Get a Flight Credit worth up to $1,000
when you apply with code* by February 17, 2023
*Housing options may change term over term and will be confirmed on the housing application form prior to the start of the term. Below are the housing options that have been offered in the past.
Semester
Summer
Students looking to stay abroad with other international students and get the benefits of shared living should pick this housing option. Students will be placed in a hotel-like building in a furnished private room, with a bed, desk, chair, and shelves. The residences have ample communal space inside and outside, study spaces, and shared laundry facilities. The buildings have 24-hour reception and security.
Semester
CEA Students have the option to stay with a Dutch family while abroad in Amsterdam. Get the insider local’s perspective and even practice your Dutch language while getting a truly personalized experience. Houses are easily accessible to VU Amsterdam by bike or public transportation. Each student is guaranteed an independent bedroom, with internet, a bed, a wardrobe, and a desk. Students have access to the kitchen and are invited to have dinner with the family once a week.
While CEA highly recommends that you choose one of our Amsterdam housing options provided, you also have the option to arrange independent housing. If your ideal housing scenario includes living in a particular neighborhood, having specific amenities or living with a specific person as your roommate, then independent housing could be just the ticket for you.
Use the online housing application form to request permission for this option no later than the application closure date. If your request is approved, you will receive a rebate for your housing payment, however CEA will not provide you with any assistance setting up independent housing. Keep in mind, rebates are not granted to students who move out of their CEA housing or choose to pursue independent living arrangements after the application closure date.
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) was founded in 1880 and is now ranked one of the top 100 universities in the world. With a focus on research and academic excellence, VU Amsterdam hosts about 25,000 students a year, and 14% of them are international. Higher education in the Netherlands is world renowned and regulated by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO). All Bachelor programs are accredited through the NVAO.
VU Amsterdam was the first university in the Netherlands to be established without interference from the church or the state. In fact, Vrije Universiteit literally means Free University. That secular tradition continues in the university’s work to create its own study programs with an emphasis on a personalized approach to teaching and learning. The campus is easy to navigate, thanks to the single-building complex design, and students quickly feel at home.
The university has a wide variety of academic offerings, with over 350 courses regularly taught in English. Like many Dutch institutions, VU Amsterdam puts a heavy emphasis on academic responsibility and independence. Instructors expect students to be active listeners and participate in classroom discussions. There is a high level of classroom interaction, a strict adherence to attendance policies and school rules, and direct honesty in grading, with no grade inflation.
When you study at VU Amsterdam, you’ll be just 15 minutes by bike from the city center. International students are actively welcomed, and encouraged to take part in arts, sports, and cultural programs through the student center and the ERASMUS Student Network (ESN). You can even expand your horizon by joining student clubs, participating in free workshops, or joining a volunteer program. From the campus bike repair shop to volleyball courts to film screenings and the on-campus grocery store, VU Amsterdam creates a cozy home away from home for all students.
VU Amsterdam is fully recognized by the Dutch Ministry of Education as a research university. All bachelor's and master's degree programmes at VU Amsterdam are either accredited by or in the process of being accredited by NVAO (Nederlands-Vlaamse Accreditatieorganisatie,) the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders. This body was established by international treaty and guarantees the quality of higher education in the Netherlands and Flemish-speaking Belgium through the accreditation of study programs. VU's Business School is also accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
| ECTS % | Quality Assessment | ECTS grade | Dutch grade |
| 10% | Excellent/Very good | A | 8.0 - 10.0 |
| 25% | Good | B | 7.5 - 7.9 |
| 30% | More than satisfactory | C | 7.0 - 7.4 |
| 25% | Satisfactory | D | 6.5 - 6.9 |
| 10% | Sufficient | E | 5.5 - 6.4 |
| Fail | F | 0.0 - 5.4 |
