The Netherlands, with its scenic landscapes, is an excellent option for students who want to pursue their studies in a calm and welcoming environment. Beyond the environment, the country’s international outlook and central location in Europe can offer many educational, cultural, and career opportunities for students, including after graduation.
Dutch higher education includes research universities and universities of applied sciences, and institutions can be government-funded, approved, or private. The Netherlands also offers a wide range of English-taught programs, so international students can often find a suitable degree program even if they are not fluent in Dutch.
This article will cover the necessary documents, language exams, and application procedures if you plan to apply for a bachelor’s degree in the Netherlands. Specific university requirements and procedures will also be given as examples. Let’s take a look at the details of applying for a bachelor’s degree in the Netherlands!
Bachelor’s Degree Admission Requirements
One of the most crucial steps in college applications is gathering requirements. These are some of the main requirements to apply for a bachelor’s degree in the Netherlands. Required documents vary by university and program, but they often include a copy of your passport or ID; diploma or proof of expected graduation; academic transcripts; proof of language proficiency; curriculum vitae or resume if required; letter of motivation if required; and a letter of reference if required.
Specific programs may require your documents to be in a particular language. Many Dutch universities accept key documents in English, Dutch, French, or German, while some institutions may accept additional languages for certain documents, such as Spanish for Utrecht University qualification documents. If your documents are not in one of the accepted languages, you may need to submit official or certified translations.
Those without a diploma yet may submit official proof that they are expected to graduate before the start of the program. This is usually a formal statement from the secondary education institution, often together with the most recent transcript of grades.
Language Proficiency Tests Needed for Undergraduate Studies
Dutch universities may ask you to present proof of language proficiency in English or Dutch. This is a major requirement for applicants who wish to obtain a bachelor’s degree in the Netherlands.
For Utrecht University, the accepted English tests for EMI-ready bachelor’s programs include IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, and Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency. For EMI-ready programs, the minimum IELTS Academic score is 6.0 overall, with minimum subscores of 5.5 in speaking, 6.0 in listening, 6.0 in reading, and 5.5 in writing. TOEFL iBT, including Home Edition, requires an overall score of 83. During the transition to the TOEFL 1–6 component-score scale, Utrecht University requires a minimum subscore of 4.5 where the new scale is reported. Cambridge C1 Advanced requires 169 overall, and Cambridge C2 Proficiency requires 180 overall, with component requirements. IELTS Online and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted. You may be exempted from submitting test scores if you hold an eligible IB, European Baccalaureate, or Baccalauréat Français International diploma, or if you completed qualifying secondary or English-taught higher education in an approved English-speaking country.
The University of Amsterdam requires bachelor’s applicants to show sufficient English proficiency. You may meet this requirement through eligible fully English-taught secondary education, an International Baccalaureate diploma with English as an exam subject, a European Baccalaureate diploma with English as a first or second language and a minimum final score of 6, a French BFI or OIB diploma in the English section, or an approved English test. The general UvA minimum scores are IELTS Academic 6.5 with each subscore at least 6, TOEFL iBT 92 with each subscore at least 22 for tests on the 0–120 scale, TOEFL iBT 4.5 overall on the 1–6 scale with the required component scores, or Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180. IELTS Indicator, IELTS One Skill Retake, IELTS Online, TOEFL Home Edition, and TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted. PPLE and Liberal Arts and Sciences have their own English-language requirements, so applicants should check the program page.
The University of Groningen accepts several English-language tests, but the accepted tests and required scores vary by faculty and program. Accepted tests can include IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge English, LanguageCert Academic, and Pearson PTE Academic. For example, some faculties require IELTS 6.0 overall, while others require 6.5 or 7.0 overall with specific subscore requirements. Applicants should check the language requirements for their chosen faculty and program before applying.
Leiden University requires English proficiency for English-taught bachelor’s programs and Dutch proficiency, and in most cases English proficiency, for Dutch-taught bachelor’s programs. For English proficiency, Leiden accepts IELTS Academic on paper or on computer, TOEFL iBT, and Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency. English test results generally may not be more than two years old and must be obtained in one test session. Minimum scores depend on the program; for example, some English-taught bachelor’s programs require IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with 6.0 in each component, TOEFL iBT 80 overall with 20 in each component, or Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with at least 169 for each component. IELTS Academic Online, IELTS One Skill Retake, TOEFL MyBest, TOEFL Essentials, and TOEFL ITP are not accepted, and TOEFL iBT Home Edition is accepted only in limited circumstances where in-person testing is inaccessible or unsafe. For Dutch proficiency, applicants should check the relevant program description and Leiden University’s language requirements, as accepted Dutch tests and exemptions can depend on the program.
