Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers 44 Bachelor's degree programmes in Dutch. If you are not yet proficient in the Dutch language, and/or if your educational qualifications do not grant you direct admission to your chosen course, then the VASVU programme offers a path towards admission. This foundation year for international students helps you to prepare for full-time degree study. You can apply for a Bachelor's degree programme in Dutch with an international degree or a Dutch degree, but the application procedures are different.
For some Bachelor’s degree programmes there are more students applying than places available. In this case a selection procedure applies and the application deadline for these programmes is 15 January. Please follow the application procedure for selection-based programmes. For the academic year 2019-2020, there are four Dutch taught study programmes with a selection procedure:
If you have followed your secondary education outside the Netherlands then it must be equivalent to the Dutch secondary educational standard (VWO diploma) that is required for entrance to all universities of the Netherlands.
Some foreign diplomas qualify for university entrance in their own country. However, these diplomas do not have the same academic level as the Dutch VWO diploma. For this reason we must first assess if your previous education is sufficient for admission to a bachelor’s degree programme.
List of diplomas that grant access to bachelor programmes in Dutch (please note: you also have to meet the specific educational requirements for the programme of your choice)
Even if you possess a diploma that is equivalent to the Dutch VWO, (for example the European and International Baccalaureat) you will still have to meet the language proficiency requirements and specific educational requirements before you'll be admitted to a Bachelor’s degree programme.
Besides the general educational and language requirements, every Bachelor’s degree programme has specific entry requirements. This means that if your knowledge of specific subjects is below the required standard, you will need to sit examinations in those subjects.
Please check the Bachelor´s programme of your choice to find out if any knowledge of specific subjects is required, for example knowledge of mathematics or biology.
VASVU
We offer special courses for foreign students in these obligatory subjects so you can prepare yourself properly for the entrance examinations. You can only be admitted to this preparatory year, otherwise known as VASVU (Voorbereidend Jaar voor Anderstalige Studenten aan de VU) if you already have a basic understanding of Dutch, as all courses are taught in Dutch. To be admitted to VASVU you have to live permanently in the Netherlands, or come from a country of the EU/EEA (European Economic Area). It is almost impossible to enrol in this preparatory year if you depend on a study visa or MVV.
If you have an international educational background, even if you speak and write perfect Dutch, you must take a proficiency examination before you can be admitted to a study programme taught in Dutch.
Other accepted proofs of proficiency in the Dutch language:
Dutch as subject for the following Matriculation exams:
Good comprehension skills in English are necessary for all university studies in the Netherlands. If you live permanently outside the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) and do not have a diploma from a country where English is the first language of instruction, then you need to take an English proficiency test before applying for admission.
As many other Dutch universities, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam only accepts recognized English proficiency tests like TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Test System) or The British Cambridge Certificates CPE and CAE. The requested scores differ per study programme but the minimal requirements are:
Pre-university secundary education (‘VWO’) diploma or any other diploma with a comparable level of English proficiency;
Dutch universities, including the VU, have recently introduced a process called 'matching'. This means that for most study programmes students are asked to fill out the VU Matching questionnaire.
This is asked when completing your application in VUnet. Also, VU Matching activities are organized.
This will help you determine whether the study programme of your choice is a good fit for you.
More information about matching can be found on VU Matching. On this page you can find the dates per study programme on which the matching activities are taking place.
If you are a prospective student with a foreign diploma, then you need to apply through the Dutch education website Studielink before 1 May. Please hand in as many of the required documents as possible before the deadline. This will increase the chance that your file will be assessed in time.
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Log in to VUnet (Vrije Universiteit student portal) with your VUnet ID.
After you have finished your registration in Studielink you will receive a VUnet ID (username) and password (in two separate e-mails). Please use these details to log in on VUnet.
Complete you application by answering the questions asked in VUnet (under complete application on your homepage) and upload your passport photo; this is necessary for your student card.
If you have trouble logging in please consult the website or contact the IT Servicedesk on +31 20 59 80000 or servicedesk.it@vu.nl.
If you already have a diploma, then please send by post or hand in certified copies of all your documents.
If you are finishing secondary school this year, please send a digital copy of the official school statement with the type of diploma you will obtain and the subjects you are following at present to studentdesk@vu.nl.
Required documents:
- Copy of your EU passport or Dutch residence permit;
- Diploma(s) and academic records(s);
- Official translation of your diploma(s) and academic record(s) if these are not in Dutch, English, German, French or Spanish;
- Proof of language tests if already in your possession.
You can certify the copies of your documents at your school, university or notary and send them to:
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Study and Student Administration
De Boelelaan 1105
1081 HV Amsterdam
If you are already in The Netherlands, you may bring your documents to the Student Desk in the central hall of the main building of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, open every working day between 10.30-17.00. There you can also certify the copies of your documents. You must bring your original documents and a copy of each document.
Please note: the selection-based programmes have different deadlines and application procedures. For these programmes, check the application procedure for selection-based programmes.
You can pay from 15 May. Deadline for paying the tuition fees is 31 August. This is a strict deadline and you will not be able to start your study programme if you haven't paid on time.
Tuition fee rates and payment instructions
Please note: the selection-based programmes have different deadlines and application procedures. For these programmes, check the application procedure for selection-based programmes.
For questions please contact the Student Desk.
De Boelelaan 1105
1081 HV Amsterdam
T:+31 20 59 85020 (Mon-Fri from 10:30 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 17:00)
E: studentdesk@vu.nl