Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - VU Amsterdam
speciality: Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence, when I studied there in 2018, was a very small program. I really liked this aspect because of the one-on-one attention provided by the professors and the intimacy of the workgroups. After the first year of completing the program, the popularity of the study increased significantly, with the number of students rising from 80 to 300. This growth demonstrates the study’s popularity at VU, which is a result of the well-delivered curriculum by the University

My experience studying Artificial Intelligence at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam has been intense, challenging, and formative in a way I did not fully expect when I started. The programme is strongly theory-driven and becomes progressively more demanding, especially once you move beyond the introductory courses into machine learning, probability, optimization, and algorithms. This is not a programme where you can coast by memorising slides. You are constantly expected to understand why methods work, not just how to apply them.

Courses like Machine Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Neural Networks, and Advanced Mathematics stood out to me in particular. The mathematical depth, especially in probability, linear algebra, and optimization, is significant and can feel overwhelming at times. There were moments where concepts only truly clicked after long independent study sessions outside of lectures. At the same time, this depth pushed me to think rigorously and develop real problem-solving skills that go beyond AI buzzwords.

Later in the programme, courses related to robotics, numerical methods, and simulation further shaped my interests. These courses demanded careful implementation, debugging, and theoretical understanding, often with open-ended assignments that mirrored real research problems. While this could be frustrating when guidance was limited, it taught me how to work independently, read academic papers, and deal with uncertainty, which turned out to be one of the most valuable skills I gained.

The quality of teaching varies between courses, but many lecturers are clearly experts in their field and expect a high level of engagement from students. You need to be proactive: ask questions, attend tutorials, and take responsibility for filling in gaps yourself. This programme rewards curiosity and persistence, but it can be unforgiving if you fall behind.

Outside coursework, VU’s academic environment helped prepare me for research. This became especially clear during my research internship abroad, where I realized how well the programme had trained me to handle mathematical models, complex codebases, and theoretical reasoning. The transition into research felt challenging, but not unfamiliar.

Campus life at VU is international and relatively calm compared to other universities. You meet students from all over the world, and collaboration is a big part of the experience. The campus facilities and libraries are solid and become essential during exam periods. Studying in Amsterdam is a major plus: the city is well connected, vibrant, and student-friendly, even though the cost of living is something future students should seriously consider.

Overall, the AI programme at VU Amsterdam is demanding, sometimes frustrating, but genuinely strong. It is best suited for students who enjoy theory, mathematics, and deep understanding rather than quick applications. If you are willing to put in consistent effort and take ownership of your learning, it provides a solid foundation for research-oriented paths and technical careers.

I would recommend it, however skills in python are extremely required, you basically need it for each subject and if you do not have AI background make a course before you apply. Additionally, knowledge in Mathematics, linear algebra and depending on your track could be health, cognition or AI itself.

I study Artificial Intelligence and I love my program, but due to the actual circumstances, the vast majority of the program is taught online but exams have to be taken in person. This means that people from all over the world (taking into account that many students that study Computer Science come from Asia) have to assist twice or three times per period (2 months) to take their exams. If the whole program is online; so should the exams be. If the program is taught in person, students have a rational choice to take. For the rest, it is alright

The program is okay, but could have been better. Even though there are very interesting courses there are also a lot of that are pretty unorganized. This makes them harder to study and a lot of self studying.