INFORMATION GUIDE FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS

CREATING TOMORROW INFORMATION GUIDE FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS 2

This is a publication of:

Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences School of Economics and Management International Centre AMSTERDAM UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES 3

CONTENTS

1. WELCOME TO THE AMSTERDAM UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES 4

2. THE NETHERLANDS 6

3. INTERNATIONAL CENTRE 7 3.1 Services 7 3.2 Contact details 7

4. EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES AT THE SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT 8 4.1 Exchange students 8 4.2 Admission requirements 8 4.3 Visa and residence permit 8 4.4 Credits and grading system 9 4.5 Dutch education system 9 4.6 Course registration 10 4.7 Lecture timetable and academic calendar 10

5. FACILITIES 11 5.1 Computer facilities 11 5.2 Buying readers and textbooks 11 5.3 Payments at the SEM 11 5.4 Library and reading room 11 5.5 Administration offices 12 5.6 Restaurant and café 12 5.7 Sports and recreation 12 5.8 Student organisations 12 5.9 Student counselling, legal counselling and special needs 13

6. ACCOMMODATION 14

7. ARRIVAL IN AMSTERDAM 15 7.1 Arrival Day 15 7.2 Introduction Days 15 7.3 Registration with the Municipal Administration 15 7.4 Getting around 15

8. PRACTICAL INFORMATION 16 8.1 Cost of living 16 8.2 Bank account 16 8.3 Financial matters 17 8.4 Public transport 17 8.5 Dutch language 17 8.6 Health and other insurances 17 8.7 Important telephone numbers and addresses 18 INFORMATION GUIDE FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS 4

CHAPTER 1 WELCOME TO THE AMSTERDAM UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

The Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS) is a Amsterdam is a city with many faces. It is a unique historical city, university of applied sciences with several locations across with impressive buildings along the old canals and world-famous the city of Amsterdam. The university has seven schools, with cultural attractions such as the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh academic programmes catering for a total of 44,000 students. Museum. Though it feels like a metropolis, everything can easily The AUAS is among the largest comprehensive universities of be reached by bike. Amsterdam’s central location, with easy applied sciences in the Netherlands. One of its largest schools access to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and the Port of Amsterdam, is the School of Economics and Management (SEM). The SEM makes it the ideal gateway to Europe. Brussels, Paris, Madrid, offers a wide variety of programmes in economics, business London and Berlin can all be reached within a matter of studies and related disciplines. hours. Many large companies also have their headquarters in Amsterdam, including ABN AMRO, Heineken, TomTom Founded in 1846, the School of Economics and Management and Philips. prides itself on a long history of first-rate business education. With approximately 14,000 students, including approximately International exchange students benefit from a multicultural en- 2,800 international students, it is one of the largest universities vironment both at the AUAS and in the wider city of Amsterdam. of its kind in the Netherlands. Formed in October 2004 as a This information guide is intended to inform exchange students at result of the merger of the former HES (Higher Economic School) the SEM about key matters relating to enrolment and living in the and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, the SEM is Netherlands, ensuring they make the most of your stay. the largest school within the multidisciplinary AUAS. Unlike tradi- tional universities, the AUAS has always emphasised the practical If you have any questions not answered in this guide, please do application of theoretical knowledge. At the SEM, students are not hesitate to contact us. trained for middle and upper management positions in organi- sations in both the private and public sectors. Graduates earn We hope you will enjoy your time at the School of Economics a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Recognising the and Management and will do our best to make your stay here as growing importance of global markets, the school is constantly rewarding and pleasant as possible. adapting and developing its business courses to respond to new international dimensions and demands. Kind regards,

The school is located in the business district of Amsterdam, in a International Centre modern building next to the Ajax football stadium, Amsterdam Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences ArenA. Living and studying in Amsterdam is a unique experience. School of Economics and Management The city is a colourful centre of culture and entertainment, with close to one million inhabitants of many different origins and cul- tural backgrounds. Amsterdam is famous not only for the beauty of its architecture but also for the relaxed and friendly attitude of its population. Amsterdam is a true student city, with over 110,000 students. AMSTERDAM UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES 5 INFORMATION GUIDE FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS 6

