Business + Culture
Competitive Admissions
Unique Experiences
Get a Multicultural Perspective
on how business is done in a comparative perspective by living in one of the most multicultural and innovative cities in the world.
Commute and Cruise Around by Bike
- it's the Dutch way - and make the most of an up-close and fast-moving city experience.
Join a Dutch Family for the Weekend
for a personal introduction to Dutch culture and lifestyle.
850 K
bicycles
1.3 M
annual visitors to the Anne Frank house
1753
1753
Your Destination
If you find yourself wondering why it’s so easy to feel at home in Amsterdam, chalk it up to “gezellig.” Roughly translated, it’s Dutch for cozy or home-like – a sensibility commonly associated with this city. Compact and easy to navigate by bike or on foot, the city center of Amsterdam is home to more than 6,000 buildings dating as far back as the 16th century that are protected for historic importance. It’s loaded with charm and treasures, from the gabled houses that stand shoulder to shoulder along the canals, to glorious masterpieces by Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Matisse, and the like. What's more, CIEE Amsterdam is conveniently located close to the University of Amsterdam in the tranquil Plantage neighborhood, where students can easily drop in to speak to CIEE staff, study, or simply hang out in the student area between classes.
The Culture
Featured Excursion
Slip out of urban life to experience the wonders of Dutch nature during our weekend overnight trips! Go mudflat walking on the floor of the Wadden Sea at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Schiermonnikoog in the spring, or cycle leisurely through changing landscapes of De Hoge Veluwe National Park in the fall.
Other Excursions & Activities
- Take day trips that highlight Dutch innovation outside the city rings of Amsterdam, such as a winter getaway to the Frisian city of Groningen, or an architecture-focused visit to Rotterdam.
- Experience a world-class Dutch theater or dance performance at a historic concert hall.
- Have an informative conversation on the practical intricacies of sex work in the Netherlands during a guided walk of Amsterdam's Red Light District.
- Explore Amsterdam's world-famous canal belt on a private canal cruise, or leave the city behind and paddle a canoe through the Amsterdamse Bos (Amsterdam Forest).
- Team up with a student coach from the UvA’s International Student Network (ESN), join the Dutch Buddy Program through the VU’s Erasmus Student Network (also called ESN), or enjoy city outings with your own group of international students at the UvA and the VU.
Projects & Opportunities
- Join one of several weekly activities! From exploring Amsterdam’s multicultural composition, to its status as a global culinary capital, or a hub for business innovation, there’s a way to pursue nearly every interest and explore nearly every facet of Amsterdam.
- Take part in a Power and Privilege workshop to explore the uneven distribution of power and privilege in the Netherlands along gendered, raced, and classed lines.
- Lend your voice to the Student Representative Council and help shape CIEE Amsterdam’s activities and programming.
Program Blogs
Embracing Sustainable Travel
By: Mya Cummins When I decided to study abroad in Amsterdam with CIEE, I knew I’d be stepping into a city famous for its canals, art, and rich history. What... keep reading
Reflections on Studying Abroad in Amsterdam
By: Ava Pugh I have the fondest memories of my seventh-grade spring break in Amsterdam, including boat tours on the canals, biking through tulip fields in the Dutch countryside, and... keep reading
Asia vs. Europe Travel: Which is Better for Study Abroad?
Choosing between Asia vs. Europe as the backdrop of your study abroad experience can be quite a challenging decision! Each continent offers unforgettable cultural experiences, immersive academic opportunities, and life-changing... keep reading
Housing & Meals
Housing
While housing is limited in Amsterdam, CIEE offers a variety of housing options throughout the city, including, residence halls and homestay families. All housing is located within a 45-minute commute of CIEE Amsterdam and our host universities by public transportation or bicycle
Standard Housing:
- Residence Halls/Shared Apartments: Students live in single rooms with en-suite bathrooms and access to fully equipped shared kitchens and laundry facilities, Additional amenities include free WiFi, laundry services, bed linens, towels, and a TV.
- Homestays: Students live with a Dutch host and immerse themselves in the local language and culture. Each student is placed in a single room and has access to shared spaces. The commute time to CIEE Amsterdam is under 45 minutes by public transport or bicycle.
Select Housing:
- Students live in single rooms with en-suite bathrooms and access to fully equipped private or shared kitchens and laundry facilities. These rooms offer added amenities and are more spacious than Standard rooms. Commute time to the office varies:
- Single Rooms with Private Kitchen: under a 45-minute commute to CIEE Amsterdam
- Single Rooms with Shared Kitchen: under a 30-minute commute to CIEE Amsterdam.
