Netherlands: Entry requirements and admission process

Entry Requirements

In The Netherlands, each university has its own entrance requirements and will assess you on an individual basis. It’s important for students to look for the entrance requirements and fully understand them before they apply.  

Some typical requirements:

• High School Transcript/ Diploma/ IB: Dutch universities will generally accept international diplomas. For particular subjects, these requirements may be more stringent than for others, or may have subject-related requirements. 

• Language Tests: You will need to prove your proficiency in English or Dutch (depending on the language your university operates in. If you’ve had English as your medium of instruction at high school, you can sometimes apply for a waiver, which would mean you don’t need to take this test - it is important to check with the colleges/universities you are applying to (for admission purposes and for student visa purposes).

Deficiencies

Bachelor's degree programmes can request programme-specific education requirements. These requirements concern subjects at the Dutch pre-university school-leaving examination level (VWO) or an equivalent level. 

When you do not meet the subject requirements for the degree programme, your previous education has deficiencies. Some universities might allow you to eliminate these deficiencies by passing the relevant subject tests at VWO pre-university school-leaving examination level. 

Only students who have met the conditions before the deadline can participate in the programme at the start of the academic year.

Please note: you have to find out with each university if you are eligible for these exams and how you can participate. Which exams (and exam sessions) are required/accepted will depend on the programme and the university you are interested in. Research is required.

Admission Process

Overview

You will need plenty of time to research universities and courses to find the best fit for you. You’ll also want to start the process early because applying early increases your chances of being admitted.  

You can apply for up to four courses at a time.

Non-selective and selective programs

Application Deadlines

Deadlines Applications typically open in October for the next year. Deadlines vary depending on the type of university. It is highly advisable to check directly with the university. 

Note: for courses with Numerus Fixus (see below for details), the deadline is likely to be earlier (i.e. mid January). 

Typically, University Colleges require students to apply by the January deadlines (but these also vary - some can be as early as beginning of December), and invite students to interview in February. 

Numerus Fixus (NF)

What does Numerus Fixus mean? Literally, it means fixed number (from the Latin), and it relates to there being a limited number of spots available on a given course or program, so not everyone who applies will get in. 

First check with your institution: You need to check with your institution whether the programme of your choice has a numerus fixus. They can also tell you whether you can submit an application through Studielink (if so, once you register through Studielink, and the university has been notified of your application, you will be sent further details of the next steps you need to take, assuming you meet the minimum entry requirements. The next step might involve the submission of a motivation letter and a CV, as well as any specific application form for your chosen course. Please reach out to universities to find out for specific details). Some institutions may want to do their own review first.

General timeline for Numerus Fixus courses (for international students): 

15 January application deadline: If you have to apply via Studielink, make sure you do so before 15 January 23:59 hours (CET). Please check the page about the Studielink application for more information.

Max two applications: For each academic year you can submit an application for a maximum of two numerus fixus programmes. The institution decides how many times you can participate in the selection of a specific programme. 

Medicine, Dentistry, Dental hygiene and Physiotherapy programmes are an exception; for these programmes you can only submit one application per programme per academic year. For example; you can’t apply for Medicine at two different universities, but you are allowed to apply for Medicine and Dentistry.

Selection based on ranking number: If the number of students who apply exceeds the number of available places, a selection will take place between 15 January and 15 April. The education institution decides what the selection will look like and will provide you with further information.

Applicants in the selection procedure will receive a ranking number via Studielink on 15 April. This number is determined by the institution, based on their selection criteria. Depending on your ranking number and the number of places available, you may or may not be offered a place.

Places offered: If you are offered a place, you have to accept this place via Studielink within two weeks. If you don’t accept the place within two weeks, your place will be assigned to another student automatically.

If you are not offered a place, there is still a small chance that one or more selected students do not accept their place. These places become available for the next student in line. For example, if there are 100 places available and one of the 100 selected student doesn’t accept, their place will be offered to the person with ranking number 101.

Does it apply to all courses in Dutch universities? No. Numerus Fixus is in place for courses that are extremely popular. It’s there to help everyone by ensuring all applicants have a fair and equal chance of being selected. 

What subjects typically have Numerus Fixus applied to them? Most of the courses taught in English are not subject to Numerus Fixus. The exceptions include medicine, psychology, international business administration, economics and physiotherapy. Numerus Fixus on English-taught courses is likely to increase, so always contact the university to check.

How does Numerus Fixus work? In 2018, some major changes were made to how Numerus Fixus operates. In the past, places on popular courses were sometimes allocated by a lottery controlled centrally by the Dutch government. This is no longer the case, meaning that wherever there is a restriction on the number of places, universities are now free to select the students they want. 

Can I get into Numerus Fixus courses with low/ moderate grades? Whereas it used to be possible to get a place on restricted subjects with relatively modest grades at high school, this is no longer going to be the case as universities are likely to use academics to select students. 

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What if my grades aren’t high enough for Numerus Fixus courses? Don’t worry! The Netherlands has a large number of non-selective Bachelor’s degrees which still constitute the vast majority of English-taught program at Dutch universities.

How to apply?

Check the institution’s website pages for the programme of your choice to find information on the application process. Note that some programmes have a selection procedure and an application deadline of 15 January.

For most programmes you first need to register via Studielink (and then apply to the university through their own portal - the universities will typically e-mail you the log in details after you have submitted your application through Studielink). Your applications are NOT complete until you submit your application on each university portal.

Sources:

Guide to Universities in Canada, BridgeU LTD 2018.

https://www.studyinholland.nl (accessed on the 24th April, 2020)