Computer Science

Check whether you meet the admission requirements and apply

• I have non-Dutch previous education

  Note that for diplomas obtained outside of the Netherlands an application fee of €100 applies.
  Application fee payment options and possible exemptions

  Admission requirements

  Applicants holding a non-Dutch pre-university diploma apply via the International Office. We check if your previous education meets a number of requirements. If you do not yet meet the requirements but expect to do so in the future (such as obtaining your diploma), you can already apply. We will evaluate your application and inform you of our admission decision.

  Overview IB Diploma requirements per programme (PDF)
  Overview GCE A-level requirements per programme (PDF)
  Overview AP College Board requirements per programme (PDF)

  Requirements that apply:

  1. A diploma equivalent to the Dutch pre-university VWO-diploma
  The International Office will determine whether your diploma is equivalent to the Dutch VWO-diploma. See the Diploma Requirement List for examples of accepted diplomas per country. Please note: this list is meant to give you an indication of admissibility; no rights can be derived from it.

  2. Proof of sufficient proficiency in English
  You can find all accepted tests and scores on our Language Requirements webpage. Although complete applications are preferred, you can begin your application before you have completed the English test and then submit your passing score once you have been conditionally admitted.

  3. Proof of sufficient proficiency in Mathematics
  The International Office will determine whether your mathematics level is sufficient*. These are some examples of diploma subjects that demonstrate sufficient proficiency in the subject Mathematics:

  • International Baccalaureate: Mathematics HL, Analysis & Approaches HL
  • British GCE A-Levels: A-level in Mathematics, at least grade A, B or C
  • Germany: Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife, including Mathematics on erhöhtem Anforderungsniveau (eA) or as Leistungsfach 
  • European Baccalaureate:  Mathematics; written or oral examination, at least 5 hours during the Orientation Cycle
  • College Board AP scores:  AP Calculus AB or AP Calculus BC minimum score 3

  Application documents

  • Scan of your passport or national ID card (ID for EEA students only) valid at the start date of the programme
  • VU Application Form - Bachelor; please download the correct format from this page. In the document you are asked to provide further details about your previous education level.
  • Proof of English language proficiency (if already obtained): upload your proof of English language proficiency or English language test results.
    VU English language requirements

  Application procedure:

  Application deadline
  The final application deadline for non-EU/EEA students is 1 April  and for Dutch and EU students the final deadline is 1 May. Do you have a non-Dutch nationality? Then you may be eligible for housing via the International Office Accommodation Services. An early application is then strongly recommended.

  Ready to apply? 
  Great! Click here for the application procedure.  
  Complete your application until 100% in your VU dashboard within six weeks and no later than one week after the application deadline closes.  

  VU Application Form – Bachelor 
  Download the correct form from this page. In this document, you are asked to provide further details about your previous education level. 

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  *Not directly eligible for admission?

  If your diploma is not considered to be at the right level and/or if your proficiency in mathematics is considered to be insufficient, you will be informed if it is possible to meet the requirements with an additional certificate.

  You can obtain your certificates to resolve these deficiencies at various institutions. When advised to sit an entry exam, the following certificates are deemed equivalent to Dutch VWO Mathematics B:

  Mathematics Exams (available in English and accepted by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam): 

  • Boswell-Bèta (English). Boswell-Bèta in Utrecht (the Netherlands) provides VWO Mathematics B with exams in December, May and July.
  • CCVX (Dutch and English). CCVX offers VWO Mathematics B.
  • Online Mathematics Placement Test. The Online Mathematics Placement Test-D (OMPT-D) is an online mathematics test that you can take from home by means of online proctoring. 

  A positive result for the mathematics examination (5,5/10 in the mathematics B exam or 60% in the OMPT-D online exam) is compulsory for admission to the programme. 
  
  For OMPT the additional information applies: a maximum number of 2 attempts per admission round is allowed.

  If you expect that you do not meet the mathematics requirement, to ensure that your application is processed in time in order to study and register for the exams we ask applicants to apply for their bachelor's programme of choice before:

  • 15 December if you are applying via the 21+ Entrance exam route
  • 1 April for all other students

  Note that in addition to these tests all applicants will need to submit proof of sufficient proficiency in English. You can find all accepted tests and scores on our Language Requirements webpage.

