Deadlines

To leave enough time for immigration and housing procedures we have set different advisory deadlines for specific groups of applicants. 

The deadlines for completing your application to start your degree in September:

Applicants for other Bachelor's programmes
 

• The advisory deadline for all students with international prior education is 1 April.
• If you require a visa and/or housing through the UvA, we strongly urge you to apply before 1 April. If you submit your application after 1 April, we cannot guarantee that you can start immigration and/or housing procedures in time.

The final deadline for all applicants is 1 May. 

After the 1 May deadline, application is only possible in exceptional circumstances.

In order for your application to be processed for admission, you must:

• submit an enrolment request for the Bachelor’s programme in Studielink at least one week before the deadline;
• submit a complete application file via our online application system for your Bachelor’s programme of choice before the date stated in your invitation for application.

Please note: the application deadlines for scholarships may vary and could be earlier than our application deadline.

Required documents (see step 8 for more information)

• Diploma(s) and transcript(s) of grades for secondary and, if applicable, higher education
• English language proficiency test certificate (if required)
• Curriculum vitae / resume

Two of our Bachelor’s programmes apply selection procedures due to their small-scale and intensive approach. You can find more information about the selection procedure and application deadlines on the programme webpages.

Programmes with fixed quotas (Numerus Fixus)

The UvA offers two programmes with limited places and an enrolment quota. Because they can only accommodate a fixed number of students, these programmes carry out a selection process to determine which students can be admitted.

The application deadline for these programmes is 15 January. More information about the entry requirements and application process can be found on the programme webpages.

How does ‘admission with a fixed quota’ work?

Registration and selection

You will need to apply for these programmes through Studielink, the central registration system for Dutch universities. Application is open from 1 October until 15 January.

If the number of students who apply for a programme exceeds the number of available places, a selection procedure will take place between 15 January and 15 April.

Applicants participating in the selection procedure will be assigned a ranking number by Studielink on 15 April based on their results. Depending on your ranking number and the number of places available, you may or may not be offered a place in the programme.

Places offered

If you are offered a place, you will have to confirm your participation in the programme via Studielink within two weeks. If you don’t confirm your participation within two weeks, your place will automatically be assigned to another student.

If you are not offered a place immediately, there is still a chance that you will be offered a place later, if one or more selected students do not accept their place. These places will then become available for the next student in line.

Students applying for one of our Bachelor’s programmes should hold a Dutch VWO diploma, a Dutch HBO propaedeuse or an international diploma that is equivalent to one of these diplomas. The starting level of a regular study programme at Dutch universities is comparable to that of other Western European countries, but it is generally higher than in most countries outside Western Europe.

To find out what specific entry requirements apply to your foreign prior education, please consult the diploma calculator below. If your prior education is not listed in the diploma calculator you can still apply. The Admissions Office will assess your documents on an individual basis. Please make sure to upload all the required documents when submitting the application form.

The information in our diploma calculator was compiled with the greatest care. However, no rights may be derived from this information.

► To the diploma calculator

For applicants with GCE A levels: please check the list of GCE A level subjects. In this list you will find an overview of accepted and non-accepted subjects by the University of Amsterdam.

Students must be able to read textbooks, understand lectures, take part in classroom discussions and produce written work in English. Applicants are therefore required to submit proof of sufficient proficiency in English (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): level C1).

Proof of sufficient English language proficiency

The requirement for sufficient English language proficiency can be met in the following ways:

1.      By completing fully English-taught secondary education in Australia, Canada (with the exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States of America;
2.      By obtaining an International Baccalaureate DP diploma with English as an IB exam subject
3.      By obtaining a European Baccalaureate diploma, with the subject English as first or second language (minimum final score result: 6);
4.      By obtaining a French BFI or OIB diploma, section Anglais (Britannique/Américaine);
5.      By submitting a valid English language proficiency test certificate. Please see below for the approved tests and minimum scores.

If your diploma is not mentioned above, please consult the diploma calculator to see if your prior education exempts you from taking an English language proficiency test.

Exemptions on an individual basis are possible. If you think you are entitled to exemption to the rules mentioned above, please enter your prior education in detail in the application form. The Central Admissions Office will make a final decision after checking your documentation.

UvA approved English language proficiency tests and minimum test scores

Other test versions or modules are not accepted. Examples of these include but are not limited to: IELTS Indicator, IELTS One Skill Retake, IELTS Online, TOEFL Home Edition, TOEFL MyBestScores.

Please note:

• The PPLE programme and Liberal Arts and Sciences programme have their own English language proficiency requirements. Please consult the programme website.
• The test must have been taken less than two years before the start date of the Bachelor’s programme. Test results obtained prior to 1 September 2023 will not be accepted. 
• Take enough time to prepare for the test.

