ACEB ProgrammeAmsterdam Coursesin Economics and Business

Practical information

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Admission requirementsStudents wishing to take part in the ACEB programme should have com-pleted at least two years of an academic (university) study in Business, Econo-mics, Quantitative Economics or another relevant fi eld of study at their home institution.

English language requirementsNon-native speakers of English must have suffi cient profi ciency in the English language. They have to be able to read text books, understand lectures, write papers and do other assignments in English as well as take part in class discussions. If, on arrival in Amsterdam, a student’s English is not suffi cient to participate actively in the courses, that student will be asked to take remedial English lessons at his/her own expenses. In a worst-case scenario, students can be excluded from the courses.

Exchange students from bilateral partner universitiesInternational exchange students from bilateral partner universities of the Faculty of Economics and Business or the University of Amsterdam have to be nominated by their home university and do not have to pay tuition fee. Students have to contact the International Offi ce of their own university for more infor- mation on how to apply for a place as an exchange student at the Faculty of Economics and Business.

Independent international students from other universitiesIndividual students from non-partner universities who wish to study at the FEB for one or two semesters have to apply directly to the International Offi ce of the Faculty of Economics and Business. They have to send in the ACEB applica-tion form together with their Curriculum Vitae (in English) and certifi ed copies of their transcripts (in English).

Students who have been accepted for the ACEB programme will be notifi ed one month after the application deadline. They must pay their tuition fee at least one month before the start of their studies at the FEB.

Tuition fee for independent studentsTuition fee for one semester or the whole academic year (two semesters) can be found on www.studeren.uva.nl/certifi cate_economics (application and admission).

Certifi cationExchange (or independent) students are non-degree students, meaning that they do not receive an academic degree or diploma from the UvA, but they will receive an offi cial transcript concerning their study results at the FEB.

Faculty of Economics and Business

Application deadlinesFirst semester: 1 April Second semester: 1 October

Introduction week and orientation meetingTo help students fi nd their way at the UvA and in the city, the Amsterdam International Student Network (ISN) cooperates with other student associa-tions. The ISN is part of the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) and focuses on a wide array of activities. The ISN organises an introduction with many social activities at the beginning of each semester. The International Offi ce of the Faculty of Economics and Business also organises an orientation meeting on the fi rst Monday of each semester at 5 p.m. This meeting is compulsory for all students participating in the ACEB programme.

Visa and residence permitThe University of Amsterdam helps students who need to apply for a visa or a residence permit. Our International Offi ce will be able to assist you further.

HousingRents for single rooms in Amsterdam vary from approximately 300 to 500 Euros per month. The rent for a shared room is approximately 300 Euros a month.

Living expensesIn addition to the tuition fees and accommodation expenses, students need appro ximately 300 to 500 Euros a month for other expenses. Insurance costs are around 50 Euros a month. General living expenses in Amsterdam vary from 550 to 1300 Euros a month (including rent).

Study materialsThe costs of books and other study materials will vary, depending on the courses taken, from approximately 500 to 1000 Euros.

Working during your studiesStudents from most EU countries as well as students from Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland are allowed to hold a job in the Netherlands without needing a work permit. For students from Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia the same requirement apply as those for students from non-EU countries. Students from non-EU countries need a work permit if they wish to have a job, and they may then work either ten hours a week all year round, or they can work a seasonal job in June, July and August for a maximum of 520 hours.

InsuranceStudents have to have appropriate health insurance in The Netherlands and are strongly advised to take out liability insurance as well. Students should also have some sort of travel insurance against the loss or theft of their luggage on their trip to the Netherlands and during the fi rst days of their stay in Amsterdam.

Health and welfareThe UvA has its own University Medical Department for students. International students can use the UvA medical services at the same price as Dutch students.

Computer facilitiesThe UvA has about 600 computers in several computer centres. All students have access to these computers free of charge, including Internet and e-mail.

Libraries The UvA has an extensive University Library. The thirty library departments are situated all over Amsterdam and some of them are located in the faculty buildings.

