Sorry! De informatie die je zoekt, is enkel beschikbaar in het Engels.
This programme is saved in My Study Choice.
Something went wrong with processing the request.
Something went wrong with processing the request.

The VU Honours Programme Explained

The Honours Programme is a joint offer by VU, UvA and AUC. This extracurricular interdisciplinary programme is designed to offer motivated students an extra challenge during the second and third year of their bachelor studies.

Honours education mainly takes place in the evening. In total, honours students earn 30 extra study credits on top of the 180 credits of their regular bachelor programme. You divide these credits over two components:  

  1. The interfaculty component (12 or 18 EC) is offered by different departments at VU and UvA. You cross the boundaries of your own study field by choosing from over 40 interdisciplinary honours courses at VU, UvA or AUC. These courses allow you to explore topics from various angles with students and lecturers from other disciplines. Curious? Discover the courses on offer here!
  2. The faculty component (12 or 18 EC) is offered by your own faculty at VU. With this part of the programme, you gain a more in-depth perspective on your own studies by taking extra courses at your faculty, extending your bachelor thesis or doing research. For more information, go to the honours page of your faculty.

Entry requirements
You are an eligible candidate for the Honours Programme if you passed all your first-year bachelor courses with an average of 7.5, by the end of your first year. More information about entry requirements can be read on the application page

Passing Requirements
If you successfully complete the Honours Programme, you receive an honours mentioning on your diploma. The passing requirements for this mentioning are:

  • Complete your bachelor within 3 years with a grade average of at least 7.5 for your regular bachelor courses (the grades for honours courses are not taken into account in this calculation), and;
  • Obtain the 30 EC of the Honours Programme within that same period of time.

Information sessions for 1st year bachelor students
In November and March you can join an Honours Programme information session for 1st year students. During this session we give students an in-depth explanation regarding the set-up of the programme, the honours courses and have an Q&A with VU honours students. All events are announced on our homepage.

Provisional entry
If you want to try out an honours course during the 2nd semester of your first bachelor year, you need to apply for a provisional entry in November. We highly recommend this option!

Ready to apply?

The programme application deadline is 1 May.
(Application for the VU Honours Programme is now closed!)

Studying with a disability?
Want to know how you can make use of support while taking VU honours courses?
See the Q&A regarding this topic

Why should you apply?

In this video Honours Programme students express their enthusiasm about this extracurricular opportunity. Watch and listen why they choose to participate, which aspects of the programme are most beneficial and how honours education has contributed to their deepening of knowledge and broadening their horizon.

Are you ready to challenge yourself? Register before 1 May!

VU Honours Programme Team

The central VU Honours Programme Team consists of Eva Meijerink (coordinator VU Honours Programme), Joke Verwers and Gemma van der Wal (staff members VU Honours Programme). We organise and manage the VU Honours Programme.

Eva Meijerink

Coordinator Honours Programme

Portrait Eva Meijerink

Joke Verwers

Staff member Honours Programme (course placement, registration, grade registration, etc.)

Picture Joke Verwers, photographer: Peter Valckx

Gemma van der Wal

Staff member Honours Programme (communication, events, website, course evaluations)