Cognito Booklet 2013 - Cognitive Science

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Brouwerij 't IJ (Funenkade 7; www.brouwerijhetij.nl); Brouwerij de Prael ( Oudezijds Voorburgwal 30/. Oudezijds Armsteeg 26; http://deprael.nl/) ..... download a program – the VPN client. ... Cognitive Science Center Amsterdam ( CSCA).
COGNITO is a student association started by us, your fellow students of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. We organize parties and group activities, find conferences to attend, and communicate with other faculties and universities to keep up to date with current research being conducted by our peers. Our aim is to unite students across fields and academic years in order to promote the exchange of knowledge, interdisciplinary discussion, and networking about cognition matters. We strive to amass a diverse group of people to contribute to the pool of specialized knowledge. In addition to all these scholastic endeavors, we offer emotional support for each other, and, most of all, we have fun! This booklet was compiled by us, for you, and covers all the issues we were faced with when we first started. We hope it helps make your integration into life as a master's student in Amsterdam a little easier and more fun. Please make notes of any questions you still have in order to be of more help for future students. For any questions or concerns, email us at: [email protected]

Living!!! in Amsterdam & the Netherlands Of course there is more than studying for internationals and locals in Amsterdam. In this section we collected our "best places to go" for you! Check it out!

a) Bars, clubs and places for music Brouwerij 't IJ (Funenkade 7; www.brouwerijhetij.nl); Brouwerij de Prael (Oudezijds Voorburgwal 30/ Oudezijds Armsteeg 26; http://deprael.nl/) The best place to sit and enjoy a delicious beer under an old windmill = Brouwerij 't IJ without a doubt... Brouwerij de Prael, one of Amsterdam's oldest breweries, now has a tasting cafe at the north end of Warmoesstraat and they make tasty beer. All their beers are named after Dutch crooners and the cafe attempts to rehabilitate people with mental illness back into work, so it's all for a good cause! Proeflokaal de Zotte (Raamstraat 29; www.dezotte.nl) This nice bar is a Belgium beer tasting bar. It has over 130 different beers to taste and is a must visit for every beer fanatic. Café De Tuin (Tweede Tuindwarsstraat 13; www.cafedetuin.nl) Typically Dutch, directly in the Jordaan, always busy, thoroughly furnished, very 'gezellig'... Hannekes Boom (Dijksgracht 4; www.hannekesboom.nl) There is a relaxed sort of festival atmosphere at this beer garden-island restaurant mix. You can drink a nice beer in a deckchair or sit on the rooftop terrace, watching the ships go by…. A truly unique spot! IJburg beach with strandtent Blijburg (Muiderlaan 1001; www.blijburg.nl) Sandy beach by the water with a bohemian vibe. It is in the eastern part of IJburg (which itself is in the east of Amsterdam). Take in the sun and sand, food and drinks, live music and evening campfires. De Nieuwe Anita (Frederik Hendrikstraat 111-115; www.denieuweanita.nl) Gezellige bar in the Jordaan with a lot of cool concerts, cinema nights etc. Also the main event location of "Subbacultcha" (a magazine for alternative music organizing a lot of music events etc.) If you become member (8 Euros a month) a lot of events are actually for free! See: www.subbacultcha.nl Studio K (Timorplein 62; www.studio-k.nu) A restaurant/cafe/movie theatre/club and mostly just a nice place to chill and hang with friends. Studio 80 (Rembrandtplein 17; www.studio-80.nl) Located on the Rembrandt square. This is a good place to go for techno and an underground vibe. Be aware that the door is somewhat hidden. Paradiso (Weteringschans 6-8; www.paradiso.nl) Near the Leidseplein. Concerts, club nights, and occasionally other cultural events such as films, fashion shows, and even public lectures/discussions. Melkweg (Lijnbaansgracht 234 /A; www.melkweg.nl) Also near the Leidseplein. Concerts, theatre, cinema, and photography exhibitions, as well as club nights.