- Select housing requires an upgrade fee.
Select Plus Housing:
- Residence Halls/Shared Apartments: Students live in single rooms with en suite bathrooms, access to a shared kitchen, a gym, and laundry facilities.
- The commute time to CIEE Amsterdam is under 15minutes by public transport or bicycle.
- Select Plus housing requires an additional fee and has limited availability.
A note: The default criterion to assign housing is first-come, first-served; however, other factors may also be considered. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we'll let you know before you arrive. Non-standard housing options require an additional fee that can be found in the program Dates and Fees.
Meals
- Apartments/Residence Halls: Students staying in apartments and residence halls are responsible for their own meals.
- Homestays: Students in homestays will have two meals a day at their homestay included in their fee, usually that is breakfast and dinner, but could change on the weekend, in accordance with the homestay host. Students are responsible for all other meals.
Transportation
Students are responsible for their own travel costs in and around Amsterdam. The best way to travel around the city is by bike. Whatever the weather, the Dutch will steadfastly cycle to work, school, and back home – and you can, too! CIEE staff will fill you in on all your options for getting a bike once you arrive onsite.
Academics
The Business and Culture program invites students to immerse themselves in university life through coursework at the University of Amsterdam (UvA ) or Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) and CIEE Amsterdam. Semesters at UvA and VU consist of three 8-week blocks and CIEE students are only present for the first two blocks of the semester. Courses at the host institutions may run for one or two blocks. Students with some Dutch language experience can take Dutch language classes at the Dutch Language Institute of the University of Amsterdam (INTT).
University of Amsterdam (UvA) offers intensive courses across business studies, economics, and finance. UvA is one of the largest broad-based research universities in Amsterdam, one of the top 15 universities in Europe, and is AACSB accredited.
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) boasts a strong international environment and with almost 50 Bachelor’s degree programs and over 150 Master’s degree programs, the VU offers a wide and varied range of study options for both Dutch and international students and is AACSB accredited.
CIEE Amsterdam is conveniently located a short walk away from the University of Amsterdam in a thriving, student-friendly neighborhood surrounded by cafés, restaurants, and picturesque canals.
Arizona State University: Enhance your international academic coursework with optional online courses that best align with your degree requirements and interests. ASU offers thousands of online courses in asynchronous sessions that fit within the CIEE academic calendar, so you can study abroad with CIEE while continuing to meet all your academic goals.
Note for students taking courses directly from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU): For the Fall semester, courses start earlier than University of Amsterdam (UvA), so the program start date will be a week earlier. Please wait to make travel arrangements until course enrollment is confirmed.
Course Information
Course Notes
- The UvA and VU semester runs on a block system and CIEE students are present only for the first two of the three-semester blocks. The fall semester is the 1st semester of the academic year and therefore starts with block 1. The spring semester is the 2nd semester of the academic year and therefore starts with block 4.
- Most CIEE courses run during the first two blocks of the semester.
- The University of Amsterdam offers courses in different subjects (Business Studies, Economics, Finance, Econometrics, Statistics, and Accounting), referred to as Study Tracks. The courses are for 2nd and 3rd-year students and require a solid background; since the U.S. education system is different, a CIEE student will not always have a background of two years for a certain study program. For that reason, the student’s transcript has to be reviewed by the UvA faculty to decide which Study Track(s) the students are allowed (or possibly not allowed) to take courses from. Detailed information is provided to students upon acceptance into the program.
Academic Projects
Communication, Journalism, and Media
Languages and Cultural Studies
Psychology
Social Sciences
Business, Economics, Management, and Marketing
Health Professions and Related Programs
Engineering and Engineering Technologies
Academic Projects
Communication, Journalism, and Media
Languages and Cultural Studies
Natural Resources, Conservation, and the Environment
Psychology
Social Sciences
Visual and Performing Arts
Business, Economics, Management, and Marketing
Health Professions and Related Programs
Engineering and Engineering Technologies
UNIVERSITY OF AMSTERDAM COURSES (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Acceptance to the program does not guarantee course availability. Typically, students are admitted to either the Business and/or Economics track, which allows them to choose 3-5 courses from the respective track. Please contact CIEE for further information.