University restaurantsMeals at the university restaurants are good and cheap. University restaurant Agora is located in the FEB building. This restaurant also has a bar, Café Krater.

Student sports facilitiesStudents can, at special rates, engage in any number of sports at the University Sports Centre (USC). The University Sports Centre can be reached by public transport (a tram-ride of approximately twenty-fi ve minutes from the city centre).

Cultural organisationsThe UvA has its own cultural organisa-tion, CREA, which offers activities in the arts and artistic education, e.g., courses, work groups and projects in drama, music, dance, photography, fi lm, visual arts and much more. Students pay special rates.

Student associationsEvery department has one or more student associations. They promote students’ interests and organize excur-sions, social activities, and book discounts. The student associations often play an important role in departmental and faculty committees.

Contact informationUniversity of AmsterdamFaculty of Economics and BusinessInternational Offi ceMs Ineke van KoningsveldMs Marja Frederiks Roetersstraat 111018 WB AMSTERDAMThe Netherlands

T +31 (0) 20 525 5214T +31 (0) 20 525 5219F +31 (0) 20 525 4333E c.h.vankoningsveld@uva.nl

Ernest Dautovic (1981, Italy) Sapienza University of Rome

Amsterdam is my fi rst international experience in what is certainly the most liberal and cosmopolitan city in the world. I wasn’t disappointed - the study abroad programme is even better than I could have hoped for.International students are treated so well from day one. The faculty administration did its best and everything was arranged by the time I arrived.I’m inspired and motivated by the challenging and satisfying educational system that integrates optimal quantita-tive, qualitative and theoretical subjects. The modern approach used by the UvA in lectures and the accessibility of the professors helped me to interact frequently with them.The international environment and the high-level of education have convinced me to remain one more year and possibly build a future in the Netherlands.

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General information ACEB Programmewww.studeren.uva.nl/certifi cate_economics

Academic informationwww.student.uva.nl/eco

Information on international study programmes www.uva.nl/isp

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Introduction

Knowledge nowadays is created, distri buted, bought and sold without being limited by place or time. The internet has revolutionised the way we obtain and use knowledge. It seems fair to say that we have only experienced the very beginning of that revolution. Students all over the world are growing up in a world where the cacao farmer in Ghana, working on a remote farm, can follow world market commodity prices in real time. Where the village doctor in rural China uses his cell phone to consult his urban colleague, thousands of miles away, about the effectiveness of locally produced generic malaria drugs, and where billions of dollars are circulating around the world every day at the click of a mouse.

The impact of globalisation on the education sector is felt locally. In Europe, all EU members have harmo-nised their higher education systems making it easier for students to do part of their education in different countries. Universities have responded by opening their classrooms to growing numbers of foreign students.

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University of AmsterdamThe University of Amsterdam (UvA) does far more than prepare its students for the labour market. It’s a place where talent is developed and where people come into contact with differing and sometimes confl icting points of view. It’s a university where students learn to think in an original, independent and academic way. One of the top priorities of the UvA is to serve as a breeding ground for creative learning, both nationally and internationally. In the fi eld of academic research, the UvA has a reputation to uphold. The UvA ranks 48th on the World Univer-sity Rankings (THES, 2007) and 4th in continental Europe. Furthermore, the UvA is the highest ranking university in

the Netherlands. UvA lecturers incorpo-rate today’s research results into tomor-row’s lecturers. Since the UvA has contacts with universities all over the globe, virtually every student can do part of the curriculum abroad or meet students from all over the world in their Amster-dam classrooms. The UvA is part of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), a renowned network of Euro-pean research universities like Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Zurich, Leuven and Edinburgh.