Bimhuis / Muziekgebouw Aan 't IJ (Piet Heijnkade 1-3, www.bimhuis.nl/www.muziekgebouw.nl) A great place for contemporary, classical, and jazz music. They have free jam sessions at Bimhuis on Tuesday nights and a great terrace looking out on the water. Students get discounts for most concerts at the Muziekgebouw. Also, if you're under 30, you can get sprint tickets for €10.00 (this is also the case for the Concertgebouw at Museumplein). Concertgebouw (Concertgebouwplein 2-6, www.concertgebouw.nl) If you’re into classical music, this is the place to go. If you want to buy a regular ticket, this can get quite expensive. A cheap way of getting into a good concert here is by going to Last Minute Ticket Shop (www.lastminuteticketshop.nl).

b) Restaurants and places for food For Dutch food, check out: La Falote (Roelof Hartstraat 26 IV; www.lafalote.nl) The food is great, and the cook/owner comes to talk to you personally to ask how you want your food – a super nice place. Furthermore you can try: De Keuken van 1870 (Spuistraat 4; www.keukenvan1870.nl) or De Haven van Texel (Sint Olofssteeg 11; www.havenvantexel.nl). Albert Cuypstraat in de Pijp Nice street market and de Pijp has some of the best bars and cafes in town as well as other things. If you’re looking for the best burger, look no further than nr 129, The Butcher (www.the-butcher.com) is the cream of the crop. To become a real Dutchie everyone should try kibbeling, and haring if you are brave some of the best and freshest is to be found at Volendammer Vishandel at Eerste van der Helststraat 60, also in De Pijp. Boerderij Meerzicht (www.boerderijmeerzicht.nl) Best pancakes in Amsterdam have to be at the Boerderij Meerzicht in the middle of Amsterdamse Bos at Koenenkade 56. It is worth the long bike ride because these are the best value, tastiest pancakes and you feel like you deserved it! And: the Bos is not only really beautiful in summer but also in the autumn (if it is not raining). Greek Restaurant Athene (Weesperzijde 42; www.grieks-restaurant-athene.nl) On Saturdays (and sometimes other days) they start Greek dancing, singing and throwing plates and cups, it's really fun! And the guests have to join. Nice owners and good food too! IJsfabriek Monte Pelmo (2e Anjeliersdwarsstraat 17; www.montepelmo.nl) One of the many ice cream stores in Amsterdam and it is really good! Pisa IJs (Scheldeplein 10, www.pisa-ijs.com) Lauded as serving one of the best pistachio ice creams you can find in the Netherlands! The rest of their assortment is good too. La Pompa (Willemsparkweg 6; pompa-restaurant.nl) Italian; very, very, very good food (unable to add more emphasis, but it's just really overwhelming), and reasonable prices (well, we're all students, but in comparison with other Amsterdam places it actually is.) Kantjil & de Tijger (Spuistraat 291-293; kantjil.nl) Indonesian; the place is cosy, has great food and above all plenty of it (in fact too much). Make sure you let the staff tell you the story about the kantjil and the tiger. Maoz Falafel Various locations across the city but Muntplein is the freshest. €4 for 3 falafel balls in pita bread and you can take as much salad and sauce as you want to...

Wagamama (Max Euweplein 10 & Amstelstraat 8; www.wagamama.nl) Japanese noodle/rice place, might appear a bit like mass processing, but the food is very good, the staff is very welcoming and entertaining and it's filled with young people. Vapiano (Amstelstraat 2-4 & Oosterdokskade 145; www.vapiano.com/en/home/) Italian chain restaurant (locations all over the world!). Freshly prepared pastas and pizzas that are reasonably priced, ideal for students! Wild Moa Pies (Van Ostadestraat 147; www.pies.nu) A Kiwi Pie Shop selling delicious savoury pastry pies with meat or vegetable fillings for €3.50. To be found at the corner of Tweede van de Helststraat and Van Ostadestraat, in De Pijp. Joes Garage (Pretoriusstraat 43; www.joesgarage.nl) Every Monday and Thursday evening you can get really cheap food in a cosy atmosphere. You can also offer to cook, btw. It’s a great place to go if you are in the area (which is Oost).

