Matching

If you are living in the Netherlands on the 1 May application deadline and have applied to enrol in a non-selective or non-limited-enrolment bachelor’s programme at Utrecht University, matching is a required part of your enrolment procedure. 

What does matching entail?

Matching at Utrecht University consists of various activities. The matching procedure is as follows:

• Completing the matching form on time
  A matching form will be sent to you by e-mail stating the deadline for submission. The form will ask about your reasons for applying for the degree programme etc.
• Attending the matching activity
  The matching activity will introduce you to studying through actual teaching activities for the degree programme of your choice. You will study learning materials and complete assignments at home. You will then attend a tutorial or practicum, which will be followed by a test. As soon as more information is available about the matching activity programme, this will be posted on the degree programme website. The matching activities may take place offline and online. We will of course inform you about this once more information is available.
• Reflecting on your degree programme choice
  You will receive feedback on your studying approach and we will discuss your motivations with you. This not only means you will be well prepared when the academic year actually starts, but will also help you determine whether the degree programme is the right choice. The feedback given by the degree programme department during matching is not intended as binding advice, nor should it be considered part of the selection procedure. It is up to you to take the final decision on whether to enrol.

If you reside abroad on the 1 May application deadline, or live in Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius or Sint Maarten, and the distance is an obstacle to attending the matching activity at Utrecht University, the requirement to participate in matching does not apply to you. This means you can apply for an exemption from matching participation. If you are living abroad and nevertheless receive an invitation, you may also apply for an exemption.

How can I apply for exemption?

When you apply to enrol, you will automatically receive an invitation e-mail to complete the online matching form. This will also include a link to the exemption request form. The deadline for submitting an exemption request is 8 May. Utrecht University will then check whether you are registered at a Dutch address in the Personal Records Database (BRP: Basisregistratie Personen). If you are not registered at a Dutch address, your request will be honoured.

I would still like to participate

If you are living abroad, but would still like to participate in matching, get in touch with the Faculty Student Desk of the degree programme concerned so we can consider the options together.

English-taught Bachelor's Programmes

• Celtic Languages and Culture    

• Economics and Business Economics

• English Language and Culture

• Global Sustainability Science

• History

• Linguistics

• Literary Studies

• Media and Culture

• Molecular and Biophysical Life Sciences

Dutch-taught Bachelor's Programmes

• Aardwetenschappen

• Academische lerarenopleiding primair onderwijs

• Biologie

• Communicatie- en informatiewetenschappen   

• Culturele antropologie en ontwikkelingssociologie    

• Duitse taal en cultuur 

• Franse taal en cultuur    

• Geschiedenis    

• Informatica    

• Informatiekunde    

• Interdisciplinaire sociale wetenschap    

• Islam en Arabisch    

• Italiaanse taal en cultuur    

• Keltische talen en cultuur    

• Kunstgeschiedenis

• Kunstmatige intelligentie    

• Liberal Arts and Sciences

• Literatuurwetenschap    

• Media en cultuur    

• Muziekwetenschap    

• Natuur- en sterrenkunde    

• Natuurwetenschap en innovatiemanagement    

• Nederlandse taal en cultuur    

• Onderwijswetenschappen    

• Pedagogische wetenschappen    

• Rechtsgeleerdheid    

• Religiewetenschappen    

• Scheikunde    

• Sociale geografie en planologie    

• Sociologie    

• Spaanse taal en cultuur    

• Taal- en cultuurstudies    

• Taalwetenschap    

• Filosofie 

• Wiskunde    

• Wiskunde en toepassingen

Legislation mandates that prospective students who apply before 1 May are entitled to activities to help them select the right bachelor’s programme. It is very important to Utrecht University that you make a conscious decision. As such, we require you to take part in a ‘study check’, which is known as matching at UU. We know from experience that students who have selected their programme consciously and on time have a greater chance of getting off to a good start and completing their first year.

In a few exceptional cases, you can also apply after 1 May (see Question 3). In this case, Utrecht University still requires you to participate in matching.

