Application process

In light of the coronavirus outbreak, the official application deadline for Bachelor’s programmes has been moved to 1 June. However, to leave enough time for immigration and housing processes, we have different advisory deadlines for specific groups of applicants.

Bachelor’s applicants who need an entry visa and residence permit

Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, the recommended application deadline to submit a complete file was 1 April. The recommended application deadline remains 1 April, but we're extending the deadline to complete your online application file to 18 May.

Bachelor’s applicants with an EU nationality who need to apply for student housing

Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, the recommended application deadline to submit a complete file was 1 May. The recommended application deadline remains 1 May, but we're extending the deadline to send in your English test results to 18 May.

Bachelor’s applicants with EU nationality who do not need to apply for student housing

Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, the application deadline was 1 May. The new application deadline is 1 June. For information about the extended deadline to complete the online application, please contact either the Central Admissions Office, the AUC or your Faculty’s admissions office.

Students applying to one of our Bachelor’s programmes should hold a Dutch VWO diploma, a HBO propedeuse or a foreign diploma that is equivalent to one of these diplomas. If you have foreign credentials, mathematics and English should be included in your final examination or attended until the last year of your secondary education.

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.

Check the list below for the international diploma requirements.

The information in the list of international diploma requirements was compiled with the greatest care. However, no rights may be derived from this information.

If you are a non-native English speaker, you will need to demonstrate English language proficiency in order to be eligible for our English-taught Bachelor’s programmes. 

Students must be able to read textbooks, understand lectures, take part in classroom discussions and undertake 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 proficiency in English

The requirement for sufficient proficiency in English can be met in the following ways:

1. By completing 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 passing a secondary education exam from this list (PDF) of preapproved exams, including English language as a part of the curriculum;
3. By obtaining an International Baccalaureate diploma;
4. By obtaining a European Baccalaureate diploma, with the subject English as first or second language (minimum final score result: 6).
5. By submitting a valid English language proficiency test certificate. Please see below for the accepted tests and minimum scores.

Minimum test scores

UvA-approved tests:

• IELTS: 6.5 (subscores: 6)
• TOEFL: 92 (subscores: 18 for reading, 19 for listening, 19 for speaking and 22 for writing)
• Cambridge CAE/C1 Advanced: C 180
• Cambridge CPE/C2 Proficiency: Level C1 180

Please note:

• 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;
• The test must have been taken less than two years before the start date of the programme;
• Take enough time to prepare for the test.

Deadline: 1 April (non-EU nationals), 1 May (EU nationals)

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 pursue a degree programme at a Dutch university. 

Applicants for the English-taught Bachelor's Literary and Cultural Analysis need to register in Studielink for Literary Studies or Literatuurwetenschap. 

After you have registered in Studielink, you will need to submit your UvA application in MyInfo by the deadline applicable to you (see below).

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. Make sure you have a working DigiD in time. Check if you still remember your password or apply for a new one well in advance of the application deadline of your programme.

Read the step-by-step guide to Studielink

Before starting your enrolment application in Studielink, read the 'Step-by-step guide to Studielink'. 

Submit enrolment application in Studielink

Please submit an enrolment request in Studielink at least one week before the application deadline.

After submitting your enrolment application in Studielink, you will receive an email with your UvAnetID. Follow the instructions in the email to activate your UvAnetID as you will need it to complete your UvA application. 

Please note: after submitting your enrolment request in Studielink, it may take up to 48 hours before you receive your UvAnetID. So make sure to register in Studielink at least 1 week before the application deadline.

Deadline: 1 April (non-EU nationals), 1 May (EU nationals)

After you have registered in Studielink, you will receive an email within 48 hours with a link to our online application system. This is where you will need to submit your application to the programme of your choice Please keep the deadline in mind.

As part of the online application, we will ask you to submit 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 submit your most recent transcript of grades as well as your predicted grades.
If your diploma and transcript are not in English, Dutch, French or German, please send in an official translation as well.

• English language proficiency test certificate
• Curriculum vitae / resume
• Letter of motivation (if applicable)
• Letter of reference (if applicable)

The outcome of the application will be sent to you by email. We aim to inform you about the admission decision six weeks after the initial submission date of your UvA application form. If you are admitted to the programme, the conditions of the offer will be outlined in the email.

