Frequently Asked Questions
About SSA
What is Summer School Almere?
Summer School Almere is a joint initiative of the municipality of Almere and several Dutch / international institutions for higher education. Together they offer you a challenging summer programme in the beautiful city of Almere. All courses are offered by accredited, Dutch / international university´s. Participation in the Summer School Almere is an academic, cultural and personal enrichment for students.
Which institutions participate in the Summer School Almere?
The logo´s of all participating institutions are listed on the home page of Summer School Almere. Please click on their logo to visit their international website. We have added an introduction to the organization that offers the course on each course page.
Who teaches the Summer School Almere courses?
Staff of the University that organizes the course will teach during the summer school. For some courses guest lecturers are invited. The offering university is responsible for the content and the quality of the course.
How many courses can I take
Since all the courses in our offer are fulltime courses you can only take one course at a time. Of course you can make a combination of successive courses if you would like to extend your stay in Almere.
Are the courses taught in English?
Yes, all courses are taught in English.
Application & Payment
How do I apply?
You can apply for the course of your interest by choosing the "Apply online know" link on the bottom of each course page for which online application is possible. Or you can simply go to www.summerschoolalmere.nl/application. For some courses online application is not available on www.summerschoolalmere.nl. In that case you will be directed to another website for application and registration.
Until when can I apply for a course?
This varies from course to course. Deadlines are mentioned on each course page. If you apply after the given deadline, sometimes we will be able to accept you. But the course can be fully booked. In that case you are too late. If you want to be sure, please contact the contact person you find under "information and registration".
Are there any scholarships available?
This differs from course to course. It is clearly indicated at the site, under "courses".
Do I need a visa? How do I arrange it?
Please find out early (at least 12 weeks before arrival) if you need a visa for the Netherlands by contacting the Dutch embassy about possible visa requirements. If you need a visa, you must apply for a tourist visa which covers the time of the summer school programme. For further information on visa requirements please visit the website of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
I have been accepted for a course, what to do now?
If you have been accepted for a course you will receive an acceptance e-mail including payment instructions and bank details. Even though you are accepted it is still important to pay the course fee as soon as possible. Placement will be based on the order of payment (first-come first-served). If you have paid, the course director will send you pre-departure information a few weeks in advance of the course. In the meantime, we ask course directors to post their schedules on the course pages.
Can you send me a letter of acceptance?
Yes, if you have paid the course fee, we can send you a Letter of Acceptance by (regular) mail. This can be useful (or even necessary) for your visa application procedure. We only send letters of acceptance to people who need to apply for a visa. Contact us to request a letter of acceptance.
How can I pay the course fee?
After your application has been accepted by the course director, you will receive a payment request by e-mail. You can pay by wire transfer. To secure your place you should pay within 14 days after you have been accepted.
Can I get a refund if I have to cancel?
According to our regulations costs will be owed in the event of cancellation or if the participant interrupts the course or ends it prematurely. These costs are as follows:
- If the participant cancels more than 4 weeks before the start of the course, he/she will have to pay 25% of the full course fee (including housing).
- If the participant cancels within one month before the start of the course, he/she will have to pay the full course fee.
I have transferred the money, but I have not received a confirmation yet.
International wire transfers may take up to 2 or 3 weeks to process internally. As soon as we have received your money, we will send you an email.
Credits
Do I get credits for the course?
In most of the cases we give credits. Those are ECTS credits, guaranteed by the institution that offers the course. It is up to your own university, however, to accept the credits in the context of your study. If you want to be sure on that, please contact your own study advisor. He or she can always contact our course leaders, in order to learn more about the content and the level of the course.
What is the equivalent of one ECTS credit?
The European Credit Transfer System ECTS was developed by the Commission of the European Communities in order to provide common procedures to guarantee academic recognition of studies abroad. It provides a way of measuring and comparing learning achievements, and transferring them from one university to another. This is achieved through the use of a common ECTS credit unit and a common ECTS grading scale. The average course load for an academic year is 60 ECTS credits. That means that a week of serious studying is equivalent to more or less 1,5 ECTS. Click here for further information.
