Please carefully read all of the information below before you submit your enrolment request in Studielink.

• You are advised to start the application procedure three to six months prior to the programme’s deadline because obtaining the necessary documents can require a lot of time.
• Be aware that learning Dutch may take up to a full academic year for complete beginners.
• Please note: to apply to an English-taught programme, you will need to follow the application procedure for English-taught programmes.

• Before you submit your enrolment request in Studielink for a degree programme, you should check whether your diploma meets the entry requirements for a Bachelor’s programme at the University of Amsterdam.
• Consult the list of approved qualifications per country.

• For many degree programmes, additional entry requirements may apply, such as a mathematics test or prerequisite courses.
• To find out about these additional requirements, select your degree programme and read about the requirements listed under Step 2 on the page ‘Toelating en inschrijving’.

Selection procedures

Some programmes, with a limited number of places available, may have their own selection procedures. Find out more about fixed quotas and selection procedures.

If you are not a native English speaker, you will need to demonstrate your English language proficiency in order to be eligible for our English-taught programmes. Similarly, for Dutch-taught programmes, you will need to demonstrate sufficient proficiency in Dutch. If and when a substantial amount of the reading materials of a Dutch-taught programmes will be in English, you will also need to demonstrate sufficient proficiency in English. Non-native speakers of English are required to submit the following score(s).

Please note: tests must have been taken less than two years before the start date of the programme. Test results obtained prior to 1 September 2021 will not be accepted.

Minimum test scores

Exemptions

The following applicants are exempted from the English test:

• Dutch VWO diploma holders;
• Dutch four-year HBO degree certificate holders;
• Applicants with previous education from the countries on this list
• Those who have obtained their diploma in Australia, Canada (with the exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States of America
• Applicants that have or will obtain a French Diplôme du Baccalauréat Général with the Option Internationale du Baccaluréat (OIB), section britannique/américaine     
• Applicants that have or will obtain an International Baccalaureate
• Applicants that have or will obtain a European Baccalaureate with English as first or second language (minimum result: 6)

Applicants with a Dutch HBO-propaedeutic diploma can check their eligibility on this web page.

Please note that the entry requirements for Selective programmes may vary. Visit the programme page for more information.

Taking your English language test

• Take enough time to prepare for the test.
• Remember to take the test before the application deadline.
• The advisory deadline for all students with international prior education is 1 April. The final deadline for all applicants is 1 May. Make sure to book your test at least one month before the deadline. We cannot accept applications without English proficiency test results (if required).
• If your score is insufficient, you can do a resit before the application deadline. However, you cannot be admitted to a programme if your test scores do not meet our requirements.

Test centres

• TOEFL (the code for sending your score report in online is 9011, University of Amsterdam)
• IELTS
• Cambridge

Dutch language proficiency

Prospective students must demonstrate their Dutch language proficiency in order to start a Dutch-taught programme. You can choose to prepare for the NT2 Programme II Dutch language proficiency exam in your own country. For more information about Dutch language courses read further below.

The following documents are accepted as proof of sufficient command of the Dutch language, and therefore exempt you from taking the language proficiency NT2 examination:

• Belgium: Flemish Community: Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs
• Germany: Abitur with Niederländisch as Prüfungsfach or Leistungsfach, University Zwischenprüfung Niederländisch
• Suriname: VWO diploma from Suriname, Propedeuse diploma (Anton de Kom Universiteit)
• Dutch professional education: MBO or HBO diploma
• Dutch primary and secondary education: primary school and three years in secondary school in the Netherlands with at least a grade of 6 on the final transcript
• Certificate Dutch as a Foreign Language (CNaVT): Profiel Academische Taalvaardigheid (PAT) or Educatief Professioneel (EDUP) C1-niveau or Profiel Taalvaardigheid Hoger Onderwijs (PTHO) or Educatief Startbekwaam (STRT) B2-niveau.
• The Netherlands Antilles and Aruba: VWO diploma or any diploma from a Dutch institute of higher education
• United Kingdom: British General Certificate of Education (GCE) with an advanced level (A level) in Dutch, International GCE with an A level in First Language Dutch
• Other diplomas: European Baccalaureate with Dutch as first or second language, International Baccalaureate with Dutch A at Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL), International Baccalaureate with Dutch B at Higher Level (HL), Certificate of exemption given by the director of the Institute for Dutch Language Education (INTT) of the University of Amsterdam
• ITNA certificaat

If you do not possess any of the documents above, then you are required to take the Dutch as Second Language (NT2-II) state examination.

Dutch language courses

Dutch language courses are offered at the Institute for Dutch Language Education (INTT) of the UvA. Students will be admitted to these courses only if the evaluation of their diploma or diplomas shows that preparatory education is sufficient for admission to the university.

Institute for Dutch Language Education (INTT)

Duration of the course

The course is offered four times a year. If you are an absolute beginner, it is recommended that you start the Dutch language course in September. It will take you approximately one year before you have a sufficient command of the Dutch language to pass the required state examination 'Dutch as a second language, programme II' (NT2-II). 

• There is a special summer course for German students. Experience has shown that most German students are able to learn Dutch within two months. The INTT summer course is a six-week course. Approximately 75 per cent of students pass the state examination after this course.

HBO students

Students who have completed an English-language professional education (HBO) propedeuse (first-year diploma) or HBO degree programme can take an intensive Dutch language course at the Institute for Dutch Language Education (INTT) of the UvA in order to prepare for the NT2-II exam. 

Proof of Dutch language proficiency :

• Certificate Dutch as a Foreign Language (CNaVT):  Profiel Academische Taalvaardigheid (PAT), Educatief Professioneel (EDUP) C1-niveau, Profiel Taalvaardigheid Hoger Onderwijs (PTHO) or Educatief Startbekwaam (STRT) B2-niveau.  
• ITNA certificaat, B2 (Inter Universitaire Taaltest voor Anderstaligen).

Preparing abroad

To find information about preparing for the NT2-II Dutch language proficiency exam in your own country, please visit the Study in Holland website.

If you want to apply, please follow the full step-by-step guide on the application web page for Bachelor’s programmes.