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… My University…

Studying in the Netherlands 

            Higher Education in the Netherlands

There are two types of higher education institutions in the Netherlands; Academic Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences. The Universities of Applied Sciences (Hogescholen) prepare students for specific professions and tend to be more practically-oriented than academic universities, where the focus is on theory and the generating of knowledge through research. Most first-year students in both types of higher education are recent secondary school graduates.

In an international context, the programmes of a Hogeschool are comparable to those of the ‘new universities’’
in Britain and the Hochschulen in Germany.

There are about 60 Hogescholen in the Netherlands and they vary from large institutions, offering programmes in most sectors of higher education, to smaller institutions which offer courses in a single specific field. Together they offer over 200 courses

              Hogeschool van Amsterdam

The Hogeschool van Amsterdam is the largest institution of its kind in the greater Amsterdam area. It has over
30,000 students, 18,000 staff members and 70 study programmes clustered in seven Schools. The 70 study programmes cover the fields of technology, maritime sciences, business and administration, information management, health care,
education, fashion management & design and social welfare.

All students of the Hogeschool van Amsterdam have work placement period of six to ten months, giving the students
on-the-job experience in the field of their studies. In addition to the four-year initial study programmes, the Hogeschool van Amsterdam also offers courses for advanced professional training, refresher courses and Master’s Degree programmes.

The Hogeschool van Amsterdam maintains excellent relations with other educational institutions in the
region, including a number of joint ventures. Of particular significance is the strategic partnership between the University of Amsterdam and the Hogeschool van Amsterdam. These two partners will, in the near future, establish a joint
institute: UHA (University and Hogeschool van Amsterdam). The UHA will bring together, where appropriate, related courses of the partner-institutes and will optimize student facilities like study counseling, libraries and housing. UHA
will also develop courses for new fields of knowledge where watersheds between science and profession are irrelevant.

                Study scores

At the Hogeschool van Amsterdam we use two types of qualification systems for test results; the first qualifies a
test as sufficient or insufficient. The second system qualifies a test in grades. Score ECTS-grade description:
Dutch grades US grades Meaning:

Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Central Office

Full legal name of the Institution Hogeschool van Amsterdam

Institution Identification code NL Amsterd05

Address Spui 21

Post code and city 1012 WX Amsterdam

Country The Netherlands

URL http://www.hva.nl

President
of the Board Prof. Karel van der Toorn

How to get to the Faculty of Science

The Faculty of Science is located in several building of the
Universiteit van Amsterdam either around the Roeterseiland Complex (REC)

or at the Sciencepark.



Directions to Roeterseiland Complex:

     
Metro :

From train station Duivendrecht, Amsterdam Amstel or Centraal Station take
the metro to Weesperplein. At Weesperplein take
exit Valckenierstraat. Walk to Roetersstraat via Nieuwe Achtergracht,
or Valckenierstraat.

      
Tram:

Tram 7 and 10 stop "Weesperplein".

Tram 9 or 14 stop 'Plantage Badlaan’.

The International Office acts as an intermediary between the sending university and the hosting departments. Please
come to the International Office to ask for an HvA-identity card, an HvA-facilitycard, a login name and a password.

Also ask for the booklet International Student Guide. This booklet provides you with detailed information about studying,
leisure and living in Amsterdam. Additionally, Mentor Students (current HvA students) are available to help international students with questions/problems concerning their stay and with the access to different facilities like the library,
canteen and computers.

Consultation hour for international students is on every Thursday from 13.30 p.m. till 14.30 p.m.

An appointment can be made at the Information Desk Student Affairs on the first floor.

Departmental Coordinators: E-Technology |Jacqueline Hiemstra| j.hiemstra@hva.nl
|A 4.08 | +31.20.595 2129

Pick-Up Service

The University of Amsterdam
offers a Pick-Up Service from the Amsterdam airport (Schiphol) on the following
two days:

• 
  Friday, 19 August
• 
  Monday, 22 August

From Schiphol Airport, a
shuttle bus will go to the housing corporations De Key and DUWO. The bus will
not stop at other destinations.