CHAPTER 2 THE NETHERLANDS

The history of the Netherlands as an independent nation began Wet feet in 1568, when the province of Holland led the country in a war The western and northern parts of the country are between one for independence against the Spanish empire and in defence of and six metres below sea level. The soil is mostly peat and clay, in Protestant and economic freedom. Independence was declared a landscape dissected by canals, rivers and estuaries. Most of the in 1581, and in 1648 the nation gained international recognition land is used for farming and grazing. The territories below sea as the Republic of the United Provinces of the Netherlands. In level were once lakes or part of the sea, until pumping stations 1813, following a period of French occupation, the Netherlands and mills were used to drained them dry. These stations run became a unified state and a constitutional monarchy under King continuously to prevent flooding, while coastal areas are pro- Willem I of Orange. tected by natural dunes and manmade dykes. The Flevopolder and the Noordoostpolder are the two polder regions most The Royal Family recently claimed from the sea as part of the country’s never- When the Netherlands became a monarchy in 1813, the House ending struggle against the water. When the province of Zeeland of Orange was appointed to rule. Today, the reigning head of was hit by a disastrous flood in 1953, the Delta Works were built state is King Willem-Alexander. Under the Dutch constitution, to straighten and strengthen the shoreline with a system of new the monarch has immunity and government ministers are dykes, dams, sluices and bridges. responsible for governing the country, making the monarch’s role essentially ceremonial. Climate The Netherlands has a maritime climate with moderate Geography temperature variations across the four seasons. July and August The Netherlands has a population of around 16 million people, are on the warm end of the scale with average temperatures making it one of the most densely populated countries in between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. The winter months are colder, Europe. Situated in the northern part of Western Europe, the with some frost and snow. country is bordered by Belgium, Germany and the North Sea. By car, it takes roughly four hours to drive from north to south. Dutch society Amsterdam is the capital, and the seat of government is in The Traditionally, the Netherlands is a trading nation and has enjoyed Hague. a very strong economy for many centuries. Trade, logistics, agriculture, banking and food have been the strongest drivers of the Dutch economy. The country’s central location gives it prime access to international markets, and the Port of Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe. The Netherlands is a multicultural society, particularly in the cities. Amsterdam is home to 178 different nationalities and many more ethnicities – more than any other city in the world. This multi-ethnic mix emerged during the twentieth century when many people from the former Dutch colonies in Indonesia, the Moluccas, Surinam and the Dutch Antilles came to live in the Netherlands. In the 1950s and 1960s, southern Europeans, Moroccans and Turks came here to ease the shortage of factory workers. Refugees from all over the world, as well as other groups of immigrants, complete this diverse cultural picture.

More information about studying in the Netherlands To get a better idea what it is like to study in the Netherlands, watch the film Study in Holland, which can be found on www.youtube.com/studyinholland. AMSTERDAM UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES 7

CHAPTER 2 INTERNATIONAL CENTRE

3.1 SERVICES 3.2 CONTACT DETAILS The International Centre of the School of Economics and Room 4.109 (office) and Atrium (service desk) Management provides a variety of services for students, with an Service desk opening hours: International Services Department divided between an Outgo- Monday to Friday: 09.00-13.00 ing Team and an Incoming Team. The Outgoing Team provides Incoming Team e-mail address: [email protected] services for SEM students completing a semester abroad at one Outgoing Team e-mail address: [email protected] of our numerous partner schools. They can be contacted for all Website: www.amsterdamuas.com administrative procedures and advice about practical matters /sem-exchange regarding other universities and countries. Visiting address The Incoming Team is responsible for admissions, housing in International Centre Amsterdam, visa and residence permits and introductory activities Room 4.109 for incoming exchange students. If you have any questions about Fraijlemaborg 133 your exchange period in Amsterdam, you can contact one of 1102 CV Amsterdam the Incoming Team’s International Relations Officers or visit our service desk during opening hours. Postal address P.O. Box 22575 1100 DB Amsterdam The Netherlands Tel: +31 (0)20 523 69 60 Fax: +31 (0)20 620 68 01

INFORMATION GUIDE FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS 8

CHAPTER 4 EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES AT THE SEM

Exchange students can join us for a Fall semester, Spring semester or full academic year at the SEM. The academic year runs from August to July, with the Fall semester running from the end of August to the last week of January and the Spring semester from the end of January to mid-July.

4.1 EXCHANGE STUDENTS An exchange student is a third-year student who studies at an institution in a different country for one or more semesters, generally under the terms of a bilateral agreement between their home university and, in this case, the SEM. Most stay for only one semester. The SEM offers the same lecture programme in both semesters (with some exceptions). Our semester-based modules are designed to offer foreign students a challenging learning experience, with a mix of business courses, role plays, language training and courses on European integration.

4.2 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS Exchange students first need approval from their home university to study at the SEM. To apply, fill in the application form, which can be found on our website at www.amsterdamuas.com/sem-exchange.

