Amsterdam University College
Encyclopedia
Amsterdam University College (AUC) was established in 2009 as a joint excellence initiative of the VU University and University of Amsterdam. AUC’s motto is Excellence and Diversity in a Global City. The college offers a three-year English taught Bachelor honours programme in the liberal arts and sciences that crosses the boundaries of languages, cultures and academic disciplines. As a selective and residential honours college, it attracts students from all over the world. They engage on a daily basis in intensive and small-scale seminars with high calibre international staff. Discussions start with ‘Big Questions in Science and Society’ and lead to an in-depth study in a wide range of disciplines.
The curriculum offers six orientating themes:
Within these themes scientific and societal issues are central. Four of the six themes have a strong ‘science’ component and the other two themes (Social Systems and Cities and Cultures) are focused upon the ‘social sciences’ and ‘humanities’. The theme serves as the background to a major. AUC students major in sciences, social sciences or humanities.
Liberal Arts & Sciences
A liberal arts and sciences programme traditionally provides a well-rounded education in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. The emphasis lies on acquiring the academic skills, knowledge and intellectual tools that will help students to be successful in any career that they choose. A liberal arts & sciences education offers students a broad academic orientation, an independent critical way of thinking and writing, combined with an in-depth disciplinary knowledge which serves as a basis for further academic specialisation.Students and Professors
Approximately 600 students study at AUC (2011-2012). The student population consists of 50% international and 50% Dutch students. Students are selected on their grade point average (GPA), mathematical and English language skills, motivation and commitment. Of the professors teaching at AUC, 40% have obtained a PhD degree from a university listed in the top 100 worldwide (Shanghai ranking) and 70% have an international background.Campus and Location
An important characteristic of the AUC learning experience is its residential character. AUC combines an intensive study programme with cultural and social life in an international and residential campus setting. The residential campus is located in the Science Park Amsterdam, located in the city district Oost (Watergraafsmeer). The academic buildings are currently located in the Plantage area but are planned to move to the Science Park in 2012. This will further enhance AUC’s emphasis on the sciences. The new AUC academic building has been designed by Mecanoo architects and is due for completion in September 2012.Curriculum
The AUC curriculum adopts an interdisciplinary and thematic approach, by drawing from and integrating insights from two or more academic disciplines in order to develop a greater understanding of problems that are too complex or wide-ranging to be dealt with using the knowledge and methodology of just one discipline.The curriculum offers six orientating themes:
- Energy, Climate and Sustainability
- Life, Evolution, Universe
- Health and Well-being
- Information, Communication, Cognition
- Social Systems
- Cities and Cultures
Within these themes scientific and societal issues are central. Four of the six themes have a strong ‘science’ component and the other two themes (Social Systems and Cities and Cultures) are focused upon the ‘social sciences’ and ‘humanities’. The theme serves as the background to a major. AUC students major in sciences, social sciences or humanities.