Application procedure exchange students

AUAS housing prioritises exchange students. However, not all exchange students that apply are guaranteed a room because of a shortage of housing in Amsterdam. Follow the steps below to see what the AUAS application process is.

This page is intended for exchange students. Are you an international Bachelor or Master student? Please see the housing applications procedure for Bachelor and Master students. You may also like to visit the page finding housing on your own.

How to apply

1. Check your email for an invitation
2. Fill in the application form
3. Pay the AUAS housing fee
4. Lottery
5. Receive housing offer
6. Confirm your room

Step 1: Check your email for an invitation
 

23-28 May 2024 you will receive an invitation email from myinfo@hva.nl with a link to start your housing application. This email will be sent to your AUAS email address, please check your spam folder. We recommend to add myinfo@hva.nl to your 'safe senders' list of your email account.

You need to activate your AUAS-ID(opens in new window) before you can access the housing application form. 
Your AUAS-ID is a 5 to 7 letter code, sometimes followed by a number (please note that your AUAS-ID is not your student number). You will receive your AUAS-ID latest at the end of May in a separate email, together with your student number and personal AUAS email address, on the email address you provided in your exchange application. Please contact us if you have not received your AUAS-ID before 23 May.

Step 2: Fill in the application form
 

Click the link in the invitation email to take you to the online application form. The link will not work before the stated time and date. The application period is from 29 May to 12 June 2024. If you apply during this time frame, the timing of your application does not affect its success in the lottery draw. Exchange students will receive a housing invitation for 1 or 2 semesters, depending on their exchange application.

At busy times, you may not be able to access the form directly, but will receive a queue number. This queue number is for accessing the form only and is not related to being successful or not in the housing lottery.

In the application form you will be asked to choose a monthly budget category. Base your choice on what you can afford, taking into account other housing costs and the cost of living in Amsterdam. Requesting a specific housing provider, location or building is not possible.

If you have already arrived in Amsterdam and decide during your stay to extend for another semester, we cannot extend any housing contracts or offer a new housing contract for another semester. In that case, you will need to find housing on your own.

Step 3: Pay the AUAS housing fee

Once you have completed the form, you will automatically be sent to the online payment page. Follow the instructions for paying the AUAS housing fee. You can pay in euros by credit card (Eurocard/Mastercard or Visa), PayPal or iDeal. Other payment methods are unfortunately not possible.

Step 4: Lottery

Because we get more applications than we have places, we use a lottery draw. After submitting your housing application and paying the AUAS housing fee, you will participate in the lottery. After the draw, you will receive a random position on the waiting list. Unfortunately, we cannot provide you with your exact position on the waiting list. We will inform you about your chances of receiving an offer at the end of June 2024. 

If you have been selected for a room, you will proceed to step 5. If you were not selected for a room offer, we strongly advise you to start looking for housing on your own immediately.

Step 5: Receive housing offer

AUAS Housing will inform you by email (from myinfo@hva.nl) if you have been selected for a room.

A few days up to a few weeks later, you will receive an email on your AUAS-email address from one of our housing providers with instructions on how to book your room. Again, keep an eye on your spam folder as we work with different housing providers(opens in new window).

You must book your room as quickly as possible, within a given time frame of a few days. If you miss your offer, or are unhappy with it, you will not receive a second one. You will also lose your AUAS housing fee if you fail to respond to your offer in time. You will then need to find your own accommodation.

Room offers for some buildings will have an end date in June or July, not mid-August. Unfortunately it depends on the availability of rooms which specific end date you will be offered. If you get a room offer with an earlier end date, we recommend that you find a hostel for the remaining days of the semester. We understand that this is far from ideal, but at least you have secured (affordable) housing for almost the entire semester.

Step 6: Confirm you room

Your room reservation is confirmed once you make your first payment to the housing provider. Your housing provider will instruct you on how to pay, along with providing you with your tenancy agreement and other steps.

Be prepared: This initial payment will include administration costs, the first month's rent, and often a deposit. It may therefore be a significant sum.

The first rental payment needs to be made by credit card (e.g. Visa or Eurocard/Mastercard). Other payment methods, including American Express, are not possible. After the first payment, you can pay your monthly rent by bank transfer. Your housing provider will provide you with details on how to do that.

Please note that:

• Room reservations are final. You cannot change rooms after you have made the reservation.
• If you cancel a reserved room we will assume you are no longer interested in AUAS student housing. You will not be offered another room and the AUAS housing fee will unfortunately not be refunded. Check our cancellation policy on this page.