University of Amsterdam (Dutch Universiteit van Amsterdam), institution of higher learning and scientific research, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The university is under the jurisdiction of the ministry of education and is supported almost entirely by the national government. The university was founded in 1632 as the Athenaeum Illustre; in 1877 it became a municipal university and in 1961 an autonomous institution. The university has faculties of arts, biology, chemistry, dentistry, economics, education, geography and archaeology, law, mathematics and information science, medicine, philosophy, physics and astronomy, political and social science, psychology, and theology. The propaedeuse examination is taken after one year of study and the doctoraal examination after an additional three years of study. The degree of Doctoraat is awarded after four years of study and research, and upon completion of a thesis.

Reviewed by: University of Amsterdam