Applications must include: 1 - completed application form; 2 - a clear copy of a valid passport (the page(s) with 4.3 VISA AND RESIDENCE PERMIT photograph, name, nationality, signature, date of issue and The immigration officer at Immigration Affairs passport expiration date); handles all visa and residence permit applications. 3 - a transcript of records from the home university; Upon acceptance, the immigration officer will contact you 4 - a photocopy of an international medical insurance certificate. directly regarding the procedures.

All the required documents should be sent as scans to: Visa application [email protected]. Please do not send paper copies by post. Whether you need a visa (known as an MVV in Dutch) depends on your nationality. Students who are not a citizen of an EU/EEA country, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Iceland, Norway, APPLICATION DEADLINES Sweden, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea Fall semester or Japan need a visa. If you are unsure about the status of your 1 May nationality in this respect, please feel free to contact the International Centre. Spring semester 1 November Residence permit All students entering the Netherlands with a visa also have to apply for a residence permit. Citizens of the USA, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Australia do not need an entry visa but must still apply for a residence permit. AMSTERDAM UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES 9

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR STUDENTS OF CHINESE NATIONALITY 4.5 DUTCH EDUCATION SYSTEM All students of Chinese nationality must meet a number of Programmes at the AUAS include a considerable number of con- additional requirements before their visa applications can be tact hours each week. In addition to this, students are expected approved. This is a measure taken by the Dutch Embassy, with to spend a significant amount of time studying on their own, us- has appointed Nuffic to carry out the inspection. This inspection ing the library and computer resources. The amount of self-study consist of two parts: a verification of the students’ diploma(s) time needed in addition to class attendance can be substantial. and of the validity of IELTS test/TOEFL IB test scores. The IELTS The majority of courses are taught in classrooms rather than test or the TOEFL IB test is mandatory for all Chinese students. lecture halls, in groups of no more than 35 students. This infor- The minimum required overall score on the IELTS test is 6.0 mal context ensures ample opportunity for interaction between (with no scores below 5.5) and the minimum score on the teachers and students, and open discussions are very common. TOEFL IB test is 80. Students are expected to attend the courses for which they have registered. In practical courses (e.g. language or computer labs, Please note that if you fail to send in all the necessary forms or do case studies) requiring active student participation, attendance is not meet the requirements, the School of Economics and Manage- mandatory. Team spirit, an open-minded attitude and a measure ment will not be able to process your application. This means your of self-discipline are vital to complete your courses successfully. housing and/or visa applications may be suspended until further notice and that your visa may be issued late or not at all. Modules may include assessed coursework such as essays, pres- entations or midterm exams, but the final exam always accounts More information about visas and residence permits can be found for the highest percentage of the final mark. Therefore, students on our website: www.amsterdamuas.com/immigration. should aim to begin revising for final exams early in order to avoid an excessive workload towards the end of the semester. 4.4 CREDITS AND GRADING SYSTEM Every course is a self-contained unit within the module-based ECTS credits programme, each with specific aims and a separate grade and ECTS stands for ‘European Credit Transfer System’, developed as credits. Courses are taught either in blocks of seven weeks or part of European Union (EU) programmes to promote student over 14 successive weeks interspersed with short breaks. Each se- mobility. The ECTS created an internationally recognised standard mester is rounded off with oral and written examinations, usually for describing and weighting courses in order to facilitate student held over a period of two weeks. exchanges. It is based on an average student’s overall workload, including lecture attendance, practical work, personal study time and exam revision. Under the ECTS, one credit represents a 28- hour workload, and the standard workload for one semester is 30 credits.

Grading system Under the Dutch system, which is used at the School of Economics and Management, grades are awarded on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 representing the worst possible result and 10 representing the best. The minimum passing grade is 5.5. Only rounded grades are reported on the final transcript of records. For example, a grade between 6.0 and 6.4 is rounded down to a 6, while a grade between 6.5 and 6.9 is rounded up to a 7.

Passing grade: 5.5-10 Failing grade: 1-5.4

1 = extremely poor 6 = satisfactory 2 = very poor 7 = good 3 = poor 8 = very good 4 = unsatisfactory 9 = excellent 5 = almost satisfactory 10 = outstanding

(Note: 5.5 is the lowest passing grade) INFORMATION GUIDE FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS 10