Applications are processed using rolling admissions: if you apply early, you can expect your admissions decision early. If your qualifications are included in our country qualifications checker, you can expect your admissions decision within one to two weeks. Full review and verification of qualifications not on this list may take up to eight weeks.

Scholarship application

If you need early notification of admission for scholarship purposes, please contact us well in advance of your scholarship deadline. Timely handling will always be aimed for, but cannot be guaranteed. 

Once you have been conditionally admitted, you will have to confirm your place in the programme.  

If you are waiting for additional administrative procedures that will affect your decision to accept or decline the offer (for instance, waiting for a scholarship decision), please accept the offer anyway, as it will allow you to continue with enrolment procedures while you wait for the administrative processes to be completed. Completing the acceptance form is a very important step, as other enrolment procedures, such as visa or housing applications, are triggered by the confirmation of your acceptance.

UvA Matching is part of your enrolment in a Bachelor's programme at the UvA. You will become acquainted with the programme and with studying, and will have the opportunity to check whether the programme is a good fit for you. The Matching procedure for Literary and Cultural Analysis will take place online.

Registration

You can register for Matching once you have enrolled via Studielink. Once you have activated your UvAnetID, you will gain access to SIS, where you can see Matching in the Enrolment Checklist. You can register for Matching by using the SIS Planner.

After you have enrolled, you can visit Canvas, the UvA’s virtual learning environment, in order to complete the Matching and to look up additional information on the further procedure.

Please note: Participation in UvA Matching is usually a mandatory part of your enrolment. However, in light of the crisis surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, the UvA has decided that if you cannot participate in UvA Matching or complete the test before the deadline, this will not impact your request for enrolment in the academic year 2020-2021. Although it is thus not strictly mandatory to attend the Matching, we still strongly urge everyone to take part, as it is a valuable step of your enrolment process.

After admission, you are required to fill out the intake form which will be sent to you by email. Filling out the form is necessary in order for you to be registered for first-semester courses. The form will be sent to the email address that you have registered in Studielink. It is thus important to check whether you have correctly registered your email address in Studielink.

The intake form is mandatory for all students enrolling in a Bachelor's programme.

Once you have been conditionally admitted, you will need to submit certified copies of your diploma, final transcript of grades and English language proficiency test certificate (if required).

A certified copy is a copy of the original document with a wet ink stamp and signature from your school/university or from an authorised 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 state which documents to send as well as the deadline for submission. Certified documents can be sent to the following address:

Admissions Office, Central Student Administration
University of Amsterdam
Weesperzijde 190
1097DZ 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.

Watch the video for more information about submitting certified documents.

Digital credential verification

In certain cases, your results can be verified digitally or can be sent directly from the exam board to the University of Amsterdam. For more information please visit uva.nl/onlineverification.

If you are an international student, you will need to arrange a variety of practical matters before starting your studies. This includes your visa and/or residence permit, insurance and housing. You will receive an email with more information about this after you have been conditionally admitted.

UvA Student Services organises a Start Appointment every year (free of charge) for international students. At the Start Appointment you will get assistance in finalising your enrolment and, if applicable, your residence permit/visa application, registering with the municipality, opening a bank account and more. You will receive an invitation for the Start Appointment via email.

All students are required to pay the tuition fee in order to complete their enrolment at the University of Amsterdam.

To help you get started in Amsterdam, the UvA and the Faculty of Humanities organise several mandatory and optional introduction sessions before the start of the semester. 

START appointment
During the individual Start appointment you will be able to collect your student ID card and check the status of your enrolment. More information about the Start appointment. 

Faculty introduction meeting
At the Faculty introduction meeting, which will take place two weeks before the start of the semester, you will receive practical information about studying at the Faculty of Humanities and in Amsterdam. Moreover, it is a great way to meet other new students at the Faculty of Humanities. 

Intreeweek
The Intreeweek is a great way to get to know Amsterdam, the UvA and your fellow UvA students. The Intreeweek is open to international and Dutch students for a small fee. Each year, a team of dedicated students organise this major event to kick-off the new year. You can find details on the Intreeweek website. 

Study programme introduction

Most Bachelor's programmes organise a study programme introduction during the Intreeweek. If applicable to your programme, you will receive an invitation separately. 

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 via email. If you complete the request in time, your card will be ready for you at your Start Appointment.