Study program in English

Because the Netherlands offers 1,300 study programs in English, it is not always necessary to have Dutch language skills. It is essential for foreign students to be able to speak, read and write English well. Students must have passed an English language test.

IELTS and TOEFL are commonly accepted, but institutions may accept other tests as well. The required scores are at least 550 (paper based) or 213 (computer based) for TOEFL. For IELTS, a score of at least 6 is required. Language requirements for individual programs or courses are indicated in the database of international courses.

Study program in Dutch

If you have a non-Dutch diploma, the educational institution may ask you to prove that you have sufficient mastery of the Dutch language, in addition to meeting all other preliminary educational requirements. If you cannot prove before the 1st of September in the year you plan to study that you have sufficient mastery of the Dutch language by means of a declaration from the educational institution or a diploma Nederlands als Tweede taal (NT2) ("Dutch as a second language"), you will receive, if you have drawn a place, a Voorlopig bewijs van toelating ("Provisional Statement of Admission") from the IB-Groep.

You can upgrade this to a Bewijs van toelating ("Statement of admission") during the next study year if you can then prove that you have sufficient mastery of the Dutch language.

Dutch language courses for international students

A number of university centers offer courses in Dutch as a second language. The courses are specially designed for foreign students who have qualified for the admission to Dutch higher education, but who must first prove that they have mastered the language sufficiently. In most cases, these courses are open to other people as well.