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9 March 2025
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Students

Student Life & Society 2 June 2023

Many students consider academic workload too high

Almost four in ten students consider the academic workload too high. At the research universities the workload is a little higher than at the universities of applied sciences, according to the answers given in the National Student Survey (NSE).
Student Life & Society 24 April 2023

Election results: four new parties in University Student Council

With five seats, the SRVU remains the biggest party, but als ChangeVU, De Vrijmoedige Studentenpartij, BAAD and the Liberal Student Party were elected. The turnout was a bit higher this year, maybe thanks to all the free grilled cheeses handed…
Student Life & Society 30 March 2023

The hurdles of learning Dutch

Learning Dutch can be a vital step in connecting to Dutchies, two internationals agree. But between expensive courses and Dutch people constantly switching to English, the process doesn’t exactly make them feel like tasty chickens.
Student Life & Society 16 March 2023

VU gamers unite to compete in Dutch Student League

Universities all over the country are virtually duking it out in the games League of Legends and Rocket League. VU Amsterdam gamers have also entered the fray and are competing for the prize money of seven thousand euros, but do…
Student Life & Society 17 January 2023

Money soon to be made available for ‘block heating’

Tenants in student complexes are to get lower energy bills thanks to government assistance. The only question is how soon this money will get to those students. Now that energy prices have gone through the roof, the government is trying…
Student Life & Society 16 November 2022

‘The violence won’t stop me from being happy’

A Dutch boyfriend, an apartment of their own, competed study programs but also still many worries about their home country: how are the Ukrainian students doing that came to VU six months ago?
Student Life & Society 10 November 2022

How to make Dutch friends as an international (and fail)

Making Dutch friends as an international student can be an immense challenge. The good news is that we have some useful pointers to help you in your quest to connect with the natives. The bad news? You might still fail…
Student Life & Society 12 October 2022

Students benefit little from energy price cap

Many students will benefit very little from the energy price cap that was announced recently. The Dutch Student Union LSVb and student housing providers are pressing for a better arrangement. Because of the energy crisis the government has agreed prices…
Student Life & Society 4 October 2022

‘Even outside of Iran we are not free’

As the protests and the crackdown against them intensify in Iran, several VU students try to do what they can to support the protest movement. But even within the Netherlands, they feel like the Iranian government is restricting what they…
Student Life & Society 9 September 2022

Shortage of student housing still growing, government launches action plan

In the 20 largest student cities there is a shortage of 27,000 student homes. With the number of international students rising, that number could reach 45,000 by 2030. The government is launching an action plan.