c) Cinemas and Theatres See www.filmladder.nl for daily program of all cinemas in Amsterdam! Furthermore: Several art-house Cinemas offer monthly "all-you-can-see" passes or "strippenkaartjes" (10 films for 60 Euro or so)! Check it out! -- CINEMAS -Cinema Pathé Tuschinski (Reguliersbreestraat 29; www.pathe.nl/tuschinski) Just beautiful (art-deco style!), they also arrange tours about the history of the building, which is really interesting actually! All of the biggest Dutch films have their premieres here. For €19,- a month, you can get a Pathé Unlimited Pass, valid in all Pathé cinema's (4 in Amsterdam, and lots more in the rest of the country). Pathé mainly screens the big Hollywood films. Kriterion (Roetersstraat 190; www.kriterion.nl) Great place to watch movies, dance or just talk and drink on all possible occasions. And it is located directly across the street from the A Building... So you can't miss it if you are a CSCA student. The Movies (Haarlemmerdijk 161; www.themovies.nl) This is a very cute and old cinema. They play all kinds of movies, from small & alternative productions to high-end Hollywood hits. And the restaurant there is really good! (Their meal & movie deals are nice.) -- THEATRES -!! For most of the theatres goes: most of it will be in Dutch! So for the international students: make sure you check whether a show you want to visit is spoken in English. !! Last Minute Ticket Shop (www.lastminuteticketshop.nl) Obviously not a venue itself, but a place to get cheap tickets at the last moment. Very often they have 50% off discounts, which suddenly can make it possible to go somewhere! They also have a store inside the Stadsschouwburg: Stadsschouwburg (Leidseplein 26; www.ssba.nl) The Stadsschouwburg is a very beautiful theatre, although unfortunately for our international students, most plays will be in Dutch.

Muziektheater (Amstel 3; www.het-muziektheater.nl) If you want to see some opera or ballet, this is the place to go. It’s located very much in the city centre, and hosts many excellent shows. Again, this can be quite expensive, so the last minute ticket shop is again recommended. Carré (Amstel 115; www.theatercarre.nl) This is one of the most beautiful theatres in the Netherlands, featuring the best shows. You can see both music and theatre performances. Once more, tickets expensive, last-minute… you get the idea. Brakke Grond (www.brakkegrond.nl), De Engelenbak (www.engelenbak.nl), Bellevue (www.theaterbellevue.nl), Frascati (www.theaterfrascati.nl), De kleine Komedie (www.dekleinekomedie.nl), Comedy Cafe (www.comedycafe.nl). All of the theatres listed here are either somewhat smaller or average size theaters, featuring mostly relatively cheap Dutch theater shows. All of these theaters are situated on the Nes. Definitely check them out if you like theatre!

d) Museums and other places to see If you intend to visit more than, say, two or three museums per year, it really pays off getting a MuseumKaart for €49,95 (see www.museumkaart.nl). It allows you free entry to a huge number of museums in the Netherlands! Foam / Huis Marseille (Keizersgracht 609 / 401; www.foam.nl / www.huismarseille.nl) Two great, and at the same time cosy, photography museums on the Keizersgracht. Oude Kerk (www.oudekerk.nl) Nice church, its situation in the red light district makes it special and it sometimes hosts exhibitions. It also houses the world press photo exhibition while it's on. Openbare Bibliotheek (Oosterdokskade 143; www.oba.nl) This library is a must-see, even if you don't get a membership! It is an amazing, 9-story building with a great view of the city from the terrace cafe on the top floor (and they have nice food there too!) Furthermore, every floor has different style chairs, and they're all worth sitting in! And not to forget: They have an extensive international magazine & newspaper collection as well, so you can catch up on news from back home. Van Gogh Museum (Paulus potterstraat 7; www.vangoghmuseum.nl) This museum hosts the most van Gogh’s in the world: over 200. What’s so nice about the museum is that they’ve ordered the paintings in chronological order, so as to enable a view into the very interesting and short life of the painter. Although it looks pretty lame, a recommendation is the audio tour! This museum can get extremely busy, so it’s recommended to go really early during a weekday and not during summer / Christmas or other tourist-attracting holidays. The queuing time can get up to hours otherwise! Nemo (Oosterdok 2; www.nemo.nl) DIY Science museum, more for children, but definitely fun, especially when you are with a bunch of people. You should go during the week though, because it's crowded with kids on weekends and they're always first when it comes to trying out all the stuff. Once in a while they also have nemonightsparties there with flashy lights and DJs among the science stuff! Tropenmuseum (Linnaeusstraat 2; www.tropenmuseum.nl) Worth a visit just because of its amazing architecture (also inside!). Nice exhibitions about Dutch history in the tropics and an interesting movie and concert agenda!