4.6 COURSE REGISTRATION 4.7 LECTURE TIMETABLE AND ACADEMIC CALENDAR Exchange students take courses from our international study programmes. The School of Economics and Management offers Lecture time Lecture hour Bachelor’s programmes that are taught in English. Courses for 08.30-09.20 1 exchange students are all part of the third or fourth year of these 09.20-10.10 2 Bachelor’s programmes. 10.10-10.20 break 10.20-11.10 3 Students are advised to register for no more than 30 credits per 11.10-12.00 4 semester (permitted maximum: 33). 12.00-12.50 5 12.50-13.40 6 After the registration deadline, your timetable is fixed: there is no 13.40-14.30 7 ‘add/drop period’ once the semester has begun. For this reason, 14.30-15.20 8 it is a good idea to consult your study adviser at your home 15.20-16.10 9 university before finalising your course registrations. 16.10-17.00 10 17.00-17.50 11 An updated version of the Course Book for Incoming 17.50-18.40 12 Exchange Students will be published on our website 18.40-19.30 13 (www.amsterdamuas.com/sem-exchange) for each 19.30-20.20 14 semester. Most courses are offered in both semesters, unless 20.20-21.10 15 otherwise indicated. Note that the range of courses on offer is 21.10-22.00 16 subject to change. 22.00-22.50 17

Apart from attending lectures, students are expected to spend An updated academic calendar is published on our website every a considerable amount of time preparing for classes and exams. year. Please be sure to check these dates when booking flights. Each contact hour requires an equal amount of time in private Class and exam timetables cannot be adjusted to accommodate study. late arrivals or early departures. Similarly, exams (and resits) abroad are not facilitated. English-language requirement As all courses in the exchange programme are taught in English. Fall semester We rely on our partner universities to ensure that students who End of August – end of January come to study at the SEM have sufficient proficiency in English (including exam resits) (equivalent to IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL IB 80.) Students are unlikely to pass their exams or obtain the necessary credits if they do not Spring semester possess this level of English. End of January – mid July (including exam resits)

Please be aware that it is NOT possible to join the programme after the start of the lectures.

Introduction period Before classes start each semester the International Student Network Amsterdam organises an introduction period in which incoming exchange students can participate.

Visit our website for the full academic calendar: www.amsterdamuas.com/sem-exchange. AMSTERDAM UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES 11

CHAPTER 5 FACILITIES

5.1 COMPUTER FACILITIES 5.4 LIBRARY AND READING ROOM Students at the SEM are free to use the school’s computer Room 0.043 (ground floor + first floor) facilities. An AUAS student ID and password will be provided Opening hours: after admission, which students can use to log into the student Monday: 08.30-18.00 network and access the intranet and Internet. Students also have Tuesday: 08.30-20.30 their own personal page on the intranet. The ICT helpdesk on Wednesday: 08.30-18.00 the ground floor can be contacted for any questions related to Thursday: 08.30-20.30 the computer facilities. Friday: 08.30-17.00 Saturday: 12.00-16.30 Administration staff and lecturers use the intranet for most com- E-mail: [email protected] munication with students. The intranet is also where students Library website: www.bib.hva.nl register for courses and exams, view timetables, make timetable Telephone: +31 (0)20 523 60 46 alterations, view exam results and can find specific information relating to courses, degree programmes, regulations and other The library stocks all of the compulsory course literature as well important matters relating to the School of Economics and Man- as various business and management-related publications. One agement. If a lecturer is absent this is also posted on the intranet. reference copy of all compulsory literature is also always available As from the 2014-2015 academic year, some of this information and cannot be borrowed or taken outside the library. The majority will also be available for smartphones. Several apps have been of the collection can be borrowed, with the exception of news- developed to keep students informed of the latest timetable papers and journals. The library has subscriptions to newspapers changes and any absences. and journals including the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Handelsblatt, Le Figaro, El País, The Economist, Harvard Business There are several locations in the SEM building (e.g. the library Review, Businessweek and Der Spiegel. and the project areas on the third and fourth floors) where stu- dents can use computers or connect to Wi-Fi on their laptops. In addition to its physical collection, the library also has a digital collection with databases including Business Source Premier and 5.2 BUYING READERS AND TEXTBOOKS Science Direct (journal articles), LexisNexis and PressDisplay Study materials can be ordered online at Océ HvA weblisher. For (newspaper articles), Euromonitor (statistics, country and market instructions, see hva.oce.nl. Readers ordered by students based information) and Netlibrary and Safari Books Online (e-books). at the Fraijlemaborg location can be collected from the Repro Department, located on the first floor in room 1.030 (the cor- Facilities available in the library include computer terminals, ridor behind the bookshop). Textbooks can be purchased at the photocopiers, printers, scanners and a quiet study area. Study Store in the Atrium on the first floor. Students are always welcome to visit the 5.3 PAYMENTS AT THE SEM library’s information desk for any Inside the SEM building, payments can be made using a student questions about the library card or debit card. It is not possible to pay in cash or by credit and collections. card. Copy/scanning machines inside the building only work with a AUAS student ID card and require print credits (Dockeys) to print, copy or scan. Print credits can be purchased using a credit card or debit card issued by a Dutch bank.

