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Deficiencies

Bachelor's degree programmes can impose programme-specific education requirements. These requirements concern subjects at the Dutch pre-university school-leaving examination level (6 VWO) or an equivalent level, such as mathematics or biology. You can find information about these requirements on the study programme page.

When you do not meet the subject requirements for the degree programme, your previous education has deficiencies. You will need to eliminate these deficiencies by passing the relevant subject tests at VWO pre-university school-leaving examination level. 

Only students who have met the conditions before the deadline can participate in the programme at the start of the academic year.

Please note: as long as you have not eliminated your subject deficiencies you will not be able to apply for our Visa and Accommodation services.

Practical information

  • When do I have to take one or more tests?

    If you have applied for a study programme and you have one or more subject deficiencies in your previous education, you will be informed of this by means of an admission letter or notification. This is the case in the following situations:

    • If you meet the general admission requirements, but not the programme-specific subject requirements. This can for example be a deficiency in mathematics.
    • If you qualify for the 'Entrance Exam' (entrance tests for students of 21+ years old).
    • In some cases, prospective students with an international diploma - who have access to higher education in their own country but do not meet the diploma requirement for VU admission - qualify for participation in additional entrance exams. After submitting an official application, your International Student Advisor(s) will inform you if you are eligible for these exams and how you can participate. Which exams are required will depend on the programme you are interested in and can be found under 'not directly eligible for admission?' on the programme's webpage.

  • Application deadlines (Studielink and the VU Dashboard):

    Although an early application is strongly recommended to ensure you can register for the deficiency tests in time, the final deadline to submit your application is:

  • Resolving deficiencies: deadlines and test options

    You must apply for your tests directly with the institutes that offer the tests. Fees may be charged. Pay attention to these institutes’ registration deadlines, which may be earlier than the deadline for submitting the proof of passing the tests to complete your enrolment for the Bachelor's degree programme of your choice.

    Deficiencies for regular degree programmes must be eliminated by 31 August, for students who require a visa/residence permit the deadline is 1 June and for numerus fixus study programmes the deadline is 15 July. 

    Online tests

    Tests in the Netherlands

    Tests in English and Dutch

      • Mathematics VWO level A and B, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry: CCVX.
      • Mathematics VWO level A, B, and C, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry: Boswell-Bèta.
        Please note: diplomas obtained at Boswell-Bèta will not be accepted for Medicine and Dentistry degree programmes.
      • Mathematics VWO level A and B: Korteweg de Vries-Instituut.

    Tests in Dutch only

  • What to do when you have passed the tests
    • Are you applying with a non-Dutch diploma for an English-taught programme? Then you can send your official results to your International Student Advisor by email for verification and processing.
    • You can also send the certified copies to us by post, or bring them to the Student Desk. Certified test certificates bear a stamp and signature from an official institute to attest that the copy is the same as the original. The certificates can be certified by the administration of the institute that awarded the certificate or by the Student Desk. Bring the original and copy with you when you wish to have them certified by us.

    If you need to submit a certified copy of your test results, send it to the following address:

    Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
    Student Administration
    De Boelelaan 1105
    1081 HV Amsterdam
    The Netherlands

    Please include your VU student number when you send documents by post.

  • Questions?

    If you are applying with a non-Dutch diploma for one of our international Bachelor's degrees you can contact your International Student Advisor for any questions about the admission requirements and entrance exams for the programme of your interest. All other students can contact the Student Desk.

Do you have any questions?

Please contact the Student Desk.

If you have questions about the tuition fee, Studielink or your personal dashboard on VU.nl, please contact the Student Desk: studentdesk@vu.nl, stating your student number.

Send a message via online chat (Mon – Fri: 10:30 – 12:30 and 14:00 – 16:00). 

Call +31 (0)20 59 85020 (Mon – Fri: 10:30 – 12:30 and 14:00 – 16:00). 

Are you currently a VU student? Ask your question via the question form (log in with your VUnetID)