This is only possible in exceptional cases. Utrecht University will only accept your enrolment request after 1 May if one of the circumstances described below applies. You can participate in the matching activity if this is the case.

Special circumstances (exception categories)

1. I will have earned 45 credits (ECTS) from another bachelor’s programme at Utrecht University by 31 July 2024 at the latest and would like to switch to another programme.
If you have earned at least 45 ECTS from another bachelor’s programme at Utrecht University no later than 31 July and would like to switch programmes, you will need to submit an enrolment request in Studielink no later than 31 Jult. You will also need to indicate that you qualify for one of the exception categories on the online exceptions form no later than 31 July. You will receive a link to this form by e-mail. If you expect to receive a negative binding study advice, do not wait till you receive the official notification of this advice. Begin looking for an alternative programme yourself in advance. You can submit the supporting documents proving your negative binding study advice at a later date.

2. I found out too late that I had received negative binding study advice for another bachelor’s programme.
If you have found out too late that you have received negative binding study advice (in accordance with article 7.8b of the Higher Education Act) from another bachelor’s programme, you will need to submit an enrolment request in Studielink no later than 31 July. You will also need to indicate that you qualify for one of the exception categories on the online exceptions form no later than 31 July. You will receive a link to this form by e-mail. This only applies if a definitive binding study advice has been issued to you in writing. 

3. I have submitted an enrolment request for another bachelor’s programme before 1 May.
If you submitted an enrolment request for another bachelor’s programme before 1 May, you must submit an enrolment request in Studielink no later than 31 July. Please note that this applies to enrolments for the coming academic year, not the current academic year. If you do not meet the deadlines, your enrolment request will be denied and you will not be able to start the programme.

Enrolling with a first-year diploma from higher professional education

If you are working to complete the first year of a degree programme at a university of applied sciences and you are not yet certain that you will pass, you do not qualify for any exception category. You must therefore ensure that you submit an enrolment request to Utrecht University no later than 1 May.

Non-Dutch qualification

If you have a non-Dutch qualification and wish to submit an enrolment request after 1 May based on negative binding study advice (Exception 2), you must submit your application file to International Student Admissions no later than 31 July. 

More information about the application procedure.

Matching is always linked to a single degree programme. If you apply to more than one degree programme at Utrecht University, you will need to complete separate matching forms for each of these programmes. If you are considering two programmes and are unsure which to choose, you can visit our Online Open Days to get a better idea of each programme!

Always apply for the bachelor’s programme of your choice before 1 May. If you are still uncertain after that, you will still be able to apply to another bachelor’s programme at Utrecht University after 1 May. This means that you do not have to apply to two programmes right away.

If your programme offers additional online matching activities, we recommend that you participate in these. However, you are not obliged to participate. By returning the matching form on time, you will have fulfilled the obligation to take part in matching. Please inform the course that you are not participating and return your matching form no later than 15 May.

If your prior education took place in the Netherlands, filling in and submitting the matching form on time is mandatory to be admitted to the course. You must submit the matching form by 15 May at the latest.

Once you have applied to enrol in a bachelor’s programme in Studielink, you will automatically receive an e-mail with login details for OSIRIS Online Application. You can complete the matching form in OSIRIS Online Application. You may also be asked to fill in details in OSIRIS Online Application for other parts of the matching or enrolment process.

If you have not received login details for OSIRIS Online Application or you do not see the matching form there, first check your e-mail spam folder and then check whether your e-mail address is correctly registered with Studielink. If this is not the problem, get in touch with Student Services.

No, although you will receive feedback about your expectations, motivations and how you did with regard to the academic aspects. This should provide clarity about whether your approach during the matching activities is the right one or should be changed. It should also help you gain a better understanding of what the programme is like, which will allow you to form a clearer opinion about whether it suits you. If you wish to speak with a lecturer or study advisor attached to the bachelor’s programme one-to-one after this feedback and experience, there are opportunities to do so.

