Other possibilities to study abroad

• Internship abroad

  During your studies you have the possibility to do an internship abroad. You are responsible for arranging an internship yourself. Unfortunately, VU International Office does not facilitate any internships, but you can discuss with your academic advisor and faculty about the possibilities. Some faculties have an internship coordinator. For more information, please check this page and the faculty specific information at the bottom. 

  Please pay attention to the following:

  • Once you have arranged your internship, you will need to register this in My Dashboard. 
  • Please carefully go over our International Travel Policy.
  • VU has scholarships available for internships abroad. Within the EU, you can receive an Erasmus+ scholarship for internships. Outside of the EU, you can request a scholarship via the Fondsendesk. You can request  a scholarship via My Dashboard, after you have registered the internship in the system. 

  After your Bachelor's or Master's degree, you can get an Erasmus+ scholarship for an internship abroad as an orientation on the labour market. The internship must last at least 2 months. You are responsible for finding an internship yourself.

• Vulcanus in Japan

  Vulcanus in Japan is a training programme that offers industrial placements for Master’s students in engineering, high technology and other scientific fields. It is open to Master's students and PhD candidates who are EU nationals or citizens of SMP-associated countries, and lasts 8 months. In 2026 the programme runs from from August 2026 to March 2027.

  Through this programme, the students will get acquainted with the range of advanced technologies employed by a leading Japanese host company, immerse themselves in Japanese culture and boost their future career by connecting with Japanese businesses and people.

  The EU-Japan Center will cover costs for providing lectures about Japan and the Japanese language course. The host company will provide accommodation throughout the entire stay in Japan. A maximum of €9200 (paid in JPY) will be given in total: €8200 for participation in the traineeship and its compulsory activities and an additional €1000 for students who participate in an optional ‘Eyes on Japan’ group work assignment. 

  Please find more information about the training programme and how to apply on this page. 

• International experience at home - Buddy programme at VU Amsterdam

  VU International Office organises a buddy programme, in cooperation with the Erasmus Student Network VU Amsterdam (ESN VU Amsterdam). As a buddy, you will be matched to 3-5 international students. You will be expected to answer the student’s questions about what it’s like to study at VU Amsterdam and you can partake in social activities with your international students. It will improve your language skills, you will learn to communicate with students from different countries and you will make friends from all over the world! Would you like to know more about the buddy programme? 

• International experience at home - VU Amsterdam Summer School

  Are you looking for an opportunity to build an international network in the field of your study, do you miss, or do you want extra ECTS, do you want to expand your CV or deepen your knowledge about a certain topic?  Join VU Amsterdam Summer School!
  
  VU Amsterdam has had its own summer school. During the months of July and August you can follow 2-week multidisciplinary courses that cover a wide range subjects. Along with the international students, VU Amsterdam students are also very welcome. As VU Amsterdam-student you even get a discount on all courses!
  
  All courses are small in size (max. 25 students), and very intensive. Check the VU Amsterdam Summer School website for the full programme and other details.

• Study trips

  Some faculties and/or student associations organise study trips or fieldwork excursions. During these study trips, you will broaden your knowledge abroad, together with your fellow students. For more information, please contact your faculty or a student association.

• Going abroad as a free mover

  As a free mover, you have to arrange and manage the study abroad yourself, without support from the VU International Office. You have to contact the university yourself and do some research about the quality of education and the level of the courses. Keep in mind that you will most probably have to pay double tuition fees, at the VU and at the host university. 

  Please pay attention to the following:

  • After being accepted at your host university, you have to select the courses you would like to follow. If you want them to count towards your degree, they must be approved by the VU Examination Board of your faculty (it can take up to 6 weeks to receive a response). More information about the Examination Board can be found on this page.
  • Please carefully go over our International Travel Policy.
  • Always register your study abroad in My Dashboard.

• Master's programme abroad

  It is also possible to do a Master's programme abroad. You will need to arrange everything yourself: you will need to find a university yourself, and arrange your application and admission. You will also need to pay tuition fees at this university. 

  Please pay attention to the following:

  • Start to look for a study programme early. Start your search at least a year in advance. A good starting point is mastersportal.com, where you can compare different programmes.
  • You can often ask a professor from your degree programme which universities he or she would recommend. 
  • The foreign university will be able to help you with questions about study programmes, the application procedure, finances, etc.
  • You can find more information on scholarship possibilities here. 

Outgoing Student Exchange Team