University of Amsterdam (UvA) is a public research university with its main campus in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the city center's historic area. The university is large, with a total of around 42,171 students. Admissions are competitive and differ according to program: for foreign students the acceptance rate is low, approximately 4–6%, but the overall acceptance rate is about 50–51%. Most popular majors are Social Sciences, Business, Law, Humanities, Medicine, and Economics.
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) is a public research university located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the district of Amsterdam-Zuid. It is a large university with approximately 29,796 students. Admissions are fairly competitive, with a rate of acceptance estimated at approximately 45%, though selective options like Medicine and Law have more stringent requirements. Business, Social Sciences, Economics, Law, and Sciences are among the most popular majors.
| University of Amsterdam | Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 6.3 Out of 10 | 5.9 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 53 QS World University 2026 # 62 Times Higher Education 2026 # 55 QS World University 2025 | # 176 Times Higher Education 2026 # 194 QS World University 2026 # 136 Times Higher Education 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 173 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 # 51 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 36 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 | # 401 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 # 107 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 101 for Law by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -11 PG Programs -99 | UG Programs -16 PG Programs -82 |
| Acceptance Rate | 0.0 % | 45.0 % |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 13200 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 19272 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 925 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 9538 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 18959 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 750 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | The University of Amsterdam has a team for career and employability that has won an award for their dedication to supporting the student throughout the process of placement. The university hosts fairs and events to provide students with a job. The students in the final year gain more work experience and are also placed in research institutions, museums, or private conservation studios. Avverage Salaries by Degree:
| The programs and average salary are as follows: Masters in Science: $58,000 Masters in Management: $69,000 Masters in Finance: $73,000 Doctorate: $113,000 |
| application requirements | Submit official transcripts of all previous education Submit English language proficiency test scores Submit resume | Students should have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or equivalent Submit official transcripts of all previous education completed Submit English langauge proficiency test scores |
| Campuses and B-Schools | Amsterdam Business School | NA |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.7/10 Read 10 reviews | 7.3/10 Read 4 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 51 for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning by QS World University 2024 | # 51 for Sciences by Academy Ranking of World Universities 2022 |
| why to opt? | The two-year Master's programme in Artificial Intelligence consists of compulsory core courses, restricted-choice and free-choice courses and a thesis. In your first year you take the seven compulsory core courses. In the second year you work on your specialisation in the area of your choice and on your thesis. | The Artificial Intelligence Master’s programme at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam looks specifically at hybrid intelligence, where AI systems and humans collaborate. The first year is made up of broad courses that focus on core AI topics, while the second year is devoted to your chosen area of specialisation. In collaboration with Psychology department, we also offer the specialised Cognitive Science track. AI for Health is a new track in collaboration with Medical Informatics (Amsterdam UMC, UvA) that will start in the academic year 2021-2022. In this track you'll learn about Medical Informatics basics, Medical AI (with a focus on imaging techniques in medicine and natural language processing techniques in medicine), and how to combine machine learning and reasoning for health applications. Two courses will take place at Amsterdam UMC, location AMC. |
| exam scores | IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 100/120 | IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 92/120 |
| application dates | Jan 15, 2026 (Scholarship Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) Jan 31, 2026 (Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) | Apr 1, 2024 (Application Deadline For 2024 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | University of Amsterdam | Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1632 | 1880 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | :1 | 18:1 |
| Male:Female | 0% Male, 0% Female | 43% Male, 57% Female |
| Location Facts | The University of Amsterdam has always been housed in old and new buildings scattered throughout the capital. The university lies within the largest megalopolis in the Netherlands, the Randstad. The campuses are scattered across city center, science center, academic medical center and Roeterseiland campus. | The university's main campus and medical centre are situated in the Buitenveldert neighbourhood, part of the southern district of Amsterdam. The satellite campus 'Uilenstede' is located further south, in the municipality of Amstelveen. |
| Library | The university has libraries across its different campuses. The libraries provide various services to the students like study rooms, journals, e-books, databases etc. It normally houses around 750,000 items owned by the libraries of all the UVA schools, including Law, Health Sciences, and Darden. | The University Library is an inspiring meeting place for people and knowledge, with all information necessary for impact in science and society and all learning materials you need. There are subject librarians for all disciplines and subjects at the University Library. They offer researchers and lecturers support in using, managing and distributing academic content. In addition, they make sure all faculties have access to academic information and research data, in tune with what researchers, lecturers and students need. |
