What is SBS?
The School of Biblical Studies, or SBS, is a nine-month program for those who want to deepen their understanding of the Bible. Students will learn how to discover and apply truths from God’s Word to our present-day society as they read through the Bible at least five times and study each book in its historical context. Using the inductive Bible study method they will learn how to observe, interpret, and find applications for their own lives.
Why should you do an SBS?
Though the SBS may seem long as a nine month school, the Bible is the foundation of our faith, so we believe that this school is only a tool for a lifetime of Biblical studies. God’s Word is vast, there are many concepts and stories to understand, but doing an SBS invites you to learn more about God’s character and how to live like Jesus as you ask questions and discover for yourself what shapes your belief as a follower of Christ.The School of Biblical Studies is unique and will impact your life as you serve whether in ministry, continued studying, or work.
Studying the Bible in Amsterdam
Our SBS is located in the heart of the city of Amsterdam, where you will join a community of passionate Christians who have a desire to engage well with what God is doing in our city and in Europe. Amsterdam is filled with opportunities, it is lively, and the nations really do come to you. Living and studying in Amsterdam gives a unique chance to explore how the Bible shaped our culture and society.
Course Information
Prerequisites
Discipleship Training School with YWAM
Dates
September 24, 2025 - July 2026
Languages
English*
This includes lectures, studies, and homework
*If you have any questions or concerns about your English proficiency, please feel free to contact us. We would love to help you figure out what might be the best school for you.
Dates
Cost
T.B.D.
Tuition fees, food, and housing included.
Download the information PDF below for more info.
More information
School of Biblical Studies
Discipleship in our SBS
Our vision for the SBS in Amsterdam is not to merely learn about God but to get to know Him personally. This is a natural process as you are discipled by the Holy Spirit through studying and discipled by those around you in community. The SBS can be an intense school, but if studying God’s word doesn’t lead us to worship and grow in deeper love and reverence for him, then we missed something important. To help us with this we have added a few things to our school to create space for more discipleship throughout the school year. This includes:
Ministry
It is important to have a practical response to what we are learning. We are blessed in our relationship with God and we hope to also be a blessing to others, so we have an opportunity to join YWAM Amsterdam’s different ministries to serve and share God with others.
Biblical Worldview
We have a focus on equipping students with a Biblical worldview in contrast to finding their identity and beliefs from the values and views of the world. Our hope is that their worldview would come from, or shift to coming from, the values God has given us through His word and teachings.
Learning how to Teach
We have created activities to help students learn how to share what they have learned with others. The Bible is a blessing, and the understanding we gain brings freedom and joy, and these are important messages to bring to the world. It is important not to keep what we have learned to ourselves, but rather our hope is that students would be equipped to share the Word through practicing how to preach, teach, and lead small groups.
Accreditation
Three individually accredited semesters for the University of the Nations
-
Citizens from the EU, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland: If you are from one of these nations then you do not need to apply for a visa to attend. Therefore, your deadline for SBS in Amsterdam is September 4, 2024
-
Citizens from nations with a work-holiday program: Citizens from Canada, Australia, Argentina, South-Korea, Hong-Kong and New Zealand, aged between 18 and 30 years, can come on a Working Holiday Program. This visa is can normally be processed and received very easily. Therefore the deadline to apply for SBS in Amsterdam is September 4, 2024
-
Citizens from the USA, or citizens of category 2 but are above the age of 30: Citizens from these nations will need to apply for a work permit in order to stay beyond 3 months in the Netherlands. Because of how long this takes too receive the permit, we recommend that you apply for SBS in Amsterdam by June 1, 2024. This gives you enough time to receive your visa before arriving in the Netherlands. If you are still interested in applying but have missed this date, then still apply and we can see if you can arrive on a different visa and then switch to a work permit while being here.
-
All other nations: If you are not from one of the nations listed in the 3 categories above, then your visa application process is longer and therefore your deadline is much earlier. Because of this, your deadline is March 1, 2024.