Exchange agreement

You can apply for the exchange programme of the Faculty of Science if:

• Your university has an exchange agreement with the University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Science, and
• You are nominated for an exchange at the Faculty of Science by the exchange coordinator of your faculty or home university, and
• You have received an invitation from the University of Amsterdam to start you application.

Language requirements

Bachelor's (undergraduate) level:

• If you are an Erasmus student applying for bachelor courses (except courses in Future Planet Studies), you can hand in the results of your Online Linguistic Support (OLS). The minimum required level is B2.
• All (non-Erasmus) exchange students must show proof of English proficiency by handing in one of the official tests indicated below.
• If you are applying for courses of the bachelor programme Future Planet Studies, you must show proof of English proficiency by handing in one of the official tests indicated below. OLS is not accepted. 

Master's (graduate) level

If you are applying for master courses, you must always show proof of English proficiency by one of the official tests indicated below. OLS (Erasmus) is not accepted.

Official tests

• TOEFL iBT:
  Score range 0-120: Minimum overall score of 92. Minimum score of 22 per component.
  Score range 1-6: Minimum overall score of 4.5. Minimum score of 4.5 per component. 
• IELTS Academic: Minimum overall score of 6,5-7, depending on the programme. Minimum score of 6 per component. 
• Cambridge Advanced (C1) / Proficiency (C2): Minimum overall score of 180. Minimum score of 180 per component.

Please note: other test versions or modules are not accepted. Examples of this include but are not limited to: IELTS Online, IELTS Indicator, IELTS One Skill Retake, TOEFL Home Edition, TOEFL MyBest Scores.

Exemptions

In the following cases you do not have to upload an official proof of English proficiency:

• If you have completed your secondary or higher education in English in the following countries: Australia, Canada (with the exemption of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom or United States of America. You can upload your transcript of records instead of the proof of English proficiency.
• If you are an EU national and are enrolled in a fully English taught bachelor or master programme at your home university, you can upload a statement from your home university's exchange officer/administrator stating that your study programme is fully taught in English. 

Please note: If you wish to participate in Dutch taught courses, you must have obtained the Dutch NT2 certificate (programme II, B2).

Deadlines

The application deadline for the Faculty of Science Erasmus+/SEMP exchange programme is:

• 1 May: for the first semester/full year starting in September
  (nomination deadline for home university: 1 April)
• 15 October: for the second semester starting in February
  (nomination deadline for home university: 1 October)

Application 

After the University of Amsterdam accepts your nomination by your home university, the Faculty of Science Exchange Office will initiate your application process as explained below. 

Step 1
The University of Amsterdam will send you two emails.  
The first email will contain instructions on how to apply and information on the University of Amsterdam and your exchange. Please read this email carefully.
The second email will be sent within one working day after the first email, and will include your UvAnetID (student number).

Step 2
Activate your UvAnetID as instructed in the second email. 

Step 3
Make sure to carefully read the information on the Faculty of Science exchange website (uva.nl/exchange-science), mainly the Courses page.
Once you have done so and once you have activated your UvAnetID, you can go to the student portal sis.uva.nl, log in with your UvAnetID, and click on ‘My Admissions’ to submit your application, including your course selection.

Please note that you will need to upload the following documents in PDF format with your application in the SIS student portal:

• Transcript of records in English (with digital verification or signature and stamp) - please note that master students need to upload both their bachelor and master transcripts.
• List of courses in progress in English, with number of EC/credits per course.
• Proof of English proficiency - see Language requirements for additional information.
• Scan of passport (non-EU/EU) or ID card (EU) (front and back).

Step 4
Within six weeks after the application deadline, you will be informed about the status of your application. If your application is approved, we will then contact you with instructions for course registration.

Please note that incomplete applications will not be processed.