• I have Dutch previous education

  VWO diploma

  • Natuur en Gezondheid, supplemented with Mathematics B
  • Natuur en Techniek
  • Economie en Maatschappij, supplemented with Mathematics B
  • Cultuur en Maatschappij, supplemented with Mathematics B

  Higher professional education (HBO) propaedeutic year
  The following certificates must be obtained additionally:

  • English at 6 VWO level 
  • Mathematics B at 6 VWO level

  Higher professional education (HBO) completed programme
  The following certificates must be obtained additionally:

  • Mathematics B at 6 VWO level
  • English at 6 VWO level* 

  *Does not apply to a completed English-taught HBO bachelor

  Obtaining recognized certificates at 6 VWO level
  Arrange your exams in time. You can obtain certificates accepted by VU from these different institutions.

  Ready to apply? 
  Great! Click here for the application procedure.  
  Complete your application until 100% in your VU dashboard within six weeks and no later than one week after the application deadline closes.  

  VU Application Form – Bachelor 
  Download the correct form from this page. In this document, you are asked to provide further details about your previous education level. 

• I am applying for the 21+ entrance exam

  21+ applicants with a valid Dutch home address and residence permit 
  Do you not meet any of the above programme requirements, but are 21 years of age or older? Then there is the possibility of admission to the programme based on the entrance examination. 

  The following certificates must be obtained at 6 VWO level:

  • English
  • Mathematics B 

  Obtaining recognized certificates at 6 VWO level
  Arrange your exams in time. You can obtain certificates accepted by VU from these different institutions.

  Ready to apply?
  Great! Click here for the application procedure. The application deadline for 21+ Entrance exam  is 15 December. Complete your application until 100% in your VU dashboard within six weeks and no later than one week after the application deadline closes. 

• VU Study Choice Check

  Once you have made your choice of study programme, VU Study Choice Check offers you the opportunity to determine if the study programme corresponds to the image and expectations that you have and whether it suits you. VU Study Choice Check is part of the application procedure for all bachelor degree programmes. For this programme the Study Choice Check consists of two mandatory parts: first you fill out a digital questionnaire on and second you participate in the activity of the programme.

  The programme activity will be organized online and will be available until June 2026. In order for us to be able to send you an invitation it is necessary that you log and complete and confirm the application form (progress 100 percent). Attention: processing of the results of the Study Choice Check can take up 2 weeks.

  We will start sending the invitations around the beginning of March 2026 to the email address you entered when you registered. Check your spam folder regularly to make sure you don’t miss out on any messages from us. If you have not received an invitation, for example because you filled in the registration form after May, please mail to studiekeuzecheck.beta@vu.nl.

  Please note: filling out the digital questionnaire and participation in the programme activity are mandatory for all Computer Science students! 

  General information and frequently asked questions about the VU Study Choice Check can be found here: VU Studiekeuzecheck [Dutch] or VU Study Choice Check [English]. If you have questions about the Study Choice Check for this programme, please contact the Coordinator Study Choice Check of the Faculty of Science: studychoicecheck.beta@vu.nl.

• Student Self Check Tool

  Are you curious if you meet the admission requirements for the programme? Then you can fill out the online Student Self Check tool to find out more about your chances to be admitted to the Bachelor’s programme Computer Science.

  In the tool you will be asked some questions about your previous education and background. Based on your answers you will receive a personal preliminary advice on your eligibility for admission and the next steps you can take to continue your application.

  Please note: no rights can be derived from the Self Check tool results. For a definite admission decision you will have to complete the official application procedure for this programme.

  Check your eligibility.

• Additional costs

  Bachelor students Computer Science will have to spend approximately 200 euros per year for buying books. Additionally, students are expected to possess a laptop computer, running either Windows 10 or mac OSX, for participating in educational activities.

• Binding Study Advice (BSA)

  The BSA is an advice given to all Bachelor’s students on four occasions during their first year of studies concerning their study progress. The fourth recommendation, issued at the end of the first year, is binding in nature. To continue to the second year you must have obtained a certain number of credits.

  To receive a positive BSA for this study programme you must have obtained a minimum of 42 EC (credits) at the end of the first year of enrolment. Every student has access to an overview of the obtained study results and assessments are available for inspection after registration of the test result.