Expanding your knowledge and at the same time developing your skills is key. That is why you will participate in a variety of teaching activities. Most courses have one or more tests. This is usually a written examination, but it can also be an essay, a report or a presentation.

• Lectures (8 hours): Lectures give an introductory overview of the course content. You will attend them together with your fellow students. You take notes and have the opportunity to ask questions.
• Tutorials (6 hours): These are small-group sessions in which you discuss topics from the lectures in more depth. During tutorials, exercises and practice assignments help you apply the theory and build your problem-solving skills. 
• Self-study (24 hours): During your study week, you study theory through texts and videos, meet with fellow students for group work, go over lectures and tutorials, and prepare for exams and presentations.
• Skills & Connect:  In the 1st year of your studies, you will receive weekly coaching from a senior student in a small group. This mentor will help you learn to study more effectively. In the meantime, you will also get to know your fellow students. 
• Exams: At the University of Amsterdam, the academic year is divided into 2 semesters and 6 study blocks. In each block, you take courses that finish with a final written exam. All courses also have additional testing, which varies per course: weekly in-class tests, presentations, midterm exams or take-home cases and assignments, individually or in groups. You can find details about the study methods and assessment formats for each course in our course catalogue. 

Using AI responsibly

During your studies, you have access to UvA AI Chat: an AI tool developed and hosted by the UvA. It offers a safe environment to explore how artificial intelligence can support your studies. Your data stays within the UvA, and your questions are anonymised. Your input is not used for advertising or training new AI models. The tool helps you to experiment with AI responsibly within an academic environment. How you can use AI may differ between courses. You can find more information in the course catalogue. 

The first course that you take is called Principles of Economics and Business. You learn about fundamental themes and theories in economics, business economics and business administration, including business ethics and sustainability. You also take a course on strategy in a global business world, which forms the foundation for all business decisions. 

4 business perspectives

Business administration is a multidisciplinary science that draws on different disciplines to solve business problems. We have divided the various disciplines into 4 pillars. The courses in your 1st year are about these 4 pillars:

• Organisation, for example in the course Strategy and Organisation; 
• People, for example in the course Organisational Behaviour;
• Economics, for example in the course Economics; 
• Methods. For example, this is covered in the course Quantitative Data Analysis.

The courses in this year are placed under these 4 themes. Read more about the 1st-year courses in the course catalogue. 

In the 2nd year, you dive deeper into specific business functions such as marketing or finance and combine these later in courses such as: 

• International Business: learn about doing business and collaborating across borders, an absolute must in the international business community;  
• Information and Data Management: learn about the digital revolution, AI and their impact on companies. 
• Business Law and Ethics: learn and discuss the moral aspects of business, such as fraud. 

Real-life business case

To finish the year, you work on your first real business case. In this assignment, you use your knowledge and skills to develop a plan for setting up your own business. 

Read more about the 2nd-year courses in the course catalogue. 

My semester: customise your programme

Your 3rd year is all about exploring your individual academic interests. The 1st semester of this year is all yours to construct. Options include an internship, studying abroad, taking a minor or free-choice electives. 

• Do an internship:  work at a company where you can put the experience and skills that you have gained into practice.
• Study abroad: spend a semester studying at one of our many partner universities. Enjoy half a year inside or outside Europe in cities such as Barcelona, Paris, Singapore, New York or Melbourne, and gain international experience. 
• Take a minor programme at the UvA or elsewhere: this gives you a chance to broaden your knowledge and stand out from the crowd with a mini study programme in a completely different field, such as Philosophy, Law or Italian Studies. You can also learn AI in the minor Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, or start your own business in the minor Entrepreneurship. You can choose from over 120 Dutch-taught and over 70 English-taught minors at the UvA. 
• Electives: choose from more than 40 specialised courses in business and economics to deepen your knowledge, ranging from Intercultural Skills to Consulting Methods, Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Analytics.  

Specialisation

In the 2nd semester of year 3 you choose a specialisation that suits you:

• Accounting and Control 
• Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creativity
• Finance
• Management in the Digital Age

Is there a particular recent development that sparks your enthusiasm, or do you have a great idea of your own? While writing your thesis, you have the chance to explore it fully while training your ability to conduct relevant academic research independently. Your thesis is the final requirement for your graduation. Under the supervision of our staff, you will follow a clearly defined path that will lead to your graduation with an internationally recognised Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree.

Read more about the 3rd-year courses in the course catalogue

Online information session

In our online information sessions, you learn more about the Bachelor’s in Business Administration, the programme content, and admission and selection. The Programme Director guides you through the structure of the Bachelor’s, explains what to expect from the courses, and shows how the programme prepares you for your future career. You also hear directly from students, who share their experiences of studying Business Administration at the UvA.