Deadline
The deadline for providing the UvA with an English language test certificate with sufficient scores for non-selective Bachelor's programmes is: 1 April for non-EU/EEA applicants, and 1 May for EU-EEA applicants. Make sure to book your test at least one month before the deadline, but the earlier the better. We cannot accept applications without English proficiency test results (if required).

The first step in the application process, is submitting an enrolment request in Studielink. Studielink is the national online registration system for students who wish to pursue a degree programme at a Dutch university. 

Activate your DigiD (before starting in Studielink)

DigiD (Digital Identification) is an online ID system that works with a username and password. It provides access to government administration websites.

• Students who do not live in The Netherlands can use Studielink without DigiD. You need a digital copy of your passport or ID personal data page in order to create your Studielink account. Copies of expired documents are accepted when creating your account.
• Students who currently live in The Netherlands will need DigiD to use Studielink. Make sure you have a working DigiD in time. Check if you still remember your password or apply for a new one well in advance of the application deadline for your programme.
   

Degree programmes with a different name in Studielink

A few programmes can be found under a different name in Studielink:

For more information on how to submit an enrolment request in Studielink visit:  https://help.studielink.nl/en/

Submit enrolment request in Studielink

Please submit an enrolment request in Studielink at least 1 week before the application deadline. Make sure to enter your previous education in Studielink correctly.

After submitting your enrolment request in Studielink, you will receive an email with your UvAnetID (username and password). Follow the instructions in the email to activate your UvAnetID immediately, for you will need it to complete your application.

Please note: after submitting your enrolment request in Studielink, it may take up to 48 hours before you receive your UvAnetID, so make sure to register in Studielink at least 1 week before the application deadline.

All students applying for a Bachelor’s degree programme with an international diploma are required to pay a non-refundable €100 application fee.

Only after you have paid this fee can the UvA start to process your application (please note it can take up to 24 hours before you can continue).

You don't have to pay the application fee:

• If you have already applied for (and paid the application fee for) another Bachelor’s programme at the UvA for the academic year 2025-2026;
• If you are an exchange student;
• If you are applying through the Foundation for Refugee Students (UAF);
• If you are an EEA citizen, have or will obtain an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma and your programme is part of the IB pilot.

Paying the application fee

You can pay the application fee of €100 by credit card (Mastercard, Visacard), GooglePay, ApplePay, Bancontact or iDEAL. You will be asked to pay the fee after completing your application form. Submitting your form without paying the application fee is not possible.

After registering in Studielink, you will receive an email from the University of Amsterdam with an invitation to our online application system. This may take up to 48 hours. Here you will submit your application for the programme of your choice.

As part of the online application, we will ask you to upload the following documents:

• Diploma(s) and transcript(s) of grades for secondary and, if applicable, higher education.

If you have not yet obtained your diploma, please upload your most recent official transcript of grades as well as an official statement from your school confirming your final exam subjects and predicted final (exam) grades.

If your documents are not in English, Dutch, French or German, please upload an official translation of all documents as well.

• English language proficiency test certificate (if required)
• Curriculum vitae / resume

If you have applied for multiple programmes, make sure to upload all required documents in every individual application file.
If you cannot complete your application at once, you can save it and log in later to make any changes until you are ready to submit your application. Please note that you need to submit your application before the date stated in your invitation.

Pilot International Baccalaureate

The UvA is currently running a pilot for EU/EEA nationals who have or will obtain an IB diploma (as indicated in Studielink). If you are applying for an English-taught programme at the Faculty of Humanities or at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences  and have or will obtain an IB diploma, you no longer need to submit an application file or resume. You only need to submit the digital results of your IB diploma. Read more about the pilot at www.uva.nl/IBpilot.

The Admissions Office will only review complete applications. Once your application has been reviewed, you will receive an email with the admission decision.

Bachelor’s programmes (non-selective)

Applications to non-selective programmes are processed using the rolling admissions policy: if you apply early, your application file will be processed early. If your qualifications are included in our diploma calculator, you can expect your admission decision within one to two weeks. Full review and verification of qualifications not on this list may take up to eight weeks.

Bachelor’s programmes (selective)

Students applying for a selective programme can check the webpage of their programme for notification dates.

Scholarship application

If you need early confirmation of admission for scholarship purposes, please contact us well in advance of your scholarship deadline. Timely handling will always be aimed for, but cannot be guaranteed. 

Our Rules & Regulations are based upon the European Standard Guidelines: 

The Lisbon Recognition Convention;
The Dutch law in Higher Education; 
The Code of Conduct for international students; 
Students Charter and Enrolment Provisions of the University of Amsterdam.

If you have been conditionally admitted, you will receive an invitation by email to confirm your place in the programme. You will automatically receive a link to confirm your participation unless you have applied for a programme with a fixed quota (Numerus Fixus). In that case, if you are offered a place, you will have to confirm your participation via Studielink within two weeks.

If you are participating in the IB pilot and have applied for a programme with a fixed quota, you do not need to confirm your participation.