Scheepvaartmuseum (Kattenburgerplein 1; www.scheepvaartmuseum.nl) The Dutch have a rich as well as dark history concerning the colonization of many countries including Indonesia, Surinam and the Dutch Antilles, some of which still don’t have total independence. Here you can see the history of the Dutch East India Company. The museum is very interactive, and you can visit one of the old ships as well! Stedelijk Museum (Museumplein 10; www.stedelijk.nl) Museum for modern art, recently rebuilt and reopened. Aptly nicknamed 'badkuip' ('bathtub').

Rijksmuseum (Museumstraat 1; www.rijksmuseum.nl) Recently reopened in all its glory, and one of the most well-known museums in Amsterdam. This museum mainly shows classical paintings. You can find this museum and the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum and the Concertgebouw at the ‘Museumplein’. EYE film museum (IJpromenade 1; www.eyefilm.nl) This museum is located in the North of the city, just a short ferry trip away from the Central Station. Apart from a cinema, this museum also houses exhibitions, and a very nice café/restaurant with a great view of the IJ. Outside of Amsterdam Especially for modern art: check out the Rotterdam art-scene! (e.g., Museum Boijmans van Beuningen: www.boijmans.nl). Leiden also houses a great number of museums and has a beautiful (yet small) city centre to explore.

e) Festivals Amsterdam hosts many different festivals, from theatre to dance, film, and food festivals. Below we have listed some of the best festivals on offer. Visit the websites listed or Google the festivals for more information and exact dates. Also check out the I Amsterdam website (www.iamsterdam.com; go to 'what to do > festivals') for a complete overview of festivals in (and around) Amsterdam. The Uitmarkt (last weekend of August; www.uitmarkt.nl/uitmarkt/home) The Uitmarkt rings in the start of the new cultural season each year, with over 450 performances in different disciplines.

Theatre festivals Fringe Festival Amsterdam (5-15 September; www.amsterdamfringefestival.nl). Performances (various disciplines) at more than 30 different venues across the city. Many 'Language No Problem' performances, so fun for international students too! Nederlands Theater Festival (5-15 September; www.tf.nl) Showcases the best theatre performances from the previous cultural season. Holland festival (June 2014; www.hollandfestival.nl/nl.) Not only theatre, but also other types of performance art. De Parade (Summer 2014; www.deparade.nl) A travelling festival that takes place in Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Amsterdam every summer.

Film festivals IDFA (20 November - 1 December; www.idfa.nl/nl.aspx) International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. Imagine Film Festival (9-18 April 2014; www.imaginefilmfestival.nl) Held at the EYE film museum, this is a film festival for 'fantastic' films in many different genres such as SciFi, Animation, and Horror. Pluk de Nacht (Summer 2014; www.plukdenacht.nl) Open air film festival (with free entrance!) that shows films that have not been screened in Dutch cinemas.

Dance festivals So many to choose from! Just a small selection: Valtifest (7 September; www.valtifest.nl). An electronic music festival at the NDSM Wharf in the North of the city, with a different dress code every year. 5 Days Off (March 2014; 5daysoff.nl), for electronic music. Amsterdam Open Air (Spring 2014), for electronic music. A Day at the Park (July 2014), house, deep-house, disco, melodious techno and a hint of progressive house at the Amsterdamse Bos. Milkshake Festival (July 2014), dance festival; a collaboration between the Amsterdam clubs AIR and Paradiso. Appelsap (August 2014), hip-hop and electro at the Oosterpark. Loveland Festival (August 2014; www.loveland.nl), huge dance music festival at the Sloterpark in the Nieuw-West district of the city. Six main stages featuring local as well as international artists.

