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. For applications submitted after 1 April we cannot guarantee you can start immigration and/or housing procedures in time.

The final deadline for all applicants is 1 May. After the 1 May deadline, admission is only possible in exceptional circumstances.

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

• submit an enrolment request in the Bachelor’s programme in Studielink at least one week before the deadline (read more about this in step 4 'Submit enrolment in Studielink'); 
• 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 (read more about this in step 7 'Submit application file').

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

Students applying for this Bachelor’s programme should hold a Dutch VWO diploma, a HBO propedeuse or a foreign diploma that is equivalent to one of these diplomas. If you apply with foreign credentials, mathematics and English should be included in your final examination or attended until the last year of your secondary education. To find out what specific entry requirements apply to your prior education, please consult the diploma calculator below.

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.

If you are unsure if your A-level subject will be accepted, check the list of A-level subjects. Here you will find an overview of accepted and non-accepted subjects.

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.

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 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 diploma in English;
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 Diplôme du Baccalauréat Général with the Option Internationale du Baccaluréat (OIB), Baccalauréat Francais Internationale (BFI), section 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 the 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 Examination Board will make the final decision after they have checked your details.

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 test must have been taken less than two years before the start date of the programme.
• 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. We cannot accept applications without English proficiency test results (if required).

Online test results verification

For a timely verification of your English proficiency test results make sure to include the following documents in your application file:

• IELTS test takers: Official test results certificate including the TRF number.
• TOEFL iBT test takers: Official test results certificate including the appointment number
• Cambridge C1 Advanced test takers: Official test results certificate including the reference number.

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. Applicants for the English-taught Bachelor's Media and Culture need to register in Studielink for Media and Culture or Media en cultuur. When asked, indicate that you want to follow the programme in English.

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.

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 application in Studielink, you will receive an email with your UvAnetID. Follow the instructions in the email to activate your ID, as you will need it to complete your UvA application and to register for UvA Matching. 

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, the UvA can 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 Student (UAF).
• If you are an EEA citizen, have or will obtain an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma and your programme is part of the pilot International Baccalaureate (IB).

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 transcript of grades as well as your predicted grades.
If your diploma and transcript are not in English, Dutch, French or German, please upload an official translation as well.

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

Visit this website for examples of a 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.

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.

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. 

If your request for eligibility was refused because your previous education does not meet the entrance requirements, you will receive an official message with the route and contact details to appeal. You will then have 6 weeks to object to this decision, in writing. 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.

Once 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.

If you are participating in the IB pilot and have applied for a non-selective programme, you do not need to confirm your participation.

If you are 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 place in the meantime. It will allow you to continue with other procedures while you wait for the administrative processes to be completed. Completing the form is a very important step, as other enrolment procedures, such as visa or housing applications, are triggered by your confirmation.

Your admission is conditional upon a number of factors, such as meeting all our enrolment requirements with any remaining grades, submitting your certified documents, and paying the tuition fee. We also recommend that you have a back-up plan or alternative education options in case you do not end up meeting all your enrolment requirements.

Please note that you can cancel your place in the programme free of charge until 1 September through Studielink.

From mid-July you will receive information about registering for first-semester courses and the introduction activities of the programme. This information will be sent to the email address you have registered in Studielink.

Participating in UvA Matching is a mandatory part of your enrolment in a Bachelor's programme at the UvA. You will become acquainted with the programme and will have the opportunity to check whether the programme is the right fit for you. UvA Matching will take place online from 13 January until 13 June 2025. You can do the Matching activities at a moment of your choice within this period.

Register for UvA Matching via SIS: before 27 May 2025

You can register for UvA Matching once you have been (conditionally) accepted to the programme. When you have activated your UvAnetID, you will gain access to SIS, where you can see UvA Matching in the Enrolment Checklist. You can register for Matching by using the SIS Planner (available from 9 December 2024).

Please register as soon as possible for UvA Matching. It is not possible to register after 27 May. If you do not register for UvA Matching before 27 May, you will be deregistered and you cannot start your programme.

Participate in UvA Matching: before 13 June 2025

Approximately one day after you have enrolled via SIS, you will have access to the Canvas page for UvA Matching of your programme. Canvas is UvA’s virtual learning environment. On the Canvas page you will find all further information and via the Canvas page you can participate in UvA Matching and complete it.

Important: Students who have not participated in UvA Matching by 13 June will be deregistered and cannot start their programme.

Once you have been conditionally admitted, you will need to send in certified copies of your diploma and final transcript of grades by postal mail before 31 August. The English language proficiency test certificate (if required) can be uploaded to your application file.

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

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.

You will need to pay the tuition fees in order to complete your enrolment for a degree programme at the UvA.

A student ID card is a personal card which serves as proof of identity for examinations or borrowing library books. You will receive instructions on how to request your student ID card.

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.

Information for current UvA students

Current UvA students who would like to switch to another Bachelor's programme must follow the same application procedure (and meet the same entry requirements) as new students.

• If you plan to switch programmes make sure to apply before 1 August.
• 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 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 obtained negative binding study advice, 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.