Utrecht University uses this data for the interviews and discussions during the matching activities and to provide guidance during the first year. Lecturers from your bachelor’s programme who are involved in matching and providing guidance have access to the information on the forms. We also use the anonymised data for research into factors that determine academic success.

If the matching leads you to the conclusion that the bachelor’s programme does not suit you after all, you can select another programme. We recommend that you do so as early as possible.

If you have applied to enrol in a bachelor’s programme with an intake restriction, you will be given a ranking number on 15 April in Studielink. This will allow you to judge your chances of being admitted for enrolment. In any case, we advise you to apply for enrolment in another degree programme no later than 1 May just to be sure if you have not yet received official confirmation of admission (Bewijs van Toelating).

If you do not apply for enrolment before 1 May, you will still be able to apply for an alternative bachelor’s programme later and participate in matching in June. You should however realise that, if you apply for enrolment as soon as possible, you will still have time to switch again if you decide the programme does not suit you.

Read more about the admission process for degree programmes with limited enrolment.

If there is a chance that you will receive negative binding study advice, do not wait till you have officially received this advice. Look into an alternative bachelor’s programme on time and apply to enrol in a new programme no later than 1 May so that you can participate in the matching activities on time. You can submit the supporting documents proving your negative binding study advice at a later date.

If you receive negative binding study advice after 1 May, you must submit an enrolment request to Studielink and subsequently submit the completed exceptions form no later than 31 July 2023. You will receive a link to this form by e-mail. Be sure to do this no later than 31 July, since you will no longer be able to participate in matching after that date and thus will not be admitted to the programme.

Even if you are not yet certain that you will receive negative binding study advice (but are aware that this is a realistic possibility), you are expected to apply for matching on time. Do not wait until the very last minute.

Participation in matching remains valid for a year. If you did not manage to graduate from secondary school or did not begin a bachelor’s programme in September after your matching activity for any other reason, you will not need to participate in matching for the same programme again the following year. However, you will have to participate in matching if you choose another bachelor’s programme. You may still receive an invitation for matching even if you apply to enrol in the same degree programme as the first time. If this is the case, get in touch with the Study Information Desk.

The rules for matching for the upcoming academic year can be found in the Regulations for enrolment and tuition fees 2024-2025 (pdf, 808 kB).

If you disagree with a decision (for example if you are informed that you do not meet the matching requirements), you can submit a notice of objection to the Executive Board of Utrecht University within six weeks of the date of the decision being sent. The e-mail containing the decision will also include instructions for how to submit an appeal. If you no longer have the decision, please contact the faculty student desk. See the summary of faculty student desks. The deadlines are as follows:

• If you have been rejected and are not covered by one of the exception categories, you have six weeks to submit an objection. You will receive a link to this form by e-mail.
• If you have been rejected and are covered by one of the exception categories, you must submit an exception request as soon as possible and no later than 1 August 2022. You will receive a link to this form by e-mail.

Please send evidence with your request.

Here are all the steps you need to have taken:

• You must have submitted an enrolment request in Studielink as soon as possible and no later than 1 May.
• You must have completed and submitted a matching form on time.
• You must be eligible for admission to the bachelor’s programme based on your prior education.
• You must have authorised Utrecht University to debit your tuition fee (further information on this will follow in May).

No, participation in matching is free of charge.

If you need access to certain IT services for reasons related to matching (e.g. Blackboard), you will receive a temporary account. We call this a ‘Sunrise account’. To use these IT services, you need to set up your Solis password and often your two-factor authentication as well. To do this, follow the instructions you received in the e-mail about your Solis-ID. Receiving a Solis-ID does not guarantee the status of your registration.

Your Sunrise account will be converted into a student account once you have registered. You will then have access to all IT facilities for students. If you do not enrol in a study programme, the Sunrise account will automatically expire.

More information

If you have any questions about your login details or IT services, please check out the IT facilities and IT manuals, or contact the IT Service Desk.

Information about your study programme and practical matters for students can be found at students.uu.nl.

If you have any questions about your enrolment at the university, please contact Student Services.