AUC is an academic community in the best traditions of the liberal arts and sciences, actively oriented to the demands and challenges of the 21st century. You live and study on an international campus, following a programme that creates new pathways across traditional dividing lines, and trains you to approach complex issues from different perspectives and academic fields of knowledge. You are offered a wide range of courses in the humanities, social sciences and sciences, and there are opportunities for you to focus on science and science-related majors in a liberal education context.
- A small, selective Honours college with a strong offer in the sciences and enrolling up to 50% science majors.
- An engaging academic and social context, supported by small class size, residential college setting and state-of-the-art facilities.
- A centre of academic excellence with an international and intercultural focus, as well as outreach to the (local) community.
- A joint inititative of two major European research universities, located in the global city of Amsterdam.
Key data:
- AUC's student population: Approximately 600 students, 50% international
- AUC's faculty: 65% international background and 35% PhD from a university ranked in the top 100 worldwide (Shanghai ranking)
- Focus on science: AUC enrols up to 50% science majors
- AUC is accredited by the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO)
Academic Programme
AUC offers a liberal arts and sciences programme, leading to a Bachelor (Honours) degree. A liberal education teaches you to read intelligently, think critically and write effectively. At AUC you will be trained to analyse complex issues from different perspectives and academic fields of knowledge. Discussions start from 'Big Question in Science and Society' and lead to in-depth study in a wide range of discplines. You can major in the sciences, social sciences or humanities. Six interdisplinary 'themes' provide an orientation to your personal programme within your major:
- Energy, Climate and Sustainability
- Life, Evolution, Universe
- Health and Well-being
- Information, Communication, Cognition
- Social Systems
- Cities and Cultures
At AUC you design your own individual study programme, making a selection from among the many courses offered. Substantial emphasis is placed on the sciences and scientific reasoning within an interdisciplinary approach. AUC enrols up to 50% science majors. Your course options will be influenced by your choice of major and theme. An AUC tutor will support you in this process, to ensure that the programme you put together is solid and coherent.
AUC is situated within the city of Amsterdam. The residential campus is located in the Science Park Amsterdam, in the Watergraafsmeer district of the city. The AUC academic building is centrally located on the eastern edge of Amsterdam city centre, in the lovely Plantage neighbourhood. This is only a short distance from the student residences in the Science Park Amsterdam. A brand-new academic building is built for AUC at Science Park Amsterdam in the Watergraafsmeer district, close to the AUC student residences. This new building is due for completion in 2012. AUC will then leave the Plantage area, and be entirely located on its campus in the Science Park Amsterdam.the Science Park Amsterdam.
Admission to AUC
As a residential and selective honours college, there are certain minimum requirements for admissions to AUC. These include: a secondary school diploma equivalent to the Dutch VWO very good written and spoken English good mathematics skills. In addition, the AUC Admissions Committee looks for students with the following characteristics: academic excellence: you must demonstrate your ability to meet the academic demands of the AUC programme motivation and ambition to study an intensive and broad programme commitment to contribute to AUC's international student and campus life.
Although the regular deadline for applications for an Autumn 2012 (September) start has now passed, we welcome late applications until 1 April 2012. We will process late applications in order of submission/completion, so the sooner you submit your application the better!
You can also apply now for a February 2013 or September 2013 start.