Busses will be departing on
regular intervals from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days. Cost: 15€

To sign up, send an email to immigration-sts@uva.nl with the following information:

v  First
name

v  Surname

v  Email
address

v  Arrival date (only available 19 and
22 August)

v  Arrival
time

UvAStart Magazine
for new students online now!

This
magazine gives you the information you need for getting started with your new
life as a student in Amsterdam. The UvAStart Magazine contains
everything you need to know. It covers the following topics:

Planning
your trip | Living in Amsterdam | Student accommodation | Facilities | Student
health and well-being | Faculty addresses

>>>
BASIC INFORMATIONS ABOUT AMSTERDAM

The Dutch language is very difficult to learn.
Although many Dutch people speak English very well, it would be of great help
to know the basics of our language before your arrival. Your stay will be more
interesting when you know some Dutch. Most lessons at the institutes are taught
in Dutch. Foreign students who would like to participate in a complete study programme
or would like to follow some Dutch courses should have a good knowledge (passive
as well as active) of the Dutch language. There is a possibility to follow an
Erasmus language course in Dutch. You should apply for this course through your
own institution. The exchange programmes are taught in English.

Like almost there are several way to go to
Amsterdam. Of course, the price is different according to the type of transport.

Anyway, several advices...do well prepare your
trip! What I mean, don't hesitate to ask them when you should arrive. In
addition, to avoid some tehnical and financial issue ... It is good idea to buy
a ticket either with insurance or a refundable or exchangeable ticket.    

Let me explain my troubles: basicly, I should
start school the 29th. However, in the Erasmus program they asked me to arrive
the 24th for the iinternational welcome. Consequently, I booked a Smoove ticket
35 euros for the 23rd. Then, few days later, I received an email asking me to
assist to the kick off Robotics Seminar. Thus, I was supposed to arrive the
21st ...therefore, I booked for the 20th Smoove ticket 45euros. Nevertheless, I
could exchange or be paid back for my first ticket. Therefore, I ask help to a
Sncf staff...he advised me to sell my ticket on Troc website.

I had to change three times my ticket in order not to miss two seminars!

However, the first class in a Thalys train…is AWESOME:
free WIFI (good network Thalysnet), free breakfast, free lunch, free drinks, free
courant, confortable and elegant seat. The train stopped to Bruxelles and
Rotterdam before its arrival at Amsterdam with only 5minutes late.

It is very easy to reach the location Leeuwenburg. The building is right
behind the Amstel Station. See map.

From many places in Amsterdam you can take trams, metros and buses to
the Amstel Station.

v  Tram:
12

v  Metros:
51, 53,54

v  Buses:
15, 37, 69, 136, 157, 169.

v 
Amstel
Station is also a train station.

Public transport

OV-Chipcard

To
travel by Metro, train, tram or bus within the larger Amsterdam area, you need
an Ovchipkaart (=Public Transport Chip Card) More information can be found on this.
If you prefere in English.

Ask
also for the brochure ‘’Public transport Amsterdam Tourist Guide’’ at the
Tourist Information Office opposite Central Station. In this brochure you will
find an explanation of the zone-system and offers to travel economically when
you use public transport frequently.

Outside
the Amsterdam area, a specific train ticket from the Dutch Railways (the
nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) or a specific chip card is necessary. See that   More

Everybody staying in
the Netherlands is legally bound to be insured for medical expenses meeting up
Dutch standards. Make sure your insurance covers dental costs, glasses as well,
because they often do not belong to a standard insurance policy.

Students
from the European Union, Norway, Marocco, Turkey, Tunesia and former Yugoslavia
who in their own country are covered by the National Health Insurance programme
will be insured by the National Health Insurance programme of the Netherlands
as well if they apply for a (E)111 form available at the Social Security
Department in their town of residence before leaving their home-country.