Food festivals Food Film Festival (Spring 2014; www.foodfilmfestival.nl) A festival for films about food. Rollende Keukens (29 May – 1 June 2014; www.rollendekeukens .nl) Food festival with dozens of food trucks. Food from all over the world, a relaxed atmosphere... what more could you want?

Miscellaneous Museumnacht (2 November; www.n8.nl) On the first Saturday in November every year, about 50 museums in Amsterdam open their doors from 19:00 to 02:00 and organise special events including workshops, concerts, special tours and performances. Tasty food and drink is also on hand to help keep your energy levels up. King's Day (formerly Queen's Day. 26 April 2014). This is our national holiday, on which the city turns orange. Officially, King's day is on the 27 th of April, but as this date falls on a Sunday in 2014, the celebrations are held on Saturday the 26th.

Kwaku Festival (July & August 2014). Multicultural festival spread out over 4 weekends. With (street) food, music, dance, sports, and a market. Amsterdam Gay Pride (July/August 2014). A huge celebration of devotion towards equality for the gay, lesbian and transgender communities, held in late July and early August every year, with the Gay Pride Canal Parade as the festival's centrepiece. Amsterdam Fashion Week (Winter: January; Summer: July). A celebration of Dutch fashion, with fashion shows, exhibitions, markets, pop-up stores, and parties. !! There are many more great festivals outside of Amsterdam, such as Pinkpop, Lowlands, and Rock Werchter. For a complete list of festivals, check e.g. www.festivalinfo.nl/festivals. !!

f) Parks, Daytrips, etc. Artis (Plantage Kerklaan 38- 40; www.artis.nl) The great Amsterdam zoo - only 3,00 euros when you show your student card (on weekdays)! The zoo is really close to the Roeterseiland Complex (REC), so a very nice spot to have a moment of relaxation during busy days of studying. Cycle via Durgerdam and Uitdam to Marken (it really doesn't get any more beautiful in Holland than on that route). Fast Flying Ferry (Behind central station) The coolest and fastest possibility to get to the beach. It's 5€ one-way or 8€ return, takes only 25 minutes and you can take your bike for free. Goes to Velsen-Zuid and from there you're in IJmuiden, Wijk aan Zee, Castricum etc. in just a couple of minutes. Due to budget cuts this will disappear in 2014, so go enjoy it whilst you still can! Flevopark Directly on the water, fairly quiet compared to the other parks, nice houseboats (and actual houses), BBQ is allowed! There is also an open air swimming pool there for the sunnier days (www.zwembadamsterdam.nl/zwembad-flevoparkbad-in-amsterdam) Vondelpark Of course! And definitely go there at King's Day where it is reserved for kids selling stuff, offering participation in funny games (such as egg-throwing), making music etc. Westerpark Very big park, has nice quiet spots, sports possibilities, BBQ allowed, seems to be the most appropriate tanspot in the summer - everyone's almost naked there. You can see the sunset from the upper part (next to the train tracks)! Furthermore: It is next to Westergasfabriek (nice location with bars, cinemas, clubs etc.) - so if you get bored of barbecue and sun there is a lot left to do... Het Nieuwe Meer Lake in the Amsterdamse Bos, suitable for swimming (maybe not on all spots), windsurfing and is pretty quiet, if there's no Dutch motorboat crowd showering you with Technosound… And if water and sun made you hungry check out the Pannenkoekenhuis in the middle of the wood! (See restaurants). Zandvoort aan Zee The beach! Although the weather in the Netherlands isn’t always that amazing, the beach always is! There is a direct train from Amsterdam Centraal to Zandvoort aan Zee, which takes about 30 minutes. This will take you as close as a 5 minute walk from the North Sea.

