Requirements

Selection of students

To be accepted at UCU applicants must undergo a selection procedure. Each year UCU selects about 225 students from a considerably larger pool of applicants. Candidates must meet a set of minimum requirements and fit a general profile to be accepted. The same assessment criteria hold for all students and are applied fairly and impartially.

Minimum requirements

Diploma
Applicants must have a Dutch high school diploma at VWO level (any profile) or a foreign equivalent, such as the International Baccalaureate diploma or the British A-levels. You can check whether your diploma meets this requirement in the high school diploma list.

Proof of English proficiency
Since English is the official language at UCU, non-native speakers are required to demonstrate proof of proficiency. Accepted are the IELTS test, TOEFL test and Cambridge Certificate: 

Chinese students must also obtain a NESO certificate in order to be eligible for admission. When applying for the NESO certificate, they must prove that they have passed the provincial comprehensive examination (Huikao) and the national college entrance examinations (Gaokao).

Students with an International Baccalaureate or European Baccalaureate diploma in English are exempted. Dutch students with a 5 VWO average of 8 or higher for English can also be exempted if they include a letter from their English teacher stating their level of proficiency.

Selection criteria

In addition to meeting the minimum requirements applicants must demonstrate that they fit a general profile:

• academic excellence and curiosity
• ambition and motivation, academically as well as professionally 
• broad intellectual orientation
• interest in contributing to campus life
• social engagement
• affinity with living and studying in an international environment