Amsterdam
The capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is a hugely popular tourist destination, known for its pretty canals, art scene (both historic and contemporary), café culture and generally laid-back and tolerant character.
QS Best Student Cities ranking: 24th
The capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is a hugely popular tourist destination, known for its pretty canals, art scene (both historic and contemporary), café culture and generally laid-back and tolerant character. In 2019, Amsterdam has climbed three places to reach 24th, after seeing a huge 20 place rise in the student mix indicator, as well as an improvement in the student view indicator, where it now ranks fifth in the world. This improvement reflects Amsterdam’s high quality of life, vibrant student community, and good ratings from graduate employers both locally and further afield.
While Amsterdam doesn’t have the huge selection of high-ranking universities claimed by the likes of London and Paris, its flagship University of Amsterdam certainly holds its own, coming 64th in the QS World University Rankings® 2020.
Aside from all those picture-postcard views, the city does have its seedier side – of which the notorious Red Light District is the commercialized, tourist-friendly face. As a student, you’ll have plenty of time to explore Amsterdam’s pleasanter delights: spend a day rummaging through a flea market, admiring the works of the great masters up-close, or discovering great new street art; head to the latest hot music venue, enjoy cycling beside the pretty waterways, or spend an afternoon (and evening) at your favorite café, catching up with friends.
Amsterdam receives a very high score for desirability, reflecting its safety and high quality of life. It also prompts good reviews from many students, with one survey respondent praising the city’s lifestyle and inclusivity: “Amsterdam offers incredibly high living standards and is very open towards the LGBT community.” Another commented, “The city is very tolerant and full of art and culture, plus the nightlife is amazing.”
Would Amsterdam get your vote? Tell us why.
Internationally ranked universities in Amsterdam
| University of Amsterdam; Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VUA) |
|---|
More about Amsterdam
| Number of universities ranked by QS | 2 |
|---|---|
| Highest-ranked institution | University of Amsterdam (ranked 64th) |
| Population | 2,431,000 |
| Average international fees (at ranked unis) | US$13,900 |
| Desirability rank | 5th |
| Employer Activity rank | 45th |
| Affordability rank | 114th |
| Student View rank | 5th |
To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.
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