During the Introduction Days, the International Centre will be available to assist students with opening a Dutch bank account. INFORMATION GUIDE FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS 12

5.5 ADMINISTRATION OFFICES 5.7 SPORTS AND RECREATION Student Administration Office Students can participate in various sports and recreational activi- Room 1.010 ties for very reasonable prices at the University Sports Centre Opening hours: (USC). Monday to Friday: 09.00-13.00 Saturday: closed Science Park 306 E-mail: [email protected] 1098 XH Amsterdam Tel: +31 (0)20 523 89 55 For matters regarding address changes, formal admission state- For more information, visit www.usc.uva.nl. ments etc., please contact the Student Administration Office. Please be sure to let us know if an address in your home country 5.8 STUDENT ORGANISATIONS or the Netherlands has changed. International Student Network (ISN) Amsterdam Results Administration Office The ISN Amsterdam is a student-run non-profit organisation Room 1.008 for international students at the AUAS and the University of Opening hours: Amsterdam (UvA). Part of the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), Monday: 09.00-13.00 which is a large international organisation of student networks Tuesday: 09.00-13.00 and 17.30-19.30 throughout Europe, the ISN was founded in Utrecht (the Nether- Wednesday: 09.00-13.00 lands) in 1990. The ISN aims to facilitate the social and cultural Thursday: 09.00-13.00 and 17.30-19.30 integration of international students into Dutch society, and in Friday: 09.00-13.00 Amsterdam in particular. The ISN organises introduction periods, Saturday: 09.30-13.30 parties, drinks receptions, weekend trips, excursions and other E-mail: [email protected] cultural and sports activities. For more information, visit www.isn-amsterdam.nl. This office provides information on examination results, the registration of marks and credits, administrative matters relating Babylonix to exams and other practical matters such as course timetable Babylonix is the student association for students at the School changes. of Economics and Management, with a Board composed of SEM students. Besides social activities, they also organise book 5.6 RESTAURANT AND CAFÉ fairs and have a website on which students can find mock Restaurant exams to help during revision. For more information, visit Location: First floor, next to the escalators www.babylonix.com. Opening hours: Monday: 08.30-16.00 Tuesday: 08.30-19.00 Wednesday: 08.30-16.00 Thursday: 08.30-19.00 Friday: 08.30-16.00 Saturday: closed

The restaurant in the SEM building serves a full menu of hot and cold foods. The entrance is situated on the first floor.

Café Location: Ground floor, next to the reception desk Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 08.00-17.00 Saturday: 10.00-14.00

The café is located on the ground floor, to the left of reception. A full menu of hot and cold drinks and snacks are available here. AMSTERDAM UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES 13

5.9 STUDENT COUNSELLING, LEGAL COUNSELLING Special needs AND SPECIAL NEEDS Around 6% of students at the AUAS have a disability or a The SEM supports international students with practical mat- chronic disease, which can include physical impairments, RSI, ters such as housing, visa and residence permit, as well as with asthma, diabetes and various learning disabilities such as dyslexia specialised counselling to aid with academic and socio-cultural and ADHD. affairs. If you have a disability or illness that poses or could pose a problem Student counselling in relation to studying, attending classes, finding accommodation, Students with special needs or a problem should contact staff etc., please contact one of the student counsellors, for advice and/ at the International Centre. If they are unable to help, they will or information about available services and facilities. If you know provide a referral to the student counsellor for international that you will require special assistance, we strongly advise you students. to contact the student counsellor before enrolling at the AUAS. In order to make any necessary arrangements, you will have to Student counsellors for international students: provide a basic medical report. If this is not possible or if you Mr Dinant Leegstra or Mr Daan Verhamme have any further questions, please contact one of the student Room 4.067 counsellors.

Please contact the counsellors during walk-in consultation hours first, at which time further appointments can be scheduled.

Consultation hours Monday to Friday: 10.00-12.30 E-mail: [email protected] INFORMATION GUIDE FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS 14

CHAPTER 6 HOUSING

The School of Economics and Management has agreements with two housing corporations in Amsterdam (DUWO and De Key) for exchange student housing. Rooms are available for one or two semesters at various locations in Amsterdam.

Students can opt for either a single studio with private facilities (private bedroom, kitchen and bathroom) or for a single room with shared facilities (private bedroom plus kitchen and bath- room shared with 1-3 other students). All rooms have an Internet connection. Rental prices vary between €350 and €550 p/m and rent includes Internet access, electricity, water and heating. It does not include local taxes. Students pay a housing fee, deposit and an administration fee to the housing corporation.