Webinar on the numerus fixus

Are you planning to apply for the English track? In our second webinar we’ll highlight the numerus fixus (enrolment restriction) of the English track. Our Admissions Officer explains the selection procedure step by step, so you know exactly how to prepare. A current student also shares her experience with the selection process and offers practical tips based on her own journey.

Interested in the Dutch track? Good to know: this track does not have a numerus fixus.

This Bachelor’s offers a Dutch-language and an English-language track. If you are a Dutch-speaking student, you can choose to follow our Dutch-language track. Both tracks are identical in terms of level and content.  

Please note the English track has a numerus fixus, meaning there are a limited number of places available (650) and you have to participate in the selection procedure. The application deadline for the English track is 15 January. The numerus fixus does not apply to the Dutch track: there is no limit on places and no selection procedure. The application deadline for the Dutch track is 1 May. 

Dutch track

In the Dutch-language track, tutorials and some lectures are in Dutch. You also complete assignments and exams in Dutch. Each year, the amount of English used in the programme gradually increases. 

In the 3rd year, you will take all courses in English together with the students of the English track of the programme, offering you an international classroom. This gives you the opportunity to train your cross-cultural skills and prepares you for an English-language Master’s programme and an international business career. The Dutch track can be a good choice if you want some time to adjust to the English language and prefer a gradual transition to a fully English-language programme.

English track

If you opt for the English track, all courses are in English. From year 1 you will study with both Dutch students and students from around the world. This creates a diverse and international classroom. 

The transition from secondary school to university can be a major step. For this reason, as a 1st-year student, you will receive intensive academic guidance. You can also count on individual support throughout the rest of your studies.

At the UvA there are all sorts of activities you can take part in during your university years to explore and develop your network, talents and skills. You can choose from more than 70 minors and more than 40 electives to broaden and deepen your knowledge and skills.

If you are ambitious, you can choose to take part in our Honours programme. You take the Honours programme alongside your regular studies. In interdisciplinary courses you will work together with students from other faculties on topics of high societal relevance. When you complete it, you graduate 'with honours', an internationally recognised distinction.

During your Bachelor's programme, you can put your knowledge into practice with an internship. You can include an internship in your programme for a maximum of 12 ECTS credits. Internships can be very useful for your future career. 

Studying abroad allows you to experience a different country, culture and language. We strongly recommend you take advantage of this opportunity. The UvA has partnerships with over 100 universities worldwide, enabling you to study there for a semester. 

Are you interested in learning Dutch? A range of courses is available to help you make the most of your time in the Netherlands and prepare for a future career here.

Many of our students are members of a study association. It is fun and useful for your future career at the same time. Faculty study associations are a great way to meet fellow students and future employers. They organise study trips (abroad), career events, weekly debates, parties and receptions with drinks. Usually, you can also buy your textbooks and course syllabi at reduced rates via our faculty study association Sefa.

Overview of Study Associations

• Faculty study association Sefa
• International Student Committee (ISC, part of Sefa)
• Study Association Actuarial Sciences, Econometrics and Data Science and Business Analytics (VSAE)
• Financial Study Association Amsterdam (FSA)
• Marketing Association Amsterdam (MAA)
• International study association (AIESEC)

Amsterdam has a thriving student community with many activities organised outside the university’s grounds. You will find student associations devoted to networking, specific interests and sports. It is only at sororities and fraternities that you can expect an initiation ritual (hazing). 

At university, you are entitled to make your voice heard and provide feedback on the quality of your education. You can contribute to discussions about the university's education policy in various ways, such as by joining the Programme Committee, the Faculty Student Council or the student panel. You can also stand for election and represent the interests of your programme and fellow students. 

The courses Principles of Economics and Business 1 and 2 focus on the main theoretical concepts in economics and business administration. Through practical assignments based on current topics in the media and real business cases, you will learn how to apply the literature to a current problem. These problems are related to ethics, corporate social responsibility or sustainability. In the course Business Research Methods, you will learn various research methods within business administration. We focus solely on examples related to ethics and sustainability. This way, you also become familiar with research on these topics. 

In the 2nd year, you take the Business Law and Ethics course, where you study topics such as data protection, privacy, business ethics, liability for human rights violations and international dispute resolution. 

In the 3rd year you can choose several elective courses on ethics, sustainability or corporate social responsibility (e.g. Social Entrepreneurship, Non-Growth Entrepreneurship, Environmental Economics or Corporate Social Responsibility). You can even take a 6-month minor in sustainability (the minor Sustainability and Economics).