Faculty of Economics and Business The Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) was established in 1922 and currently has around 4,000 students. The FEB provides a high-level business curriculum with a strong academic basis for the national and international undergraduate and postgraduate market. The faculty has an excellent national and international reputation. The Faculty’s research and teaching takes place in two schools: the Amsterdam School of Economics and the Amsterdam Business School.Internationalisation is a key word at the FEB. The staff, student body, study programmes and research all have a strong international focus. Externally the faculty has developed a worldwide network of academic partnerships. This offers a wide range of opportunities for our students as well as a global platform for knowledge exchange. The FEB has several opportunities for those of you who would like to pursue a master’s degree. We offer several types of masters. Some of these programmes are more research oriented and some have a more practical approach. For more infor- mation on the different masters and entry requirements: www.feb.uva.nl/education.

AccreditationThe quality of all FEB bachelors and masters degree programmes has been positively assessed by the Accreditation Organizations of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO). The Amsterdam Business School has recently gained EQUIS accreditation from the European Foundation for Management Develop-ment (EFMD).

The University of Amsterdam is an enthusiastic participant in this push towards further internationalisation of higher education.

At the Faculty of Economics and Business we offer bachelor, master and advanced master programmes taught in English. Furthermore, international exchange students can take courses in the Amster-dam Courses in Economics and Business. We welcome students from all over the world and challenge them with the high quality education needed in the modern economy. We also encourage them to enjoy the culture and history of Amster-dam. Walking through Amsterdam with its long history as a global trade centre, one realises that globalisation is as much part of history as it is part of the future. All in all, a perfect city to obtain a world class education to succeed in the globalised world.

Prof. dr. T.J. Wansbeek, Dean

Dana Cotorbai (1985, Romania) Bucharest University of Economics

Amsterdam and the UvA: the challenge of a new city, a new academic year, a new opportunity to pursue my passions, have fun and make friends. Seven months later, I’ve found a home away from home here. Even though I have to admit that it was hard at times, it was all worth it. I appreciate the education provided by the University of Amsterdam.The results are clear: I can read the Wall Street Journal from cover to cover. I understand the issues of the sub-prime crisis. I can provide insight into key corporate fi nancial issues. I will make a difference for the company that will employ me. I found so much support and warmth here from everyone – the Dutch, fellow students from around the world and other Romanians.

The university and its surroundings

AmsterdamThe capital of the Netherlands is one of Europe’s most frequently visited cities. As the Lonely Planet notes, ‘Amsterdam combines a huge case of big city exuber-ance with small-town manageability; it doesn’t take much more than chaining your bike to a bridge to feel like you’ve got a handle on the place.’ It is this mixture that makes Amsterdam a pleasure to visit or live in. It is a real cosmopolitan capital and one of Europe’s most beautiful at that, with an enormous number of attractions. It is also relatively small, peaceful, well organized and an easy place to fi nd your way around. For more information about Amsterdam see www.iamsterdam.nl.

The Dutch capital is a leader in fi nance and trade, and lies at the heart of Europe. International fi nance was born in Amster-dam, built on the capital amassed by the merchants of the seventeenth century, known as the ‘Golden Age’. The world’s fi rst public stock exchange was founded in Amsterdam, and served as an example for stock markets all over the world. Also the fi rst multinational company (the VOC) was established in Amsterdam, showing further evidence of the entrepreneurial spirit of the Netherlands in general and Amsterdam in particular. Amsterdam now has a broad-based economy but the most important sectors are still business and fi nancial services with over 120,000 jobs. Together, the stock exchange, the central bank and the (regional) head offi ces of numerous Dutch and international fi rms make Amsterdam the fi nancial and business heart of the Netherlands and a prestigious international business centre.

Amsterdam courses in Economics and BusinessThe Amsterdam Courses in Economics and Business (ACEB) programme encompasses 150 undergraduate and graduate courses in Business, Business Economics, Economics and Quantitative Economics. All courses in this programme are taught in English. The programme is open to exchange students from other universities of our international network as well as to independent fee-paying students. Students wishing to take part in the ACEB programme should have completed at least two years of study in Business, Economics, Quantitative Economics or another relevant fi eld of study at an academic educational institute in their home country. Students can either take one semester or two semesters of the programme. Almost all undergraduate courses are open to foreign students. The same applies to all of the graduate courses, but students who would like to take graduate courses fi rst have to put in a request for permission to the director of the graduate school.

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