Amsterdam FAQ Q. How do I get / fix a bike? A. Some people will probably tell you how easy it is to get a bike for €20 from a so-called junkie on the street. Keep in mind that all those bikes are stolen. We advise you against getting a bike from dingy-looking strangers! Not only does it encourage bikes being stolen, but you also risk getting a nasty fine between €100-400. There are other ways, legal and affordable, to get a bike. You can try the ASVA lottery (go to www.asva.nl) which is the cheapest option (€45 for a bike, excluding locks) You can try several bike shops: [1] corner of Sarphatistraat and Weesperstraat (under the bridge); [2] De Snelbinder, Molukkenstraat 13 (nearby Science Park, also has free pump outside in case of flat tires); [3] Nieuwe Hoogstraat 21 (nearby centre, has nearly-free pump outside; [4] MacBike at Amsterdam Centraal Station or in Waterlooplein (free pump). Legal secondhand bikes usually start at around €70. You can also try the market in Waterlooplein and the Albert Cuyp market (De Pijp) for secondhand bikes. If your bike is broken: The king of Africa will fix it for a fair price. He is situated at the market on Waterlooplein as one of the first spots when coming from the Staalstraat intersection with the Muziektheater. There is also marktplaats.nl, something between gumtree and ebay. If you choose to buy a bike from people selling one online, be sure to ask for an original receipt of purchase, or the frame number/chip number (which you can check on www.fietsdiefstalregister.nl to see if it has been registered as stolen). Get a big lock, or preferably two, and always lock your bike to something solid (tree, fence, bike stand). Locks can be bought at bike shops or some street markets. The prices vary from €10 to around €30, depending on the type. Some lock-sellers say that a €20 lock takes 20 minutes to break it. Q. How do I ride it? A. It's not as dumb a question as it seems, especially if the last time you rode your bike was around kindergarten. Well, you will have to try it yourself. It's not the best idea to use your phone while on a bike, especially if you're turning left and there's a tram behind you. Also drinking from a bottle which is somewhere deep in your bag might be trickier than it seems. iPods are very popular but maybe it's better to give yourself a few weeks to get used to the traffic before you start using them while cycling. Tram tracks are not a biker's best friends. You have to cross them at a right angle, otherwise you will get stuck or fall down. Remember to use lights at night. The fine for cycling without light is around 40€! Other popular fines are: crossing a street on a red light (€30) and cycling in pedestrian-only places, such as Kalverstraat or in front of Centraal Station (€50). That being said, you will find the majority of the population breaking these laws. Q. How do I use public transport? A. If you study and pay taxes in the Netherlands, you're entitled to a student OV-card. This card allows you to use public transport for free on either weekdays or weekends. Most international students will not fall into this category, so they have to get a regular OV-chipcard. To find out about the different cards go to: http://www.ov-chipkaart.nl/?taal=en Q. Where are the best places for shopping? A. The most popular choices are: Albert Heijn for food, Etos or Kruidvat for cosmetics, Blokker and Hema for stationery and home products. Kalverstraat is the main shopping street. De Negen Straatjes (the Western parts of Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht) are popular for (fancy) clothes. For music, Concerto (Utrechtsestraat 52-60) is a must. You can also check Fame (Magna Plaza shopping centre, behind Dam Square) or the Free Record Shops in various places. You can get a lot of English books on or near Spui, where you can find Waterstones and American Book Center, as well as some Dutch bookshops. Zipper (Huidenstraat 7; Nieuwe Hoogstraat 10) is good for vintage and secondhand clothes. Q. What if I don't like Albert Heijn? A. Try the cheaper supermarkets (e.g. C1000, Lidl, Dirk, Aldi) or street markets! Albert Cuyp and Dappermarkt are definitely worth checking out, but the best (organic) food market is the Noordermarkt (also called the Westermarkt) in the Jordaan, open on Saturdays. Q. How do I open a bank account and get an ATM card? A. For non-European Union students, getting your Dutch bank account set up can take months, seriously. There is no choice, we must use ABN AMRO. You must have the sticker in your passport indicating that

