Become a different kind of lawyer
Then the Law In Society programme is just the thing for you.
Law in Society is a selective programme
We are looking for talented and motivated students with first and foremost an affinity for law, and secondly for the multidisciplinary approaches to Law that are part of the programme. The Admission Board will determine if your motivation match the desired profile based on the selection criteria.
Under ‘Application’ you can find which documents you have to upload and the application link.
As part of the application procedure you are asked to complete the VU Application Form - Law in Society. Whether or not you will actually be offered a place in our programme will depend on your:
The Admission Board will convene each month to discuss the completed admission requests.
The below dates will be updated for the new admission round
| Applications completed until: | Week of meeting: |
| 1 November 2023 | 15 November 2023 |
| 1 December 2023 | 15 December 2023 |
| 1 January 2024 | 26 January 2024 |
| 1 February 2024 | 16 February 2024 |
| 1 March 2024 | 15 March 2024 |
| 1 April 2024 | 19 April 2024 |
| 16 April 2024 | 3 May 2024 |
| 1 May 2024 | 17 May 2024 |
| 16 May 2024 | 31 May 2024 |
| 1 June 2024 | 21 June 2024 |
You will receive the outcome by email within 1-2 weeks after the meeting.
There are two possible outcomes:
If the interview is successful you will receive a conditional or unconditional offer for the Bachelor’s programme.
Law in Society is a selective programme.
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 the admission decision of the Admission Board. Admission to the programme will remain conditional until your certified diploma copy is received and the conditions in your admission decision letter have been met.
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.
Keep in mind that when your previous education does not meet our entry requirement you might be required to take additional entry tests for admission. If you suspect your previous education might not be equivalent to the Dutch pre-university diploma, we advise you to apply before 1 April to ensure that you can register for the necessary tests in time.
2. Proof of sufficient proficiency in English
You can find all accepted tests and scores on the language requirements page. We require an English language test for all applications, unless you qualify for an exemption. You can already begin your application before you have completed the test and then submit your passing score once you have been conditionally admitted.
Law in Society English language requirements.
Deadline for submission of the English language test:
• 1 June for students who require a study visa
• 31 August for students with the EU/EEA nationality and other student who do not require a study visa
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 considered equivalent to the Dutch VWO-diploma and whether your mathematics level is sufficient.
These examples of diplomas demonstrate sufficient proficiency in the required level of mathematics:
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*Not directly eligible for admission?
If you do not meet the mathematics requirement but have an otherwise strong application, you could still be selected and accepted with a conditional offer. You would then be asked to participate in an entry test in mathematics (Dutch VWO mathematics C) and, in certain cases only, in History (find more information about the History test here). If participation in the exam(s) is necessary this will be communicated to you in the offer letter.
Mathematics Exams in the Netherlands
A positive result for the mathematics examination (5,5/10 in the mathematics C exam or 60% in the OMPT-E online exam) is required 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.
For a full overview of the admission requirements with a Dutch previous education, please visit our Dutch admissions page.
VWO diploma
Higher professional education (HBO) propaedeutic year
The following certificates must be obtained additionally:
Higher professional education (HBO) completed programme
The following certificates must be obtained additionally:
21+ applicants with a valid Dutch home address and residence permit
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:
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.
Note that for diplomas obtained outside of the Netherlands an application fee of €100 applies.
Application fee payment options and possible exemptions
Are you applying with a Dutch previous education? Please visit our Dutch admissions page.
If you don’t speak Dutch please contact admission.law@vu.nl
The final application deadline* for non-EU/EEA students is 1 April and for Dutch and EU students the final deadline* is 1 May. The earlier you apply, the earlier you will know if you are selected. 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 recommended.
Ready to apply?
Great! Click here for the application procedure.
*15 December if you are not directly eligible for admission and are applying via the 21+ Entrance exam route
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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