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What is the Honours Programme?

If you are a talented and motivated student the VU Honours Programme offers you the opportunity to invest more in your own area of study and to broaden your horizon.

Admission criteria
The Honours Programme is designed for students who have passed all of their first-year Bachelor's subjects by the end of that year, who have achieved an average mark of 7.5 and who have the motivation to take extra subjects in the second and third year of their programme. You will be able to earn an extra 30 credits in addition to the 180 credits on the standard Bachelor’s programme with extra faculty courses and interdisciplinary courses without extra tuition fees.

Already start in your first Bachelors year?
In case you had a GPA of at least an 8 at your High School Diploma and/or you passed all the exams of the 1st and 2nd period of your first Bachelor’s year with a GPA of at least 7.5, you can already follow an Honours course during the 2nd semester of your first year. In case you expect to meet this criteria and are interested in the Programme, please send an email including your name, student number, studies and a short motivation before 1 December 2017 to honours@vu.nl.

Information meeting for 1st years students
date: Wednesday 7 March 2018
time: 16.30-17.30
room: HG KC-07
programme:Information session VU Honours Programme

Together with VU, UvA and AUC
The interdisciplinary components are taught mainly in the evening by the finest lecturers from Vrije Universiteit, University of Amsterdam and Amsterdam University College, as well as guest lecturers from the Netherlands and abroad. The classes are small and you will be expected to give presentations, write papers and make an active contribution to discussions. Some examples of this courses are: The Future Entrepreneur, Brain and Behavior, Human Rights and Globalisation and International Development. You can find information about all interdisciplinary courses at: www.vu.nl/honourscourses.

Why should you join?
The reasons for participation can differ from academic curiosity, intellectual challenge, broadening and deepening your knowledge, contact with like-minded students (also from other faculties), the creative and interdisciplinary learning environment or the fact that you will stand out from your peers with an honours degree. Because most courses are taught in English participation in this programme will  also improve your English.

Bonuses
The Honours Programme offers you more than just courses. Every year we are allowed to select students for the Netherlands-Asia Honours Summer School. You will be informed about all kinds of special opportunities. You can become a member of Extensus, the study association for Honours students and you can join their study trip, Master’s classes and social activities. After completing the programme all students are invited for a festive Graduation Event. These are some of the attractive bonuses which come along with being an Honours student.


Reasons for attending

  • You learn more!
  • You deepen and broaden your knowledge and skills in your field of study.
  • You cross the boundaries of your own study programme, particularly in the interdepartmental Honours courses, exploring topics from various angles with students and lecturers from other disciplines.
  • You attend courses with students who have also obtained relatively high grades and shown above-average motivation. This means that the pace and level of the Honours courses are higher, allowing for more in-depth study of the learning content than is possible in regular bachelor courses.
  • Freedom of choice within the Honours Programme allows you to improve the match of your study programme to your individual interests and ambitions.
  • The Honours Programme is taught in small groups, so that you get more individual attention from the lecturers and more intensive guidance.
  • The courses in the Honours Programme are taught by top academics. There are also guest lectures by renowned academics from other (international) universities.
  • Some departmental Honours Programmes allow a greater focus on the development of research skills than the regular bachelor programmes.
  • Your participation in the Honours Programme will distinguish you from students who have studied only a regular bachelor, enhancing your chances of admission to certain (research) masters.
  • By obtaining an Honours degree you acquire good English language skills (as most courses are taught in English) and an internationally recognised diploma, increasing your international career perspectives.
  • An Honours degree shows you are an outstanding student who is motivated, not afraid to take on extra challenges and achieves more than average. With this degree, you will stand out from your peers when entering the labour market.