Due to the numerus fixus, an early application deadline applies. You can apply via Studielink for the academic year 2024-2025 in the application period from 1 October 2023 to 15 January 2024.

If you have registered in Studielink on time (see step 4) and meet the admission requirements, you will be invited to the selection procedure.

For students with a Dutch prior education, please see the application procedure that applies to you. 

You are eligible to apply if you have a diploma that is equivalent to the Dutch pre-university diploma (vwo-diploma) or the Dutch hbo-propaedeutic diploma. A good knowledge of English is essential and the subjects of economics, history, and social studies can be useful. The starting level 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.

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.

You must be able to read textbooks, understand lectures, take part in classroom discussions and produce written work in English. You 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 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, 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

* MyBest scores from TOEFL iBT cannot be used to meet the language requirements.

Please note:

• An official test score must be received before 1 April 2024 for all international students. 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).
• If you do not provide a test score before this deadline, you must have a test scheduled for a date which is before the deadline.
• The test must have been taken less than two years before the start date of the Bachelor's programme. Test results obtained prior to 1 September 2022 will not be accepted.

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 or validation number.

Before you can apply to the UvA, you will need to submit an enrolment application in Studielink. Studielink is the national online system for students who would like to persue a degree programme at a Dutch university. 

You may have a total of four enrolments in Studielink, of which a maximum of two for a numerus fixus programme. This means you can register for one other numerus fixus programme in addition to Communication Science. You may only accept one place, in case you are admitted to two programmes. The application deadline for numerus fixus programmes is 15 January.

Check your DigiD (before starting in Studielink)

A DigiD (Digital Identification) is an online ID (username and password) that provides access to government administration websites.

• Students who do not live in the Netherlands can use Studielink without a DigiD.
• Students who currently live in the Netherlands will need their DigiD to use Studielink. We strongly recommend applying for your DigiD at least three weeks before registering in Studielink. 

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.

Please note that, after submitting your enrolment application in Studielink, it will take approximately 48 hours before you receive your UvAnetID. So make sure you register in Studielink well in advance so you do not miss the application deadline (see step 1).

All students applying for an English-taught 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 can the UvA start to process your application.

You don't have to pay the application fee:

• If you are a Dutch citizen or have Suriname nationality;
• If you have already applied for (and paid the application fee for) another programme at the UvA. The fee is only valid for three consecutive academic years (e.g. 2023-2024, 2024-2025 and 2025-2026);
• If you are an exchange student;
• If you apply for AUC or PPLE;
• If you are applying through the Foundation for Refugee Students (UAF).

Paying the application fee

You can pay the application fee of €100 by credit card only. You will be asked to pay the fee after completing your application form. Submitting the 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 official transcript of grades as well as an official statement from your school confirming your final exam subjects and predicted final (exam) grades. If your documents are not in English, Dutch, French or German, please upload an official translation of all documents 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.

To be eligible for admission to the programme, you must participate in the selection process. 

After uploading your documents via MyInfo we will inform you whether your prior education is sufficient to meet the entry requirements.  

Your ranking number will be available in Studielink on 15 April 2024. Depending on your ranking number, you may be offered a place in our programme.

Depending on your rank number, you will be offered a place. This applies in any case to the top 650 people on the ranking list. After receiving this offer, you have 14 days (14x24 hours) to accept your place. If you do not accept your offer, your place will automatically expire and be offered to the next student on the ranking list who has not yet received an offer.

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.

If you are an international student, you will need to arrange a variety of practical matters before starting your studies. You will receive an email with more information about this after you have been offered a place. 

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.

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. 

In the week before the start of the programme, you will need to attend the compulsory introduction day. If you start your Bachelor's in September 2024, the introduction day will be on Tuesday 27 August 2024.

On this day you will receive all relevant programme information to make a good start and you will be registered for the courses of the first semester of the Bachelor’s programme in Communication Science. We will send you detailed information about the introduction day in July or early August.

You will need to pay the tuition fee in order to complete your enrolment for a degree programme at the UvA. Find out more about how to pay the tuition fees.