Application and admission

In the Netherlands, only the Dutch vwo diploma gives direct access to a university education. If you hold a foreign secondary school diploma, International Student Admissions will need to determine whether you can be admitted to the University. In this case, they will verify if your diploma is considered equivalent to a Dutch VWO diploma. You can check whether your diploma meets this requirement in this diploma equivalency list

Minimum requirements for secondary school

Applicants must have:

• a Dutch secondary school diploma at vwo level (vwo-profile 'Natuur en Techniek' or 'Natuur en Gezondheid' with Physics) or
• an international equivalent with Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry as required subjects

Examples are:

European Baccalaureate Diploma (all as written exams)

• Mathematics (at least 3 hours per week in the final 2 years)
• Physics
• Chemistry

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

• Chemistry: Higher Level
• Physics: Standard Level
• Mathematics - Analysis and Approaches: Standard Level or Mathematics - Applications and Interpretation: Higher Level

British A-levels

Students with British A-levels can be considered for admission if they have at least 3 preferred (international) GCE A-levels with a minimum score of CCC. Subjects must include:

• Chemistry (A-level), Physics (at least AS-level) and Mathematics (at least AS level) or
• Chemistry (A-level), Biology (A-level) and Mathematics (at least AS level). In addition a single GCSE in Physics (with at least a B grade/ grade 6) is required (nót GCSE Combined Science or Coordinated Science). 

Zeugnis der Algemeinen Hochschulreife (Abitur)

• Abiturprüfungsfach: Chemistry
• Grundkurs: Physics
• Up to and including year 12: Mathematics

US High School Diploma (USA)

• In addition to the completed High School Diploma, we require students to obtain at least 4 Advanced Placements (AP's) of the US College Board, all with a score of -3- or higher, among which at least an AP Calculus AB, an AP Physics 1 and an AP Chemistry, all with a score of -3- or higher.

What if I am missing one of the above-mentioned courses in my profile?

The Admissions Office determines whether your diploma is equivalent to a Dutch high school diploma. If the level is insufficient and/or subject(s) are missing, they will advise you how to remedy this. There are private institutions, e.g Boswell-Bèta, WisMon or CCVX where you can gain your qualification prior to the start of the programme. You will need to have met all the programme's subject requirements (including the language test) and send a hardcopy of your diploma(s) to the Admissions Office no later than 31 August.

If you require an entry visa/residence permit for study purposes you have to meet:

• The graduation of your secondary school diploma no later than 31 August
• All the other subject requirements before 15 June

The Admissions Office will guide you through this step. In case you fail to meet all educational entry requirements by this deadline, the offered place will be canceled. This entails that you must participate again in a selection procedure in a new academic year. You can ask the university to cancel your selection attempt. There is a national maximum of three selection attempts for one programme.

The following steps will help you submit a complete application for this programme:

1. Check whether you meet the entry requirements.
2. Read the Application instructions to make sure you have all the required documentation for your application.
3. Submit your enrolment application via Studielink for the Dutch 'Farmacie' bachelor (code 56157) at Utrecht University between 10 October and 15 January, as the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences has the same code as Farmacie. In Osiris Online Application (see below, under B), you can specify that you want to apply for CPS. 
4. Upon submitting your enrolment application in Studielink, you will receive an email with login details for OSIRIS Online Application. Send in the required documents (A) and forms (B) and make sure they arrive before the deadline (31 January).

A. Required Documents

• A scan of your passport
• If applicable: a scan of your Dutch residence permit
• A scan of your diploma(s) or diploma statement (if necessary with official translations)
• A scan of your transcript(s) (if necessary with official translations)
• A scan of your official English language test report or certificate

B. Required Forms

A parallel process is started in OSIRIS Online Application for the programme you applied for. You will receive a second email with your personal login details. At the start of the questionnaire (under ‘Information’) you will be asked if you want to apply for Farmacie or CPS. As part of the questionnaire you will be asked to upload a recommendation form. If you like to take a look at the questions of the forms, please click here: background questionnaire and recommendation form.

For more information about the selection procedure, please visit selection for admission.

5. Pay the application fee, if applicable.

6. Your application is reviewed by International Student Admissions to see if it is complete, whether your diploma is equivalent to a Dutch vwo diploma, and whether you meet the subject requirements.

7. Within 3 weeks after we have received your complete application, you will receive the official admissions decision.

If you are conditionally accepted, you will be asked to send certified hard copies of your diploma and transcript (if necessary with official translations) to the International Student Admissions by post, so that the authenticity of these documents can be checked.

Why you should start in time

If you send us your documents shortly before the last deadline, and it turns out that they are incomplete or do not meet our requirements, or the mail takes longer than you expected, your application cannot be processed.
It also takes time to prepare for any possible additional exams you may need to take, so the sooner you know, the better!

After your application

Utrecht University communicates primarily through email. Please check your spam folder often during the application process, as we have noticed our emails are sometimes registered as spam.

On 15 April, you will receive your ranking number from Studielink via email. The CPS will send you an explanatory email concerning the ranking number.

If you have been conditionally admitted, you will need to have met all subject requirements (including the language test if applicable) before 31 August. If you require a visa and/or residence permit to study in the Netherlands, any applicable entry exam (including the language test) must be passed before 15 June. Details will be communicated in your conditional offer letter. Please note the offer to accept a place states "Farmacie" but is valid for the "College of Pharmaceutical Sciences".

You will receive information on how to arrange the necessary practical matters (e.g. housing, a Dutch bank account, health care insurance, payment of your tuition fee, etc.).

Do you have a Dutch diploma? Read this information.