Applying for a Bachelor's programme

Follow our step-by-step guide on how to apply for our Bachelor's programmes.

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 programmes with fixed quota Business Administration 15 January
Psychology 15 January
Applicants for selective programmes Liberal Arts & Sciences 1 February
PPLE (Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics) 1 February

Applicants for other Bachelor's programmes

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:

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)

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 several 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 a foreign 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 Diplôme du Baccalauréat Général with Baccalauréat Francais Internationale (BFI) or Option Internationale du Baccaluréat (OIB), 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, or if you are applying to the PPLE programme, 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 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 test must have been taken less than two years before the start date of the Bachelor 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).

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:

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)

Degree programmes with a different name in Studielink

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

Bachelor's programme Register in Studielink for
Literary and Cultural Analysis Literary Studies (Literatuurwetenschap)
Sign Language Linguistics Linguistics (Taalwetenschap)
Global Arts, Culture and Politics Cultural Studies

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.