Bachelor’s Degree Application Process
Universities may have unique phases in their application procedure, but you can use this general scheme:
Step 1. Review Program Requirements and Deadlines
Universities may outline general requirements, but programs may also ask you to comply with specific conditions or documents to apply. Some may also have language proficiencies you need to meet. Thus, you must decide on the programs you would like to pursue and review their requirements individually.
The College of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Utrecht University requires applicants to have a diploma equivalent to the Dutch VWO level, with Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry as required subjects. For instance, applicants from the USA must have a completed high school diploma and at least four College Board Advanced Placement exams, each with a score of 3 or higher. These must include AP Calculus AB, AP Physics 1, and AP Chemistry.
Meanwhile, the University of Amsterdam has selective bachelor’s programs and programs with fixed quotas. Its selective programs include Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (PPLE) and Liberal Arts and Sciences at Amsterdam University College. Its English-taught fixed-quota programs include Business Administration, Economics and Business Economics, and Psychology. Fixed-quota programs have a 15 January deadline, while PPLE and Liberal Arts and Sciences have a 1 February deadline for the September intake. For other bachelor’s programs, UvA advises applicants with international prior education to apply by 1 April, while the final deadline is 1 May.
Fixed-quota and selective programs from the University of Groningen may also have additional selection procedures. These procedures vary by program. For example, some programs use fixed quotas and program-specific selection activities, while others assess a motivation video, motivation letter, CV, or other program-specific materials.
It is also essential to remember the deadlines per university and program. In the Netherlands, the general Studielink deadline is usually 1 May for regular bachelor’s programs and 15 January for numerus fixus programs, but universities and specific programs may set earlier deadlines, especially for international students, selective programs, housing, visa procedures, or scholarships. In Studielink, you can generally apply for a maximum of four programs per academic year, including up to two numerus fixus programs.
Step 2. Prepare the Necessary Documents
Collect all the documents needed by your program.
Chinese students applying to Utrecht University no longer need a Nuffic Certificate for a Dutch MVV visa. However, mainland Chinese students should still follow Utrecht University’s specific visa and residence permit instructions, including the required OSIRIS application steps, proof of financial means, payment of the residence permit fee, and any deadlines that apply to the September or February intake.
Several faculties of the University of Groningen ask applicants to submit official curriculum outlines or course descriptions for relevant subjects they have completed or will complete. Course descriptions must be provided in English or Dutch to be considered in the application procedure. This requirement may be waived if certain qualifications have already been assessed by the Admissions Board, but applicants should check the requirements for their faculty and program.
Step 3. Apply for Studielink
Studielink is the official registration and application portal for most programs at Dutch higher education institutions. Some universities, like Utrecht University and the University of Amsterdam, may ask you to register for your program through Studielink but submit documents and pay any required application fee through a separate university application system.
When creating a Studielink account, the personal information you enter must match the information on your identification documents. Students who live in the Netherlands usually need DigiD, while students who do not live in the Netherlands can generally use Studielink without DigiD. You may have to provide your educational background and the programs you are applying for.
After submitting your enrollment request, you may receive an email from the university with login details, a student number, or instructions for the institution’s online application system. Keep this information carefully because it will be important during your correspondence with Dutch institutions.
Step 4. Submit Documents and Pay Fees
Submission of documents and payment of fees are often made through a separate online application system from the university itself. You may receive an invitation email from the institution after registering in Studielink. Some universities charge an application fee for applicants with an international or non-Dutch diploma. For example, the University of Amsterdam currently charges a €100 application fee for bachelor’s applicants who are required to pay it, and the University of Groningen charges a non-refundable €100 application fee for applicants with a non-Dutch diploma. Check the fee rules and exemptions for your chosen institution.
Step 5. Await Decision
After submission, the university will evaluate your application. You may check the university’s online application portal or official emails for application results. If your application is approved, you can consult the institution for admission and enrollment procedures. Then, it is time to prepare for studying in the Netherlands!
We hope that this article on studying bachelor’s in the Netherlands was helpful. Feel free to check out the Available Programs in Europe for International Students and the Netherlands Page to learn more about studying in Europe.
