In brief

EPICUR is a European Universities Initiative between the University of Amsterdam and 8 other European universitiesExternal link. Take a course in the field of European Languages & Cultures, European identities, sustainability, and entrepreneurship! You can combine the online, physical, or hybrid courses with your study programme and obtain your ECTS. For an impression of the types of courses EPICUR offers, you can visit the EPICUR course catalogueExternal link where you can view our previous course offerings. Read more below about how to apply!

Get informed

• Subscribe to our newsletterExternal link to stay updated on important deadlines and dates for our international (summer) programmes.
• Register for workshops hosted by the Office of International Student Affairs to get helpful tips to overcome the challenges in applying, and how to prepare.

About EPICUR

The EPICUR educational offer, provided by the different EPICUR partner universities, runs throughout the entire academic year. The dates and durations depend on the programme you select and on the university. The format of the courses also varies: there are online, physical, and hybrid options, so you can choose yourself what fits your schedule. For example, you can choose one of the successful European Language Learning courses, or take a look at EPICUR’s courses in Sustainable Transformation, Future Intelligence or European Values.

Why EPICUR?

The mission of EPICUR, founded in 2019, is to develop a European university that educates informed, open-minded and responsible European citizens as drivers of transnational innovation. If societal challenges, academic and technological developments, and educational innovation appeal to you, then EPICUR is for you. Hence, EPICUR encourages you to work across borders, geographically, culturally, and academically.

Fortunately, you can even get ECTS for EPICUR courses. Please note, however, that you must always first contact your study adviser to inform you about the possibilities, and ask permission from the Examination Board. For several courses, you can additionally obtain a micro-credential, a certified badge to be seen on, for example, your LinkedIn profile.

Practical matters

Conditions

EPICUR courses are available to all students who:

• Are enrolled at the University of Amsterdam throughout the programme.
• Have obtained at least 60 ECTS in their current or previous academic programme. (Exemption: there is also a course available for 1^st year students.)

For some courses, additional admission requirements may apply, such as language proficiency. These are indicated in the catalogueExternal link.

Funding

• Virtual: Studying virtually within the EPICUR European Universities Initiative is always free for students enrolled at the UvA.
• Physical or blended: If you (also) want to attend physical education, EPICUR provides funding on a case by case basis, partly depending on the duration of your stay. Note that, in some cases you will have to pay for your own travel and accommodation.
  • Would you like a financial estimate based on your case? Please apply for your EPICUR course(s) first, and then contact epicur_uva-bb@uva.nlExternal link about your funding possibilities. Note that you need to have applied for courses on the EPICUR platform in order for your funding to be considered.

How to apply

Apply now for the EPICUR courses of the academic year of 2025-2026 by following the steps below:

1. Go to the course catalogue of EPICURExternal link for an overview of all EPICUR courses
2. Browse the course catalogue to find courses that match your interests and for which you meet the entry requirements.
3. When you have made your choice, press “apply now” and log in with your UvA credentials
4. Now it is time to upload your:
   • Transcript of Records (stamped and signed)
   • Proof of enrollment
   • Letter of Motivation in English
   • English language certificate (if applicable to your course selection)
   • Other language certificate (if applicable to your course selection)
5. Press "submit". You will be notified shortly afterwards on whether your registration was successful.

For questions about the EPICUR programme, you can contact epicur_uva-bb@uva.nlExternal link.