Starting this winter, Bachelor of Science in Information students will be able to study UX design and information analysis in a city known for innovation in technology and design. The University of Michigan School of Information’s newest study abroad program in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, allows students to expand the borders of their studies while earning U-M credit. 

“Students who participate in this, or any of UMSI’s semester exchange programs, will have the potential for a life-changing experience, both personally and professionally,” says Adam Freed, global engagement program manager at UMSI. “International experiences are a powerful way to gain an appreciation for different perspectives, expand one’s professional network and explore new places all at the same time.”

UMSI partners with universities around the world to enable students to gain a global perspective while making progress toward the BSI degree. All partner universities offer information courses taught in English, and students are able to review a list of UMSI-approved course offerings before they apply. 

In Amsterdam, UMSI has partnered with the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS), which welcomes hundreds of international students to campus each year. “UMSI students will benefit from excellent support services and many opportunities to be immersed in the surrounding city,” Freed says.

The university, whose motto is “creating tomorrow,” challenges students to help shape the future by producing creative and sustainable solutions. This curricular philosophy “will feel very familiar to UMSI in many respects,” Freed says, with students choosing a thematic focus area for their coursework and completing applied projects with companies and organizations in Amsterdam. Past themes have included urban interaction design, virtual reality and big data. 

Meanwhile, the surroundings will offer a taste of something new. While living in Amsterdam, students can stroll broad canals, take advantage of epic bike lanes, explore famous museums and — as an after-class snack — enjoy stroopwafel warmed over a cup of coffee. 

Though UMSI students will depart for Amsterdam in the winter, they’ll have the opportunity to begin their cultural exchange in fall 2024, when Dutch exchange students from AUAS will be studying on the UMSI campus.

Applications opened on Aug. 1 and will close on Sep. 1 at 11:59 p.m. for students wishing to go abroad in winter 2025. For more information, applicants should email [email protected].

Read about and apply for study abroad opportunities through UMSI.