Rooms are allocated subject to availability. The housing corporations try to fulfil students’ requests for either shared or single accommodation when allocating spaces, but cannot guarantee that individual preferences can be met.

Please note that the rental period for housing is fixed. It is not possible to get a refund in the event of late arrival or departure before the end of the rental period. Signature of the rental contract obligates you to fulfil the rental conditions.

For further information about housing, visit our website: www.amsterdamuas.com/sem-exchange. AMSTERDAM UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES 15

CHAPTER 7 ARRIVAL IN AMSTERDAM

7.1 ARRIVAL DAY also be required to present a birth certificate. Registration with An official Arrival Day is organised for students who are renting a the municipality office also entails an application for a BSN room from one of SEM’s affiliated housing corporations. (Burgerservicenummer, or ‘Citizen Service Number’), which you need in order to be able to legally work, open a bank Students who arrive during the weekend or outside office hours account and use healthcare services (e.g. doctor or hospital) in will have to arrange their own accommodations for the week- the Netherlands. If you open a Dutch bank account during the end or night. There are numerous hostels and small hotels in Introduction Days at the AUAS, you can do so without a BSN. Amsterdam. For more information about hostels in Amsterdam, visit www.hostelsclub.com or contact the Amsterdam tourist 7.4 GETTING AROUND board: www.amsterdam.info/accommodation. The Netherlands has an excellent public transport system. The following provides an overview on travelling to various If you are unable to attend the Arrival Day, please contact locations. the International Centre for instructions, either by e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone on +31 (0)20 523 69 60. How to get to the SEM by public transport The journey planner on 9292.nl/en helps you plan a journey to 7.2 INTRODUCTION DAYS and from any destination in the Netherlands by public transport. Students should plan to arrive at least one week before lectures The address of the School of Economics and Management is start in order to attend the introduction programme. Fraijlemaborg 133, Amsterdam. The introduction programme is organised by the International Centre in cooperation with the International Student Network Train (ISN) and Babylonix business students network. The school building is within walking distance (approximately five minutes) of the Bijlmer ArenA train and metro station. The programme includes: - general welcome meeting and separate meetings with Metro International Centre staff; There are regular direct metro services (lines 50 and 54) - explanations of residence permit procedures and registration between Bijlmer ArenA station, Amstel Station and Centraal with the municipality of Amsterdam; Station in Amsterdam. Students should disembark at either - information sessions on opening a Dutch bank and other Strandvliet or Bijlmer ArenA station. The school building essentials; located midway between these two stations and is a five- - tours and social activities; minute walk from both. - a welcome party. From Bijlmer ArenA train and metro station: At the bottom of The introduction programme is free of charge and is highly the escalators, turn right towards Amsterdamse Poort, a large recommended as a way to get to know the School of Econom- shopping centre. On your right, you will see Hotel Hampton ics and Management, Amsterdam and your fellow exchange (Hilton), which has a narrow passageway on the right side. students. Walk under the viaduct and you will see the school building on the right-hand side at the end of the street, around Information about the International Student Network (ISN) can 150 metres away. be found on www.isn-amsterdam.nl. Information about Baby- lonix can be found on www.babylonix.com. From Strandvliet metro station: At the bottom of the stairs, turn towards the apartment buildings on Boris Pasternakstraat. Turn The exact dates of the Introduction Days and Arrival Day will be right and walk approximately 200 metres until you reach the communicated by the International Centre by e-mail. traffic lights. The school building is just across the street, on the left-hand side. 7.3 REGISTRATION WITH THE MUNICIPALITY OFFICE All students are obliged to register their residential address at Car their local municipality office. The School of Economics and The school building can easily be accessed from various major Management can arrange appointments with the Amsterdam motorways, including the A1, A2, A9 and A10. On all of these municipality office for exchange students. You will need to bring motorways, simply follow the blue ANWB Transferium signs, a valid passport (with registration sticker and/or visa application) then follow the road into the tunnel underneath Amsterdam and a copy of your rental contract to this appointment. If you ArenA (do not drive into the P+R Transferium) and turn right are staying in the Netherlands for more than one year, you will onto the first road after leaving the tunnel. INFORMATION GUIDE FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS 16

CHAPTER 8 PRACTICAL INFORMATION

The following websites provide practical information: 8.2 BANK ACCOUNT Upon arrival in Amsterdam, all exchange students receive Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS): information on how and where to open a bank account in the www.amsterdamuas.com Netherlands. The SEM also has special arrangements with one Dutch bank. Studying in Holland: www.studyinholland.nl or www.nuffic.nl In order to open a bank account, you need a BSN (Burgerser- vicenummer, or ‘Citizen Service Number’), which will be issued Information about Amsterdam: to you by the municipality of Amsterdam upon registration. The www.iamsterdam.nl International Centre can assist foreign students with this registra- tion at the Municipal Administration office in Amsterdam, which 8.1 COST OF LIVING is mandatory for all students staying in Amsterdam for more than Students living and studying in the Netherlands for one year typi- four months. cally spend between €700 and €1,000 per month. Students should bear in mind that it will take a couple weeks The amounts below are intended to give an indication of the before they will be able to use their Dutch bank account and expenses for a single student, but can vary depending on your should therefore make sure to have enough money for the first personal budget and lifestyle. few weeks.

