Euro Payments Area

Student Desk
Many answers to questions about your degree programme can be found on VUnet. For questions about registration for courses, enrolment, tuition fees, student cards, transcripts, etc. you can visit the Student Desk.
E-mail: studentdesk@vu.nl
Location: Main Building (HG), central hall, VU campus

International Service Desk
The International Service Desk (ISD) deals with general questions of international students.
E-mail: international@vu.nl
Location: Main Building (HG), central hall, VU campus

Coordinators and Academic Advisors
Each track within the Master’s programme has a track coordinator. You can approach him or her with any questions you may have regarding your programme.

You can contact your academic advisor for any questions or advice regarding personal circumstances that are interfering in your studies, a delay in your study progress, or study skills or choices within your degree programme. There is a walk-in session for shorter questions. If you have a question that needs more time, you can also make an appointment. You can find more information about Academic Advisors on VUnet.

Studying with a disability
If you suffer from a disability, a chronic illness, dyslexia, or a mental disability, this does not mean that you will be unable to successfully complete your studies. If you need help with your studies because of your disability, there are a number of people you can turn to. Firstly, you can see an Academic Advisor.

The Student Counsellors at VU Amsterdam can advise you on matters such as financial support in the event of a delay in your study progress. If you have problems such as performance anxiety or study stress, or if you are experiencing problems that are interfering in your studies or preventing you from completing your degree, then you can get in touch with one of the Student Psychological Counsellors at VU Amsterdam. You can find more information on Studying with a disability on VUnet.

You can register for courses in period 1 starting on 15 July up to the first week of the teaching period (no later than 9 September). Please note: for the remaining periods, registration closes three weeks prior to the start of each teaching period.

You can plan your courses by adding them to your schedule in the registration module in VUnet even before the course is open for registration. Please note: planning is not the same as registering! If you have planned courses, you must still register for them, the related teaching activities, and exams. Registration is not automatic. Further information about Registration for Courses and Exams is available on VUnet.

Resit
Once you register for a course, you are also automatically registered for the first exam opportunity for that course, but not for a resit, should that become necessary. If you need to take a written resit, you must register for this separately. You can take care of the registration up to 14 days prior to the resit.

Tip!
Set the deadlines in your calendar or as a reminder in your phone so that you are on time. If you don't sign up in time for courses and exams, you won't be able to participate!

VUnet-ID and VUnet
The VUnet-ID is your username and password that gives you access to all kinds of digital services such as VUnet and Canvas.

VUnet will be an important source of information during your studies at the university. Through this portal you will find all relevant information such as your e-mail, your personal schedule, exam grades, important announcements and a link to the study guide. The VUnet homepage provides news from the university and the world of academia.
Log in using your VUnet-ID, which you should already have received. If you have lost your VUnet-ID, please visit the Student Desk. Take your university registration card or other form of identification for identification purposes.

VU Amsterdam e-mail
Each student is assigned a personal VU Amsterdam e-mail address, with the following format: studentnumber@student.vu.nl. You can read and send e-mails by logging in to VUnet with your VUnet-ID. The university uses this e-mail address exclusively when corresponding with you about your studies. It is essential that you check your inbox regularly to ensure that you do not miss any important information about your degree programme. If you would like to avoid having to log in to check your e-mails, you can have your VU Amsterdam e-mail automatically forwarded to your personal e-mail address.

Canvas
Canvas is the digital learning environment of VU Amsterdam. Each course also has a course in Canvas, to which you automatically have access when you have signed up for the course. On Canvas you will find the course's study manual and examples of exam questions, the teacher will keep you informed about your progress and you will sometimes have to submit assignments via Canvas. Also, after a lecture, teachers often put the lecture sheets on Canvas, so that you can study them again at home.

Study guide and timetable
In the online study guide you will find information about the content of your courses, method of assessment and which literature you need. Here you will also find the Teaching and Examination Regulations of your study programme. The timetable of your study programme can be found at rooster.vu.nl.

Exemptions
If you think you might be eligible for one or more exemptions, based, for example, on your prior education, please submit a request well in advance of commencing the course in question to the Examination Board for your programme. You can do this via VUnet.

