How do I apply for a Bachelor’s programme?

Take a look at the step-by-step application video on this page to find out how you can apply for our English-taught programmes with an international diploma. 

Before you apply: Check if you match the admission requirements

Applicants who apply with a non-Dutch diploma must meet a number of requirements in order to be eligible for admission to our Bachelor’s degree programmes.

Go to the information page of your programme of interest and check the admission requirements for the programme under "Admissions".

Are you having doubts about your current study programme and would you like to switch programmes within VU Amsterdam or from another institution? VU Amsterdam is happy to guide you in the transition to another study programme.

Step 1: Apply in Studielink

Go to Studielink and create an application for the study programme you wish to apply for. In Studielink you can apply for a maximum of 4 courses in total in the Netherlands.

Do you currently live in the Netherlands? Then you will need to log in with your DigiD. 
If you do not yet live in the Netherlands you can choose "Log in without DigiD". When you create your Studielink account via this option you will need a scan or photo of your valid passport or European ID card.

• Studielink Step-by-step plans - instructions on how to create a Studielink account (with or without DigiD)
• Online Studielink Q&A

Important when you register in Studielink:

• Make sure that the email address you fill in in Studielink (My details) is correct: you will receive important notices concerning your enrolment via this address.
• Please enter your prior education (on the basis of which your application will be judged) correctly.
• Select the study programme of choice with (Bachelor) at the end from the list in Studielink (note: specialisations and tracks can be selected in your personal dashboard on VU.nl, the next step of your application).
• Enter your payment details so that the correct tuition fee can be calculated. This does not generate an automatic payment. The deadline for payment is 31 August 2024.

Step 2: Complete your application via your dashboard on VU.nl

After you complete your application request in Studielink you will receive your login details – a VUnet-ID username and a password – for our application system on your personal dashboard on VU.nl by e-mail. This may take up to two working days*. 

In the application portal you will be asked to upload the required application documents in PDF-format and submit your application. If applicable, you can also select the specialisation or track of your programme.

Required application documents

Please note: you do not have to send original documents when applying! For the application phase uploading scans of your previous education documents is sufficient. 

Questions? Read our step by step guide to completing your application in your dashboard on VU.nl.

*In case you did not receive your login details, please first check your spam folder. If you are still unable to locate them, then contact the UCIT service desk on ucit-servicedesk@vu.nl or +31 (0)20 598 0000.

-VU Study Choice Check-

With VU Study Choice Check you check whether the Bachelor’s study programme you are applying for suits you. As part of your application you are asked to complete step 1: the Study Choice Check questionnaire. Read more about the VU Study Choice Check. Note that programmes from the School of Business and Economics do not work with VU Study Choice Check. 

Step 3: Pay the application fee

If you obtained your diploma outside of the Netherlands we ask you to pay a non-refundable €100 application fee. Only after you have paid this fee will we be able to start the assessment of your application file. Please do not delay paying the fee as this will delay your application.

Application fee payment options and possible exemptions

Step 4: Wait for the admission decision

The International Office will confirm receipt of your complete application once your file is submitted and all documents have been checked. Your admission decision will be determined based on the submitted documents only. Note that during holiday times and closer to the deadline dates the processing time (checking of all documents) and decision time is longer than in slower periods. Keep this in mind in planning when to submit your application. 

Once you have received confirmation that the application is complete, we aim to send you the admission decision within 4-6 weeks. 

All information regarding your application will be sent to your Studielink registered email address. It is your own responsibility to check your inbox regularly, including the spam folder. 

Unsure if your application is complete? 

You can always check the status of your application in your status overview. Note that your application is only complete when you have received a confirmation email from us. 

Take a look at the step-by-step application video to find out how you can apply for our English-taught programmes with an international diploma.

Before you apply: Check if you match the admission requirements

Go to the 'Admissions' page of PPE or Law in Society and check the admission requirements and selection procedure for the programme.

Step 1: Apply in Studielink

Go to Studielink and create an application for the study programme you wish to apply for. In Studielink you can apply for a maximum of 4 courses in total in the Netherlands.

Do you currently live in the Netherlands? Then you will need to log in with your DigiD. 
If you do not yet live in the Netherlands you can choose "Log in without DigiD". When you create your Studielink account via this option you will need a scan or photo of your valid passport or European ID card.

• Studielink Step-by-step plans - instructions on how to create a Studielink account (with or without DigiD)
• Online Studielink Q&A

Important when you register in Studielink:

• Make sure that the email address you fill in in Studielink (My details) is correct: you will receive important notices concerning your enrolment via this address.
• Please enter your prior education (on the basis of which your application will be judged) correctly.
• Select the study programme of choice with (Bachelor) at the end from the list in Studielink (note: specialisations and tracks can be selected in your personal dashboard on VU.nl, the next step of your application).
• Enter your payment details so that the correct tuition fee can be calculated. This does not generate and automatic payment. The deadline for payment is 31 August 2024.

Step 2: Complete your application via your dashboard on VU.nl

After you complete your application request in Studielink you will receive your login details – a VUnet-ID username and a password – for our application system on your personal dashboard on VU.nl by email. This may take up to two working days*. 

In the application portal you will be asked to upload the required application documents in PDF-format and submit your application. If applicable, you can also select the specialisation or track of your programme.

Required application documents

Please note: you do not have to send original documents when applying! For the application phase uploading scans of your previous education documents is sufficient. 

Questions? Read our step by step guide to completing your application in your dashboard on vu.nl.

*In case you did not receive your login details, please first check your spam folder. If you are still unable to locate them, then contact the UCIT service desk on ucit-servicedesk@vu.nl or +31 (0)20 598 0000.

