Admission and application

Entry requirements

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.

English language requirements

• IELTS, Academic Module:
  • Minimum score: 6.5 overall band, 5.5 for writing. 
• TOEFL, Internet based.
  Institutional scores are not accepted. The TOEFL institution code for Utrecht University is 9062.
  • Minimum score: 83 with 24 reading, 22 listening, 20 speaking, 17 writing
• Cambridge Certificates:
  • Cambridge English C1 Advanced (CAE). Minimum score: 176 total, 162 writing.
  • Cambridge English C2 Proficiency (CPE). Minimum score: 180 total, 162 writing.

Exceptions

You are considered to be proficient in English and do not need to provide a test score if:

• You obtained your secondary school diploma in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, UK, USA or South Africa,
  or
• You obtained an International Baccalaureate Diploma (with English A or B as final exam subject at either Standard or Higher Level) or European Baccalaureate Diploma (with English as Language 1 or 2)
  or
• You had English at the required level in one of the following diploma programmes:
  • Aruban VWO-Diploma (final exam subject);
  • Austrian Reifezeugnis (Prüfungsfach);
  • Belgian Getuigschrift Algemeen Secundair Onderwijs (up to and including the final year);
  • Curaçao VWO-Diploma (final exam subject);
  • Danish Bevis for Højere Hændelseksamen (HHX)/Bevis for Studentereksamen /Højere Forberedelseksamen (HF)/Højere Teknisk Examen (HTX) (up to and including the final year);
  • Finnish Ylioppilastutkintotodistus/Studenteksamensbevis/Matriculation Examination Certificate (final exam subject, Basic or Advanced Syllabus);
  • French Diplôme du Baccalauréat Général, Option Internationale du Baccalauréat (OIB) (Section américaine or Section britannique only);
  • German Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife (Abitur) (at least Grundkursfach);
  • Icelandic Studentprof of the Mentaskoli, with the Maladeild/Staerofraedideild profile (up to and including the final year);
  • Norwegian Vitnemål videregåonde opplaering (at least ENG1002. From 2022 onwards: at least ENG1007);
  • Surinamese VWO-Diploma (final exam subject);
  • Swedish Gymnasieexamen/Yrkesexamen (up to and including the final year);
  • Swiss Maturitätszeugnis/Diplôme de Maturité/Attestato di Maturitá (up to and including the final year).

When to apply?

We recommend that you apply as early as possible. Deadlines:

• non-EU students: the latest date by which we can receive and process your application is 1 April. This deadline also applies to non-EU students who currently hold a residence permit for study purposes at another Dutch institution.
• EU students: the latest date by which we can receive and process your application is 1 May.

Complete your application in time!

When applying online, you are asked to upload a number of documents. Please submit your application and all required documents well before the latest date of application. If you submit your documents shortly before the deadline, and it turns out that they are incomplete or do not meet our requirements, we will not be able to consider your application. 

It also takes time to prepare for any possible additional exams you may need to take, so the sooner you know, the better!

When can you expect a decision?

After you submit your application, the Admissions Office will check whether you have sent in all the documentation required and your application is indeed complete. If so, we will check whether your diploma is equivalent to a Dutch VWO diploma, and whether you meet the subject requirements. Within 3 weeks after we have received your complete application, you will receive the official admissions decision. 

Application procedure

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

1. Check whether you meet the entry requirements for this Bachelor’s programme.
2. Apply in a timely manner, preferably well before the deadline; see When to apply.
3. Read the application instructions.
4. Submit an enrolment application for this programme in Studielink.
5. You will receive an email with your login details for OSIRIS Online Application, where you can upload the required documents and pay the application fee, if applicable.
6. For applicants from China only: apply for a Nuffic Certificate.

Required documents

These are the forms and documents you must submit:

• 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

After your application

After you apply in Studielink, you will receive messages describing what else needs to happen to complete your registration. You should also monitor your spam folder.

Among other things, you will receive information about how to pay your tuition.