Languages
Do I need to speak Dutch?
No, but it helps always if you made some effort before. Most Dutch people can speak English fairly well.
Do I need to take a TOEFL test?
No, we do not ask that. Be aware, however, that you have to be quite fluent in English. We expect you to be able to follow the lectures and to participate actively in the discussions.
Accommodation and your stay in Almere
What should I bring with me?
You should definitely bring the following things with you: passport, visa (if applicable), enough cash for the first days (approx. 250 euro) or a valid debit card, valid health insurance and towels. In summer the weather is quite variable in the Netherlands. It is advisable to bring clothes for hot summer weather as well as closed shoes, pants and sweaters for chilly days.
Where do I stay?
All students will stay in one of the apartments for summer school students. It is not possible to choose one of the locations yourself. For more information about the housing locations, see Housing.
Are all apartments in the centre?
They are never far away. Not more than 30 minutes biking from the course location.
Will all students that attend the same course be housed together?
We try to put students that are doing the same course as much as possible together. In order to manage that, we allocate rooms and apartments at the moment we know the right numbers. Therefore we guarantee lodging, but you will know quite late the exact place. At any rate you will be lodged together with other Summer School students.
Is housing included in the course fee?
In most of the courses: yes. Have a look under "Fee".
Does the housing include kitchens and bathrooms?
There is always at least a shared kitchen and a shared bathroom. Some rooms have even their own services.
Are meals included in the accommodation price?
No, meals are not included. You can cook your own meal together with the other summer school students or go out for dinner.
What should I bring, what is already in the room?
The rooms are simply furnished with enough to serve basic needs. Every room has a bed (including bed linen), a cupboard, a desk and a chair. The kitchens are fully furnished and equipped with all the necessary cooking utensils.
When can I move into my room and until when can I stay?
Housing is provided from Sunday before the start of the course until 12 noon on the last Friday of the course. Rooms are available for the course period only; extending the renting period is not possible.
When can I collect my keys?
You can pick up your key on Sunday. A SSA staff member will be present to hand out your keys from 16.00 to 20.00. The exact location will be announced later.
What should I do if I arrive earlier?
You can stay in a hostel for one night and pick up your key on Monday.
Social Programme
Is there a social programme?
Yes there is. It is organized under the responsibility of the Summer School Almere. Staff members of SSA will join the students during excursions. See Social Programme for more info.
Are there separate programmes for all courses?
No, we always try to make students from different countries and different disciplines meet. Therefore a joint social programme is important, we think.
About the city of Almere
How high are the living costs in Almere?
How much money you need depends on your personal life style. According to a study of the Dutch student unions, Dutch students spend on average about 160 euro per month on food (basic groceries, i.e. not including eating out). In addition to the 160 euro, it is advisable to include enough money for cultural events and going out in your budget.
How can I get to Almere?
By train: Schiphol train station is situated directly below the airport. You can pick up a free baggage trolley from the platform. Via Schiphol Plaza you can walk straight to the departure or arrival hall. Train tickets are available from the yellow ticket machines near the platforms at Schiphol Plaza or from the ticket offices, which are situated close to the red/white-checked cube at Schiphol Plaza. Trains depart for Almere about every 15 minutes. Buy a one way ticket (enkele reis) to ´Almere centrum´. Take an ´intercity train´ in the direction ´Lelystad centrum´. Get off the train at the station ´Almere Centrum´. A single journey ticket costs € 7,00.
Where in the Netherlands is Almere located?
Almere is located within close distance of many Dutch Cities and trains depart regularly. To give you an impression:
- Almere - Amsterdam: 23 minutes
- Almere - Utrecht: 42 minutes
- Almere - The Hague: 74 minutes
