Academic calendar
First Semester 2026-2027 runs Aug 31, 2026 – Jan 29, 2027. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Period 1
- First Semester 2026-2027Relevant now
- Period 2
- Period 3
- Period 4
- Second Semester 2026-2027
- Period 5
- Period 6
- Summer 2027Summer and resits
- Period 1
- First Semester 2027-2028
- Period 2
- Period 3
- Period 4
- Second Semester 2027-2028
- Period 5
- Period 6
- Summer
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 19 of 19 terms
A
- ASVA
- ASVA Studentenvakbond, the primary student union representing students in Amsterdam.
B
- Borrel
- A social gathering involving drinks, typically organized by study associations after classes.
- BSA
- Bindend Studieadvies; the minimum number of credits a student must earn in their first year to avoid expulsion.
C
- CREA
- The cultural organization of the UvA and HvA, offering courses and a social space.
- CREA Cafe
- The popular cafe and social spot located within the CREA cultural center.
- CSR
- Centrale Studentenraad, the Central Student Council that represents student interests to the university board.
E
- ESN
- Erasmus Student Network Amsterdam, the main social organization for international and exchange students.
F
- FSR
- Facultaire Studentenraad, the Faculty Student Council representing students at the faculty level.
H
- Hoorcollege
- A large-scale lecture, usually held in an auditorium.
- Hospiteren
- The competitive process of interviewing for a room in a shared student house.
M
- Mensa
- The general term used by students for the university cafeterias or canteens.
P
- PHK
- Shorthand for the student housing located at Prins Hendrikkade.
R
- REC Canteen
- The main dining hall located at the Roeterseiland Campus.
- Rode Kruislaan
- A large student housing complex in Diemen often referred to as 'RK' or 'Diemen'.
S
- Science Park
- The large student housing complex located at Carolina MacGillavrylaan on the Science Park campus.
- Spinoza
- The Spinoza Campus housing complex in Amsterdam Zuidoost, popular with international students.
T
- Tentamen
- The standard Dutch term for a formal university exam.
- TSH
- The Social Hub (formerly The Student Hotel), a common private housing choice for international students.
W
- Werkgroep
- A mandatory small-group tutorial or seminar session.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- Academic Hour
- The convention where lectures often start 15 minutes past the hour (the 'Leids kwartiertje' influence).
- Bushuis
- A historic building in the city center used by the Faculty of Humanities.
- Canvas
- The online learning management system where course materials and assignments are posted.
- Maagdenhuis
- The administrative headquarters of the university, often the site of student protests.
- OMHP
- Oudemanhuispoort, a historic building primarily used by the Faculty of Humanities and Law.
- OV-chipkaart
- The essential card used for all public transport (trams, buses, trains) in Amsterdam.
- PCH
- P.C. Hoofthuis, the main building for the Faculty of Humanities.
- REC
- Roeterseiland Campus, the main hub for Social Sciences, Law, and Economics.
- roeterseiland_campus_cafeteria
- Roeterseiland Campus Cafeteria
- Science Park
- The campus in Amsterdam Oost housing the Faculty of Science.
- science_park_cafeteria
- Science Park Cafeteria
- SIS
- Student Information System, the portal used for course registration and viewing grades.
- university_quarter_cafeteria
- University Quarter Cafeteria
- UvA Card
- The multi-purpose student ID used for library access, printing, and building entry.
- UvAnetID
- The central username and password used to log into all university digital services.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- First Semester 2026-2027 runs Aug 31, 2026 – Jan 29, 2027.
- How much campus context is included?
- 19 approved campus terms and 15 local details are included in full.
- Are all approved campus terms included?
- Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
- Where does this guide come from?
- Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.