Step 3: Pay the application fee

If you obtained your diploma outside of the Netherlands we ask you to pay a non-refundable €100 application fee. Only after you have paid this fee will we be able to start the assessment of your application file. Please do not delay paying the fee as this will delay your application.

Application fee payment options and possible exemptions

Step 4: Wait for the admission decision

The International Office will confirm receipt of your complete application once your file is submitted and all documents have been checked. If there are any documents missing and/or further information is needed, you will be contacted by the International Office.

Once you have received confirmation that the application is complete, the International Office starts with the evaluation of your academic background. The Admission Board will then determine if your motivation and qualifications match the desired profile, following the specified selection criteria of the programme.

Timeline for the admission decision:

• PPE: your International Student Advisor will aim to inform you of the decision on admission within 4 weeks if your application was completed before the Early Bird deadline of 14 February. After this date we aim to send you the admission decision within 6 weeks.
• Law in Society: your International Student Advisor will aim to inform you of the decision on admission within 5 weeks. 

Note that during holiday times and closer to the deadline dates the processing time (checking of all documents) and decision time is longer than in slower periods. Keep this in mind in planning when to submit your application. 

All information regarding your application will be sent to your Studielink registered email address. It is your own responsibility to check your inbox regularly, including the spam folder. 

Unsure if your application is complete? 

You can always check the status of your application in the status overview on your dashboard on VU.nl. Note that your application is only complete when you have received a confirmation email from us.

As part of your application for a Bachelor's programme you will have to upload required documents in the application portal in your VU dashboard.

Application documents overview - Bachelor - on this page international diploma applicants can find further information about the requested application documents, including specific document formats such as the VU Application Form - Bachelor.

Once you have been admitted to VU Amsterdam, there are steps you need to take to make sure you complete your enrolment in time and do not miss out on any of our essential student services.

Read more about what happens after Admission

Visit the Campus online

The University Campus is the lively hub of the university and you are welcome to pay a virtual visit to get to know the university.
Visit the online campus tour and explore the campus, university buildings and more!

Contact our Student Ambassadors

Do you have a question for a current student? Are you curious about everyday life in Amsterdam, from our campus to the food, music and events going on throughout the city? Want to know how much homework you will have each night, or how the Dutch educational system differs from your own? Ask one of our ambassadors! You can contact the VU Student and Alumni Ambassadors for questions about their experiences with the programme, the university, the Netherlands, finding a job, or whatever you would like to ask. Check the Student Ambassadors page to find an ambassador from the programme you’re interested in or from your home country. 

Read the Student Blog

On www.amsterdamstudents.com you can read blog updates from our (international) students.

Bachelor's Day

VU Amsterdam organises a Bachelor’s Day twice a year. This is an open day you can attend presentations and talk to representatives from all of our programmes. Most Bachelor's programmes also offer the opportunity to attend a Taster Day.

Every Bachelor’s degree programme has specific entry requirements. Please check the Bachelor's degree programme of your choice to find out if you are admissible or if additional requirements need to be met.

Log in to Studielink and create a new application for the study programme you wish to apply for. You can choose "Log in without DigiD" if you live outside of the Netherlands. Only if you are already living in the Netherlands, you will need to log in with a DigiD. If you do not yet have one, you will have to apply for a DigiD first. DigiD applications can take up to two weeks. 

To start your application in Studielink, you can follow the steps in the step-by-step guide by Studielink.

Within 48 hours (two working days) of finishing your application in Studielink you will receive a VUnetID (username) and password. Please use these details to log in on your dashboard on VU.nl. If you already are (or have been) a VU Amsterdam student, or applied before, use your existing VUnetID and password to log in to your dashboard.

Complete you application by answering the questions asked in the application portal and upload the requested items. In your application portal you can answer study-specific questions and choose - if applicable - the specialisation of your programme. In your application you can also upload the required documents in PDF-format and complete your application.

We advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible after applying in Studielink. 

Most Bachelor's degree programmes have adopted VU Study Choice Check. The application process includes a check to assess whether the programme is really suitable for you. You do this through a mandatory questionnaire in your personal dashboard on VU.nl and (for most degree programmes) an online activity for which you will be invited via email. 

For more information on VU Study Choice Check, please visit the designated webpage.

The Student Administration will inform you by email if you are accepted into the study programme or if additional requirements need to be met. This will happen after we have received your completed application and the details from your previous education.

Note that during holiday times and closer to the deadline dates the processing time (checking of all documents) and decision time is longer. Keep this in mind in planning when to submit your application.

All information regarding your application will be sent to your Studielink registered email address. It is your own responsibility to check your inbox regularly, including the spam folder. 

Make sure you pay the tuition fees or issue the digital authorisation no later than 31 August (or 15 July for numerus fixus study programmes). Otherwise you will not become enrolled and cannot start the study programme. You can arrange your payment in Studielink from the beginning of May. All information on how to pay your tuition fees can be found here.

Have you opted for digital authorisation in Studielink? Then you must confirm this when the action appears in your to-do list. This will take a maximum of 24 hours. The confirmation is the actual payment, so don't forget this step! Debit of the (first) term takes place at the end of September, as can be seen in the collection calendar.

You can always check the status of your application on your dashboard on VU.nl. Here's how to check this.

1. Go to your personal dashboard on VU.nl.
2. Click on the app Complete application.
3. Click on Check status next to the relevant study programme.

Once you have met all the admission requirements and have completed all the application steps (including payment of tuition fees), you will receive a confirmation of enrolment through Studielink. The status of your application will then change to 'enrolled'.

Do you want to apply for Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) or Law in Society with a Dutch diploma? Then please take a look at our Dutch information page.