STEM in Amsterdam

Amsterdam, Netherlands
STEM in Amsterdam

About the Program

Study in the model city for engineering and urban planning. Immerse yourself in a world of cutting edge technology and data that works to improve city services and environmental sustainability. With the STEM in Amsterdam program, you can dive into courses in the Faculty of Science and choose from a list of about 100 courses in English. Study Computer Science, Mathematics, Biology, Health Sciences, Geology, Environmental Sciences, and more. Many courses even include a laboratory component, so be sure to check the course descriptions for details. CEA CAPA students are integrated directly with degree-seeking international and Dutch students. This program is offered in Fall, Spring, and the Spring-Extended semesters.

Program Notes


VU Amsterdam is a highly competitive program. Students applying for this program will be waitlisted for admission, and will know their acceptance decision no later than March 15 for fall semester and October 15 for spring semester. We encourage you to work with your CEA CAPA Student Advisor to identify a backup program option.

Requirements

Overview

Location:

Amsterdam

Dates:

mid Aug 2025 - late Dec 2025

Price:

$23,195

Credits:

12 - 15

Deadlines

Apply By:

2/15/25

Withdraw By:

3/15/25

Requirements

$95 Online Application Fee
Program Participation Agreement
Transcript - Unofficial
Complete Application

Eligibility

Minimum GPA:

3.0

Education Completed:

1 Year of College completed prior to program start

Course Prerequisites:

Some courses may have prerequisites.

Get a Flight Credit worth up to $750 when you apply with code* by October 17, 2024

Where You'll Study

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

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 abo...

Clubs & Organizations
Clubs & Organizations
Student Government
Student Government
Student Center
Student Center
Student Lounge
Student Lounge
12-15

Credits

Program Structure & Courses

You’ll enroll in 4 to 5 VU courses. Each semester is divided into block periods. Block periods are each 8 weeks, with 7 weeks of classes and 1 week of exams. In the Fall semester, you select from courses offered in Period 1 and Period 2. In the Spring semester, you select from courses offered in Period 4 and Period 5. In the Spring-Extended semester, you have the option to extend your stay in Amsterdam and take an additional course in Period 6.

You take two courses per Period. You have the option to enroll in an elective focused on Dutch language or culture. This elective runs across two Periods and is taught in the evenings.

Each semester, you take a minimum of 12 credits and a maximum of 15 credits. If you select the Spring-Extended semester, you can take a minimum of 15 credits and a maximum of 18 credits. Courses are generally awarded 6 ECTS credits, which transfer to 3 US Credits per course.

Classes generally meet Monday – Friday. Active learning components required by courses may be scheduled any day of the week. Classes are not necessarily offered on the same day each week. For this reason we highly recommend that, within each period, you choose electives from the same thematic area to avoid scheduling conflicts.

Prior to departure, you will indicate your preferred courses, as well as two alternative options per Period. It is in your best interest to have multiple alternative courses approved by your home university prior to your departure due to course availabilities. Please consult with your academic advisor at your home university on credit pre-approval guidelines. Registration for all classes will take place before you arrive on campus, so you will have your finalized schedule in place early.

Academic accommodations are available at VU Amsterdam for students who provide documentation from a psychologist or health care provider. Policies at VU may differ from those available at your home university. Please contact CEA CAPA directly if you will be applying for academic accommodation so that we can connect you with the correct application procedures. 

Students receive a transcript from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam upon completing the program.

All Levels Course Structure

Courses

The host institution has offered the following courses in the past. Please note that course listings will not be finalized until the start of the term.

*Courses with an asterisk indicate that the course has been associated with multiple subject areas.
Please click on the course title to view additional subject areas and detailed course information.

Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Accounting II - Period 1 200 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Core Themes in Anthropology-Period 1 100 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Moroccan Arabic 1 - Period 1 100 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Exhibition Machines- Period 1 200 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Geobotany-Period 1 300 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Discover Dutch: Language & Culture 100 Ot 84 3
Imagining the Dutch: Themes Dutch History 200 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Literacy Development - Period 1 * 200 En 84 3
Values, Philosophy and Education - Period 1 300 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Climate Science- Period 1 300 En 84 3
Ecosystem Modeling- Period 1 300 En 84 3
Environmental Toxicology- Period 1 300 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Film and Media History- Period 1 200 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
French 1 - Period 1 100 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Geo Data - Period 1 300 En 84 3
Geographic Analysis and Visualisation - Period 1 300 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Case Studies in Petrology - Period 1 300 En 84 3
Earth and Life through Time - Period 1 300 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Graphic Design: Histories & Theories - Period 1 200 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Medical Biochemistry - Period 1 * 200 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Introduction to Digital Humanities and Social Analytics - Period 1 200 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
News and Journalism - Period 1 * 100 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Language in Social Media - Period 1 200 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Cognitive Neuroscience - Period 1 300 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Ancient Philosophy-Period 1 100 En 84 3
Epistemology-Period 1 200 En 84 3
Great Minds I - Period 1 200 En 84 3
History of Analytic Philosophy - Period 1 300 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Current Topics in Cognition - Period 1 300 En 84 3
Evolutionary Psychology- Period 1 300 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Spanish 1 - Period 1 100 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Moroccan Arabic 2 - Period 2 200 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Archaeology of the Ancient Near East - Period 2 200 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Planetary Science - Period 2 300 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Isotope Geochemistry - Period 2 300 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Urban Culture and Public Space- Period 2 200 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Water Management in the Netherlands - Period 2 300 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
American Film - Period 2 300 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
French 2 - Period 2 200 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Biogeosciences - Period 2 300 En 84 3
Sediment Dynamics - Period 2 300 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Global Development and Prosperity - Period 2 300 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Genes in Behaviour and Health- Period 2 300 En 84 3
Medical Pharmacology - Period 2 200 En 84 3
Toxicology - Period 2 300 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Climate Change Law-Period 2 300 En 84 3
Data Analytics and Privacy-Period 2 300 En 84 3
International Tax Law - Period 2 400 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Marketing I - Period 2 100 En 84 3
Marketing II - Period 2 200 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Media, Society and Politics - Period 2 300 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Brain in Trouble-Period 2 300 En 84 3
Mind Brain and Education - Period 2 300 En 84 3
Neurosciences - Period 2 200 En 84 3
The Developing Brain- Period 2 300 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Research Toolbox- Period 2 300 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Identity, Diversity and Inclusion- Period 2 300 En 84 3
Nation and Migration - Period 2 300 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Spanish 2 - Period 2 200 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
E-Commerce Supply Chain Management- Period 2 300 En 84 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
Governance of Global Sustainability- Period 2 300 En 84 3

Interested in taking your career to the next level?

Where You'll Stay

*Housing options may change 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.

Excursions

Get out and explore! Excursions are offered for most semester, year, and summer programs. Semester students are typically offered between two to three excursions and summer study students are typically offered between one to two excursions. You'll receive a calendar of excursions during orientation; here are a few day and overnight excursions we've offered in the past.

What's Included in your Program

From housing to excursions, our programs include a variety of inclusions to enhance your study abroad experience! Here are examples that may be available in Amsterdam. Inclusions vary by program – please contact our Enrollment and Advising team to find out what options are available for you.

  • Personalized Pre-Departure Advising
  • Visa & Immigration Advising
  • Financial Advising
  • Tuition and Registration
  • Airport Pick-up
  • Onsite Orientation
  • City Tour
  • Onsite Staff Support
  • 24/7 Emergency Assistance
  • Travel Medical Insurance
  • International Emergency Service Support
  • Welcome & Farewell Events
  • Centrally Located Housing
  • Wellness Activities
  • Cultural Engagement
  • Excursions
  • Student Clubs & Organizations
  • Host Institution Services & Amenities
  • Official Transcript(s)
  • VU Scholarship Opportunities

Sample Calendar

The calendar for this program is coming soon; please check back later.


Sample Budget

This budget contains costs that you can take to your financial aid office. Please note that amounts may fluctuate; we've included a range of costs.

Federal law allows the use of financial aid to cover "reasonable" costs of study abroad including round-trip transportation, tuition and fees for the program, living costs, passport and visa fees, health insurance, and more.

Please note that all costs and charges listed below are subject to change without notice. With the exception of Program Price, all costs are estimates and may vary.

Description Low-Cost High-Cost
Program Fee
Tuition and fees, registration, orientation, airport pickup, welcome and farewell receptions, housing, official transcript, cultural excursions/activities, student support services, CEA On-site Staff and administrative costs.
$23,195
$23,195
International Airfare & Transfers
Cost varies depending on time of purchase, point of origin and time of travel.
$700
$1,500
Immigration Requirements
Includes passport and additional requirements such as visa, entry and exit fees, French Carte de Séjour, French University Administrative Fee (if applicable), or Italian Permesso di Soggiorno.
$415
$415
Books, Materials and Supplies
Includes books, school supplies, art supplies, and course fees. Does not include fees or supplies for optional courses. This cost varies depending on the course choices of the student.
$56
$140
Meals
Includes the average expected cost for meals in housing option without a meal plan, such as daily groceries and eating out at restaurants. 
$1,789
$3,066
Personal Expenses
Includes telephone, laundry, local transportation, personal necessities and upfront payments for potential doctor visits. Please note, certain locations may require deposits to secure spots in CEA organized activities and excursions (deposits are returned at the end of the program if student attends activities/excursions or cancels participation before set deadlines). Some of these costs vary according to the spending habits of the student.
$560
$1,120
Travel Expenses
Includes additional travel outside of CEA excursions. This cost varies according to the spending habits of the student.
$1,278
$5,110
TOTAL EXPENSES $27,993 $34,546