Business Studies courses
- E-Business
- Marketing Management
- Information and Data Management
- Innovation Management
- Strategy and Organization
Economics courses
- Environmental Economics
- Game Theory
- Macroeconomics
- Microeconomics
- Development Economics
- Labor Economics
- Transition Economics
- Behavioral Economics
- Political Economy: Dialectical Methodology
Finance courses
- Finance 2
- Investment and Portfolio Theory 1
- Investment and Portfolio Theory 2
- Financial Statement Analysis
Mathematics courses
- Mathematics 2 for Economics
Accounting courses
- Management Accounting 1 for Economics
Other
- Corporate Law
For more information about these courses, go to the University of Amsterdam online catalogue of courses for international students:
https://studiegids.uva.nl/xmlpages/page/2022-2023-en
VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT AMSTERDAM COURSES (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Students who enroll at the VU may choose Business and Economics courses from the complete VU course catalog for exchange students, provided they meet the background and eligibility requirements.
Some of the course titles on offer include:
- Cross-Cultural Marketing
- Business Information Systems
- Consumer Science for Online Commerce
- Inclusive Growth and Sustainability
- Foundations of Business Administration
- Health Economics
- Risk Management in Financial Institutions
- Corporate Governance and Accountability
- Sustainable Supply Chain Management
- Financial Markets and Institutions
The full course catalog can be found here: https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/exchange/2023-2024#/tab=3
DUTCH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE COURSES (INTT)
Pre-Intermediate
For those who have a global understanding of simple, everyday Dutch, and can make themselves understood in simple, everyday Dutch that is still full of mistakes. The aim of the course is to help participants extend a basic vocabulary of Dutch, enable them to understand simple spoken and written Dutch, and teach them how to make themselves understood in simple spoken and written Dutch.
Intermediate
For those who have a reasonable understanding of everyday Dutch and of Dutch used in the media and can make themselves understood in simple everyday Dutch but still make many mistakes. The aim of the course is to help participants extend a basic vocabulary of Dutch, enable them to understand spoken and written Dutch in a variety of familiar contexts, and teach them how to make themselves understood in both spoken and written Dutch.
Pre-Advanced
For those who have a good understanding of everyday Dutch and of Dutch used in the media, and who can make themselves understood in everyday Dutch but still make quite a few mistakes. The aim of the course is to help participants to extend their vocabulary of Dutch, enable them to understand spoken and written Dutch in a variety of contexts, and improve their basic writing and speaking skills.
Advanced
Even those who have a thorough understanding of everyday Dutch and a good understanding of Dutch at an academic level still make systematic mistakes. Therefore, the advanced course can help those students who have a Dutch language background but are still looking to improve. Objectives of the advanced level are to improve participants’ writing and speaking skills. Some attention is paid to reading, listening, and extending vocabulary.
CIEE proudly partners with ASU to deliver asynchronous, online coursework that aligns with your degree requirements from anywhere you study abroad.
CIEE and ASU offer courses online per program eligibility, at no additional charge. Be sure to review online courses with your home school advisor.
Check the CIEE Program Dates and ASU start dates below to maximize course options within your program!
Search ASU Online Courses BROWSE FAQs for more INFO
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
- MSI Grant
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Fall 2025 17 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $23,950 |
| Program Academic year 2025-2026 | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date * | End Date TBD* | |
| Program Spring 2026 18 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * |
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $15,706 ** |
| Housing | $7,750 *** |
| Insurance | $194 |
| Total Fees | $23,950 |
Optional Housing
CIEE accommodation options are detailed in the Housing section. Based on availability, Select or Select Plus Housing can be chosen during the application process for an additional fee. Housing is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis; however, other factors may also be considered.
| Select Housing Fee | $2,550 |
| Select Plus Housing Fee | $2,975 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
| Meals not included in program fee | $2,115 † |
| International Airfare | $1,250 †† |
| Local Transportation | $700 ††† |
| Books & Supplies | $200 |
| Visa Fees | $200 |
| Personal expenses | $270 †††† |
| Total Costs | $4,735 |
*non-refundable fee
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For students in residence halls/apartments, you should budget approx. $470 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly. For students in homestays, families typically provide two meals a day, students should budget $735 to purchase groceries for the remaining meals or more if you plan on eating out regularly.
††round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure
†††This would cover six round trips per week from students' housing to the UvA campus/the CIEE classroom
††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Kallan Picha
Center Director
Kallan has more than 15 years of experience working in international higher education for both universities and providers and is passionate about expanding opportunities for students to experience the transformational power of studying abroad.
Cathelijn Kuis
Student Life Director
Cathelijn studied Journalism (BA) and American Studies (MA) at the University of Utrecht.
Get Started
1
2
Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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