Food: approx. €200 per month 8.3 FINANCIAL MATTERS Rent: €400 - €550 per month From 1 January 2002, the euro has been the official currency in Public transport: approx. €60 per month the following countries within the EU: Belgium, Germany, Fin- Textbooks/readers: €400 - €600 per semester land, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta. Eating out/going out: €25 - €50 per month Cinema: €10 - €15 per month Paying in cash is still common, but debit and credit cards are Concerts: €25 - €75 per month becoming more standard for amounts above €15. In addition, there is a number of exchange offices in the centre where you can convert currency and Travellers Cheques into euros (for a small fee). Tipping is common in restaurants and in bars; as a rule, a tip of 5-10%.

Currency exchange offices Amsterdam has many currency exchange offices. One of the largest chains is GWK. Here you can not only exchange foreign currency but also buy/cash travellers cheques, arrange travel insurance, cash euro cheques and use cash-on-card services for practically all credit cards. GWK offices can be found at major railway stations, in the city centre and at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Some GWK offices are open 24 hours a day, and most are open seven days a week from early in the morning until late at night. For more information, visit www.gwk.nl. AMSTERDAM UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES 17

Credit cards 8.6 HEALTH AND INSURANCES All major credit cards are widely accepted, but students should not take this for granted. If in doubt, ask in advance. Cash-on- Healthcare card services are available for selected American Express, Diners Students who are enrolled at the School of Economics and Club, MasterCard and Visa cards. All GWK currency exchange Management and who are resident in Amsterdam can register offices and Change Express offices also accept these cards. It is with the student health services. Registering for this service not unusual to be asked for a matching ID when paying with a does not place you under any obligations, it only ensures that credit card in shops, and you will also likely be asked to enter the you have access to a general practitioner (GP) in Amsterdam. card’s PIN. Although almost universally accepted, paying by credit To register, simply complete the following form online: card is not very common in the Netherlands, especially for small www.amsterdamuas.com/health. transactions. Insurance Cash dispensers All students must arrange their own health insurance before Students can withdraw money from cash dispensers using a leaving their home country. Verify that repatriation of remains foreign bank card (provided it has a Cirrus logo) or credit card. and medical evacuation to your home country are covered by Some ABN AMRO cash dispensers also accept cards bearing the your insurance and check that your policy provides international PLUS logo. Also check your card and the machine for EDC, EC coverage. The School of Economics and Management is not and Maestro logos. Withdrawing money on a credit card over- responsible for students who are not insured. seas can incur additional fees. Insurance for third-party liability, accident, theft and 8.4 PUBLIC TRANSPORT household effects The ‘OV-chipkaart’ (Public Transport Chip Card) is the main All students are advised to verify that their insurance covers theft means of payment for all public transport. The OV-chipkaart can (including theft from your student housing), loss of belongings be topped up with credit in euros for travel anywhere within the and liability (third-party coverage). Ask your home insurance Netherlands. There are different types of cards with varying rates company about this. If you would prefer a Dutch insurance pol- and applicability. The card is available for purchase at all train sta- icy, two good options for students are the IPS/Lippmann group tions and on the website. Visit www.ov-chipkaart.nl for details. (see studentinsured.com/en for more details) and Aon Student Insurance (see www.aonstudentinsurance.com/students/en). For more information about public transport (metro, bus and tram) in Amsterdam, visit www.gvb.nl. For more information about trains in the Netherlands, visit the website of Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch Railways) at www.ns.nl.

Please note: When using public transport facilities, you may be asked to show your ticket to a ticket controller. Failure to present a valid ticket can result in a fine of approximately €35 plus the price of the ticket. Under Dutch law, everyone is obliged to identify himself with a (passport, ID card or driving licence) if so requested by police or similar authorities. Failure to do so can result in a police fine of €60. For this reason, always be sure to carry an ID with you.