If you are still waiting for additional administrative procedures that will affect your decision to confirm your participation in the programme (for instance, waiting for a scholarship decision), please confirm your participation in the meantime. It will allow you to continue with other enrolment procedures, such as visa or housing applications. Please note that confirming your participation is not binding you to start the programme. You can still cancel your enrolment free of charge until 1 September through Studielink.

UvA Matching for international students is an introduction to the Bachelor’s programme to which you are applying. It helps you determine whether the Bachelor’s programme of your choice is the right fit for you. UvA Matching is a mandatory part of the application procedure for all prospective Bachelor’s students who have completed their prior education at a non-Dutch educational institution. This also includes prospective students applying with an International Baccalaureate DP diploma obtained in The Netherlands.

Once you have been conditionally admitted, you will need to send in certified hard copies of your diploma and final transcript of grades by postal mail before 31 August (please note that the deadline for the PPLE and the Liberal Arts and Sciences programmes may differ). The English language proficiency test certificate (if required) can be uploaded digitally in your application file.

A certified copy is a photocopy of the original document with an original wet ink stamp and signature from your school/university representative or from a notary. The stamp and signature declare the content of the photocopy to be identical to the original document. Certified documents that are not written in Dutch, English, German or French, must be accompanied by an official translation made by a sworn translator.

Your conditional offer will specify which documents to send in and state the deadline for submission. Certified documents can be sent to the following address:

Admissions Office, Central Student Administration
University of Amsterdam
Hogehilweg 21
1101 CB Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Depending on where you live, it may take a while before the UvA receives your documents. Please use registered mail and do not send in your original documents. Once the certified documents have been processed for application, they cannot be returned.

Digital credential verification

In certain cases, your results can be verified digitally or can be sent directly from the exam board to the University of Amsterdam. For more information please visit uva.nl/onlineverification.

If you are an international student, you will need to arrange a variety of practical matters before starting your studies.

Visa, residence permit, insurance

The first step is to determine whether you will need a visa and/or residence permit. Then you need to arrange your insurance.

Housing

The UvA does not offer student housing on our campuses. We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the housing market in the Netherlands before you choose your study programme.  It can be difficult to find available housing in Amsterdam, so you will need to start looking for yourself as soon as possible via Dutch student housing websites. For international students, the UvA has limited number of rooms available throughout Amsterdam, which you can apply for via UvA Housing. Please note there are not enough rooms available via UvA Housing to accommodate all international students. As placement for UvA Housing is not guaranteed, we advise you to start your orientation for housing options early and to always explore the private housing market as well.

Upon arrival

To get a head start on your preparations, you can also check our webpage on matters you will need to arrange upon arrival, such as registering with the municipality of the city you will move to and opening a bank account.

All students are required to pay the tuition fee in order to complete their enrolment at the University of Amsterdam.

Under Tuition fees you can find more information about the various payment options.

In the week before the start of the academic year, most programmes organise a compulsory introduction day. You will receive more detailed information about the programme introduction day in the summer. Check our website for more information on the introduction process of your programme.

A student ID card is a personal card which serves as proof of identity for examinations. You can also use it for borrowing library books. You can request your student ID card one month before the start of your programme.

Refugees who wish to study at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) must follow the same application procedure and meet the same entry requirements as prospective UvA students with a non EEA/EU nationality. Looking for more information? Visit our webpage for refugee applicants.

Information for current UvA students

Current UvA students who would like to switch to another Bachelor's programme must  meet the same entry requirements as new students.

• If you plan to switch programmes, make sure to apply before 1 August or earlier and before the programme's application deadline if and when selection/numerus fixus applies.

• Start the application process in Studielink. If you attended secondary school abroad, include this in Studielink. The admission decision will be based on your secondary education rather than your current degree programme.
• If you hold a residence permit and did not obtain 30 ECTS, you cannot switch programmes, unless there are severe personal circumstances that would give you an exemption of the 30 ECTS. Visit the Visas and permits webpage for more information. Please make an appointment with the student counsellor for assistance as soon as possible.
• If you have received negative Binding Study Advice (BSA), please inform the student counsellor about the outcome of your appeal in regard to your residence permit.
   

Information for students from different Dutch universities

If you are registered at a different Dutch university and you would like to switch to a programme at the UvA, you need to submit your enrolment request in Studielink before 1 July in order to give the Admissions Office enough time to check your credentials. Please note that you will have to meet the entry requirements for your programme of choice.

Note to non-EU/EEA students:

You always need to comply with the requirements of your student residence permit and visa, also when you would like to switch programmes. You need to obtain 50% of the ECTS of your study programme each year, in order to be able to stay in The Netherlands. Furthermore there can be other restrictions on switching programmes due to your visa and Binding Study Advice (BSA). Please always contact the student counsellor about your options.

If you have questions about the application and admissions process, or about studying at the UvA, you can contact our Central Student Service Desk.