Brief guide to the digital services of the VU – 2021
Introduction
VU students have to work with several digital registration, information and communication
services, the most important of which are:
• the study guide, which contains an overview of all study programmes, including course
descriptions;
• the student information system, which is used for course and exam registration, the
timetable (containing time and location for each course), exam results and related
administrative matters;
• the learning management system Canvas;
• the VU mail system;
• the catalogue system of the University Library.
In all this, VUweb plays a central role. It is not only the place where you can find much
(official) information about the VU and your faculty, but it also functions as a portal site giving
access to most of the interactive services. We therefore advise you to use it as the home
page for your digital activities at the VU. Via VUweb you can get access to (among other
things):
• your grades;
• the courses in which you are enrolled;
• your personal timetable, providing the dates, times and locations of these courses;
• the email messages sent to your VU mail account;
• Canvas announcements for the courses you are following.
Personal matters you can arrange via VUweb are (among other things):
• registration for courses, examinations and re-sits;
• selection of specializations and minors;
• requests for special facilities, e.g. related to a disability.
In this practical you will be introduced to VUweb and a number of digital systems that are
connected with it.
N.B.
1. If you do not have a VUnetID (yet), you cannot follow this practical.
2. Make sure that you have a safe password for your VUnetID. You can change your
password via your profile icon at the top right side of VUweb.
3. Many of the digital services also have their own internet address, which you can use for
direct access. In the last paragraph of this instruction sheet a number of these URL’s are
listed.
Let’s get started!
VUweb
Open a web browser and go to Dashboard - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (vu.nl)
Log in with your VUnetID and the accompanying password.
-1-
, This will lead you to the Dashboard of VUweb. VUweb consists of
a number of different components, some of which you will use
during this practical. Of the items in the main menu, Student info
is especially relevant, because this is your access point for many
manuals, regulations, instructions and other official information.
Messages and announcements
The components on VUweb’s home page show the most recent
announcements and news messages issued by the university, your faculty or your study
programme. You can read a message by clicking on it.
Clicking on the component will take you to your VU mailbox (login with two-factor
authentication).
Go to your Dashboard in VUweb. Click on the component Email and read the messages
you received. When you are done, close the message window again.
NOTE that all official messages provided by university, faculty, study programme and
lecturers are distributed via one of these channels. It is very important, therefore, that you
check them on a regular basis.
Apps
In your Dashboard you have the opportunity to save frequently used apps.
Click on All apps.
Then click on the heart behind Course registration. The app is now in the Dashboard
under your favorite apps.
Services: manuals, rules, regulations, and much more information
VUweb contains much information that is relevant for the VU and for your Faculty. This is
disclosed in two ways: by a directory and by a search machine. We will briefly deal with
these two alternatives. First, use the directory to look for information about your student card
or proof of enrolment
In VUweb’s main menu select the option STUDENT INFO.
Select “Sign up and register” and then “Registration and enrolment”. As you can see, this
classification leads you to the desired information.
Now use the search function to look for the Examination Board, and at the same time make
a VUweb-favourite of the page you found, so that you can quickly consult it later.
-2-
Introduction
VU students have to work with several digital registration, information and communication
services, the most important of which are:
• the study guide, which contains an overview of all study programmes, including course
descriptions;
• the student information system, which is used for course and exam registration, the
timetable (containing time and location for each course), exam results and related
administrative matters;
• the learning management system Canvas;
• the VU mail system;
• the catalogue system of the University Library.
In all this, VUweb plays a central role. It is not only the place where you can find much
(official) information about the VU and your faculty, but it also functions as a portal site giving
access to most of the interactive services. We therefore advise you to use it as the home
page for your digital activities at the VU. Via VUweb you can get access to (among other
things):
• your grades;
• the courses in which you are enrolled;
• your personal timetable, providing the dates, times and locations of these courses;
• the email messages sent to your VU mail account;
• Canvas announcements for the courses you are following.
Personal matters you can arrange via VUweb are (among other things):
• registration for courses, examinations and re-sits;
• selection of specializations and minors;
• requests for special facilities, e.g. related to a disability.
In this practical you will be introduced to VUweb and a number of digital systems that are
connected with it.
N.B.
1. If you do not have a VUnetID (yet), you cannot follow this practical.
2. Make sure that you have a safe password for your VUnetID. You can change your
password via your profile icon at the top right side of VUweb.
3. Many of the digital services also have their own internet address, which you can use for
direct access. In the last paragraph of this instruction sheet a number of these URL’s are
listed.
Let’s get started!
VUweb
Open a web browser and go to Dashboard - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (vu.nl)
Log in with your VUnetID and the accompanying password.
-1-
, This will lead you to the Dashboard of VUweb. VUweb consists of
a number of different components, some of which you will use
during this practical. Of the items in the main menu, Student info
is especially relevant, because this is your access point for many
manuals, regulations, instructions and other official information.
Messages and announcements
The components on VUweb’s home page show the most recent
announcements and news messages issued by the university, your faculty or your study
programme. You can read a message by clicking on it.
Clicking on the component will take you to your VU mailbox (login with two-factor
authentication).
Go to your Dashboard in VUweb. Click on the component Email and read the messages
you received. When you are done, close the message window again.
NOTE that all official messages provided by university, faculty, study programme and
lecturers are distributed via one of these channels. It is very important, therefore, that you
check them on a regular basis.
Apps
In your Dashboard you have the opportunity to save frequently used apps.
Click on All apps.
Then click on the heart behind Course registration. The app is now in the Dashboard
under your favorite apps.
Services: manuals, rules, regulations, and much more information
VUweb contains much information that is relevant for the VU and for your Faculty. This is
disclosed in two ways: by a directory and by a search machine. We will briefly deal with
these two alternatives. First, use the directory to look for information about your student card
or proof of enrolment
In VUweb’s main menu select the option STUDENT INFO.
Select “Sign up and register” and then “Registration and enrolment”. As you can see, this
classification leads you to the desired information.
Now use the search function to look for the Examination Board, and at the same time make
a VUweb-favourite of the page you found, so that you can quickly consult it later.
-2-
