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University of Amsterdam

Amsterdam, Netherlands +5
Global Rank Top 0.8% # 55 Worldwide

University of Amsterdam About

Established in 1632, the University of Amsterdam has a reputation for academic excellence that spans centuries. It remains the top-ranked Dutch university and one of the top universities in the world. Its 40,000 students and 3,000 PhD researchers are spread over four campuses in Amsterdam, a thriving city with a unique combination of beauty, history and a modern cosmopolitan culture.

University of Amsterdam Short Courses

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History

Honoring the past, delivering the future

In 1632, Caspar Barlaeus delivered his famous inaugural lecture on the wise merchant on the opening of the Atheneum Illustre, the precursor of the University of Amsterdam today. Almost 300 years later, in 1922 the Faculty of Commerce was established following the demand for theoretical education in commerce.

Education

The University of Amsterdam is ambitious, creative and committed: a leader in international science and a partner in innovation, the UvA has been inspiring generations since 1632. 

Economics and Business of the University of Amsterdam offers both Bachelor and Master education entirely taught in English. Each 1-year Master of Science programme has several specialisation tracks to choose from. 

The education is organized in two schools: the Amsterdam Business School (ABS) and the Amsterdam School of Economics (ASE).

Research

Amsterdam School of Economics Research Institute has 8 research programmes. We specialise in research concerning e.g. actuarial science, experimental economics, financial econometrics and markets & organisations. The researchers are connected with a number of affiliated research centres and institutes.

The Amsterdam Business School has 7 research sections. All sections are involved in high-quality research and education in their own field of business. We expose our students to relevant academic research in their programmes. We also encourage all applied research to be available to and inform practitioners through professional journal outputs and lectures.

Career

Your future first

The UvA Economics and Business has its dedicated career centre, and helps to prepare you for your professional career. We offer you a Career Orientation Programme, exercises and tools to help you more directly in your career preparation. 

You have access to the EB Career Portal. Here, you’ll be able to find vacancies, traineeships and internships, as well as career events and workshops.

Our career coaches are available for guiding and to help you gain more insights into your personality, aspirations, motivation and ambition.

University of Amsterdam Key Statistics & Highlights

  • #39 Ranking
  • 17 Courses
  • 550 Academic Staff
  • 8,000 Students
  • 4,800 Students (int'l)
  • 3,200 Students (female)
  • Public Institution Type

University of Amsterdam Overview

University of Amsterdam Rankings

Study Portals Meta Ranking

Top 0.6% Netherlands
Top 0.8% Worldwide

Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.

Best Global Universities Rankings

39

By U.S. News & World Report

Dropped 6 places compared to 2026

Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.

3 year trend Best Global Universities Rankings

2025 2026 2027
33 33 39

QS World University Rankings

60

By TopUniversities

Dropped 7 places compared to 2026

QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.

3 year trend QS World University Rankings

2025 2026 2027
55 53 60

World University Rankings

No 2027 Ranking

By Times Higher Education

This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2027 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.

World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.

3 year trend World University Rankings

2025 2026 2027
58 62 -

Academic Ranking of World Universities

No 2026 Ranking

By Shanghai Jiao Tong University

This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2026 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.

ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.

3 year trend Academic Ranking of World Universities

2024 2025 2026
101 101 -

Student services

  • Central Student Service Desk
  • Student Councellors
  • Economics and Business Economics career centre
  • Study associations
  • International Student Housing Office

Housing services

The International Student Housing Office can offer international students accommodation, but unfortunately not for everyone. UvA also provides tips and trick for finding accommodation on you own. To make the allocation of housing as fair as possible for all students, we work with a lottery system.

The student rooms are located in over 20 different off-campus buildings spread across the city. These buildings are owned and managed by housing providers who have a partnership with the UvA. Different room types, price ranges and locations are available.

Library services

The University Library is located in a number of buildings all over Amsterdam. Apart from the central University Library (UB) there are individual faculty libraries, and together they hold around four million volumes and a large collection of manuscripts. 

ICT services

The Service Desk ICT Services assists both students and staff members of the UvA with questions.

Medical services

The General Practitioners Practice UvA is open on two locations in the city. Besides the GP, also psychologists, dieticians, physiotherapy and a dentist is available.

Campus life

The UvA has four campuses located across the city of Amsterdam. Some classes are in quaint old buildings overlooking the canals, others in high-tech laboratories. All campuses can be reached by bike.

Roeterseiland Campus shared with several faculties

Three faculties are housed at the Roeterseiland Campus: Economics and Business, Social and Behavioural Sciences, and Law. CREA, the student cultural organisation, is also located here.

In addition to the Campus food court, you can find several restaurants and cafés and a supermarket within minutes walking from the campus location. 

Sports facilities

  • There's no end to the opportunities to engage in sports in Amsterdam, but the cheapest place for students of the University of Amsterdam to do so is at one of the 7 locations of the USC. There are also all sorts of student sports clubs you can join. The UvA also has a scheme for top-class athletes.
  • The UvA student sports centre is open seven days a week and its locations are spread across the city and located close to other UvA buildings and facilities wherever possible. There are four gyms, outdoor tennis courts, a yoga studio, climbing walls and much more besides. You can choose from over 60 sports and various types of membership.

Student clubs

CREA, Amsterdam’s cultural centre for students

CREA is a cultural student centre where students from home and abroad meet in creative courses, lectures, workshops, debates and performances. We do this across the board: from mainstream to subculture, from contemporary narratives to classic stories. A unique place for different ways of thinking, perspectives, new possibilities and leeway for social issues and current themes.

Accreditation

The Amsterdam Business School (ABS) is part of the University of Amsterdam, Economics and Business. The School belongs to the 1% of the business schools in the world with a Triple Crown accreditation.

University of Amsterdam Campus Locations

#1 Main Campus
Netherlands Country
Amsterdam City

University of Amsterdam Student Reviews & Awards

4.1

Based on 100 reviews

  • 5 Star
    34 Reviews
  • 4 Star
    55 Reviews
  • 3 Star
    5 Reviews
  • 2 Star
    5 Reviews
  • 1 Star
    1 Review

How Students Rated This University

  • Overall Satisfaction 4.2
  • Student Teacher Interaction 4.2
  • Student Diversity 4.7
  • Admission Process 4.1
  • Quality of Student Life 4.3
  • Career Development 4.0
5/5

Very satisfied with my Master's

I had sufficient contact with professors and teachers, and I think they are very qualified. Most of all, they really tried their best to deliver the programme to a high standard. I liked the Master's in Consultancy and Organisational Development a lot. I highly recommend the Master’s studies in Psychology and am more than satisfied with the overall quality of the programme.

Posted by Anonymous
Studied from Sep 2025 - Sep 2026
Posted on Aug 2026
4/5

Amsterdam love

Amsterdam university has it all, from good staff to good lectures to good people, I�m really surprised and disappointed at the same time if it makes sense, lol, I just hope I do really well in my degree pursuit.

Posted by Daan
Studied from Unknown
Posted on Aug 2026
4/5

International student life in Amsterdam

It is a lovely university, with a very modern and functional campus. Professors are nice and offer a lot of help. It is really easy to make friends as an international, since you are surrounded by people from all over the world. The courseload can be heavy at first, but you soon get used to it and the teachers and study advisors can help you if necessary.

Posted by Anonymous
Studied from Sep 2025 - Jul 2028
Posted on Aug 2026
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Global Student Satisfaction Awards 2025

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