Economics and Business Economics

Check whether you meet the admission requirements and apply

• Applying with 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.

  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. Applicants who do not meet this criterion may be asked to sit (an) entry exam(s) to prove they are eligible for admission.

  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 (equivalent to VWO Mathematics A).

  These examples of diplomas demonstrate sufficient proficiency in the subject Mathematics:

  • International Baccalaureate: mathematics SL or HL, Applications & Interpretation HL, Analysis & Approaches SL/HL
  • United Kingdom/GCE A-levels: A-level in mathematics completed with a grade A, B or C.
  • Germany: Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife, including Mathematics Grundkurs as Prüfungsfach or Mathematics erhöhtem Anforderungsniveau (eA)/Leistungsfach .

  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 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.

  By selecting Economics and Business Economics 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 Economie en Bedrijfseconomie. 

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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 additional certificates.

  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 A level (note that Mathematics B is also accepted):
  
  Mathematics Exams 

  • Boswell-Bèta(English). Boswell-Bèta in Utrecht (the Netherlands) provides a mathematics course mathematics A in English with exams in December, May and July.
  •  CCVX(Dutch and English). CCVX offers mathematics exams in the Netherlands equivalent to the Dutch VWO subject mathematics A for Dutch-speaking and English-speaking applicants.
  •  Online Mathematics Placement Test. The Online Mathematics Placement Test-A (OMPT-A ) offered by SOWISO 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 A exam or 65% in the OMPT-A 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.

  Additional entry exam
  Applicants who do not meet the diploma requirement level will also be asked to pass the following test:

  • History (find more information about the VU History test here)

  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.

• Applying with Dutch previous education

  VWO diploma
  Applicants who obtained a VWO diploma from a Dutch secondary educational institution are eligible for admission to the Bachelor programme Economics and Business Economics at VU Amsterdam.  The following VWO profile needs to obtain an additional modular at 6 VWO level :

  • Cultuur en Maatschappij, supplemented with Mathematics A or B.

   Higher professional education (HBO) propaedeutic year 

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

  Higher professional education (HBO) completed programme 

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

  Aged 21 or over?  
  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. Please visit the "entrance examination" page for more information on the application deadline and fees.

  The following certificates must be obtained at 6 VWO level:

  • English
  • Mathematics A or B
  • History

  Deficiencies at 6 VWO level
  You can obtain your certificates at various institutions.
  
  Ready to apply?
  Great! You can apply via Studielink, please keep in mind the application deadlines. Complete immediately your application until 100% in your personal dashboard on VU.nl.

• VU Study Choice Check

  The VU Study Choice Check is part of the application procedure for all bachelor programs of VU.

  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's degree programmes.

  For this programme, the Study Choice Check consists of completing the required questionnaire in VU.nl. After filling in the questionnaire you will receive personal advice about your choice of study. 

  We advise you to complete the Study Choice Check as soon as possible. The earlier your application is complete, the earlier you can register for courses and workgroups.

  More information about and frequently asked questions about the Study Choice Check can be found here:  VU Study Choice Check.

  If you have any other questions about the Study Choice Check, please send an email to studychoicecheck.sbe@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 of International Business Administration programme.

  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.

• 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), including the course Quantitative Research Methods I 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.