| Campus Life | The University of Amsterdam is a modern university with a rich history, providing a high-quality education in inspiring surroundings. The University is a world-class centre for research and teaching, and is committed to helping students think in an original, independent and academic way. The University is conveniently located in the heart of Amsterdam, overlooking the famous canals. Surrounded by history and culture, and within a short walk of the shops and restaurants in the city centre, the University of Amsterdam is the perfect base to enrich your student experience. The University of Amsterdam has many student associations catering to a variety of student needs including social clubs, career and study societies and cultural and sporting societies. ISN is an organisation run by Dutch students for international students studying in Amsterdam. Their goal is to optimize the social-cultural integration of international students into Dutch society. They organize weekly activities for students, provide information on housing and work, run a coaching and mentoring system and publish a magazine all about (student) life in Amsterdam. | At VU Amsterdam you can indulge in events, sports and culture or work in your spare time. The VU ART SCIENCE gallery is located in the New University Building. Here you can visit exhibitions and events that focus on the exchange between art and science. VU Amsterdam offers its students, employees and visitors ample opportunities to enjoy art and culture on or around the campus: going to the movies, a theatre show, an exposition and other events. Sports Centre VU offers a broad range sports activities. It has two locations. The Uilenstede location has the most facilities and has the largest offering of sports. The other location is in the OZW building on campus. Students pay reduced fees to join the Sports Centre. Sports Centre VU collaborates with many sports associations.The university provides accommodations to its students. |
| Hostel | #Accommodation rent per month - $925 | #Accommodation rent/month - $750 |
| Famous Alumni | Khadija Arib (Dutch politician), Pim Fortuyn (businessman, author), Jesse Klaver (politician), Thierry Baudet (politician) | Wouter Bos (businessman), Henk Bleker (Dutch politician), Jan Peter Balkenende (politician), Vera Bergkamp (Dutch politician) |
| City Life | Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is situated in the heart of Europe. It is a real cosmopolitan capital and one of Europe's most beautiful, with an enormous number of attractions. Students have voted Amsterdam the 5th best city in the world to live in. It is also one of the safest capital cities in Europe. The city has around 850,000 inhabitants and is voted as the 11th best city to live in. There are around 50 world famous galleries and 16,000 performances per year. Bicycle is the most popular form of transportation. Amsterdam has more than 30 parks and public gardens. Various festivals are held across the city over the year. | Amsterdam is known as the number one student city in the Netherlands. If you study in Amsterdam, you do so with around 110,000 other students. And students say that they are very happy with the city. In addition to many institutions of higher education, the city also has a lot to offer in terms of culture and entertainment, with 70 museums, 22 cinemas, 45 theatres, around 1000 cafés and more than 1,100 restaurants. Only a few minutes’ walk from the VU campus is the Zuidas business district, where many international companies and law firms have an office. Besides a wide range of businesses, you will also find a large selection of restaurants, cafés, shops and cultural establishments in the Zuidas district. The Zuidas is developing into a bustling new activity hub in Amsterdam. From the Zuidas, you can reach the historic city centre in a few minutes using the North-South metro line. |
| Weather |
University of Amsterdam vs Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Both UvA and VU are top Dutch universities, with UvA being ranked higher internationally. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, UvA ranks 53rd, whereas VU ranks 194th. From Times Higher Education 2025, UvA is ranked 65th, and VU is 184th. UvA is strong in Social Sciences (ranked top 20 in QS), Communication and Media Studies (ranked 1st worldwide in QS 2025), and Law, while VU is well represented in Theology, Philosophy, Business, and Earth Sciences, emphasizing interdisciplinary and societal relevance research.
General Information
UvA, established in 1632, is larger and older than VU, with 42,000+ students to VU's ~30,000. UvA campuses are distributed across central Amsterdam, offering a lively city experience and more than 200 programs across seven faculties. VU, founded in 1880, has one modern campus in Amsterdam-Zuid, focusing on personal growth, innovation, and social commitment, with 120 undergraduate and 150 graduate programs. Both are members of the Amsterdam University Alliance, promoting cooperation.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
UvA has a very selective acceptance rate for international students (4–6%), with a general acceptance rate of around 50–51%. VU is slightly less selective at around 45%. Both institutions ask for proof of English proficiency (IELTS 6.5–7.0 for UvA and 6.0–6.5 for VU for the vast majority of programs). Selective courses like Medicine employ a numerus fixus system with motivation letters and entrance exams. UvA has more international students (over 40%), whereas VU has roughly 35% international students.
Research Impact & Facilities
Both are research-focused universities. UvA is internationally reputed for humanities, law, social science, and urban studies research, aided by the Allard Pierson Museum and large libraries. VU excels in sciences, economics, and health science research, aided by institutes like the Amsterdam Neuroscience Institute. In Times Higher Education 2025, the research quality score of UvA (85.2) was higher than that of VU (78.4), although VU excels in interdisciplinary work aimed at societal problems.
Cost & Financial Aid
Tuition fees for EU/EEA students are €2,314 at both institutions. Non-EU students have tuition fees of €9,000–€15,000 at UvA and €12,000–€16,000 at VU. Amsterdam living expenses average €12,000–€15,000 annually. Both institutions provide scholarships like the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship (€5,000–€20,000). VU offers the VU Fellowship Programme, among other grants, for international students. UvA and VU both offer need-based aid to Dutch and EU students.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Each university boasts high employability, with graduates securing employment within six months after graduation. UvA is better placed in world employability rankings (QS 2025: 101–150) than VU (151–200). UvA graduates enjoy the advantages of being located centrally and having connections in the media, finance, and consulting sectors, while VU's focus on innovation translates to success in technology, sustainability, and policy sectors. The alumni of UvA consist of political figures, economists, as well as media personalities, whereas those of VU are Nobel prize winner Frits Zernike and business and research leaders.
1721115827.png?h=40&w=40&mode=stretch){kind=small}
1723011925.png?h=40&w=40&mode=stretch){kind=small}
