CEA plans to welcome students abroad for the Spring 2021 Semester. We've developed new COVID-19 protocols and are actively monitoring the global health landscape to support the safety of our students and staff.
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$1,000 Flight Voucher when you apply with code by October 01, 2020
CEA is adjusting our housing to meet CDC guidelines. As CEA implements CDC aligned protocols, our housing providers are also applying measures as required by local guidelines and laws. Students should expect to see the four factors below, as well as other local regulations, in all CEA housing locations.
Limiting housing occupancy to a 4 student maximum per apartment, and 2 student maximum per bedroom.
Students will also agree to additional policies to safeguard the health of each person in the shared living space.
CEA is following U.S. CDC guidelines for “family groups” to allow for respectful spacing within housing assignments.
All student sleeping accommodations will be adjusted to allow proper distance between beds.
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. The room includes a bed, desk, chair, shelves, and a small kitchen. The residences have ample communal space inside and outside, study spaces, and shared laundry facilities. The buildings have 24-hour reception and security.
Summer: 10 meal vouchers per 2-week session (1 meal voucher/weekday, M-F); to be spent in the university canteen
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.
The CEA Amsterdam Center–Extension was established to make internships more accessible to North American students. CEA Amsterdam Center–Extension courses are designed to increase your understanding of the workplace culture in Amsterdam and prepare you to leverage your international internship experience in the global workforce. CEA Study Center–Extension destinations also offer the opportunity for niche academic programming and a small faculty-to-student ratio. After the successful completion of a session at the CEA Amsterdam Center–Extension, students will receive a UNH transcript.
Please note Academic Performance Reviews and staffing models for CEA Center–Extensions are modified to align with the scope of their programming.
Courses offered at the CEA Amsterdam Virtual Center – Extension have been designed in conjunction with, and approved by, the University of New Haven (UNH). In addition, faculty appointments have been approved by UNH. After the successful completion of a session at the CEA Amsterdam Virtual Center – Extension you will receive credit for your work from UNH. Located in Connecticut, the University of New Haven is a student-focused, comprehensive university that’s fully accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The agreement between CEA and UNH follows the highest standards of good practice in education abroad and satisfies the rigorous requirements of the University's institutional accreditor, making credits earned at the CEA Amsterdam Virtual Center – Extension are easily transferable to US-accredited institutions. Learn more about UNH's service as the University of Record for CEA.
Faculty at the CEA Amsterdam Virtual Center- Extension carefully evaluate student work and progress throughout their academic session. When calculating final grades, instructors consider written and oral exercises, homework assignments, attendance, classroom participation, and exam performance.
The following grading system is in use at the CEA Amsterdam Virtual Center- Extension:
|
CEA Grading Scale (Effective Spring 2017) |
||||
|
Letter Grade |
Numerical Grade Low Range |
Numerical Grade High Range |
Percentage Range |
Quality Points |
|
A+ |
9.70 |
10.00 |
97.0 - 100% |
4.00 |
|
A |
9.40 |
9.69 |
94.0 - 96.9% |
4.00 |
|
A- |
9.00 |
9.39 |
90.0 – 93.9% |
3.70 |
|
B+ |
8.70 |
8.99 |
87.0 – 89.9% |
3.30 |
|
B |
8.40 |
8.69 |
84.0 – 86.9% |
3.00 |
|
B- |
8.00 |
8.39 |
80.0 – 83.9% |
2.70 |
|
C+ |
7.70 |
7.99 |
77.0 – 79.9% |
2.30 |
|
C |
7.40 |
7.69 |
74.0 – 76.9% |
2.00 |
|
C- |
7.00 |
7.39 |
70.0- 73.9% |
1.70 |
|
D |
6.00 |
6.99 |
60.0 – 69.9% |
1.00 |
|
F |
0.00 |
5.99 |
0 - 59.9% |
0.00 |
|
W |
Withdrawal |
|
|
0.00 |
|
INC |
Incomplete |
|
|
0.00 |
Completion of a course is defined as a receipt of a letter grade (A+ to F) as opposed to Withdrawal or Incomplete.
In order to determine a quality point ratio, each letter grade from a completed course is assigned a quality point value. The quality point value for each grade earned during a semester is multiplied by the number of semester hours assigned to that course. The sum of these points is the total number of quality points earned during the semester. It is divided by the number of semester hours completed to obtain the quality point ratio (QPR).
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.
| 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 |