If you are not coming from one of the above mentioned countries take a private
insurance policy in your own country covering all medical costs during the
whole of your stay in the Netherlands.

Traditional
Dutch food however, was based on potatoes, usually with meat and boiled
vegetables, and lots of gravy. Dutch people eat a lot of dairy foods.



 In The Netherlands, people eat 3 meals a
day. Nowadays the evening meal is the main meal of the day, but country people
and older Dutch people often still traditionally serve the main meal at midday,
with a lighter evening meal.

At the
start of a meal, a parent or host will often say 'eet smakelijk' (say it like
this: ATE smahk-A-lick), which means 'Eat deliciously'. The Dutch eat with a
fork in the left hand and knife in the right.

It is important for you to check at your home
institution if you can receive financial support like a scholarship.  The Hogeschool van Amsterdam will not be able
to provide you with extra funding. Beneath you will find an estimate of the
costs of living in Amsterdam:

Costs in Euros, per month:

The Magna Plaza is one of the ten most precious
monuments in Amsterdam. The monumental magic of this former Head Post Office
gives the Magna Plaza Shopping Center great international allure. It was
designed by the famous Dutch architect Cornelis Hendrik Peters in Neo-Gothic style
a century ago. From the 1990s the Magna Plaza stores are opened seven days a
week.

The Hva has an
agreement with the University of Amsterdam for using their sport facilities at the
de Boelelaan-USC (Universitair Sport Centrum). You will need an HvA student
card to get access to the facilities. Please contact the International Office
Leeuwenburg for that. Indoor soccer, tennis, badminton, fitness training,
hockey and aerobics are a few sports which you can practise at the De
Boelelaan. Prices vary from 20 Euros for a two-month aerobics class to 80 Euros
for tennis in the winter season. For more information, you can contact:

USC Boelelaan | De Boelelaan 46 | 1082
LR Amsterdam | Tel. 020-3013535 | usc@uva.nl | www.uva.nl

Holland is well known for its passion for
football, but besides football, the Dutch enjoy a lot of other sports such as
hockey, skating and cycling. In 1928, Amsterdam hosted the Games of the 9th
Olympiad. The Olympic Stadium, built for the occasion, has been completely
restored and is now used for cultural and sporting events.

Amsterdam offers a diverse range of world-class
entertainment, and has for centuries been a leading centre of culture in
Europe. A variety of performances are staged in hundreds of venues throughout
the city. There is also plenty of low-cost entertainment, from the multitude of
street performers and live bands in bars and cafés.

• 
  
  
  Amsterdam
  is the perfect place to party. Most clubs open at 22:00 and stay open until
  04:00 or 05:00.
• All year round,
  every night of the week, you can find quality, English-language theatre in
  Amsterdam. Most of the major theatres are centred on the Leidseplein, within an
  easy stroll of each other. 
• Amsterdam has a
  busy calendar of events, and with something going on during most months of the
  year, visitors can take in a festival or event of some kind during their visit.
  Highlights include: National Heritage Days, Holland's edition of Santa
  Claus, Cannabis Cup, The Holland Festival, Amsterdam Canal Festival, the
  Grachtenfestival

The Academic Calendar
2011-2012:

At the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, the academic
year is divided into four terms of ten weeks; each term ends with an
examination period.

1st term : 29
August 2011 - 4 November 2011

2nd term : 7
November 2011 - 20 January 2012

3rd term : 23
January 2012 - 30 March 2012

4th term : 2
April 2012 - 29 June 2012

Holidays

Autumn break
:  17 October 2011 - 21 October 2011

Christmas break : 24 December 2011 -
2 January 2012

Spring break : 27 February 2012 - 2
March 2011

Good Friday : 6 April 2012

Easter Monday : 9 April 2012

May break : 30 April 2012 (Queen’s
Day) 4 May 2012

Ascension Day Break : 17 May 2012 - 18
May 2012

Whit Monday : 28 May 2012

Summer
break : 2 July 2012 17 August 2012