The first year consists of mandatory academic core courses to build a strong academic foundation, but also allows you to begin taking introductory courses in your major according to your interests. There is room for electives (freely chosen courses) or for courses from the other two majors to help you broaden your experience. By the end of the first year, you'll confirm your chosen major in the Sciences, Social Sciences or Humanities. 

Your second year is where your academic profile truly takes shape. As you choose more advanced courses in your major and more specialised field of study, you combine disciplinary depth with rigorous analytical training. To connect theory with practice, most students also complete a professional internship or community project, although this can be done in the second or third year, collaborating with businesses, non-profits or research groups locally or abroad. Year 2 or 3 also allows for an international exchange, giving you the chance to study for a semester at one of our renowned partner institutions worldwide.

In your final year, you undertake advanced, highly specialised courses to master your chosen fields. To support this culmination of your studies, the core course Advanced Research Writing prepares you directly for your Bachelor’s thesis, known as the Capstone project. This major independent research initiative allows you to synthesise every element of your unique study plan, bringing together the interdisciplinary knowledge, analytical tools and applied skills you have developed throughout your three years at AUC.

All AUC students live together in the student residences at Amsterdam Science Park. The residential aspect of AUC is an essential learning experience when studying at a University College.

Studying at AUC is a full-time commitment, structured much like a working week. Your time is split between interactive, scheduled classes and independent study, including course preparation, reading, assignments and projects. For courses taking place in the 16-week periods (September-December; February-May), individual courses typically meet twice a week for 1 hour and 45 minutes per session, while intensive courses in January and June meet four times weekly for three-hour sessions.

You are never left to navigate your academic journey by yourself. From your first day, a dedicated personal tutor provides tailored academic guidance based on your goals. Your tutor helps you select courses, navigate major requirements and design a study plan that aligns directly with your future ambitions and postgraduate aspirations.

Designed for students looking for a challenge, our honours programme emphasises depth, active participation and  independent study. In small, interactive classes, you engage in meaningful debate with classmates and instructors, sharpening your critical thinking skills and preparing you for advanced research at top universities worldwide.

All students receive a degree in the Liberal Arts and Sciences issued jointly by the University of Amsterdam and VU Amsterdam. Your specific title depends on your chosen major. Majoring in the Sciences leads to an internationally recognised Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Liberal Arts and Sciences, while majoring in the Social Sciences or Humanities leads to a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Liberal Arts and Sciences. Both qualifications provide a respected academic foundation for admission to top Master's programmes worldwide.

Designed for focused learning, AUC maintains a selective intake of approximately 300 students per year and a total student population of around 900. This small-scale setting fosters meaningful discussion in class and creates a supportive community in campus housing.

You will be qualified to apply for a variety of Master's degrees at major universities in both the Netherlands and abroad. Typically, AUC students study further in the following fields:

• Sciences majors: Medicine, Environmental Sciences, Computer Science, Neuroscience
• Social Sciences majors: International Relations, Law or Economics 
• Humanities majors: Cultural Studies, International Relations

More specifically, many of our students pursue further study at the Master's level at the University of Amsterdam or VU Amsterdam. Depending on your major, some of the most popular Master's programmes include: 

Graduating from AUC prepares you for a broad spectrum of professional fields, ranging from scientific research and education to management, marketing, healthcare, consulting and the cultural sector. Our alumni secure roles across diverse industries, stepping into key positions such as consultant, policy officer, data scientist, project manager and academic researcher.

As an AUC student, you are guaranteed campus accommodation for all three years of your studies, and it is mandatory to live on campus for those three years. Living alongside your peers in the student community is an essential part of the AUC experience, helping you build lifelong friendships and stay fully connected to campus life from your very first day.

Applying to AUC is straightforward. First, submit your request for enrolment via Studielink for the University of Amsterdam and then select "Liberal Arts and Sciences - joint degree UvA-VU" and the major Sciences, Social Sciences or Humanities. You will then be able to complete and submit your application in the UvA Student Information System (SIS). As part of your application, you will answer questions related to your motivation and an outline of your personal study plan. Be sure to review our application guidelines to help you prepare your materials and complete each step.

A defining feature of a Liberal Arts and Sciences degree is the freedom to shape your own academic path. While you will complete a set of mandatory Academic Core courses to develop key university-level skills, roughly two-thirds of your programme is entirely up to you. This flexible structure allows you to explore diverse disciplines and study subjects you're interested in.

The AUC Scholarship Fund (ASF) is an independent foundation that facilitates access to the AUC programme for talented, low-income and underrepresented students through both ASF Scholarships and Talent Fellowships at AUC. The ASF is funded by donations from a variety of sponsors and stakeholders and has been able to support hundreds of students in completing their studies at Amsterdam University College.