Immerse yourself in familiar and unknown worlds
Then the Cultural Anthropology programme is just the thing for you. Check down below whether you meet the admission requirements and find out how to apply.
Note that for diplomas obtained outside of the Netherlands an application fee of €100 applies.
Application fee payment options and possible exemptions
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.
Requirements that apply:
1. A diploma equivalent to the Dutch pre-university 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 test and then submit your passing score once you have been conditionally admitted.
3. Proof of sufficient proficiency in Mathematics
After you've applied for the programme and uploaded the required documents in your VU Dashboard, the International Office will determine whether your diploma is equivalent to the Dutch VWO-diploma and whether your mathematics level is sufficient.
These examples of diplomas demonstrate sufficient proficiency in the subject Mathematics:
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?
Have you read the information above and are you 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.
By selecting Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology in Studielink you can start you application – in your VU dashboard, the next application step, you can confirm your choice for the English-taught track. If you have your Studielink set to Dutch you can find the programme under Culturele Antropologie en Ontwikkelingssociologie.
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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 entrance exam, the following certificates are deemed equivalent to the required Dutch VWO Mathematics C level:
Mathematics Exams
A positive result for the mathematics examination (5,5/10 in the mathematics C exam or 60% in the OMPT-E online exam) is compulsory for admission to the programme. If your OMPT test result was obtained more than 1 year ago, you may be asked to re-take the test to prove your mathematics proficiency. When this applies to you, it will be communicated in your admission decision if retaking the test is needed.
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:
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.
VWO diploma
Applicants who obtained a VWO diploma (all profiles) from a Dutch secondary educational institution are eligible for admission to the Bachelor programme Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology at VU Amsterdam.
Higher professional education (HBO) propaedeutic year
The following certificate must be obtained additionally:
Higher professional education (HBO) completed programme
The following certificate must be obtained additionally:
*Applies only to a completed Dutch programme 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.
Do you not meet any of the above program requirements and are 21 years of age or older? Then there is the possibility of admission to the program based on the entrance examination.
The following certificates must be obtained:
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 2024. Complete your application until 100% in your VU dashboard within six weeks and no later than one week after the application deadline closes.
VWO diploma
Applicants who obtained a VWO diploma (all profiles) from a Dutch secondary educational institution are eligible for admission to the Bachelor programme Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology at VU Amsterdam.
Higher professional education (HBO) propaedeutic year
The following certificate must be obtained additionally:
*Does not apply to a completed Dutch programme HBO propaedeutic year ór Dutch at 5 HAVO level.
Higher professional education (HBO) completed programme
The following certificate must be obtained additionally:
*Does not apply to a completed Dutch programme HBO bachelor ór Dutch at 5 HAVO level.
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.
Do you not meet any of the above program requirements and are 21 years of age or older? Then there is the possibility of admission to the program based on the entrance examination.
The following certificates must be obtained:
* Does not apply to a passing subject for Dutch at 5 HAVO level.
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 2024. Complete your application until 100% in your VU dashboard within six weeks and no later than one week after the application deadline closes.
A non-Dutch previous education does not always give direct admission. Therefore, it is important that you register for the study in Studielink as soon as possible. You will then receive an email with information about your personal VU Dashboard. Here you can upload all the necessary documents for assessing your admission. Upon receipt, you will be informed by email whether you are admissible to the programme.
The following additional admission requirements may apply:
The final admission requirements applicable to you will be communicated by the admissions committee once your application is assessed.
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.
As a prospective student you will take part in the VU Amsterdam “Study Choice Check”. The Study Choice Check is part of the application procedure for all VU Amsterdam bachelor degree programmes. It’s aim is to give you a realistic idea of the content of the study, so that you can determine if the study matches your expectations and whether you have chosen the right programme.
The digital questionnaire of the Study Choice Check is a mandatory part of the central registration process. In addition, each Study Programme organizes a Study Choice Check activity on campus and/or online. The Study Choice Check for Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology is held on campus in late March or early April 2025. The exact date will be announced in February. At the campus activity you will get to know the study programme & the VU campus better, and you will already meet some of your fellow students. Should you not be able to join the meeting on campus, you can join the online activity on the Canvas pages instead (Canvas is our digital learning platform). Starting in February, those who have registered for the Bachelor’s programme in Studielink will receive an invitation for the Study Choice Check activity. Both campus and online activities are not mandatory, but we highly recommend taking part in the Study Choice Check so you can decide for yourself if you made the right choice for you.
For general information about Study Choice Check, please check out the website VU Studiekeuzecheck (in Dutch) or VU Study Choice Check (in English). If you have specific questions about the Study Choice Check day on campus, please get in touch at studychoicecheck.fsw@vu.nl.
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.
General questions
International diploma applicants
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