your residence permit is pending. It can be a huge problem waiting at the Dam Square ABN AMRO. There is another ABN AMRO on Sarphatistraat & Weesperlein. There is almost no line there, and most, if not all, of your banking needs can be taken care of there! No scheduled visiting hours! Once you get the account set up, you will receive a PIN card. The Dutch PIN system is the same as a direct debit. When you pay with the PIN card, you will be asked to enter your 4 digit password. When you press "Ja" to agree, that amount of money is automatically deducted from your account. Also, attached to your PIN card is your Chipknip. The Chipknip was originally intended as a useful device for paying small sums of money, usually under 10 Euros. Chipknip used to be the only payment method for many vending machines and cafeterias at the university, but PIN is now also becoming an accepted payment method in many places. To add money to your Chipknip or to check your balance, find a Chipknip machine. Look for them around the university, especially near the food or Geldautomaten (ATMs) Q. Where can I learn Dutch? A. If you want to learn Dutch, the INTT (Institute for Dutch as a second language) offers good courses, and it's related to the UvA so you get a big discount (although you do still have to pay for the courses). Make sure to sign up in advance because the beginner's level courses fill up quickly. The standard course is 6 hours a week of class time plus 6 hours a week of homework. You can get away with not doing all of the homework, but you'll learn a lot more if you put the time in. There are six levels, and each course lasts half a semester. So if you start early, it is possible to get through the courses within 2 years. If you already speak some Dutch, they'll give you a placement test to start you at the correct level.

UvA FAQ Q. How do I set my UvA e-mail account? A. As a UvA student you can use UvA Google Apps for Education. It only works with an e-mail address that looks like this: [email protected] You can use this email address to access Google’s email functions, to create and share documents and to work with others online. Use of Google Apps is not compulsory. If the UvA wishes to contact you by email, it will use the email address that you have specified in Studielink. Notice that you can use the UvA email address ([email protected] ) only for Google Apps. It is not suitable to use anywhere else. See also http://student.uva.nl/en/az/content/student-email/studentemail.html. Q. Where and how can I print? A. In most, if not all the libraries and computer rooms there are printers which you can use. In most cases it's €0.05 per sheet and you will need Chipknip to pay for it. Usually you click 'Print', go to the printer, enter your UvA login and password, and pay with the Chipknip. Most of you will eventually have a Chipknip embedded in your ATM cards, but during the first weeks you might want to use pre-paid Chipknips offered by UvA. Q. What kind of grading system is used in the courses? A. You are given a grade between 1 and 10, with 10 as the maximum. Usually 5.5 or 6 is a passing grade. 8 is considered a good grade. Only around 10% students end up with an average of 8.0 or higher. Q. Is the system the same for everyone or does it change according to each specific lecturer? A. It is the same for everyone. Q. If I fail an exam, do I have to take the class over again? A. No. There is one more chance to pass the exam. This is called the resit exam. Typically, the resit is given about three months or so after the original exam was held. However, if you do not pass the resit exam, you may speak individually with the professor, or in some cases, it may be necessary to re-take the class again. Q. Is it possible to not accept a grade? In case I am not satisfied with my final grade for a course what options do I have? A. Yes. You can always appeal your grade by contacting the professor directly. This can be for an individual assignment or the final course grade. You must do it within a reasonable amount of time. But, they usually end up granting you a higher grade if you argue your case convincingly. Also, you always have an option to retake an exam (resit) for a better grade. Q. Should I enroll myself for each specific course or is it done automatically? A. You are enrolled for most courses automatically, but the administration will let you know when you need to enroll yourself (e.g., if the course is outside of the normal master curriculum). Q. Can I take classes that are not part of the main schedule (i.e. electives from other faculties, miniinternships...)? A. Yes, but you need to get it approved by the exam committee. This just means writing a short motivational statement about why this course would benefit your education. These are almost always granted. You can talk to the study advisors about this. Finding the time to take extra classes is often the hardest part. Q. Where do I get the books from? A. For some courses there are booklets with all the reading materials available to buy. This will be announced by the teachers. For some, you will need to buy or copy books. You can try it online or at the Studystore bookshop (next to building A in Roetersstraat). Q. Can I have access to databases and other online sources at home? A. It is possible to access journal articles from the UvA digital library from home. First, you must download a program – the VPN client. UvAVPN is a software application that establishes an encrypted connection between your computer and the UvA network. UvAVPN ensures that your computer is