Extra courses
If you want to take additional courses alongside your required courses, you can register for ‘extra-curricular courses’. Naturally, you must meet the entry requirements for the course. Please see the course descriptions in the study guide for specifics.

If you take an extra course that is not part of your programme and you wish to add it to your own programme, then you apply to the Examination Board for permission. If you take that extra course at another educational institution, you are responsible for ensuring that the results and credits are forwarded to VU Amsterdam, so that the results can be entered into your file.

High-level athletes and forms of outstanding performance
If you participate in top-level sports or other high-level activities, you may have difficulty combining these with a busy degree programme. For that reason, VU Amsterdam has a High Achievers Scheme (in Dutch) for students who are involved with these kinds of extra-curricular activities in the areas of sports or culture. The scheme includes financial assistance in the event of delays to study progress and features that can help to reduce such delays.

The Boardroom
The Boardroom is a special programme consisting of high-level master classes for a maximum of 20 Master’s students. Every three weeks, a prominent alumnus of VU Amsterdam shares their unique knowledge and skills with you, drawing on their vast expertise and experience. One of our researchers provides an introduction to the topic. You will become acquainted with companies and organizations, and you will develop a skill set that goes above and beyond the standard for your degree programme.

Boardroom activities take place during evening hours, and active participation is expected. The programme runs from October to June. Applications can be sent from 1 August to 1 October.

Thinking about a PhD?
Do you want to obtain a PhD degree and write a doctoral dissertation in the field of theology or religious studies? With more than 250 PhD candidates, the Graduate School of Religion and Theology offers excellent opportunities for high-level academic research and doctorate studies, both residential and non-residential. You can find more information on the website of the Graduate School of Religion and Theology or send an e-mail: grad.school.frt@vu.nl.

For all questions concerning visa, housing/accommodation, funding opportunities, exchange programmes and mobility, please consult the web page PhD Programme.

During your first days, VU International Office will arrange several activities in order to help you become acquainted with the city of Amsterdam and the university campus, to get to know your fellow students and, of course, to have fun!

The Introduction Week will take place from 19 August to 27 August 2019. You don't want to miss out, so mark these days in your agenda!

Start Academic Year
The opening of the faculty academic year will take place on Monday 2 September from 10.00 hours. Read the complete programme of the opening on VUnet.

In the afternoon, you will receive important information about your degree programme and specialization. You will meet your fellow students, and there will of course be an opportunity to ask your questions.

The latest version of the programme can always be found on this page. Before you leave for VU Amsterdam, check this webpage to see if there are any last-minute changes.

Hermeneutics
In the first week of September the obligatory part 'Crash Course Religious Literacy' will be organized for all Master's students following Hermeneutics in the first period.

Spread over five full days (3, 4, 5, 6 and 13 September), you will get an introduction into five world religions in order to be ready for meeting and speaking with students, who believe and practice differently.

The room will be booked from 9.00 hours, but the course days will start at 10.00 and end at 16.00 hours. Check your timetable for the right classroom. More information about the content of the lectures can be found in the digital learning environment Canvas.

Please note: all other lectures are cancelled in this first week of September, even if they are still in your timetable!

Start Academic Year
The opening of the faculty academic year will take place on Monday 2 September from 10.00 hours. Read the complete programme of the opening on VUnet.

In the afternoon, you will receive important information about your degree programme and specialization. You will meet your fellow students, and there will of course be an opportunity to ask your questions.

The latest version of the programme can always be found on this page. Before you leave for VU Amsterdam, check this webpage to see if there are any last-minute changes.

Hermeneutics
In the first week of September the obligatory part 'Crash Course Religious Literacy' will be organized for all Master's students following Hermeneutics in the first period.

Spread over five full days (3, 4, 5, 6 and 13 September), you will get an introduction into five world religions in order to be ready for meeting and speaking with students, who believe and practice differently.

The room will be booked from 9.00 hours, but the course days will start at 10.00 and end at 16.00 hours. Check your timetable for the right classroom. More information about the content of the lectures can be found in the digital learning environment Canvas.

Please note: all other lectures are cancelled in this first week of September, even if they are still in your timetable!