Admission requirements

Unlike a big part of the world, universities in the Netherlands generally accept anyone meeting the generic admission requirements. Only a few programs are selective (“numerus fixus”).

The admission requirements are always listed on the program page. Please check this first. 

Generally, a high school diploma (secondary education) is required. The final exam results may be open; you can still apply and will receive conditional acceptance.

Eligible high school diploma? What’s that in my country?

Check out this website and select the country that issued your high school diploma to see if it is enough to get into a Dutch university: https://www.nuffic.nl/en/subjects/diploma/education-systems 

When selecting “Level of diplomas”, look for the “comparable to” part for “a HAVO diploma” for admission to HBO and “a VWO diploma” for WO (difference).

Please also take a look at the individual program requirements, you may need specific A-levels / AP classes / … to be admitted.

Language requirements

For English-taught programs, you must prove you can speak English on a specific level. Please check your university’s language requirements. Often (not always), this can be done through the following ways:

• You have obtained a secondary education diploma from this list: https://wp.internationalstudy.nl/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Diploma-list-_ENG_.pdf 
• Academic IELTS with a minimum overall score of 6.0** (with an advised minimum of 5.0 for each skill). We do not accept the online version of the Academic IELTS results.
• TOEFL iBT with a minimum score of 80 We accept the following TOEFL iBT tests:  
• TOEFL iBT Traditional
• TOEFL iBT Paper Edition
• Cambridge ESOL score FCE-C (169, or higher).
• TOEIC score 670 (Listening and Reading) and 290 (Speaking and Writing). 
• You hold citizenship or have a diploma from a country where English is the official language like the USA, UK, Canada, or Australia. This is not applicable to all universities. 

Do you want to study in Dutch? You must have a Dutch HAVO/VWO diploma (completed high school in The Netherlands) or have taken an NT2 exam. If you have a foreign high school diploma with Dutch as an examined language, you may also be admitted. Please take a look at the individual university’s language requirements or contact the admissions office for more information. 

Not eligible for WO?

If you can get into HBO, you will receive a propaedeutic diploma after achieving the first 60 ECTS of your program (you have completed the first year). With this diploma, you are generally eligible to apply for a WO program where you will start your next “first” year. Click here to learn more about the difference between WO and HBO.

Not eligible at all? / 21+ test

Unfortunately, this will be much harder for you. Consider studying in another country with lower entrance requirements or attempt to get the required diploma in your home country.

Alternatively, some universities offer a 21+ test. If you are at least 21 years old, you can take this exam and be admitted to an HBO program. 

These tests differ from institution. Here is an example for more information: https://www.internationalhu.com/21-plus-admission-test