Academic Language Programme

The Academic Language Programme (ALP) supports VU employees and students in developing and strengthening their communication skills in English or Dutch.

The ALP offers courses, workshops, coaching, and individual tutorials for students, PhD researchers, lecturers, and other VU employees who wish to work on their academic writing or speaking skills in both English and Dutch. We also offer advice to programme directors with respect to academic communicative skills of both students and staff. We contribute to various degree programmes with courses and modules on academic writing (Dutch and English) and presentation skills.

Our courses and modules are characterized by a tailor-made approach and extensive individual feedback from experienced teachers of English and Dutch.

We also provide courses for international students and staff wishing to learn Dutch and we also offer extensive support for students and PhD researchers who are writing their thesis or dissertation.

The ALP is a contribution of the Faculty of Humanities to the VU’s language policy.

How does the ALP work?

The ALP is part of the VU Language Policy

Read more about the ALP staff members

For students

Courses
The ALP offers courses in academic English and Dutch for students such as academic writing, thesis writing, grammar, pronunciation and oral presentation. From remedial to advanced, with a lot of attention for individual feedback. For international students there are group courses to learn Dutch.
ALP language courses and workshops for students
For PhD candidates

Courses
The ALP offers courses in academic English and Dutch for PhD students, such as academic writing, dissertation writing, grammar, pronunciation and oral presentation. From remedial to advanced, with a lot of attention for individual feedback. There are group courses for international PhD students to learn Dutch.
ALP courses and writing centre for PhD's
For academic staff

The ALP offers workshops and tutorials in English for teachers who use English in their teaching and courses in (academic) Dutch and English.
ALP courses, workshops and tutorials for teachers
For study programs and faculties

ALP Advice about implementation of language policy
Good communication in Dutch and English is essential on a bilingual campus. But in many organizational decisions, e.g. about the language of instruction in training or bilingual business operations, there are unexpected obstacles, often with a linguistic character. The ALP can provide expert advice in various areas with the aim of supporting the implementation of the language policy.
For study programmes and faculties, the ALP offers advice on setting up successful learning pathways in linguistic communication skills. The structure of each programme is the starting point.

Read more about ALP advice.

Modules Academic Dutch or English
Lecturers of the ALP also provide self-modules Academic English and Academic Dutch for study programmes, in various formats, woven into the curriculum of the study programme. See ALP education for study programmes for more information and examples of trajectories for bachelors, masters, pre-masters and PhD/PhD candidates.
Tailor-made writing lab for thesis problems
The ALP Writing Lab for thesis problems is tailored per programme or faculty. Fellow students, trained by the ALP as writing coaches, help students on their way with their thesis. Read more about the Writing LAB for FSS students.
For international VU employees

The ALP offers language courses to learn Dutch, at different levels: from beginner to advanced. These courses are offered through VU-NT2.

- Evening course Dutch for work and study
- Evening course Dutch for work and study SPRINT
- Saturday course Everyday Dutch
- Evening course Professional Dutch 1 and 2

For VU staff: you can contact us about ALP courses for you or your students or with questions about language policy or communicative skills.

Dr. Gea Dreschler, academic director ALP

Dr. Nel de Jong, coordinator ALP for Dutch (NT1, NT2)

For students: for questions or information about a course, workshop or coaching, contact us at