This summer school course will teach you why the Circular Economy is vital, what it is, how it tackles social and ecological problems, and why urban transformations contribute to a circular economy using the city of Amsterdam as an example.
Benefit from passionate teachers, experience the city of Amsterdam, and develop your own symbiotic circular experiment.
Course Format
- Course dates: 20-31 July 2026 (excluding arrival and departure days)
- Attendance: On-site
- Form of tuition: lecture, guest lecture, workshop, excursion
- Form of assessment: knowledge quiz, project, communication portfolio
- See course curriculum
- Course level: Master’s
- English language requirement: B2 level or higher (equivalent to IELTS 6.5)
- See entry requirements
Aurora nominated students can benefit from a full fee waiver.
Selection Procedure
Students should have a broad interest in environmental sustainability, social sustainability, and how to create an economy that is socially just and environmentally sustainable.
Interested students should contact their local Aurora office. The home institution should then send their nominations to amsterdamsummerschool@vu.nl.
Each Aurora university may select three students for tuition fee waivers (nomination deadline: 15 April 2026).
Universities can use a waitlist (up to three extra students), and after the deadline we will inform you if we are able to accept more from your institution. Additional students are welcome; the VU discounted fee also applies to them! See the fees for each type of course.
VU summer courses open to Aurora nominated students:
About VU Amsterdam Summer School
2026 will be the 13th year we run our successful summer school in Amsterdam. From 4 July to 2 August we offer a mixture of 1-2 week intensive short courses at undergraduate, graduate and PhD-levels. Develop your academic skills and make the most of your summer!