recognised as part of the UvA network. There are versions for Windows, Mac and Linux. You can find the download link and manuals here: http://student.uva.nl/en/az/content/uvavpn/download/downloaduvavpn-software.html. The VPN client must be connected while you browse through the articles on the digital library website in order to access them. If connected, this also gives you access to the articles on Google Scholar and Science Direct from home. This is really a big help, we suggest you use it.

Useful addresses and maps Cognitive Science Center Amsterdam (CSCA) Nieuwe Achtergracht 129 (Building D) 1018 WS Amsterdam The Netherlands Tel. +31 (0)20 525 4982 / 5190

Marie Hoogstraaten Programme Assistant IIS, Science Park 904, room C2.122A tel: +31 20 525 5637 [email protected]

Silke van Beekum Programme Manager IIS, Science Park 904, room C2.110 +31 20 525 5502 [email protected]

Femke Bokma Study Advisor IIS, Science Park 904, room C2.117 +31 20 525 5509 [email protected] Niels Molenaar International Office, Faculty of Science +31 (0)20 525 7870 [email protected]

Need a doctor? Student GPs: UvA Studentenartsen Oude Turfmarkt 151 (near Rokin) 020 525 28 78 ; 020 525 47 72 www.studentenartsen.nl Mon-Fri 9.00-9.45 & 13.30-14.00 Emergencies during / outside office hours: 020 525 28 89 / 088 00 30 600

STD Clinic: Weesperplein 1 020 555 58 22 www.gggd.amsterdam.nl Dentist: Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004 020 598 0308 www.acta.nl

NN Science Park

Cognito presents: events 2013-2014 We organize educational events at least once a month, such as interesting lectures/discussions, or special events like Internshit, Internquest and the Brain Slicing Event. We also plan to organize social events, one of our biggest of which will be the Cognito spring-break trip. Many smaller trips and other events are t.b.a., so keep an eye out for announcements in the Cognito Newsletter! Below is a detailed description and an approximate date of some planned events (dates are subject to change). Lectures/discussions with interesting speakers These will take place about three or four times a year. A speaker, often from a university in the Netherlands, will talk about their interesting research within the field of brain and cognitive sciences. These talks are informal and there is plenty of room for discussion. Beer and snacks will be provided to stimulate this informal atmosphere. Internshit This event will take place on 24 September. Second-year students will shortly present their projects, talk about their experiences (both good and bad), provide you with internship advice and answer your internship-related questions. Beer and snacks will be provided! Internquest This event will take place on 8 October. PhD students and post-docs will briefly (~5 min) present internship positions they are currently offering. After the presentations there will be beer and snacks to ease you into some networking and to give you the opportunity to get to know more details of the potential internships. Brain slicing event After the winter holidays (exact date t.b.a.), we will organize the brain slicing event, in which we will provide you with the opportunity to dissect a calf brain under the supervision of a trained professional. This event has limited spots, so keep an eye out for Cognito announcements! Cognito Trip Our biggest social event, the weekend trip, usually takes place in May (exact date t.b.a.). It's a great way to get away from your courses and internships for a few days and have some fun with your fellow students! Last year we went to Drenthe, where we had a BBQ, played games, visited an amusement park, and went dancing at the best club in Stadskanaal. This year's destination is still up for discussion, and we're looking for some enthusiastic students to help us organize the trip. If you're interested in helping out, let us know!

Join the Cognito board! We are always looking for new board members and new committee members, especially new first yearstudents! If you are interested in joining, let us know via e-mail ([email protected]) or simply approach one of the current board members. We will also organize a “meet Cognito meeting”, in which you can get to know the current board members and ask any board-related questions.