8.5 DUTCH LANGUAGE European students wishing to learn Dutch can take an Erasmus Intensive Language Course (EILC), which is offered by a number of Dutch universities. For more information, please visit the Nuf- fic website:www.nuffic.nl . Beginner’s Dutch courses are also offered at the School of Economics and Management as part of course preparations. Please note that there is a limited number of places available in this course.

To learn more, see the following website: www.dutchlanguage.info/dutch/phrases.asp INFORMATION GUIDE FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS 18

8.7 IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS & ADDRESSES For full information about Dutch area codes and a telephone directory, visit www.detelefoongids.nl/en

Calling abroad from the Netherlands Health 00 + (country code) + (area code) + (local subscriber number) Doctor/general practitioner (020) 525 2878 UvA/HvA Studentenartsen/Student Health Services Calling the Netherlands from abroad Address: Oude Turfmarkt 151 (International access code) + 0031 + (area code [e.g. 20 for Amsterdam]) (near the Munttoren in the city centre) + (local subscriber number) Emergencies during office hours (020) 525 2889 General emergency numbers: police, ambulance and fire department In life-threatening situations 112 Emergencies outside office hours and in weekends (088) 003 0600 Please note that you must be registered with Police for non-life threatening situations 0900 8844 Student Health Services to use this service. (e.g. to report a crime) Register online on www.amsterdamuas.com/health Police Station Amsterdam-Amstelland (020) 559 9111 (regional switchboard) Hospitals Website: www.politie-amsterdam-amstelland.nl Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital (020) 510 8911 Address: Jan Tooropstraat 164, Amsterdam The School of Economics and Management General number of the School of (020) 523 6311 AMC/Academic Medical Centre (near the SEM building) (020) 566 9111 Economics and Management Address: Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam Zuidoost

Student Administration Office (room 1.010) (020) 523 6437 OLVG (Onze Lieve Vrouwen Gasthuis) Hospital (020) 599 9111 Address: Oosterpark 9, Amsterdam International Centre (020) 523 6960 (first-aid near the city centre) Atrium opening hours: Monday to Friday: 09.00-13.00 E-mail: [email protected] Dentist Academisch Centrum Tandheelkunde Amsterdam (ACTA) (020) 598 0888 Housing Address: Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004, 1081 LA Amsterdam Stichting DUWO (student housing corporation) (020) 543 1100 E-mail: [email protected] Address: Uilenstede 108, 1183 AM Amstelveen Website: www.acta.nl Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 08.30-17.00 Website: www.duwo.nl GGD GGD (Municipal Health Service, also for vaccinations) (020) 555 5911 For technical problems or repairs (020) 342 9666 Address: Nieuwe Achtergracht 100, 1018 WT Amsterdam Fax: 020 - 555 52 77 De Key (student housing corporation) (020) 621 4333 E-mail: [email protected] Address: Hoogte Kadijk 179, 1018 BK Amsterdam Website: www.gezond.amsterdam.nl Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 08.30-16.30 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.shortstay.dekey.nl AMSTERDAM UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES 19

Lost luggage Telephone and fax Amsterdam Airport Schiphol 0900 724 4746 Information about telephone/fax numbers in the Netherlands 0900 8008 Website: www.schiphol.nl (€0.90 per inquiry, plus mobile phone costs if applicable) Information about telephone/fax numbers abroad (€1.15 per inquiry) 0900 8418 KLM (Dutch airline) (020) 649 9123 Note: Not every telephone network provides this service. Website: www.klm.nl Tourist information Public transport in the Netherlands Amsterdam Tourist Office (VVV) 0900 400 4040 (€0.40 p/m) General information number for all public transport: 0900 9292 Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 09.00-17.00 Opening hours: Address: Stationsplein 10, Amsterdam (in front of the main entrance Monday to Friday: 06.00-00.00 of Amsterdam Centraal Station) Saturday/Sunday/public holidays: 07.00-00.00 (€0.70 p/m) Website: www.iamsterdam.nl Website: www.9292ov.nl Municipality Office Amsterdam Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch Railways) Address: Amstel 1 (Town Hall), 1011 PN Amsterdam (020) 624 1111 Website: www.ns.nl

Public transport in Amsterdam GVB (bus, tram, metro) (020) 551 4911

GVB Customer Service 0900 8011 (€0.10 p/m) Opening hours: Daily: 08.00-22.00 Website: www.gvb.nl

Information about bus services in and outside Amsterdam Website: 9292.nl/en Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences School of Economics and Management International Centre, room 4.109 Fraijlemaborg 133 1102 CV Amsterdam The Netherlands T: +31 (0) 20 523 69 60 F: +31 (0) 20 620 68 01 E: [email protected] W: www.amsterdamuas.com/sem-exchange

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